It was a good week for Dave. He had a lot to talk about after the monologue most nights, since his beloved Indianapolis 500 is being run this weekend and Letterman co-owns a car in the race (I liked his remark about A.J. Foyt drinking a “helmet full of gas” before a race). But he also had two of his favorite guests on. Ricky Gervais was on to promote one of those Night At The Museum paycheck roles he accepts to fund his more genius projects, and told an amusing story about writing to President Obama:
Then there was the always-dazzling, always-brainily-ditsy Amy Sedaris, who flounced onto the Late Show set in a homemade gingham dress and proceeded to jab the host about his recent marriage:
Between Gervais’ joke about Posh Spice and Sedaris’ about gay marriage in Montana, it was a fine week for Letterman-hosted humor.
Were there other talk shows you thought did a good job with their guests this week? (And please don’t say Jimmy Fallon interviewing Keith Olbermann; I know their shared passion for baseball cards is cute, but couldn’t Fallon have gone outside his comfort-zone to ask one political question?)
Anyway, your nominations most welcome. Thanks.
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Jon Stewart’s interviews w/ Larry King and Newt Gingrich–especially when Stewart and King debated the difference between gambling and horse racing
In my opinion it was very creative and sensible for Fallon to keep it off politics. What’s wrong with showing other sides of a guest? Believe it or not there are still a lot of people who think sports, not politics, when they think of Olbermann. It was a relief to see the two of them all relaxed and happily talking about other things that interest people, and it must have felt like a vacation for Olbermann.
Gervais is the MAN! Love him! Sure, true fans of his have heard the stories he told on Letterman, but he’s always funny and its good to see him play off of Letterman. Does he hold the record of apperances? He should!
I loved the Stewart/King interview. It was refreshing to see that side of King.
http://tvdonewright.com/summer-tv-2009/
2 Craig Ferguson interviews had me in stitches this week: 1) Interviewing Lawrence Block (who is his friend) on Monday. His ideas for new books were hysterical. 2) His Thursday interview with John Waters was fantastic. Starting with, “See, I say your name, and you come out. Well, you’ve been out for a long time . . . ” I love Dave, and have for a long time, but nobody can make me laugh like Ferguson. That guy is brilliant.
In addition to Sedaris and Gervais, Colbert & Stiller were on Letterman this week! Both interviews were great with Colbert’s being the more enthusiastic of the two. Dave’s line regarding Richard Branson’s surfing with nude models on his back was a delicious ad-lib!
Kathy Griffin on Craig Ferguson was great as always.
Letterman is so at home in his own skin these days that it’s up to the guest to keep up. Amy, Ricky, and Bonnie are his top guests with Drew close behind.
But, as much as I dig Letterman, the late night host who is easily the best is Ferguson. From rapping puppets to his off the cuff interviews, Ferguson is doing exactly what Dave did when he first started—he’s reinventing the talk show format for the 21st century.
Fallon is supposed to be hip, but in reality he’s lame and boring. While he didn’t have to talk politics with Olbermann, he clearly wasn’t prepared to talk sports either. He followed that up with a sloppy interview of Sig Hansen from the Deadliest Catch. I didn’t stick around after that.
I watch Ferguson for the laughs and the innovation. Once in a while I catch Fallon for the sweat and desperation. How Fallon is beating Ferguson in the ratings in one of life’s big mysteries.
David, if you think Sarah Palin raised your ratings, just wait untill you have Kevin Spacey on..7/21..if he lives that long..according to rumors on webs..everyone should tune in to see if the “Old Queen” lives it!!!
If letterman is gonna have that Old Queen, Kevin SPacey on,his rating should gooooooooooo through the roof!!!!!!!!!!All of us tunin in to see if if he gets “Knocked OFF”
Yeah, after witnessing the demise of Carradine, McNair and Jackson..we are not shocked by anything celbs do..or get into!All over webs that Kevin Spacey is bein hunted by some gay posse from London who swear to get even w/Spacey..They say they mean to make a statement out of him,
Spaceys followers on “TWITTER” have only risen because of people bein “CURIOUS,,
After the strange deaths of Carradine,McNaire and M.J..This rumor about SPACEY would,nt shock us in the least..say he won;t live to see his birthday!!!