Two new items of note I didn't have a chance to write up last night: • Andy Richter will be re-uniting with Conan O'Brien when Conan takes over "The Tonight Show" in a few months. The press release is very careful to call him the announcer, and not a sidekick, even though he "will participate in comedic pieces." I suppose the distinction gives him more flexibility if acting jobs come along than if he had to be on the couch for every show. Still, in whatever capacity he'll be on, it'll be nice to have him back more or less full-time. One of the best things about Conan's final "Late Night" was seeing the two of them together again.
• The CW has renewed six shows for next season: "Gossip Girl," "90210," "America's Next Top Model," "Smallville," "Supernatural" and "One Tree Hill." The shows themselves aren't that surprising -- if the CW was going to do early renewals, it'd be for these six. (This, by the way, doesn't mean "Privileged" or "Reaper" or other CW shows are automatically doomed, just that those decisions won't be made until closer to the upfronts.) What's semi-surprising is the way the renewals suggest the CW will definitely be around next season. Given the ratings struggles going back to the WB/UPN merger, and some of the specific disasters this year (the outsourced Sunday night shows, "13 - Fear Is Real"), there was some suggestion that Warner Bros. and/or CBS were ready to give up on the idea. Apparently we'll get at least one more season of lime-green graphics.
Andy coming back is enough to get me to flip-flop: I'm on the Conan train over Dave this June.
ReplyDeleteGood on Andy for not letting pride get in the way of a great opportunity.
Supernatural Lives...........Yess!!!!!
ReplyDelete..if the CW hangs on for another year........
For all the CSI/Grey's nois, this is the best show on Thursday nights
You're right on, Alan. It was great seeing Conan and Andy back together.
ReplyDeleteIs it just me, or did the White Stripes suck all of the energy out of the studio on Conan's last show?
Amen, CoolSid. Supernatural is an amazing show and I'm so glad Kripke gets to fulfill his five-year plan. I'll be sad if next season is the last (which seems very likely) because I'll miss it like crazy, but better to go out on a high note than limp along waiting to be put out of one's misery like Smallville or OTH.
ReplyDeleteHuh... I had my doubts that Reaper would even make it to the air -- I thought CW would go under before the spring season!
ReplyDeleteKevin,
ReplyDeleteCompletely agree about the White Stripes sucking energy out of that show. That was an almost inexcusably bad performance. The rest of the show was fantastic though, and I'm looking forward to seeing Andy and Conan together again. It says a lot about both of those guys. Andy, for going back to something he left years ago for bigger and better things, and Conan for being secure enough to bring back Andy.
I love the White Stripes (well... like a lot, I don't know about love) but I agree that performance was just terrible. I was staring at my television agape at how awful it was. A large part of their appeal (to me) is their raw nature but that was way beyond what is enjoyable.
ReplyDeleteVery glad Andy is coming back with Conan, they make a good team. It was great seeing him back for the final show. The White Stripes were terrible!!!
ReplyDeleteJust to defend the White Stripes for a moment. They played a song that was very obscure for the general public and is really only celebrated by their main fans. Also, the recorded version of "We're Going To Be Friends" is spare and quiet, much like the Late Night version was. It would have bastardized the song to play it electric and up-tempo.
ReplyDeleteMy guess, and this is utter, pure speculation, is that Conan really likes that song in its acoustic, quiet form and asked them to perform that song. The performance makes sense in that light and also makes sense in light of off-beat renditions by the Stripes in previous Late Night performances, such as playing "Effect and Cause" in 2007 while sitting in the stairs in the midst of the audience.
My guess is that, even if it may not have rocked the house, Conan loved that performance and felt it provided a quiet moment of reflection and a metaphorical statement about his friendship with his co-workers and his audience as he exited a show he had made his own over 16 years. Again, just a guess. Also, obviously I enjoyed Jack and Meg's performance.
I honestly didn't realize the CW was that close to failure. Thank goodness we'll get at least one more season of Supernatural. Now if they will just renew Privileged all will be perfect. That show has become surprisingly good.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the White Stripes, as a huge fan I will admit: yes, they were pretty awful on Conan. I know this might get me flamed, but...it was because Meg is not a very good musician. She should stick to the drums, where her ineptness is sort of charming.
Karen,
ReplyDeleteYou are correct about "We are Going to be Friends." Conan said in an interview with Rolling Stone that it was one his favorite songs ever, and that he would play it himself if rehearsals for the show go rather tense. Having Meg play guitar and sing was likely done to make up for the fact that on the album version it is a solo Jack song.
And yea for Andy coming back!
Alan, any word on what is happening with Joel Godard? I would imagine with the announcement that Andy is the announcer this would mean Joel is not joining the Tonight Show. Have you heard anything definitive about this?
ReplyDeleteArgh.... they're renewing Smallville? One of the few things that kept me going on that show was that I thought this was the last season. I want to see how they wrap their (increasingly silly) continuity into the Superman mythos.
ReplyDeleteBecause I'm a nerd, that's why.
Also, yay Andy.
guess i might as well watch those eps of 90210 on the dvr then
ReplyDeleteI'm also curious about Joel Godard.
ReplyDeleteDid he not want to move out to L.A.?
Maybe he could have a Vigoda-esque role.
Yes, the Stripes were awfulm particularly meg. She's npt a good drummer and an even worse picker, if you could call it that. Without those tits, she'd be back in Detroit or wherever the heck they're from. Can't either of them get a tan for pete's sake? Although, to be fair, I likes the pale, creamy girls.
ReplyDeleteGlad to see Andy back, not that I'm ever gonna see the show much.
I'm glad Andy's back. I thought he might be on more often; filming in LA, it would be easier for him to pop in often. I'm just not sure he'll be a good announcer. He doesn't have an announcer voice. Then again, neither does Stuttering John.
ReplyDelete