By Kenn Tarr Notes from the film scoundrel
I HAVE BEEN GETTI NG NAUSEOUS a lot lately and it culminated last night. Watching late night talk shows without writers is like watching a fleet of Titanics set sail from Merry Old England.
Dave Letterman in a beard looks even more degenerate and Conan O’Brien in his beard looked heavily unsure of his surroundings. He was the only one operating without any writers whatsoever — the other shmoes operated with half-staffs who were granted permission to scab up with their usual employers.
Aren’t these idiots tired of striking, yet?
Late-night TV is very basic and very essential. No one really enjoys it and the numbers are preposterously low. This is all evidence that the genre is finished, especially when considering the struggling nature of “SNL.” People go to bed earlier and if they stay up late, they don’t watch the networks. Each host looked uncomfortable as heck on Wednesday night after a two-month layoff. They all cow-towed to the WGA and made uncomfortable humor about the strike. The first guests were Mike Huckabee on Leno and Bob Saget on O’Brien, while Letterman boasted the self-consumed, bloated Robin Williams.
The ratings had dwindled in recent weeks, so I bet this come-back thing will raise the ratings a mere fraction of a point. I personally liked watching the old Leno shows each night. Mind you, I haven’t even tuned in for Jimmy Kimmel yet. The Film Scoundrel rarely trounces in the scandalous sub-earth that is television.
The fact has been proven that comedians can’t host talk shows, that they obviously do need writers. I always knew this, and Conan as funny as he is, looks awkward when working in a non-monologue, non-schtick format. I found entertaining original content in Egypt on television that was as more entertaining than Leno’s ineptitude.
NOTE TO THE STRIKERS Writers, quit complaining and meeting in “secret” with the other unions. You are not Freemasons or Bilderbergers and certainly not the heavy-hitters you posture as. The writers are currently engaged in a phantom strike that is an actual menace to the entertainment industry. Don’t believe that all writers are on strike. The majority are out there striking while many are pretending solidarity while working in secret, bet your bottom dollar on that. Writers are entirely destined to be paid less.
With evaporating ratings for television, I am sure you fellows are very happy that cocaine dealers have not gone on strike as well.
A NEW PHASE FOR ‘BORAT’
The year 2010 will bring the Jim Carrey-ization of Sacha Baron Cohen. “Ali G” was retired last week, “Borat” was next. Now, Cohen will lead in Steven Spielberg’s presumed 2010 production of “The Trial of the Chicago Seven.”
Maybe Spielberg thinks Ali G showed something in the film version of “Sweeney Todd,” I personally thought his Pirelli character was the only likable and exciting thing in the entire Tim Burton debacle of dread. The film is about Abbie Hoffman and the Chicago Seven rabble-rousers. Vincent D’Onofrio memorably portrayed Abbie Hoffman in 2000’s “Steal This Movie.”
The slender Brit will likely put on some weight to portray the infamous Yippie Hoffman. This marks a turn for Cohen that many have attempted. Carrey had solid results that eventually turned sour with the commercial failure of “The Majestic.” But “The Truman Show” and “Man On The Moon” are strong serio-comic turns with heavy themes to boot.
Adam Sandler is back to comedy full-time after his art-house turns in “Punch Drunk Love” and “Spanglish.”
Robin Williams has succeeded remarkably whereas Steve Martin’s results were decidedly mixed in in “Parenthood” and “Leap Of Faith.”
Mike Myers tried meekly with “54,” Vince Vaughan with “Domestic Disturbance” and “Psycho” and thankfully, Owen Wilson never has gone there. Eddie Murphy wasn’t recognized by the Academy for “Dreamgirls,” further evidence that the funny man transition may never yield an even result.
KEN TARR is a student at Santa Monica College, an actor and writer and is also taller than 99 percent of the population. He telepathically or at
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 5, 2008. Read the original PDF.