TV Scape

After having contemplated the look of late night television recently and just posting about it, it is weird and with sadness that I find Ed McMahon has passed away. If you’ve never heard of Ed McMahon, you’re too young for late night. The man was a television icon, 30 years with The Tonight Show, 35 years working with Johnny Carson alone and friends for longer than that.

I can honestly say that one of the things I like about the new Tonight Show is the relationship between Conan O’Brien and Andy Richter. I can’t help but think it will be a similar relationship, one I hope with as long a run as Ed McMahon had with Johnny Carson, a pair of entertainers who knew how to work a crowd.

I know somewhere up in heaven there is music playing and God heard someone say “Here’s Johnny!”

For a walk down memory lane visit The Tonight Show Experience.

The face of late night has changed over the past month. I wonder if Colbert regrets mentioning The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien coming on at midnight. Sorry Stephen I did change the channel when you said that. Oh yes, I’m a Conan O’Brien fan. Watched him occasionally before his new stint on The Tonight Show and now that I’ve seen The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, I watch it often.

And Kudos to Jimmy Fallon. Initially I wasn’t sure if I’d like his show but he came into his own pretty quick. I think there is a period of time, not really a learning curve, but a time for a late night host to come into his own and Jimmy Fallon did it quicker than expected. Craig Ferguson took a little longer. I’ve seen him a few times recently and he’s been alright having come into his own as well.

We didn’t have to worry about Conan coming into his own, he’s like the fine wine of late night now, or maybe he’d prefer to be called the fine aged-cheese of late night. We’ll let him decide. At least he has made watching late night worthwhile.

I never really enjoyed The Tonight Show with Leno; I don’t hate him, just could take him or leave him. Did like some of his bits he did for the show. And Letterman, quite frankly I’m surprised he has the audience he does anymore. I wonder if it is more a type of voyeurism to see what missteps Letterman will take on his show while inserting foot into mouth. I’ve less and less respect for him and I think that hurts his humor for me.

So thank NBC for Conan and Jimmy and on a good night if you are still up, Late Call with Carson Daly will brief you on the day and there will be some good music to end the night with.

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