Conan's mic

[aleatoric]

Originally Posted by JP11

if the guest is someone like Will Ferrell, he obviously prepares comedy bits with the show and Conan becomes the straight man...

I think Ferell just is. He does not really prepare all the much, he has ideas and places to go but much of what he does/says comes off very effortless and improvised. Conan just comes off like a bunch of struggle and self doubting to me (although I am aware that is part of his bit). Not really what I like to watch when I sit down to laugh. I think the interviews are always really cool. One of the main reasons I watch the Tonight Show. So being able to interview good is key. I think Larry King is one of the best interviewers out there, he projects very little of himself, has no real bias (at least it is not evident while watching him) and gets incredible information and stories out of those on his show. Letterman does this very well too, Leno as well. Conan.....not so much.

[JP11]

Originally Posted by aleatoric

I think Ferell just is. He does not really prepare all the much, he has ideas and places to go but much of what he does/says comes off very effortless and improvised. Conan just comes off like a bunch of struggle and self doubting to me (although I am aware that is part of his bit). Not really what I like to watch when I sit down to laugh. I think the interviews are always really cool. One of the main reasons I watch the Tonight Show. So being able to interview good is key. I think Larry King is one of the best interviewers out there, he projects very little of himself, has no real bias (at least it is not evident while watching him) and gets incredible information and stories out of those on his show. Letterman does this very well too, Leno as well. Conan.....not so much.

Well people like different stuff...I don't think Will Ferrell is very funny unless something is written (like some SNL sketches)...when he improvises it's generally not funny to me at all...I think Conan can be funny either way and I like him...c'est la vie...I like Kimmel too....don't like Fallon...used to like Letterman...

interview-wise...I just don't think that "real" interviews are what Conan is about...I don't think any of the late night interviewers are very good unless I like the guest...usually, I just like the skits and stuff, and fast forward through the interviews...

[Makinithappen]

Originally Posted by JP11

...I don't think Will Ferrel is very funny unless something is written (like some SNL sketches)...

Judging by all of my clients and friends, tho, one would think I was the only person in the world that doesn't enjoy WFs comedy stylings.

It seems like when he has to improvise, he just opens his eyes really wide and acts like a 3 year old. Just a one trick pony....

I suppose the same could be said for a lot of comedians though...

[RKrizman]

Originally Posted by Plush

I didn't look at the mic because his show is so idiotic. Aimed at a 20 year old.
why is it that Conan's show is always only all about Conan?

I think that NBC has made a colossal mistake.

I think you're giving him too much credit. I can't imagine any 20 year old finding him funny--they're all watching way funnier shite on youtube that's 10 times edgier.

(i.e., this from another thread) YouTube - Auto-Tune the News #4: spa regulation. serbians. sotomayor.

I found the show too painful to watch. Conan's discomfort is contagious. And are we not geting enough of Will Ferrell?

This is still old school network tv and will probably hold its numbers relative to the rest of NBC's shows and eventually go down with the ship.

-R

[JP11]

Originally Posted by RKrizman

I think you're giving him too much credit. I can't imagine any 20 year old finding him funny--they're all watching way funnier shite on youtube that's 10 times edgier.

(i.e., this from another thread) YouTube - Auto-Tune the News #4: spa regulation. serbians. sotomayor.

I found the show too painful to watch. Conan's discomfort is contagious. And are we not geting enough of Will Ferrell?

This is still old school network tv and will probably hold its numbers relative to the rest of NBC's shows and eventually go down with the ship.

-R

I suppose age has something to do with what's funny to a certain degree, but I don't think it makes all that much difference...if that clip is edgy and/or funny than I guess I'm happily over the age of 12...just what we need are more crappy R&B autotuned Andy Samberg pieces of nothing...

[aleatoric]

Conan is great. No doubt he should have a show but its in the same way SPIKE should have there shows, does not appel to everyone but still very worthy of a certain audience. I just personally don't think he is all to great doing the tonight show thing, certainly talking about yourself all the time and not interviewing guess well gets old over the years.

My Dad hates Will Ferell for whatever reason. Can't stand him, in SNL, his movies, stand up or otherwise. That being said my Dad loves Louis Black, Bill Muray, Chris Rock, etc.

To each his own I suppose.

Ultimately I just think Conon does not hold the comedy genius of those who came before him in the late night mainstream talk show seen.

I hope he proves me otherwise!


P.S. I have not owned a TV for 6 years, I get my TV online and do not always watch every late night show (although....me and the girl always watch stewart and cobert on hulu the night after it airs!)

[audiogeek]

you're right, Conan is terrible, NBC made a mistake, late night is doomed.

its too bad they didn't have you sage seasoned hip youngster fogies to point it out, right? i oh wait... he's got like millions of avid viewers that love him, myself included. i'm just happy he's on at a decent hour now, 12:30 was way too late for me! actually like it that youth is a point of derision here, you won't see that anywhere else.

yes the desk mics are always props on those shows. ever watch letterman hammer on that thing with his pencil? and conan often knocks the thing clear across the desk....

but i'm always trying to figure out what they are... conan's does look like an AT somethingorother.

p.s. dfegadfallon blows

[larry b]

I've always enjoyed Conan. Also, his interplay with Max and LaBamba is hilarious at times. I haven't had the chance to catch him on the Tonight Show yet, but i can confirm that the desktop mic on his old show was an AT4050. Def not quite long enough to be a 4060 Tube. And yes its a prop. The desktop mic on every talk show is a prop and has been a prop dating all the way back to the introduction of the very first lapel mics.

thumbsupthumbsup

[aleatoric]

[QUOTE=audiogeek;4245167]
p.s. dfegadfallon blows[/QUOTE


ahhhhh! something the majority of people can agree on!

although i did watch one of his shows the other night and laughed quite a bit. not sure if it was at him or with him but it was a funny 45 minutes.

[A LaMere]

I love Conan... there, I said it.

The mic must not always function as only a 'prop'..
I've heard him wack it with his hand or a pen and it made a big 'clonk' on the telecast because it obviously peaked out somewhere...

He then grabbed the mic and spoke into it directly...again, completely distorting the mic before someone grabbed a knob and turned it down slightly...

it must at least be partially on.. or it's a prop that's capable of being turned on?

[imloggedin]

Conan is the best. If you dont like him you probably dont have a sense of humor, or are old.

[eligit]

just waitin for the return of triumph the insult comic dog.

[RKrizman]

Originally Posted by JP11

I suppose age has something to do with what's funny to a certain degree, but I don't think it makes all that much difference...if that clip is edgy and/or funny than I guess I'm happily over the age of 12...just what we need are more crappy R&B autotuned Andy Samberg pieces of nothing...

I dunno, an autotuned Katie Couric cracks me up every time. Although, age probably is a factor. You have to be old enough to know who Couric, Gingrich or Satomayor are in order to get the jokes.

The Tonight Show has always been about old people and mainstream cultural dreck. With Conan, nothing has changed.

-R

[AllAboutTone]

Originally Posted by Jim Williams

Who cares? The mic is a prop.

I think its on somewhat, you could hear the taps on his table.

[audiogeek]

watching it right now....

La Bamba IS on the show...

as is Andy Richter? Could this be a dream?

"In the new issue of Rolling Stone, Adam Lambert will admit he is gay. In other news, Amy Winehouse admits admits to the magazine that she drinks a bit."

classic.

[voicegenius]

Originally Posted by JP11

Well people like different stuff...I don't think Will Ferrell is very funny unless something is written (like some SNL sketches)...when he improvises it's generally not funny to me at all...I think Conan can be funny either way and I like him...c'est la vie...I like Kimmel too....don't like Fallon...used to like Letterman...

interview-wise...I just don't think that "real" interviews are what Conan is about...I don't think any of the late night interviewers are very good unless I like the guest...usually, I just like the skits and stuff, and fast forward through the interviews...

+1 I don't think WF is funny either... I actually like him when he's serious like in "Stranger Than Fiction"... His movie's aren't that funny, although "Old School" has to be one of his greatest of all time....

[Makinithappen]

Originally Posted by voicegenius

+1 I don't think WF is funny either... I actually like him when he's serious like in "Stranger Than Fiction"... His movie's aren't that funny, although "Old School" has to be one of his greatest of all time....

Oh.. I forgot about about Stranger Than Fiction.... I think thats the only thing he's been in that I have actually liked.

[larry b]

Originally Posted by A LaMere

I love Conan... there, I said it.

The mic must not always function as only a 'prop'..
I've heard him wack it with his hand or a pen and it made a big 'clonk' on the telecast because it obviously peaked out somewhere...

He then grabbed the mic and spoke into it directly...again, completely distorting the mic before someone grabbed a knob and turned it down slightly...

it must at least be partially on.. or it's a prop that's capable of being turned on?

Exactly. The desk mic is connected to the mixer, with the fader down. Its possible to easily bring up the fader if the mic is being used for comedic effect.

[Makinithappen]

Originally Posted by larry b

Exactly. The desk mic is connected to the mixer, with the fader down. Its possible to easily bring up the fader if the mic is being used for comedic effect.

Yep... Thats what I've always thought..

[RTR]

Originally Posted by edgarbc1

thumbsup
fallon is not funny. he reads the cue cards so deliberately..
.. not funny just like SNL..



i hope LaBamba moved to LA with the band!
... in the year 2000!

Ya he's there....And yes..the mic is plugged in, it helps to take the big ass ROOM out of his voice!!!

[RTR]

Originally Posted by JP11

Well people like different stuff...I don't think Will Ferrell is very funny unless something is written (like some SNL sketches)...when he improvises it's generally not funny to me at all...I think Conan can be funny either way and I like him...c'est la vie...I like Kimmel too....don't like Fallon...used to like Letterman...

interview-wise...I just don't think that "real" interviews are what Conan is about...I don't think any of the late night interviewers are very good unless I like the guest...usually, I just like the skits and stuff, and fast forward through the interviews...

HE even sucks on s&L...These day's SnL sucks..I have been watching the first season on dvd and it is so much better!!!

[CapnMarvel]

If it ain't Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert, I don't give a rat's ass.

[creegstor]

On the subject of "real" interviews I do think it's a shame that these have gone the way of the dodo. For the most part they're thinly disguised (if at all) promos with nothing of substance or real interest, y'know... actual TALK!!

In this regard Conan deserves major props for the time he had Richard Harris on... he turned to the camera and basically said 'I don't care what our schedule is supposed to be, we're staying with Richard Harris for the whole show'. Then they just sat and chatted and Conan totally sat back from being the center of attention. Wise decision. I've seen Harris on a bunch of different shows from around the world and he is without doubt the greatest interviewee I've ever seen on tv.

[eligit]

conan is funny and i like the band as well.

however if i want interviews.....his show is hardly the best place to look...it is just brief publicity "interviews" for pushing books, movies, etc...with commercials every 5 minutes.....nothing more.

think charlie rose and for vintage stuff dick cavett (check out youtube)...or fresh air (radio show). john stewart does some decent interviews from time to time in a more confrontational mode.

leno was crap and letterman is funny and cool but does not do long form detailed interviews either.

[Quint]

Originally Posted by Plush

I didn't look at the mic because his show is so idiotic. Aimed at a 20 year old.
why is it that Conan's show is always only all about Conan?

I think that NBC has made a colossal mistake.

And you thought Leno was better??? That guy is as boring as they come. But to each their own.

I'm waiting for the return of Triumph.

And the mic sounds like it's on to me whenever he plays with it.

[soundshaper]

If any of those "prop" mics weren't at least plugged-in and ready to be live, then the engineer has a screw loose.

[vernier]

Like him or not, Conan is wittier and quicker than the rest put together.

Letterman, Conan's one time potential competition, has become dreary. Time to put him out to pasture.

[bobsandifer]

I guess it would be nice if the engineer from the show would chime in but the mic is real and it is live. It thunks and rattles with the best of them. I am sure some of the other engineers that work broadcast can tell you why that mic is used.

I have to admit after a couple of years I just had to quite watching Lenno. Conan is a refreshing new take on an old late night tradition. I really dont care for the band if that helps the anti Conan cause

[Jim Williams]

Conehead is a rock stuck in a hard place. He's too sophomoric for the older crowd, not "You Tube" edgy enough for the younger set used to stuff like "Jackass".

Reports from GE and NBC say Conehead has been very disappointing in the ratings, a 1/2 drop off from Leno peaks. They have been in discussions with Leno to return him to the Tonight Show and cancel his 10pm show next season.

It's not about what you like, it's about what everyone else likes, it's the ratings.
Ratings for the Tonight Show are not good.

Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades

[lovekrafty]

I actually worked on the Tonight Show's production room's and Stage ( I intergrated the audio production rooms amonst other things ), I was actually at the show on Monday , his Mic is on.

< My avatar was taken in the Tonight Show Audio Control Room.

Cheers
LK