In response to the NBC fiasco: A Late Night Classic

[FourScore]

Run time: 02:44 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ue3Gcp_5ESs   Posted on YouTube: September 15, 2008 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: January 16, 2010 By DU Member: FourScore Views on DU: 823

 
NBC changed a format that had worked for decades. They need to stop the drama and the blame-game now. Fire Zucker!

[endless october]

1. wow. that was actually funny.

these days, some bunch of ninnies would have a group heart attack because the guests were drinking alcohol.

[FourScore]

2. and smoking.

[MindPilot]

3. yep, the tonight show WAS Johnny Carson.

They should have let it pass with dignity when Johnny retired.

NBC has been trying to keep it going like an SNL skit that should have ended five minutes ago.

[asjr]

4. I think that was the last time the Tonight show was funny.

[lapfog_1]

5. George Gobel

possibly the last of the "deadpan" comics.

Along with Dean Martin and Bob Hope.

Thanks, that was funny. Send the kids to bed (I would sneak back in the living room to watch) and laugh your butt off at some "adult" humor.

Sigh.

[Cirque du So-What]

7. I would disagree with the 'last of the deadpan' assessment

seeing that Bob Newhart has enjoyed a lengthy career without the need for being a wild & crazy guy, and more recently Steven Wright has yet to crack a smile during the delivery of a single surrealism.

[lapfog_1]

9. yeah, Bob Newhart

forgot about him. Possibly the greatest "sketch" deadpan comic of all time.

And Chevy Chase could do it too, his "caught on the phone with the Mrs." at the beginning of "Weekend Update" segments of the early Saturday Night Live were classics.

But George could do it as well as anyone in "story telling" mode, like this bit from the Carson Tonight Show.

[Cirque du So-What]

6. Heluva line-up that night

Sad to think all four of those guys are dead now (five if you count Ed, who's off-camera contributing sporadic guffaws to the hilarity).

[lapfog_1]

10. Well, it was 40+ years ago now.

Makes me feel really old. Probably because I AM getting old.

[Writer]

8. Zucker is a joke in comparison to the Silverman/Tartikoff era.

He needs to get bought out for $30 million and sent walking. Kick his ass out for ruining an otherwise great network.

[beyurslf]

11. That was really funny. I amazed they were smoking and drinking though.

[MiniMe]

12. They smoked on I Love Lucy, Phillip Morris sponsored the show

Lucy and Ricky both smoked.

[FourScore]

13. Back then, alcohol and cigarettes were all over the screen.

View it as a cultural historical norm and be glad we have improved on that.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

14. Did you see Dean

flick his cig ash into George's glass? :)

[Drunken Irishman]

15. Dean Martin is f'n ashing into Gobel's glass! haha

[bitchkitty]

16. Sigh...

I have tried, but I just don't get it, and never have. I never watch the Tonight show, have always found it extremely boring and never got the attraction of Johnny Carson.

Is there something wrong with me? LOL