By Drew Grant 4/05 6:39pm

The Tonight Show

B_Image_3856

The Top Five Rumors (and Ensuing Damage Control) About Jimmy Fallon, Jay Leno and The Tonight Show

Wednesday’s official announcement from NBC that Jimmy Fallon will be replacing Jay Leno on The Tonight Show was the culmination of months worth of speculation, rumors and gossip. When the media learned that Mr. Fallon was not only moving the show back to New York, but would be hosting the program from Johnny Carson’s old studio, the comparisons between this latest drama and the bitter NBC late-night feuds in the past–Conan vs. Leno, Leno vs. Letterman–were inevitable, despite the network trying to play off the move as amicable. Hell, trying for the 11:30 (or now, technically, 11:35) slot on NBC is more of a political bloodsport than Game of Thrones, with at least twice as much backstabbing and allegiance shifting. (Though less decapitation … that we know of.)

Here are the five best rumors about the new Tonight Show, along with any responses from NBC or its players. Read More

By Drew Grant 3/01 5:57pm

Lady Pranks

Video

Best prank ever! (Bravo)

Amy Poehler Prank Calls Watch What Happens Live, Asks Seth Meyers About Working With Herself

Ha ha. Love this. It’s not even technically a “prank,” so much as a very good method for finding out what former co-workers really thought about you. All you do is wait until they are on a nationally syndicated program, and then call up the show pretending to be someone named “Coco” from “New Hampshire.” You don’t even have to mask your voice! Read More

By Drew Grant 10/30/12 3:34pm

hurricane sandy

Letterman and Fallon: Braving the storm (NBC, CBS)

David Letterman And Jimmy Fallon: When a Lack of an Audience is a Good Thing (Video)

While Anderson Cooper was learning about his afternoon talk show being cancelled–no, not just for Hurricane Sandy, but forever–two late night hosts made the brave decision to continue their shows at NBC and CBS as if a giant storm wasn’t ranging outside.

The only problem? Neither Jimmy Fallon nor David Letterman had a live audience–a first, in both their histories–to laugh at their jokes. But what could have turned into that creepy David Lynch episode of Louie was actually an amazing bit of performance art as the two jokesters performed to the dead silence of a mostly-empty room. *Yanks collar* “Tough crowd!” Read More

By Drew Grant 3:38pm

TV on the Internet

Seth Meyers unveils 'The Awesomes' for Hulu (Getty Images)

Seth Meyers Gets Animated During Hulu’s Upfronts

As an increasing segment of the population cancel their cable subscription and subsist on a diet of television and films streamed through their laptops, Internet video sites like Hulu and Netflix have hastily bid on a slew of original series in the hopes that one day soon, nobody will use their televisions unless Roku is involved.

While Netflix is funding series that appeal to a cult fan base–a new season of Arrested Development, House of Cards, Lilyhammer (already renewed for a second season), and Hemlock Grove– Hulu’s recent acquisitions point to a wide-net marketing strategy:  accessible shows for an audience of TV viewers who want more of the same.

Today, during Hulu’s upfronts, viewers got a brief glimpse of The Awesomes,  an animated series by Saturday Night Live‘s Weekend Update anchor Seth Meyers. Read More

By Drew Grant 11/08/11 4:21pm

Person of the year

Dr. Anita Hill with a bunch of white guys.

'Time's Person of the Year Panelists Debate: Steve Jobs, Arab Spring, or Other?

This afternoon, Time magazine held its annual lunch and panel for it’s prestigious person of the year issue. We went in with our money on Occupy Wall Street, but most of our other journo diners seemed to take it as a given that the honor would be bestowed on Steve Jobs.

It was an impressive panel led by Time‘s Rich Stengel: NBC’s Brian Williams, Anita Hill, Jesse Eisenberg, Mario Batali, Seth Meyers, and Grover Norquist, president of the advocacy group Americans for Tax Reform. Read More

By Esther Zuckerman 7/07/10 10:12pm

Profiles

Simon Rich’s Scary New York

When Simon Rich was growing up and walking around the streets of New York he was always afraid of an air conditioner falling on his head.

“I still walk closer to the curb because I’m sure that’s going to happen,” the 26-year-old novelist SNL writer said over iced coffee last week.

For Mr. Rich, whose Read More