What did you think of Conan's first night?

[Ultimajock]

Kovacs was a 'regular substitute' host, not a regular host. He was never the FULL-TIME host of the show. It would be like saying Joey Bishop or Jerry Lewis, in the mid-60s, Joan Rivers in the early '80s, or Jay Leno between 1987 and '92, should also be listed as 'regular hosts' because they were the only ones who filled in for Johnny at various intervals. It was still Steve Allen's show while Kovacs sat in for him, just like it was still Johnny's, however many times he was off.

...bullspit. Kovacs did not use Allen's sets or supporting cast, brought along Edie Adams and Bill Wendell, and was specifically on the Monday and Tuesday broadcasts of each split week. When did Bishop, Rivers or Leno ever do that during Carson's tenure? The facts speak for themselves...

 

[Ultimajock]

'Tonight: America After Dark" was not a talk show in the sense of every other version of the show.

...Allen and Kovacs didn't handle the show as a talk show; they both maintained it as a comedy variety. Allen always maintained that the show didn't become a talk show until Jack Paar took over, and that he didn't try a talk show in that manner until the Westinghouse syndicated show of the '60s...

 

[searadiofreak]

Ultimajock, good historical accuracy there. I, too remember Allen stating that he didn't do a talk show until his syndicated show in the 60's.

BTW, anyone notice that Letterman's monologues have been longer this week? Hmm.

 

[whit979]

Has anyone noticed that the band still seems to be feeling out the new show open? They're drawing it out a little more before Conan walks on-stage, but it's sounded different every night. It's like they're trying to figure out the best way to hold out that last note on the song. It seems kinda like Conan is a little slow to walk on-stage...he needs to speed it up a touch. Those are pretty nit-picky comments, but having watched Late Night and hearing how tight the Max Weinberg 7 was with the opening theme then, it just sounds a little awkward now. It is a bigger, beefed-up opening theme, though...and I do like that.

 

[cspotrun]

i wouldn't have bet on his chances when he took over after Letterman but, i think Conan will do Ok(i've actually grown to like him) i haven't seen anyone else out there now who could do a better job. i will say this, its a shame Billy Crystal didn't get a shot at late night TV, he would have been terriffic.

 

[1069_KIFR]

The Late Night with David Letterman and
the Late Night with Conan O'Brien both had the original themes moved to 11:35, as well.
Both with Beefed up jazzy enhancements.

 

[BlueWanderer]

I've watched the rest of this week and as far as first weeks go, the show did alright. I'm sure over time the problems in this week's set of shows will be iron out. At least I could hear the musical guests much better after Monday's "technical difficulty". I'm not so sure about Andy's announcing at this point. I guess I wait and see in a few months on how he progresses before I call it. I do miss Joel's announcing, though.

I forgot to mention earlier that the new Tonight Show set looks awesome. Much better than the last Late Night set Conan had. My favorite Late Night set was the very late '90s blueish set he had before switching to the last set the show used. That open balcony and giant white globes set bothered me. I was glad to see it destroy (or at least taking apart) back in February.

 

[1069_KIFR]

I do not have a problem with Andy as announcer. Others have given him thumbs down. But he doesn't bother me. I like how he says "It's the Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien!" Friday's show, I think he hit the mark when he Calls "And now, Conan O'Brien..." It was a little shorter and solid.

 

[cspotrun]

I do not have a problem with Andy as announcer. Others have given him thumbs down. But he doesn't bother me. I like how he says "It's the Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien!" Friday's show, I think he hit the mark when he Calls "And now, Conan O'Brien..." It was a little shorter and solid.

ironic, NBC could have still had Letterman on the air on The Tonight Show, now they have to toss the dice, to see if Conan can keep it going.

 

[onairb]

Kovacs was a 'regular substitute' host, not a regular host. He was never the FULL-TIME host of the show. It would be like saying Joey Bishop or Jerry Lewis, in the mid-60s, Joan Rivers in the early '80s, or Jay Leno between 1987 and '92, should also be listed as 'regular hosts' because they were the only ones who filled in for Johnny at various intervals. It was still Steve Allen's show while Kovacs sat in for him, just like it was still Johnny's, however many times he was off.

...bullspit. Kovacs did not use Allen's sets or supporting cast, brought along Edie Adams and Bill Wendell, and was specifically on the Monday and Tuesday broadcasts of each split week. When did Bishop, Rivers or Leno ever do that during Carson's tenure? The facts speak for themselves...

Hmmm...so does the condescension :
For most of the '80s, Rivers and Leno (as well as Letterman and other fill-ins before Rivers was named the 'official' guest host, a position later filled by Leno from 1986 onwards) filled in for Johnny on a specific night each week; Tuesday. True, they used Ed and Doc (although by the '80s, Ed took the same nights off as Johnny, and Doc announced and sat on the couch while Tommy Newsom conducted the orchestra).
But who cares if they didn't 'bring along' anybody? They were funny enough to work with Johnny's crew, so they didn't have to.
Bishop, Leno and Rivers never attempted bad imitations or rip-offs of Carson's usual routines, either. Does that qualify them for hosting a 'different' program?
By your logic, Johnny 'filled in' for his guest hosts three nights a week! ???

I don't want to start a pissing contest, just tell your bull to spit elsewhere. And if that isn't enough, then, in the words of Carnac,
"May a nearsighted camel develop a crush on your sister!"