What's up with Conan O'Brien and Brian Williams.

[skypilot]

NBC New anchor, Brian Williams, was on Conan O'Brien last night. I personally don't like Williams so maybe this colors my perception of events but it seems to me that there is a barely suppressed hostility between him and Conan. They do this kind of schtick where they sling barbs back and forth but I can't help but feel that there is some real hostility behind it. The first time I saw Williams on O'Briens show was a couple years ago and near the end of the segment Conan said something like, "Ok, I want to ask you this one last thing because I really want to get you out of here. (Emphasis mine) Last night they were going at it and Williams kept trying to get these barbs in and a couple times the audience didn't laugh AT ALL. At one point it was so bad that the audience was obviously cued to applaud even though Williams's joke had fallen flat. The upshot of it all was that Conan ended up calling Williams an "empty shell". Of course, he said it in that jokey Conan way (almost) but I don't think I've ever heard a talk show host call a national news anchorman an "empty shell". Even if I'm wrong and O'Brien and Williams are pals and this is just a schtick they do, it still kinda bothers me because it seems to me that Williams should be spending his time being a journalist rather than getting this talk show schtick down pat. And it really did look like something he'd spent time trying to perfect. I just kept looking at him and thinking, "This guy's a journalist?" I can't help but wonder if Conan was thinking along the same lines when he called Williams an "empty shell".

[RT Atlanta]

1. Williams

Seemed like one arrogant and camera-hogging motherfucker. Conan of course handled it with his usual skill and managed what I thought were some good subtle barbs, but the stint did nothing to change my already negative opinion of Williams.

[skypilot]

3. He IS a camera-hogging motherfucker.

He comes of as though he wants to be Jack Nicholson or something. That's why I was having such a hard time looking at him and reconciling what I saw with the fact that he is supposed to be a journalist. I think Conan sees this camera-hogging posturing on Williams's part. Something had to have inspired him to call the man an empty shell.

[RT Atlanta]

5. Forgot to say...

That I really liked that line - you could see a subtle change in Williams' eyes too when Conan landed that one - it stung the bastard.

You're right on SkyPilot - is Williams a wanna-be entertainer marauding as a "reporter" or is he a journalist with some form of professionalism and impartiality? He needs to make up his mind - clearly NBC could care less.

[Skittles]

2. Brian Williams is an asshole

he can hide it while reading a teleprompter but he cannot hide his personality when he is being interviewed

[indepat]

14. An asshole maybe, but not such a bad asshole for he listens to Rush,

does not he?

[noamnety]

4. Isn't Williams the one

that didn't correct McCain when he was lying his ass off saying social security would be completely broke in 15 years?

[skypilot]

6. I didn't see that exchange...

...but it wouldn't surprise me. Williams definitely comes off like a Bush shill. I actually used to have a crush on the man. His first appearance on Conan's show crushed that crush.

[noamnety]

7. Here's a link

http://mediamatters.org/items/200502030010

"McCAIN: I think he made the strong argument for personal savings accounts, and also I think he did point out that -- look, we could wait until 15 years from now when there's no money at all left in the Social Security trust fund, but I don't think we want to wait till then --"

[KharmaTrain]

8. GE's Own Golden Boy Lays An Egg

Williams would iritate me during the Clinton days when he would use the phraze "This President"...in a nasty tone in the third person. He was off my TV dial then.

I saw him interviewed several years back and he didn't mince how he was a CONservative and was very critical of the "bias" in the media (before "librul" was automatically attached) and how he was really a "good 'ole boy". Yawn.

GE and Bob Welch groomed this sponge to feed people what they want to see & hear...rather than have to deal with independent journalists who might present a view of reality that doesn't reflect well on GE's corporate interests.

BTW...notice the opening Conan bit...his take off on the SOTU? Everyone in the show was on the set...Max, the band, even Maroon 5...when Conan "introduced" Williams, all that was shown was his closed dressing room door. Kinda reminded me of when Howard Stern first met Don Imus in Private Parts...

[skypilot]

10. And Williams tried...

...to lambast that opening skit. I think that one of his snarky comments about the opening bit was one of the things the audience didn't laugh at. He's a poster child for Republican unfunnyness.

[KharmaTrain]

12. Glad I Missed That Part

When I saw Williams on, I moved along. This guy's arrogance has always bugged me. He comes across like he's way too smart for you. I guess this is what the Right Wing loves...someone who can spew the corporate line and make it sound like it's a "good" or "positive" thing.

Williams has his nose so far up this regime's backside...as do many of the corporate media, I'll bet he was invited to participate in that opening skit and he didn't have the stones to cross his GOOP benefactors...not even for a good laugh.

At least McCain, while I think he's just as much a sleeze, can come on a joke and put the partisan spin on hold for a few seconds.

Cheers!

[skypilot]

15. I just realized who Brian Williams is trying to be.

Jon Stewart!!!!! When he goes on talks shows he tries to be the Jon Stewart of the Right.

[KharmaTrain]

17. I Was Thinking More Dennis Miller

Smarmy...uses fancy languages and the same sausage comes out.

Williams couldn't hold Stewart's jock strap box, yet alone come close to Jon's sharpness and insight.

[skypilot]

18. "...and the same sausage comes out."

LOL!!! I've never heard that one before. I love it.

[earth mom]

9. It was so bad I had to change the channel

Williams was fawning over * and Conan seemed to be into what he was saying which totally turned me off. However, given what I'm reading that Conan said later, now I get it. He was giving Williams just enough rope to hang himself. Good for you Conan! :bounce:

[skypilot]

11. Oh, you should have stayed tuned in.

Conan was definitely NOT "into" what Williams ws saying. Damn, you didn't get to hear Conan call him an "empty suit"?? I'm so glad I stayed up late enough to hear that.

[earth mom]

20. I'm sorry I missed it! n/t

[ochazuke]

13. See also this comment by Williams that shows he's no journalist

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=109&topic_id=18131&mesg_id=18131

[skypilot]

16. "not Bush's fault"

You know I vaguely remember him saying something like that. I almost feel like I dreamt it. The guy just overwhelms me with his phony, wannabe posturing that I don't always register what he's actually saying

[Shopaholic]

19. Brian Williams said recently in an interview that he's a regular

Rush listener and that he believes that Rush speaks for a large group of Americans--that he's what mainstream Americans actually think! They should have fired the motherfucker right then and there! But remember that NBC is owned by GE, a major defense contractor. They love his pathetic & oh-so-very dumb ass because he will whore for the GOP without even being prompted to do so.

[skypilot]

21. will whore...without even being prompted...

An empty shell, just like Conan said. An empty shell that's trying to be funny. It is so sad that this is what passes for a journalist these days.