LSSC: Season Two Episode Talk

[hello]

Quote

I'd like to see an analysis of what percentage of comedy/skit time has been devoted to Trump over the last year, for Stephen all the late night shows. My guess is at least 50%, which is too shitfucking much.

Trump could always keep his moronic spittle-flecked mouth shut and deny the court jesters their day, but he yaps and he yaps and he tweets and gives them every bit of material they need. To her credit, Hillary's advanced AI algorithms have allowed her to keep her mouth-type-device quiet for extended periods, deflecting attention back on to that ambulatory tangerine Id. She's boring by design and that leaves only His High Holy Origami-Haired Tantrum-Thrower for Colbert etc. to make fun of.

[ABay]

The announcer said "Gary Owen" and I thought "Didn't he die last year or the year before?" and then the guy came out and I was disappointed that it wasn't the Laugh-In announcer and that this one wasn't dead instead.

*It was Gary Owens on Laugh-In 

** Harsh, right? But jesus this guy is annoying.

[teddysmom]

So we sat thru like 6 minutes of that lame Duane Reade (sp?) shopping trip, and finally it got funny when Stephen started shoving stuff down his pants. 

Maybe go back and watch some of Letterman & Conan's old remote pieces.   It's like  Late Show is afraid to be funny and edgy.  Look at Seth Meyers  & James Corden, they don't follow exactly the standard late night format, they do what they're good at.   

Stephen you're a political animal.  You are being handed a gift from Baby Jesus with this election and you're flushing it down the toilet. 

[zxy556575]

4 hours ago, teddysmom said:

So we sat thru like 6 minutes of that lame Duane Reade (sp?) shopping trip, and finally it got funny when Stephen started shoving stuff down his pants. 

I sat through far less of it, but there's a reason remote pieces are pre-recorded. Two hours edited down to a few funny minutes.

Has it simply been too long since Stephen did improv for a living? Because he's not very good at it here.

[teddysmom]

I don't know if he's getting too many notes from TPTB at CBS, or if he's just got a bad case of the yips and is second guessing everything.

He brought virtually his entire writing staff  from Report, and brought on Brian Stack who has like 20 years in improv and late night writing to Late Show, and instead of raising the bar on late night tv, we're getting Amateur Talent Night at First Presbyterian. 

[Hanahope]

The opening was pretty good with the heckler, and his initial monologue/jokes were good as well.  There is a wealth of good political jokes from Trump.

[TVcritic]

I wonder what Stephen will do when the election is over? Hopefully, he has a backup plan ...

[possibilities]

That post-VP debate live show was the most phoned in thing I've ever seen.

I like the idea of Judge Judy moderating, though. I mean, not in a serious real world way, because I think the debates should theoretically be a more serious endeavor. But this year, a verbal spanking wouldn't be too outrageous for at least one of the candidates. How would Trump react to Judge Judy?

[nowandlater]

On 10/4/2016 at 6:23 AM, teddysmom said:

So we sat thru like 6 minutes of that lame Duane Reade (sp?) shopping trip, and finally it got funny when Stephen started shoving stuff down his pants. 

Maybe go back and watch some of Letterman & Conan's old remote pieces.   It's like  Late Show is afraid to be funny and edgy.  Look at Seth Meyers  & James Corden, they don't follow exactly the standard late night format, they do what they're good at.   

Stephen you're a political animal.  You are being handed a gift from Baby Jesus with this election and you're flushing it down the toilet. 

 

I'm barely watching Colbert these days, but I watched for Mindy Kaling. That whole bit was just actively irritating.

[teddysmom]

18 hours ago, possibilities said:

That post-VP debate live show was the most phoned in thing I've ever seen.

I agree.  I don't even know why they're doing them. Sam Bee is smart, she's giving herself 48 hours to write great jokes and commentary after debates. 

I have to say last night's monologue was MUCH better, and the bit about clowns was good until they did the PSA which wasted a great set up.

Some  NYC  based celebrities, ie Kelly Ripa, Anderson Cooper, Andy Cohen,  Ice T, etc.  a couple others made up like clowns would have been hilarious.  People that John Oliver uses for his segments usually are up for a good joke.   Instead of doing the actual PSA, do out takes where they're being scary and rude. 

Edited October 6, 2016 by teddysmom

[TVcritic]

Nice that Jon played music by the late Rod Temperton during the last 2 shows.

[brgjoe]

Wait...Stephen is taking Columbus Day off too?  Even me as a lowly state worker had to come in on Columbus Day.  What's next?  Should I not bother to record Arbor Day, since he might take that one off as well? 

C'mon, Stephen!  With all that is going on in world events these days, can't you take a day off some other time?  Like, I dunno...Canada Day or something?  ;)

[Hanahope]

Not just the day, the whole week.

[Athena]

I like the Home Show edition.

[briochetwist]

Just when I thought I couldn't love Stephen more, he brings on my beloved Wayne Gretzky!

[roseha]

I just love seeing Stephen interviewing Nick Offerman, I hope he becomes a recurring guest.

[Princess Sparkle]

“Oh, suspense! Democracy is going to end with a cliffhanger. I guess we’re all going to have to wait until Nov. 9 to find out if we still have a country. If Donald Trump is in the mood for a peaceful transfer of power, or if he’s going to wipe his fat ass with the Constitution.” A-FUCKING-MEN Stephen.

Edited October 20, 2016 by Princess Sparkle

[mtlchick]

Kudos to the people who had to make those sock puppets in under 2 hours. 

[kib]

Sock puppets and setting up a table on the sidewalk to chat with brides-to-be... Did someone in the master control room at CBS throw a wrong switch and put up a community cable access channel on the network feed?

[Raradra]

26 minutes ago, kib said:

Sock puppets and setting up a table on the sidewalk to chat with brides-to-be... Did someone in the master control room at CBS throw a wrong switch and put up a community cable access channel on the network feed?

Personally, I liked both of those things.

I found the chat with that woman more interesting than some of the recent celebrity interviews. I wouldn't mind more segments like that one.

[Hanahope]

The bit with Hanks and Zoltar was pretty good.  I'm sure many of us give up a lot to be 30 again.

[zxy556575]

I'm sure the segment producer briefed Hanks on the interview topics as usual, but when Stephen started his line of, "There's one thing you've taught us," I thought Tom got a slightly wary look on his face as if he was afraid what the end of that sentence would be.* Then he was relieved when it was only no crying in baseball.

Not that Hanks isn't an altogether admirable person, but one thing I really appreciate is that he never acts ashamed or embarrassed about past acting jobs. They were important to him at the time!

 

* My guess is anything having to do with a box of chocolates.

[Raradra]

It was so great to see another WERD. I was starting to think they stopped doing that segment.

[Hanahope]

Tell the Pentagon to get some of their money back from contractors charging $1,000 for a hammer.  The war in Iraq just keeps getting worse and worse.  Thanks Bush!

[bmoore4026]

OK, anyone else wonder what the fuck Mary-Louise Parker's problem was last night?  Talk about loopy

[GHScorpiosRule]

7 hours ago, bmoore4026 said:

OK, anyone else wonder what the fuck Mary-Louise Parker's problem was last night?  Talk about loopy

At least she wasn't talking as if her jaw was wired shut-through her teeth--which is how she talked when she was on The West Wing.

[TVcritic]

I liked Nazi Santa Claus. Unfortunately, the last joke (Santa doing a Trump) went under the radar because of the applause. Like the venn diagram that came out a swastika, it was quite daring (especially the salute). Kudos to CBS for allowing that.

I wonder what the FOX crowd will do with that sketch. War on Christmas again, and Stephen started it this year ...? ;-)

Edited October 29, 2016 by TVcritic

[zxy556575]

I transcribed the very beginning of Stephen's interview with Drew Carey last night. This is just Stephen's part of the back and forth conversation:

You're wearing ... uh. That was some nice physical comedy there. Um, well, uh, welcome and congratulations on celebrating your tenth year. It's extraordinary. Um, uh, but even more congratulations to Cleveland because you're Mr. Cleveland. They've been having a great sports year. Uh, uh, uh, have you been watching the series so far?

Can someone on staff please round up a Toastmaster from Anywhere U.S.A. and coach those constant ums and uhs out of him? The guy makes his living speaking.

Edited October 30, 2016 by lordonia

[Splash]

I turned on the the Nick Offerman episode and about fell out of my chair because of the Samsung cold open.  I couldn't figure out why it simultaneously startled and mildly creeped me out until I realized the voiceover guy's voice reminded me of Phil Hartman.  Am I the only one who think he's sounds similar to Hartman's Bill McNeal?

[Raradra]

Mr. Meiklejohn's sendoff was beautiful.

[zxy556575]

Mel Gibson, really? That's so gross I actually wrote to the show to complain. It takes a lot to get me off my complacent, non-confrontational ass. Completely disgusted.

Edited November 5, 2016 by lordonia

[Slovenly Muse]

Agreed. That was painful. And Stephen obviously did not want to be interviewing him, probably because having to sit down and make nice with an abusive misogynist really undercuts his credibility as an outspoken feminist and Trump critic. Plus, even Gibson should realize that his projects are likely to be more successful when he does NOT make personal appearances to promote them. From his studio's POV, it probably would have been better PR to send that other actor on alone and ask him to make some positive statement about working with Gibson. So really, who won here? The whole thing was gross.

[TVcritic]

Liked the Conspiracy segment, especially rearranging 'Donald Trump' to 'Tan Dump Lord'! Remember what he did to 'Reince Priebus'? Crisp Bee Urine!

How about an own segment? Take any name and rearrange it! His writers are great at it. 

[DrSparkles]

On 11/1/2016 at 0:01 PM, Raradra said:

Mr. Meiklejohn's sendoff was beautiful.

Adorable!!! Kissed on the lips!

[Muffyn]

The Mel Gibson interview was really disturbing.  I noticed Stephen left more room between himself and Mel on the blanket than he has with other guests.  Mel seemed unhinged.  You would think they would work with him to stop bugging his eyes out.  He is really creepy.  I felt sorry for Stephen.  Talk about having to bow down to your corporate overlords.  I hate that his new movie is well reviewed.  I don't want even a penny going to that misogynist, anti-Semitic, Jesus torture porn creating loon. 

On a friendly note, playing the clip from West Side Story when talking about Trump's advisors trying to get him to stay on point, "Play it cool", was brilliant. 

[GHScorpiosRule]

5 minutes ago, Muffyn said:

The Mel Gibson interview was really disturbing.  I noticed Stephen left more room between himself and Mel on the blanket than he has with other guests.  Mel seemed unhinged.  You would think they would work with him to stop bugging his eyes out.  He is really creepy.  I felt sorry for Stephen.  Talk about having to bow down to your corporate overlords.  I hate that his new movie is well reviewed.  I don't want even a penny going to that misogynist, anti-Semitic, Jesus torture porn creating loon. 

On a friendly note, playing the clip from West Side Story when talking about Trump's advisors trying to get him to stay on point, "Play it cool", was brilliant. 

For realzies. I mean, I was devastated when I heard him spouting such hate, and another actor I loved went crashing down and crossed off my list. Then the abusive/misogynist stuff on tape. Yet he was talking as if his hate spewed speech was the "only" thing he'd ever done and he shouldn't be judged for that "one mistake." Riiiight.

The beard wasn't helping, either. Made him look more unhinged.

[mtlchick]

I ALMOST recorded the Gibson interview, then realized then I was sane and didn't.  I ALMOST didn't record the Patton Oswalt interview, then realized I was insane and did.  Patton's interview was really beautiful.  

[ZoqFotPik]

I love how Stephen uses his stapler for everything in the office scenes.

[GHScorpiosRule]

JON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[gatopretoNYC]

That first 15 minutes tonight was phenomenal.

[GHScorpiosRule]

I'm still holding out hope Jon will make an appearance on tomorrow night's show. And Ollie as well.

[Raradra]

That was one of the greatest episodes I've ever seen.

31 minutes ago, GHScorpiosRule said:

I'm still holding out hope Jon will make an appearance on tomorrow night's show. And Ollie as well.

Me too.

[GHScorpiosRule]

And SAM!!!!!!!!!!

[possibilities]

I loved the musical. Jon Stewart singing and dancing is something I never thought I'd see nor did I realize how amusing it would be. I don't understand why they think the spit takes are so funny, but I loved all the rest of it.

Also enjoyed Cheadle and Wonder. Waterson was OK, but didn't really get much airtime.

[ABay]

Always a treat to see Jon. I wish I could watch the show tomorrow but don't have Showtime. Even if it's replayed Friday, it's not the same.

[mariah23]

Does Showtime have a free trial option?

 

Edited to add: yes we can!  Download the Showtime Anytime app and it lets you watch LIVE TV on the app and you have a 30 (?) day free trial.

Edited November 8, 2016 by mariah23

[ABay]

I love you, @mariah23!

[GHScorpiosRule]

6 hours ago, mariah23 said:

Does Showtime have a free trial option?

 

Edited to add: yes we can!  Download the Showtime Anytime app and it lets you watch LIVE TV on the app and you have a 30 (?) day free trial.

Well fuck. My kindle fire isn't compatible with Google Play so I couldn't download the app!?

BUT, my cable provider has showtime FREE for six months and half price for the next year. I'm no dummy-I chose the FREE option!?

[mariah23]

1 hour ago, ABay said:

I love you, @mariah23!

I'm touched!

[Arcadiasw]

 Stephen looked close to tears toward the end.