Old School Conan is BACK!!!!!

[Benmrx]

I can't tell you how stoked I am to see that both Andy Richter and Max Weinberg are with Conan O'Brian on the tonight show now. It's basically the old school Late Late Show from 10 years ago. That sketch with the universal tram was pretty damn funny.

[bcgood]

Conan rules, I've been into that show since the beginning when no one seemed to get him or want to give him a chance. Tonight's show was pretty funny but definitely not as good as the old show. The tram tour was funny as was Will Ferrell's regal entrance.

Either way though I'm definitely happy to see him in his new well deserved spot. It seems like it would have been better to have Andy at his side like the old show and have Joel Godard remain as announcer who was extremely funny in that role.

[Bob Olhsson]

Of course he's had months to prepare his first few weeks. The question is how will he do up against Letterman after a month or two?

[Recycled_Brains]

Originally Posted by Sounds Great

Will Ferrell can be funny, but I didn't find myself laughing too much last night. Conan was good but he has to come up with some new schtick.

And what happened to the sound for Pearl Jam? The sound was horrible and MONO!

Something was awry with the sound the whole night. Weinberg and Co. sounded pretty lousey too.

But yeah, Pearl Jam sounded terrible. Not a bad performance, but a bad mix. Also, they really need to come up with some good material.

I'm o.k. with the mono thing. It's TV. Not everyone has stereo TV set (as in me).

[bcgood]

Originally Posted by Sounds Great

And what happened to the sound for Pearl Jam? The sound was horrible and MONO!

That's funny, I was sitting there thinking. Ok, I'm listening to this on a t.v. that emphasizes the mids which means I should be able to hear the vocals and yet I can't understand one word Eddie is singing. It made me think of a comment I made just a day or two ago about how difficult it is to teach FOH guys that vocals are king in a mix.

[JSG]

Sorry, but I never could get into Conan. I see him as being obnoxious, and not funny at all. I guess I was spoiled by the likes of Steve Allen, Jack Par and Johnny Carson.

[HobbyCore]

Originally Posted by JSG

Sorry, but I never could get into Conan. I see him as being obnoxious, and not funny at all. I guess I was spoiled by the likes of Steve Allen, Jack Par and Johnny Carson.

You're just old. It happens to most of us eventually.

[JSG]

I'm sure that is the case!

[Benmrx]

Originally Posted by Bob Olhsson

Of course he's had months to prepare his first few weeks. The question is how will he do up against Letterman after a month or two?

I would assume it's not the same demographic, even though it's still "the tonight show". I would say he's more going up against Steve Colbert.

[Silver Sonya]

Originally Posted by Bob Olhsson

Of course he's had months to prepare his first few weeks. The question is how will he do up against Letterman after a month or two?

Letterman? Are you serious?

Have you seen that show lately? It's almost like he is checking his watch and can't wait for it to be over so he can get home to the Connecticut villa or whatever. Letterman is just... outta there.

At some point, the light went out in his eyes and it has never flickered on again.

Try to explain to someone who is 25 or younger that Letterman was once funny. They won't believe you.

But it's true, people. Letterman was once a very funny, engaged, present, inventive comedian with a unique persona.

Those days are long gone now, unfortunately. I feel bad for the guy... I think maybe the bitterness of losing the Tonight Show trajectory just seeped into his bones or something.

Letterman vs. Conan is like choosing asleep vs. awake.

- c

[drastic]

Yep, glad Conan is back. The show last night was a little stiff and the sound was pretty darn bad at points. I'm sure he'll be his old self and the show will flow better once they get used to the new surroundings, etc.

[Silver Sonya]

It's nice to see Conan back, but it feels a little weird right now.

The stage seems too big or wide or something. I miss the intimacy of the old NYC digs.

I'm sure they will work it out and find a rhythm. It's a really smart bunch of people.

Also, I'm curious whether older people will take a liking to Conan. There is a generational component to his humor that I imagine people 55+ won't get, necessarily.

He needs that demographic to make this gig work, ratingswise.

Will he have to change the style at all? So far, the answer seems to be no.

- c

[JSG]

Originally Posted by Silver Sonya

It's nice to see Conan back, but it feels a little weird right now.

The stage seems too big or wide or something. I miss the intimacy of the old NYC digs.

I'm sure they will work it out and find a rhythm. It's a really smart bunch of people.

Also, I'm curious whether older people will take a liking to Conan. There is a generational component to his humor that I imagine people 55+ won't get, necessarily.

He needs that demographic to make this gig work, ratingswise.

Will he have to change the style at all? So far, the answer seems to be no.

- c

There will definitely be a generational issue with his humor. As I stated in an earlier post on this thread I just don't like his demeanor, his humor, and find him obnoxious. But, I do understand he must have an audience out there or he wouldn't be working. I'm 61 by the way.

[Silver Sonya]

So do you like Letterman?

- c

[JSG]

If you are asking me, I used to watch him quite a bit after Leno took over the Tonight Show. But, as pointed out by another member he has lost his spark. We, also have some political differences, but, I try to keep politics out of my entertainment choices.
I was just kind of warming up to Leno, and I will see how he does on his new show.

[bcgood]

Originally Posted by JSG

As I stated in an earlier post on this thread I just don't like his demeanor... I'm 61 by the way.

LOL, you don't like Conan's demeanor? He comes across as a very cool guy, laid back and smart, good taste to boot. I think a lot of his humor, especially the early more edgy stuff went over a lot of people's heads. He was a writer for The Simpson's and SNL in both their heydays and is a Harvard graduate; in other words he's got the credentials and the smarts. It's kind of funny because I think a lot of old people really just don't get half of the jokes. It's kind of like the bizarro world version of Jeopardy.

[Nu-tra]

New Pearl Jam sounds like the song "Gut Feeling" by Devo.

[JSG]

Originally Posted by bcgood

LOL, you don't like Conan's demeanor? He comes across as a very cool guy, laid back and smart, good taste to boot. I think a lot of his humor, especially the early more edgy stuff went over a lot of people's heads. He was a writer for The Simpson's and SNL in both their heydays and is a Harvard graduate; in other words he's got the credentials and the smarts. It's kind of funny because I think a lot of old people really just don't get half of the jokes. It's kind of like the bizarro world version of Jeopardy.

Now wait just a minute! "Old"? Can't we just go with "mature"?

[JSG]

Originally Posted by Sounds Great

Never thought Letterman was funny. The writing is terrible. It is just banter, with good guests or bands, worth watching sometimes. Same for Leno, has nothing to do with being old. Johnny was just, much better at it. He set the bar pretty high.

Conan might grow into it, but we have already seen him for years. And jokes with his hair and facial movements are so played.

Ditto!

[Silver Sonya]

Originally Posted by bcgood

LOL, you don't like Conan's demeanor? He comes across as a very cool guy, laid back and smart, good taste to boot. I think a lot of his humor, especially the early more edgy stuff went over a lot of people's heads. He was a writer for The Simpson's and SNL in both their heydays and is a Harvard graduate; in other words he's got the credentials and the smarts. It's kind of funny because I think a lot of old people really just don't get half of the jokes. It's kind of like the bizarro world version of Jeopardy.

I agree with you, but the thing is it doesn't matter what we think. We're already fans.

The challenge that lies before Conan now is to convince a wider, more mainstream audience that he should be invited into their home every night.

This demographic includes older people for whom his style is... a little weird.

For example, my Dad doesn't get his rhythms at all. My Dad's a fairly hip guy, but he's still... my Dad. Y'know?

Conan can no longer afford to be snobby about this issue. I mean, he knew this when he took the job.

He's gotta win over the whole audience now.

- c

[ProducerBoy]

Grabbing a wider, mainstream audience will be a challenge as Conan has been pretty quirky and out there. Balancing out the quirky that the fans love with some of that snarky Daily Show appeal might help.

[Silver Sonya]

But "snarky" is exactly what the older audience doesn't like.

It's a paradox, for sure.

I hope it works out!

- c

[ProducerBoy]

Originally Posted by Silver Sonya

But "snarky" is exactly what the older audience doesn't like.

It's a paradox, for sure.

I hope it works out!

- c

I hope so too. I'm rooting for Conan.

[Silver Sonya]

Originally Posted by ProducerBoy

I hope so too. I'm rooting for Conan.

Me too!!

- c

[rectifier]

Conan new PJ song

[Dopamine]

IMO, that show was lame as hell. You guys really laughed at that predictable, played out s*it (ie, the tram sketch)? Maybe I had a rough day, but I think I smiled once (when Will Ferrell was saying how Conan had a slim chance of making it). I actually like Conan and expected way more.

I think the Adam Corolla podcast is WAY funnier.. that actually has me LOL.

[bcgood]

I think Conan just needs to be himself. The worst thing he could do is try to act or do things just to please an older demographic. People will like him if they give him a chance. He is really so much funnier than Leno it's ridiculous. I will say this though, I feel the stage is a little big and it is hard for me to get used to the BIGNESS of everything now. Even Conan looked a little out of it. I'm sure he'll get his groove back but if you where a fan of the early Conan like I was then you know that it will be hard to beat.

[Silver Sonya]

Originally Posted by bcgood

I think Conan just needs to be himself. The worst thing he could do is try to act or do things just to please an older demographic. People will like him if they give him a chance. He is really so much funnier than Leno it's ridiculous. I will say this though, I feel the stage is a little big and it is hard for me to get used to the BIGNESS of everything now. Even Conan looked a little out of it. I'm sure he'll get his groove back but if you where a fan of the early Conan like I was then you know that it will be hard to beat.

I agree with all of this, including the "stage feels too big" thing.

I got an email from a friend of mine named Maya and she wrote "Is it me, or does the stage feel too... diffuse?"

- c

[mrlouie]

im waiting for the night Conan brings back Pimpbot 5000 & the Masturbating Bear for the Tonight Show crowd. ..

[cl516]

THEY KEPT THE THEME SONG! YAAAAAAY!!!
I'm still waiting for him to say 'be cool, my babies!'