Palin vs. Romney on Late-Night Talk Shows

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Last night, conservatives faced a difficult decision: Who to watch? "Prepare yourselves for a Tuesday night GOP-off," announced the Boston Globe's Matthew Gilbert. "While Sarah Palin visits Jay Leno during his first week back on NBC’s “The Tonight Show,” David Letterman will be hosting our own former governor, Mitt Romney."

Both interviews had their moments. Those who watched Romney saw his last-minute potshot at Palin: "Be careful what you say about her, by the way... She has a rifle, you know." Palin diehards witnessed the former governor poke fun at herself by writing more notes on her hand, which she called "the poor boy's version of the teleprompter."

We won't pick a winner. But we'll give you both interviews in all their glory and let you decide.

Source: http://www.theatlanticwire.com/opinions/view/opinion/Morning-Vids-Palin-vs-Romney-on-Late-Night-Talk-Shows-2713

The Cast of 227 on Today

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Sometimes I think the entertainment business plants little spies in my life. Maybe that’s paranoid, but every time I think about an old movie or television show, it surfaces on TV, as if in answer to my longing. This week, The Today Show has been interviewing the cast of classic television shows, and this morning they sat down with the cast of NBC sitcom, 227. I am not kidding when I tell you, I was just thinking about that show last weekend. Cue spooky, Twilight Zone music.

227 was the number on the Washington D.C. apartment building where a group of middle-class, African-American families grew and lived together. Originally based on a stage play, the series followed the lives of a sassy housewife, portrayed by The Jeffersons Marla Gibb, her work-a-holic husband their fourteen year old daughter, Brenda. Brenda was a leaping-off point for actress, Regina King, who has gone on to perform in a wide variety of films and television series.

The show was also a highlight in the career of the sexy and provocative actress, Jackee Harry. During the interview, Harry admitted that the extreme behavior of her character in the series was her own attempt to be comedic, but three years into the series Gibbs and Harry’s personalities clashed. Eventually, the personality clash led to Jackee’s departure from the show in the fourth season.

The families in the building interacted closely together, relying on one another for support and the latest gossip. It was a simpler time and setting, one that offered viewers a sense of comfort and hope.

One of the most interesting questions asked by a viewer was why the cast thought networks didn’t make shows like 227 anymore. A thought-provoking question, indeed, as much of today’s situation comedy has veered away from traditional families to focus on the changing times.

This interview was a refreshing trip down memory lane, and it was nice to see what the cast of 227 is doing with their careers today.

Source: http://www.realtvaddict.com/2010/03/03/the-cast-of-227-on-today/

Sabres Shut Out of Olympic Highlights Tonight

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The video montage that honors Team USA most valuable player Ryan Miller before the Buffalo Sabres game tonight in HSBC Arena will be missing one thing: Highlights of his play during the Vancouver Olympics.

A Sabres spokesman said NBC owns all Olympic rights and the team is prohibited from airing any of the highlights of Miller's play during the six-games he played in Vancouver.

CBS late-night host David Letterman had some fun at NBC's expense Tuesday night when men's figure skating champion Evan Lysacek appeared. Letterman's show -- which also is prohibited from carrying Olympic footage -- used simple drawings of stick figures to depict Lysacek's performance in the Olympics.

Source: http://blogs.buffalonews.com/talkintv/2010/03/sabres-shutout-of-olympic-highlights-tonight-.html

The Tonight Show With Jay Leno -- TV Review

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Bottom Line: The Chin wins.

Congratulations are in order for NBC, which on Monday night celebrated an incredible achievement: Jimmy Fallon's "Late Night" show hit its first anniversary. Congratulations!

But wait -- no, that wasn't Monday's big NBC late-night story after all. Instead, the spotlight once again swung in Jay Leno's direction, with his much-ballyhooed return to the spot he occupied from 1992 to just last May. You remember those strange eight months in which industry writers fumed at losing a key primetime slot, audiences vanished in droves and a tall red-headed kid from New York tried valiantly to play king of late-night?

Well, it turns out it was all just a fever dream, as Leno himself pointed out at the start of his return to "The Tonight Show," which led off with a sepia-toned "Wizard of Oz" homage. "There's no place like home," muttered Leno. Roll credits -- and poof: There he was, striding into a crowd of fervent, bowing well-wishers, with a fresh haircut and admittedly "a little nervous."

But quickly it became evident that 11:35 p.m. is home for Jay Leno. He is that unchallenging, traditional presence the nation wants before committing to either stay up way past bedtime, or call it a night. And after just touching briefly on the strange turn of events that upended his show only to place him back in his old slot, Leno plowed into "Tonight" without missing a beat. Along came the obligatory monologue, retouched video clips and a segment in which he hunted for a new desk (roping Randy Jackson and Adam Carolla in to visit the bewildered average-Joe desk sellers). Along came first guest Jamie Foxx, who got the audience to do both the wave and chant Jay's name; then Olympic medalist Lindsey Vonn and musician Brad Paisley.

Turns out the legacy of Leno's brief absence from the "Tonight" time slot may just be a rethink of the show's set, since NBC is using Leno's only slightly revamped 10 p.m. digs. The desk (as noted earlier) has thankfully made a return -- though it is an oddly shaped item, with what appears to be an upended water wheel attached to one end. Leno himself? Comfortable and comforting, enthusiastic but not too much so, apparently ready to just get back to the job of making middle-of-the-road laughs.

Of course, beneath that veneer, things are not like old times; the banishment of "CoCo" has led to a generational split in "Tonight's" audience. That young demographic the show has longed to capture -- not coming anytime soon. NBC has firmly committed to Leno and the boomers for the foreseeable future (anniversary or not, Fallon is not in the running right now). That's something that may prove freeing for Leno down the road -- after all, NBC has no more cards to play; he's got the job as long as he wants it. But based on this return show, Leno isn't taking any liberties. For now, he's just settling back in his happy chair, bathing in the spotlight. All that's left now is to cross fingers (or maybe click heels three times) and hope he's brought back a few million Munchkins with him.

Airdate: 11:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m., March 1, 2010 (NBC)

Production: Big Dog Prods. in association with Universal Media Studios

Host: Jay Leno

Music director: Kevin Eubanks

Executive producer: Debbie Vickers

Supervising producer: Larry Goitia

Director: Liz Plonka

Writing supervised by: Jay Leno

Monologue writing supervised by: Jack Coen

Writers: Anthony Caleca, Mike Colasuonno, Larry Jacobson, Michael Jann, John A. Kennedy, Mike Loprete, Kevin J. Lynn, Jon Macks, Andrew McElfresh, John Melendez, Steve Ridgeway, Michael Riedel, John Romeo, Dave Rygalski, Peter Sears, Jeffrey Spear, Troy Thomas, Jim Wise, Rob Young

Special material written by: Joe Medeiros

Producers: Jack Coen, Stephanie Ross

Production designer: Brandt Daniels

Source: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/tv-reviews/the-tonight-show-with-jay-leno-tv-review-1004071939.story