VIDEO: Blago Won’t Blab to Jon Stewart

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Comedy, Talk Shows, Cable, Daily Show, The, Video

Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich appeared on The Daily Show last night to talk candidly with Jon Stewart about his public fall from grace…er, sort of. Actually, Blago mostly stuck to his carrot-on-a-stick “I’m innocent” story, wherein he is prevented from actually disclosing the evidence that will prove he did no wrong.

Click to continue reading VIDEO: Blago Won’t Blab to Jon Stewart

Read More | The Daily Show

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (0)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Email this story

Jon Stewart and Jim Cramer Clash on Daily Show

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Comedy, Prime Time, Reality, Talk Shows, Cable, Daily Show, The, Video

After a week-long media battle, in which anchors from several different networks weighed in, Jon Stewart and Jim Cramer enjoy a much-anticipated meeting on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show.

Stewart has recently focused on many of Cramer’s predictions and bits of advice, which he provides through his CNBC show Mad Money.

“I understand that you want to make finance entertaining, but it’s not a [expletive deleted] game,” Stewart sassed Cramer near the top of the interview. “I can’t reconcile the brilliance and knowledge that you have of the intricacies of the market with the crazy [expletive deleted] I see you do every night,” he said a few minutes later.

Click to continue reading Jon Stewart and Jim Cramer Clash on Daily Show

Read More | MSNBC

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (0)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Forum Discussion
• Email this story

Laugh at Poll Results with Comedy Central

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Comedy, Late Night, Reality, Cable, Daily Show, The, Gossip

As part of the Indecision ‘08 political coverage which has been raging all year long, Comedy Central will pit its two most popular late-night hosts against each other in a poll results special scheduled to air Tuesday night.

MSNBC, CNN, FOX News and all major networks, as usual, will also be offering post-poll coverage (and perhaps announcing winners early, as they are wont to do). Comedy Central’s hour-long special will surely provide more laughs than other networks, and the comedy duo of Jon Stewart/Stephen Colbert is destined to create plenty of hilarious moments.

We may want to cry over the results come tomorrow night, but Comedy Central will try to make us laugh instead…come what may.

Read More | Indecision 2008

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (0)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Forum Discussion
• Email this story

Your Daily Reports: They’re Ba-ack!

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Comedy, Cable, Daily Show, The, Gossip

Comedy Central favorites Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert are proudly sporting “Union Made” labels and enjoying a full staff of writers once more, much to the delight (and sheer relief) of fans. Late night TV is finally back on track now that the strike has ended.

With a newfound comfort in front of cameras and a relaxed joy in the air, the hosts resumed their normal duties…this time, with scripts. After weeks of watching them invent ways to fill the gaps in their programs, it was a relief to see them with full episodes once more. Though both did remarkably well under improvisational pressure, I’m happy to see them back at full staff.

Read More | Comedy Central

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (0)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Email this story

The Battle of the Late Night Hosts

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Comedy, Late Night, Talk Shows, Cable, NBC, Daily Show, The, Gossip

In an epic late night match-up, post-prime time hosts are facing off in a battle for the ages.  It’s a contest of wills that dares a meeting of cable and network TV that could rock more than one snarky show.

Well, perhaps it isn’t as big as all that - but it is mildly entertaining and it’s giving Comedy Central a little much-needed fodder in this strange world without TV writers. Like as not, even the best late night programs have been faltering. Jon Stewart is opening every episode by flicking paper footballs randomly toward his audience, and on Tuesday’s episode Stephen Colbert played with clam shells instead of monologuing. Thankfully, Colbert recently picked a fight with fellow host Conan O’Brien to keep us all amused.

Here’s the breakdown: Colbert invited Presidential contender Mike Huckabee onto The Colbert Report, thus granting him the highly coveted “Colbert bump.” Naturally, Huckabee’s popularity increased - and even he attributed this climb to Colbert. So, when Conan O’Brien claimed to be the real puppet master behind Huckabee’s success, Colbert was affronted.

Click to continue reading The Battle of the Late Night Hosts

Read More | Huffington Post

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (0)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Forum Discussion
• Email this story

Comedy Central Hosts Return

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Comedy, Late Night, Cable, Daily Show, The, Editorial, Gossip

Late night TV (and Comedy Central) got a boost Monday night with the return of The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert of The Colbert Report. Absent from TV since November 1, 2007, both hosts winged it on-air without their writers, and neither was afraid to comment on the current scriptless situation. But even with these valiant efforts, viewers didn’t see the same shows they’re used to.

It’s been pondered for weeks now, and finally the question has been answered. How will Comedy Central’s two late night shows fare without writers? For these first episodes back, both hosts talked about the strike at length, each interviewing experts on labor relations and unions. Stewart, who has a background in stand-up comedy, seemed as relaxed and at home as ever on stage, though he referred to the present as “uncomfortable circumstances.” Stewart also announced a name change for the show, to be in effect for the duration of the strike: ‘A Daily Show’.

Click to continue reading Comedy Central Hosts Return

Read More | Chicago Tribune

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (1)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Forum Discussion
• Email this story

This Week on TV (1/7-1/13)

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Action, Award Shows, Comedy, Daytime, Drama, Food & Home, Games, Late Night, Mini Series, Music, Prime Time, Reality, Sci-Fi/Horror, Sports, Talk Shows, ABC, Bravo, Cable, CBS, NBC, Syndication, The CW, Daily Show, The, Medium, My Name Is Earl

(Reminder: You can view the whole Revamped TV Programming Schedule here.)

MONDAY (1/7)

• The View (ABC, check local listings):  Elisabeth Hasselbeck returns from maternity leave.  I’d gladly sacrifice her to the union gods for an end to the writers’ strike.
• Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann (ABC, 8pm):  Here’s our chance to see if the DWTS judges can actually teach what they preach.
• American Gladiators (NBC, 8pm):  “In the men’s competition, an engineer takes on a radiation-control technician.”  The year of the nerd has now officially spilled over into 2008.
• Medium (NBC, 10pm):  Season four premiere.  “Allison has creepy visions of a boy being kidnapped from a toy store.”  I never did trust that Geoffrey Giraffe.
• Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations (Travel Channel, 10pm):  Anthony travels to Singapore for his latest season premiere.  I don’t like traveling with crusty people, but I love watching them venture on TV.
• The Daily Show/The Colbert Report (Comedy Central, 11:30pm):  Tonight Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert will crank out their versions of a writer-less show.  God love ‘em for trying.

Click to continue reading This Week on TV (1/7-1/13)

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (0)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Email this story

David Letterman Returns With Writer Support

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Late Night, Talk Shows, ABC, Cable, CBS, NBC, Daily Show, The, News

David Letterman has accomplished what no other late night host has managed to do: reach an agreement with the writers.  Of course, owning your own company does have its perks.

Letterman and his production company, WorldWide Pants, have been sitting down with the Writers Guild for some time now in hopes of working out a deal.  Late today, the two sides came to terms on an independent agreement that would allow both The Late Show with David Letterman and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson to come back on Jan. 2nd.  Although the two talk shows will technically be competing with the returns of Leno, O’Brien and Kimmel, CBS will easily have the advantage.  Letterman and Ferguson will be the only ones with the scripted jokes.

Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart will also be returning - sans writers - on January 7th.

Read More | Reuters

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (0)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Email this story

Surprises in Store for Late Night TV

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Late Night, Cable, NBC, Daily Show, The, Gossip

If you’ve attempted to watch TV at all in the last two months, you know there’s an active writers’ strike in the works. Despite the picket lines, lots of studios are “encouraging” their late night hosts to get back in the studio and back behind the desk.

Jay Leno, Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert and Conan O’Brien (among others) all intend to bring their shows back to the air beginning in January - but this time, they’re doing it without their writers. When it comes to television, this action is very much like walking a tightrope in the circus…with no safety net.

The hosts are members of the Writers Guild themselves, meaning they’ll have to pass by their union brothers and sisters on their way to work every morning (or afternoon, as the case may be). This membership also means the hosts themselves must continue to follow union rules, and will be subject to the terms and conditions therein. For instance, monologues and talk segments (like Colbert’s The Word) may no longer be part of the program. So…what, then, will viewers see on late night in January? For one, you won’t be getting scripted segments.

Click to continue reading Surprises in Store for Late Night TV

Read More | Yahoo! News

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (0)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Forum Discussion
• Email this story

Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart Return to Work

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Late Night, Talk Shows, ABC, Cable, CBS, NBC, Daily Show, The, Announcements, News

Comedy Central has just announced the January return of its two late-night talk show hosts.  Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert will ring in their new years on January 7th, five days after Kimmel, Leno and O’Brien have scheduled their starts.  The Daily Show and The Colbert Report - like the ABC and NBC programs - will resume production sans writers.  What this means for these ‘news’ shows and their largely scripted formats is unknown.

Stewart and Colbert, who are also members of the Writers Guild of America, released a joint statement about the decision:

’‘We would like to return to work with our writers. If we cannot, we would like to express our ambivalence, but without our writers we are unable to express something as nuanced as ambivalence.’‘

Meanwhile, we may get details later today about the plans for CBS’ late-night programs.  David Letterman’s company, Worldwide Pants, will be meeting with members of the WGA today.  If they can reach an interim agreement, both The Late Show With David Letterman and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson could also be hitting the airwaves - with scribes - come January 2nd.

No matter how you feel about the writers’ situation, what do you think about The Daily Show and The Colbert Report returning?  Could they possibly be as good as they were pre-strike—or do you think the quality will suffer?  Will you simply be happy to see them back regardless of the content?

Read More | Variety

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (1)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Email this story