RedLetterMedia - Impressions

"Impressions" is a new game show where Rich, Josh (the new Josh) and Jay compete to see who is the best impressionist.

The key here is that the required impressions are randomized.... randomized.

It's interesting to note that Josh was Geoff, the robotic side-kick of Craig Ferguson.

Stay tuned until the end.

The Fake Chest Pains Lady and The Ewok Guy

 

I thought the last Norm Macdonald clip that went semi-viral would be my last ever. But I found that I couldn't find any reference to The Fake Chest Pains Lady or The Ewok Guy anywhere on youtube and then I found I had a clip with them in my archives (previously uploaded to youtube but blocked for copyright). So here it is.

How many people on youtube are searching for this? I'm hoping it's at least 1.

By the way, an update on experiences with The Algorithm. The Norm Macdonald clip got way more views way faster than any video I ever posted in the past. It got 300K views in something like a week. However, once it hit that point it hit some sort of brick wall and stopped getting many more views. I wish I knew what that mechanism was. It could be natural that everyone who was going to watch it already watched it but I have no way of knowing.

Craig Kilborn Wants to be on a Soap Opera

 

Of the new batch of videos that I'm uploading this is my second favorite - second only to the Norm Macdonald interview. I've watched it many times and it doesn't get old, it always hits me the right way for some reason.

Even that thumbnail is spectacular.

Late Late Show - Thanksgiving Roundtable

The Thanksgiving Round table was a gloriously bizarre idea with a terrifically random execution.

The premise was that Craig would have a Thanksgiving round table discussion with Rod Roddy (of The Price is Right fame), actor Martin Mull, tennis player Anna Kournikova ("live via satellite", of course) and Late Late Show writer Mike Grayson. Rather than eat, they would sit down and discuss the issues of the day (always hampered by a way-too-big table centerpiece).

The second video is my recording from another year where the full segment was divided into pieces and played throughout the episode. The first video is not mine.

The Joys of Viacom

So now this is happening to my inbox today...

For those that don't know, I've uploaded a number of "Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn" clips on to youtube and Viacom is claiming copyright and taking them down.

I have no problem with copyright claims as such - companies need to make sure A) no one else is profiting off their intellectual property and B) they need to make sure that they ARE.

The problem I have with this is that neither of these was happening.

Firstly, none of the blocked videos are monetized. I never displayed a single ad or made a single dime off of Viacom's content. I uploaded for free, people watched for free and no one made any money out of any of it.

Secondly, and much more importantly, show me the revenue stream Viacom reaps off of old episodes of Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn. Can I watch it on a streaming service? Does Viacom have their own Youtube channel with ads? Are there Late Late Show DVDs available for purchase at Best Buy? No. Viacom was not making a penny less with these videos available for fans to watch and is not making a penny more with these videos struck down. The only difference is they were able to take something away from their customers.

When a giant company takes something from someone for their own profits, some call that "greed". But what is it when a giant company takes something from someone and no one benefits in any way?

The Late Late Show - Corden's First Episode

The new host of The Late Late Show is James Corden and his first episode aired last night. You can watch it here.

Although I've stated it many times, I'll mention again how a late night talk show can't be assessed based on the first episode - it's a marathon not a sprint, and boy is it a long marathon. He had the big comedy piece with loads of celebrities and it went well (see below) but he's not going to have that every night. And his first guests were Mila Kunis and Tom Hanks... he will also not have those guests every night.

That aside, how was the first episode? It was good. The monologue was short but heartfelt - he thanked his predecessor Craig Ferguson but didn't thank Craig Kilborn or Tom Snyder (more on that later). The guests were obviously good. He has Reggie Watts as his band leader. He has no desk and they actually had both guests come out at the same time. It's unclear whether that's going to be the norm or whether that's just for the first show.

The second comedy piece (see below) was also very good. One gets the feeling that they'll be going for the kind of comedy pieces that go viral on youtube instead of the usual "desk" routines (well, there's no desk, so...). Again though, you won't have Tom Hanks every night.





I love the fact that they went with a Willy Wonka/Golden Ticket reference, I'm a big fan. But there's something strange and coincidental about that. When Craig Kilborn's first episode as host was about to air, this is one of the commercials that aired:



And this wasn't the only one, it was a whole campaign of several different commercials. There was even one with Vince Vaughn that you can watch here.

It's the same show so why do I think it's strange and coincidental? Well Corden didn't thank Craig Kilborn for starting/continuing the show. Seems like if he was even slightly aware of the show's past, he would have done that.

New Late Late Show Host Named

The new host of the Late Late Show has reportedly been named and it is..... James Corden,

Who?

Pictured: James Corden's reaction to being told he's taking over Callahan Auto Parts the Late Late Show.

Well, allow me to explain. "Corden stars in Disney's “Into the Woods” and can currently be seen alongside Keira Knightley in “Begin Again.” He also starred in 2011’s “The Three Musketeers.”"

Oh yeah, of course! That James Corden!

I was rooting for Norm Macdonald.

Conan - Norm Macdonald's Talk Show Audition

The always unpredictable Norm Macdonald has thrown his hat in the ring for the Late Late Show host job. Current host, Craig Ferguson, has announced his retirement at the end of the year.

In his recent appearance on Conan, he puts together a 1 minute audition tape:



The Late Late Show with Norm Macdonald? Seems unlikely but man, I'd watch that.

The Heavy - "How You Like Me Now" & Encore

This video is significant for only one reason: talk shows are an exercise in repetition and this completely violates the pattern.

In the almost 30 years the David Letterman has had a show, I don't think he's EVER told the guest to sing it again. As far as I know, this is a phenomenon completely unique to this episode. Although the entire encore performance was not broadcast on television, much of it was. The full thing is available as a web exclusive.

That's What Friends Are For

For his first Thanksgiving in LA, Conan sits down to Thanksgiving Dinner with his closest acquaintances Jordan Schlansky, Pierre Bernard and Wing Peng. There are two certainties in life anytime Conan hangs out with Jordan. 1) There will be pretension and 2) Conan's gonna meet Jordan's pretension head-on with "alcohool". Drink up, Squanto.

[Broken Video Link Removed]

Updated Link.

I really hope this becomes a holiday tradition. This is eerily similar to an another LA talk show host who also gathered his assorted gang for Thanksgiving Dinner Roundtable...

Ahhh, I so wish I had more of these on tape. It was a Thanksgiving tradition that I looked forward to every year. RIP - Rod Roddy.