A Sea Of Red

I don't know if anyone else has paid attention, but to me, it seems like the late night comedies (Leno, Letterman, etc) are a lot funnier than they were before the strike. I didn't watch Leno last night, but tonight it's been pretty funny. It's basically Leno up on stage goofing off and just being a comedian rather than having everything scripted. Last night, Craig Ferguson (my favorite of the four) was pretty funny.

Letterman is using writers, correct? Is Craig Ferguson? I'm pretty sure Leno isn't and I don't know about Conan.


Basically, this thread is just to talk about the late night comedies if you saw them.

As far as I know, Letterman is the only one using writers, as Worldwide Pants is one of the few studios (if not the only) to reach a deal with the WGA. I thought Conan was hilarious last night. I'm hoping he keeps trying to break his personal record for wedding-ring-spinning on his desk.

Craig Ferguson had writers because his show is part of Worldwide Pants. I think I'm going to watch Conan tonight just to see him without writers. I got tired of Conan a while back, but it's worth seeing how funny he actually is.

Ferguson is dropdead hilarious. He's got his writers back but his best stuff is him just rambling.
Conan has no writers and is actually funnier than he was before. He also carries the "strike beard" better than Letterman.

Leno is back without writers and I can't tell the difference. He wasn't funny before and he's slightly less funny now.

I disagree about Leno. I thought tonight was fairly funny, but I missed part of the monologue.


I watched Conan for ten minutes before I had to turn it. I used to love Conan but now he just annoys the crap out of me.

I hate Ferguson...I love Lettermen and as soon as Ferguson says one word I have to change the channel...he just does not do it for me....you are the first two people i have ever heard say he is funny....crazy

Yeah, I really don't like Ferguson; Leno is funny sometimes, but for me it's Letterman and Conan.

I'll watch Nightline and/or infomercials before I watch Letterman.

I record all of the late night shows just in case there's a musical guest I'd like to see. Letterman is the only one I actually watch.

I watched Leno Tuesday night and I laughed out loud at some of his jokes in the monologue I gotta admit. (Of course seeing Mike Huckabee crack a few and then sit in with the band and jam on a bass guitar was pretty cool too...of course my thoughts on that will be saved for another discussion)

mrmacphisto wrote:As far as I know, Letterman is the only one using writers, as Worldwide Pants is one of the few studios (if not the only) to reach a deal with the WGA. I thought Conan was hilarious last night. I'm hoping he keeps trying to break his personal record for wedding-ring-spinning on his desk.

I caught that. Hilarious. His face was pricesless when she said he didn't get the record.

I think Conan is going out of his way to prove that NBC needs to get his writers back.

BJWilliams wrote:I watched Leno Tuesday night and I laughed out loud at some of his jokes in the monologue I gotta admit. (Of course seeing Mike Huckabee crack a few and then sit in with the band and jam on a bass guitar was pretty cool too...of course my thoughts on that will be saved for another discussion)

Leno wasn't new until Wednesday night.

Youre right...my fault on that one. In any case, I found it very entertaining nonetheless

Watching Conan tonight, I don't know how anyone can choose to watch Craig Ferguson over him. Conan O'Brien is easily the most talented of all the late-night hosts. He's doing an amazing job without writers, and I think he'll win my viewership over Letterman when he moves to the Tonight Show. I was undecided before this week.

It's all past my bed time...and I tried to stay up to catch Leno last night.

mrmacphisto wrote:Watching Conan tonight, I don't know how anyone can choose to watch Craig Ferguson over him. Conan O'Brien is easily the most talented of all the late-night hosts. He's doing an amazing job without writers, and I think he'll win my viewership over Letterman when he moves to the Tonight Show. I was undecided before this week.

i agree....his interview with jim kramer was hilarious...

as are most of the interviews he does...he can interview the most boring person in the world and make it funny..

mrmacphisto wrote:Watching Conan tonight, I don't know how anyone can choose to watch Craig Ferguson over him. Conan O'Brien is easily the most talented of all the late-night hosts. He's doing an amazing job without writers, and I think he'll win my viewership over Letterman when he moves to the Tonight Show. I was undecided before this week.

His interviews are decent, but he's just annoying to me now. I used to absolutely love Conan, but then I started realizing he does the same exact quirks every single night. What used to be things that he'd do maybe once or twice the entire week that was funny has become something he did nearly every night and it got played out.

I got some tickets to see Conan for Christmas (anyone can get them, they're free)... just gotta figure out how I can get to NY.
I hope Conan taking over Jay doesn't fall through... there was some reports a while back about how Leno was re-contemplating his retirement in 09.

whmatthews wrote:I got some tickets to see Conan for Christmas (anyone can get them, they're free)... just gotta figure out how I can get to NY.

I had the opposite problem. I got to the studio just fine. I just had no tickets. It's still cool to take the NBC tour of 30 Rock. Visiting the SNL set was pretty awesome.

I would've liked to get Conan tickets last time I was in New York, but you have to actually call the studio to request them. I much prefer Letterman's setup, where you can request tickets online. I ended up going to Letterman instead, and sitting in the second row. It was awesome.

Maybe next time I'll try for Conan.

i saw him in chicago when he was here...it was cool but not as cool as going to rock center....

SuperJon wrote:

mrmacphisto wrote:Watching Conan tonight, I don't know how anyone can choose to watch Craig Ferguson over him. Conan O'Brien is easily the most talented of all the late-night hosts. He's doing an amazing job without writers, and I think he'll win my viewership over Letterman when he moves to the Tonight Show. I was undecided before this week.

His interviews are decent, but he's just annoying to me now. I used to absolutely love Conan, but then I started realizing he does the same exact quirks every single night. What used to be things that he'd do maybe once or twice the entire week that was funny has become something he did nearly every night and it got played out.

If conan replaces leno the tonite show will tank. Conan = not funny.

kel varson wrote:

SuperJon wrote:

mrmacphisto wrote:Watching Conan tonight, I don't know how anyone can choose to watch Craig Ferguson over him. Conan O'Brien is easily the most talented of all the late-night hosts. He's doing an amazing job without writers, and I think he'll win my viewership over Letterman when he moves to the Tonight Show. I was undecided before this week.

His interviews are decent, but he's just annoying to me now. I used to absolutely love Conan, but then I started realizing he does the same exact quirks every single night. What used to be things that he'd do maybe once or twice the entire week that was funny has become something he did nearly every night and it got played out.

If conan replaces leno the tonite show will tank. Conan = not funny.

yet jay leno is?...are you 50?

kel varson wrote:

SuperJon wrote:

mrmacphisto wrote:Watching Conan tonight, I don't know how anyone can choose to watch Craig Ferguson over him. Conan O'Brien is easily the most talented of all the late-night hosts. He's doing an amazing job without writers, and I think he'll win my viewership over Letterman when he moves to the Tonight Show. I was undecided before this week.

His interviews are decent, but he's just annoying to me now. I used to absolutely love Conan, but then I started realizing he does the same exact quirks every single night. What used to be things that he'd do maybe once or twice the entire week that was funny has become something he did nearly every night and it got played out.

If conan replaces leno the tonite show will tank. Conan = not funny.

Conan>Leno by a long shot IMO. With young people (35 years and younger), I think Conan is hands down more popular (at least in my circles). Most of the older people I hang out with like Leno. Pretty much everyone I hang out with doesn't like Letterman anymore. IMO Letterman needs to retire. He just doesn't look happy to me anymore....like he is having a good time.