WGA Strike Episodes, What did you think of them? Options

[supernova8610]

Post all your thoughts about the shows-without-writers right here.

[uuf]

Well, the mainstream media will have decided how we feel about this by 6am tomorrow.
Ok...with writers, Dave's (apparently caught Tim Allen's Santa 'Clause' curse over the break) monologue was 3 mins tops...with Hillary...and at 6 mins, Leno's still going at it...hmmmm...

Well, on nofactzone.net, there was something that was found in the contract that performers could write for themselves if they were performing what they wrote and not writing for anyone else in the same show... I think that's what has been figured to what that part of the appendix or whatever it was of the contract said...

Ok, Leno's doing some "We Didn't Start the Fire" spoof...graphics and all...WRITTEN...and he's not performing it either...hmmm...

[uuf]

Okay...2nd act, Leno's rambling on about something that I can't really understand...audience questions...that seem real...unlike Letterman's...but of course, Letterman has writers...

[sexy_conan418]

OH MY GOSH!! Is that the Lincoln doll we went him for his birthday?!?! I hope so

I love it so far! He's handling this so awesomely. Definetely NOT a "trainwreck" as some people expected. I've never lost faith in Conan and his amazing abilities, and this just makes me so happy that it's going well!


Saget is awesome as well!

[BioBlueDemon]

Wow! I absolutely loved the show! Conan O' Brien is the greatest host ever. I laughed so hard at times it hurt. Conan just being himself rocks. I love the skits, and everything, but he does a great job just by himself. Can't wait to watch tomorrow!

[cdhxxx]

Wow! I absolutely loved the show! Conan O' Brien is the greatest host ever. I laughed so hard at times it hurt. Conan just being himself rocks. I love the skits, and everything, but he does a great job just by himself. Can't wait to watch tomorrow!

Agreed. With the shows with the writers, they can be funny, but most of the time I just sit there and watch while in my head its like 'haha, that was pretty good', but tonight, on both Jay and Conan, I actually laughed out loud quite a few times.

[JoyB]

I'm sure Jay & Conan have been working hard for the past month, knowing they'd have to go it alone, I hope we didn't get their best stuff tonight and then it's downhill ... but tonight was worth staying up, these were two of the best late-night episodes I've ever seen.

[Pseudo_G]

Absolutely. I loved the little journey into the Late Night offices, and the segment with Bob Saget was fantastic. The only part that I thought was a little dry was the ring-spinning thing, but it certainly wasn't bad. As for Conan himself, his improvisation and ad-libbing really helped keep me laughing out loud. Both Conan and Leno did superb jobs without their writers. I'll certainly be watching every day from here on out.

[latenightgoddess]

I got home from work at 12:20 and ran to the TV. I saw Letterman with his huge gray beard and smiled...I taped his show and will watch it tomorrow.

As for Conan, #1 in my mind was thank goodness for no scab writing. #2 was thank goodness he kept the beard. But I must say I felt incredibly sad and guilty watching the show and seeing Conan and everyone having a good time because it feels wrong to be having a good time when the writers are still on the picket line.

It was weird to see him talking without cue cards and being semi-"real"... though he is definitely still completely MANIC in front of the camera and instinctively putting on the best show he can. When he had to talk at the beginning where the writing normally goes, he seemed ill at ease, nervous, or upset ... he kept sighing.... maybe it was because he was saying he was going to give us a glimpse at his personal life.

I loved hearing and seeing Jeff Ross speak. He does not sound at all like Conan's droning impression and it would be amazing to see him with a beret and bongos.

Conan finally cast me under his spell the minute I saw him in his office. And yes.. I think I may know the person who ordered that Lincoln doll for him. I was dying slightly to see him "playing" with it. There's something unbearably sexy about the WAY he plays the guitar. When he was all lonesome in the hallway playing Cream and Hendrix, yowzas! Did anyone else have the urge to exotic dance and strip for Conan as he strums? haha, fantasies. AND Conan knows Creep by Radiohead! That was the endearing icing on the cake and I fell in love for the 5000th time. Seeing Conan backstage being somewhat "normal" reminded me that I love this man in a much too real way, and I desperately wish he wasn't doing this because it's killing me inside.

There were many moments when I was thinking "why the h.ell am I watching this again?" ....like the spinning ring. But I know it was good and most likely intended for people to be thinking that. I found myself yearning for the ability to use the "ass stamp" (which is normally at the writers' discretion) on numerous occasions. Of course I'm disappointed that Conan didn't really say anything about why the writers are on strike or the real issues at hand, but I'm not surprised. He was mostly passive-aggressive about it, in typical Conan fashion. How I wish what he said about the strike being over Thursday could be true.

[BioBlueDemon]

Plain and simple Conan O' Brien is a great ad-libber, and he is doing great. That being said I love the skits immensely and I'll want them back eventually. Hopefully, the issue at hand can be settled as soon as possible so we can get those back, but in the meantime Conan is doing a fantastic job and I wouldn't mind watching him as is for a few weeks if worst came to worst. GO CONAN!

[ani20]

Can you guys always stay without writers? It's the best show I have ever seen and I don't miss Conan shows!!He was so funny. love the beard!!Although I would watch Conan reruns rather than anything else!

[DG3]

I watched/DVR'd all 3 (Dave, leno, Conan). Dave's show was really good. He even had one of Conan's writers on for the Top 10 list. That was a little bizarre. Obviously, writers made the difference with his show. Didn't really care for the employee interview. Wasn't that interesting.

Leno's was probably the worse of the 3. He did ok, and the audience is always so jacked (Standing O's for every guest, every night. Lame), but overall it was a little weak.

I was surprised how good Conan's show was. As others have mentioned, he's at his best when he's ad-libbing. Maybe this will shake his creative cobwebs, and make for a better show when the strike is over. Before the strike, Conan was mostly running on auto-pilot for most of the show. I'm glad he's now forced to walk the tightrope more.

[Jordan_Lund]

I didn't know what to expect from Conan running without writers, but I'd hope, if he had writers, that they'd stop him from self destructing on air.

Examples:

Spinning the ring on the desk - "That's real bitterness on the TV..."

The Lincoln dolll - "Pull the string and he gets depressed and hates his crazy wife."

At the end of the pre-recorded bit with Conan lying on a couch - "This is pretty much where I'm sleeping these days..."

It's sad when this happens in general, but it's even worse to carry it out in public. I hope everyone involved gets counselling or something.

[latenightgoddess]

I just watched Letterman, and it was much more satiating to my need to see the WGA strike issues brought to the public's attention and the media congloms criticized for dwindling what should be writers' money on cocktails, cufflinks, and w.hores. And Chris Albers, the head monologue writer for Conan, read #2 on the top 10 list. That's awesome. He used to work for Letterman (but not as a writer?), was a WGAE president, and he's been on the picket line in pictures with a lot of the Letterman writers.

I didn't know what to expect from Conan running without writers, but I'd hope, if he had writers, that they'd stop him from self destructing on air.

It's pretty typical for Conan to make those jokes about his marriage. See the Izabel Goulart interview or the ring spinning video that was posted on Aaron's blog ("Finally this thing is good for something.") Something might be going on, but my suspicion is that Conan and his wife probably just spent a lot of time together during his time off, so he feels more comfortable taking a jab at his relationship right now. His wife is clearly a much stronger woman than I because I wouldn't be able to withstand that kind of backhanded ridicule whether it's a joke or not. I do wish he would be a little more sensitive towards her. Maybe it's just part of the grandiosity that having his own TV show encourages. If you want to see what bipolar "mania" looks like, just watch Conan for 5 seconds, and it's particularly exaggerated in the absence of a script. I'm not saying it's good or bad; the way Conan behaves on TV just seems completely extraordinary to me.

I haven't read too many reviews, but The Chicago Tribune said:
"The very first 'Late Night With Conan O'Brien' telecast was an odd program that resembled a car crash. He survived, of course, with his own deconstructionist brand of late night, dismantling expectations and traditional content. He's more comfortable in his shoes now and more than ready to wing it, his hyper manner, geeky tics and romper room glee often playing as if minus writers already.

Working without them Wednesday, sporting a beard like Letterman, the boyish O'Brien joked, 'I grew the beard to show solidarity with the writers and prove I have testosterone.' Suggesting the band take over the whole show some future night, he demonstrated the potential by dancing insanely, nerd-like on his desk, where he also demonstrated a favorite past time: spinning his wedding ring. He also took us on a tour of his modest, kid-like office, where he says he spent most of the past two months."

[sexy_conan418]

that joke about Lincoln wasn't a joke about Conan's own life, I know because Conan is really into Lincoln and that's what Lincoln was like. Mary Todd Lincoln, his wife, was crazy and Lincoln had serious bouts of depression. That was the point of the joke, and it wasn't about Conan.

[supernova8610]

that joke about Lincoln wasn't a joke about Conan's own life, I know because Conan is really into Lincoln and that's what Lincoln was like. Mary Todd Lincoln, his wife, was crazy and Lincoln had serious bouts of depression. That was the point of the joke, and it wasn't about Conan.

It's good to know it wasn't about Conan. At first when he said that, I got sad because I thought it was about him... and I hate it when Conan makes jokes about his marriage going sour.

[conanrocks]

The January 2nd episode was the BEST ever! Conan looked awesome and the show seemed fresh and spontaneous. It wasn't the same old 'read the cue card and get on with the show' atmosphere. We also played the Rock Band game during the holidays and found ourselves laughing out loud during most of the show! We can't wait to see what Conan has planned for tonight!!

[mintybluefoam]

I liked it alot, too! I loved the guitar playing and the dancing - "nothing will end the strike faster". LOL

[latenightgoddess]

that joke about Lincoln wasn't a joke about Conan's own life, I know because Conan is really into Lincoln and that's what Lincoln was like.

A few years ago, Conan had someone who wrote a book about Lincoln on the show. It might've been Sarah Vowell... anyway, the only thing I clearly remember was that Conan seemed to (subconsciously?) parallel himself with Lincoln throughout the interview. Or maybe I was overanalyzing it, like I do with basically everything.

[Conan_the_shooti...]

Conan did quite awesome last night. His dancing, guitar playing... wow it was so wonderful to see him again.
And his entrance twirl... I personally love to see that and wait for it.
Actually, even Johnny Carson had a entrance bit before each show. Johnny would do a pantomime of a golf swing... then proceeded to his desk every night. Carol Brunett tugged at one of her ears each show etc... Many great host did this sort of ritual that set them apart from the other hosts. It's their signature. And without it,... it just wouldn't have the unique stamp, like Conan has arrived and is about to do HIS show.

OMG...Conan did his happy dance on his desk while wearing that beastly beard... proof of his full support of the writers. I hate long beards on anyone but Conan is doing this for a good 'cause' just like his favorite colleague, Letterman is doing it.

As far as Conan joking about having to sleep on the sofa at the office since the strike... Clearly, he did make a sacrifice in growing the strike beard.
All kidding aside, I am certain not many wives would approve or be too happy with their husbands for paying 'out of his own pockets', about a quarter of a million dollars a week to NBC employees!!! Meanwhile Conan stopped getting a paycheck himself when he joined the strikers and refused to do this show for two whole months. That's a lot of lost income for anyones family. Even an understanding wife would feel strained over this.

Honestly, the more money you make the more expenses you incur so even the richer people who lose their income are forced to adjust to the loss.

Also, I'm sure not too any wives would tolerate a husband not shaving for 2 months. I wouldn't like it. So this joke about Conan being kind of in the dog house has a ring of truth behind it. Although I'm positive Conan's wife is grinning and bearing it. What a supportive woman!!!

As far as Conan spinning his wedding ring or jokes about his marriage, since I know it is not real, I kind of enjoy it. It is a TV reality. For we all know Conan is a devoted husband and father.
The best way for me to describe this silly feeling is to compare it to a scene in the old TV show 'M*a*s*h' where Colonel Sherman T. Potter, a devoted fan sneaks off to the movies alone to see his beloved Doris Day. In the story, his people started questioning where did he go in such secret, Potter revealed that whenever Doris Day has a new movie out, he doesn't share that on screen experience with anyone, in fact he just gives that part of himself to dream about Doris until the movie ends...lol...not even his wife is privy to it.

Therefore as one of Conan's devoted female fans, whenever I see him, no matter what is going on in my life I kind of give that hour just for him too. His show is smart and hilarious. and wow can Conan make me laugh like no other sniff tear.

Soooooo Welcome back Conan O'Brien I'm very proud of you ... and I must confess it felt very empty without you and your show.
Also, welcome back to our Max-- you look great. I missed the band and all the crew people love you all... and especially I cannot wait for the return of ALL the writers.

WGA and AMPTP please work it out.

CCC