On Wed, Jun 23, 2010 at 3:25 AM, Kevin M. <[email protected]> wrote: >...But I would contend that his continuing stalwart > bits such as Carnac and Art Fern as opposed to trying new gags was a > nod to the fact that, if it ain't broke -- don't fix it. Yes, Carson > tossed a few hip, pop-culture references out there from time to time, > but when they fell flat as they always did, he could mug the camera or > slip off a one-liner to remind viewers why he was the king.
Lacking real competition for most of his run, Carson never felt any pressure to innovate or freshen his material. If NBC had felt any pressure, those bits would have been dumped quickly. I don't know how long Carson kept doing Art Fern. It was a one-joke bit based on (in the last decade of the show) an obsolete concept - an afternoon movie with a studio host, and a character ripped off from Jackie Gleason. The bit was more like comfort humor to long time viewers. Leno, on > the other hand, featured a lot of young hip-hop and R&B acts in his > early years as host (due mostly to the influence/insistence of > Branford Marsalis) in his attempt to hit the younger demos, and nobody > looked more disingenuous than Leno introducing the acts by saying > things like, "These guys are great," or "One of my favorite new > singers." I guess my only response to your argument is that Carson > never tried to feign sincerity when he incorporated elements of the > show which were not to his personal taste -- can't say the same for > Leno. I would put the introduction of hip-hop and R&B to reacting to Arsenio's show rather than Branford's influence. Carson openly disliked rock music and consistently preferred opera singers and show tunes. By the time Leno came along the record companies had control over which acts would be booked and Leno didn't have the leeway to inflict his personal taste. And he's certainly too savvy to disparage an act while they are appearing on his show. -- TV or Not TV .... The Smartest (TV) People! You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TV or Not TV" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/tvornottv?hl=en
