kib

There was been some odd image composition this evening. It really shows up on the "home base" shot (dead center of the stage). I think what is going on is that camera is one of those specialty cams with no operator that pops out of the edge of the stage and is using a lens that can go very wide or very tight. The 'two-shot' of the presenters is just on the very edge of how wide a shot it can get, almost to the point that any distance change between the lens and the talent is critical. Too close and you'll get a weird distortion when noses get very long and the background looks exaggerated like it is further away from the talent than reality. Also the long shots are really closer than they should be. When you don't have a human that can tremor behind the gear of course you get in close, but should you?

If Harry Styles and his dancers looked a little rattled at the beginning of the "As it Was" turntable production it's because they were. He and the dancers had been practicing for weeks on the number even up to showtime. They all took the stage and presumably one of IATSE's finest threw the switch to start the turntable rotating unfortunately in the wrong direction than rehearsed resulting in the all performers being forced to doing the number backwards/reversed immediately and without practice. It was all on the fly. That Harry and the cast were able to do the steps in the opposite direction having never ever done so really speaks to how talented and professional these folks are. Just mind boggling.

The awards folks didn't need to give participants alcohol, didn't you see Lizzo take that wee glass flask out of her purse and have a nip?

Very thoughtful and artistic approach Mick Fleetwood took with his percussion, performing it almost like a funeral dirge. Might be one of the few in memoriam segments I've ever watched that actually felt right.

Great to see Shaffer and the band gather for a gig even if it was for Fallon. Nobody does 'walk-on" music like they do (which is to say they are the only band that plays more than a bar of some song. Most of them just keep repeating the same riff over and over until told to stop by somebody in the broadcast booth) Only disappointment was Paul going off on one of his music insider stories. Only person I've determined that keeps him from prattling on was Letterman who ran a tight ship in that regard. Also, would it have killed anyone to introduce members of the band? Oh yeah, Paul wasted that time doing the lounge act. Great to see everyone there albeit a missing Sid McGinnis. IIRC near the end of the Late Show gig there was a little friction between him and someone with the show. I vaguely remember thinking he was let go, but he tours with a lot of acts so he might have just been on the road. They even got to play the NBC "Late Night with..." theme at the end of the show. Anton's solos in that piece are just the best.

You're probably right but not many are going to sting as badly or land so well as Eddie Murphy's drop.

A couple of thoughts: Garth Brooks really brought it on doing "Midnight Train...) I didn't know he had it in him. RE: Amy Grant's bona fides. If you ever get chance (let alone find the cut) she participated in a Carole King tribute album performing "It's Too Late". It might be the best cover I've ever listened to. It was flawless.

Wild ass guess... Batiste, his legal representation or his production company own the rights to the name "Stay Human". Because he's no longer working for CBS or Colbert's production company, he took the name with him. Batiste Inc. may have decided the name is more valuable for him than CBS et.al. if there were any discussions about selling or licensing the name. I vaguely remember something like this happening when Letterman & Shaffer jumped to CBS and NBC was getting pissy about what he could or he couldn't bring to the new show. What do we now name it? Late Show Band/CBS Orchestra/World's Most Dangerous Band? Probably more about IP rights than anything else.

I wonder if some of that comes from the departure of EP, Showrunner and all around wunderkind Chris Licht. IIRC Licht's contract with CBS ended in April so I suspect he's not even in the building anymore. Licht, BTW left "The Late Show" to take the position of president of CNN going back to his roots of being something of a news guy.

Not to dunk too hard on her but Martha Stewart is looking and sounding all of her age of 80. It may be time for her to stay put at her bucolic farm and call it a day. If I were one of the many businesses that pony up a fair amount of cash to be affiliated with her I'd more than a little concerned, but who knows, maybe she and her brand will just live on into perpetuity like Gianni Versace, Walt Disney or Jimmy Dean (of sausage fame).

Sadly Colbert treated Esper with a light touch. No squirming. Apatow, on the other hand, gave him both barrels much to the audience's approval. Really disappointed in Colbert. I don't think it's the host's job to be antagonist with a guest, but he treated Esper with kid gloves. I think it needlessly makes Colbert appear as something of a softball interviewer, and to what end? It's not like Esper was some exclusive "get" and it makes Colbert look like all hat no cattle in terms of talking a good game in the monologue then going all teddy bear at the desk.

It will be interesting to see who CBS can scrape up to host the LLS. My opinion is they hit the bottom of the barrel with Corden, particularly after the one and only Craigie Fergie skedaddled out of there. I suspect it will be someone not particularly well known (gotta keep those talent fees low) and more like Jimmy Fallon (a man-puppy hybrid who hosts a children's birthday party at 11:35p) than Seth Meyers, who has the late night smart and sassy well covered. In any event, the only thing I'll miss about the program is Reggie Watts.

"It's nice being remembered" - Bruce Vilanch

A lot of it goes to studio ownership. Huge corporations aren't really known to have much of a sense of humor. In Letterman's case the "GE Handshake" told you everything you need to know about his future at NBC. Excellent post, helps explain a lot of things.

Letterman just made a comment that even though he blames himself for the terrible performance and show when he hosted the Oscars, "at least NOBODY GOT HIT."