On Wed, Nov 23, 2011 at 2:05 PM, David Bruggeman <[email protected]> wrote: > While I can certainly see ?uesto and his bandmates eventually tiring of the > constraints of a late night program. However, I think there are a few > things that suggest the band will be around longer than Marsalis' three > years. (FWIW, Fallon's late night program marks three years in a little > over three months) > Marsalis notably considered the role (or working with Leno, or both) as > being an "ass-kisser." If anything, it seems Fallon considers having The > Roots as a boost to what there is of his credibility.
I can back up that claim with my numerous students who are into hip-hop and they will watch Late Night specifically for the music > The Roots will soon release another album, which makes at least two they've > put out while working on Fallon's show. They have also toured during breaks > and have done shows on the weekends. A check of Marsalis' discography notes > a couple of album releases, but no sense of whether he could have toured. > That would provide an opportunity for channeling mischief somewhere besides > 8 second mockery. > Arguably the band is integrated into the show on a level comparable to the > Max Weinberg 7/Basic Cable Band. Besides "Slow Jam the News" there have > been many other recurring and one-off bits with a musical element that's not > just providing theme music (of which they do a lot). > While they may eventually feel stifled, boredom is probably a longer way > off. Marsalis would later state that being hamstrung by network suits who wanted to hear the same 25 popular/known songs instead of original or obscure material was the main reason he left. His family is freakishly talented and each of them seems to prefer art for art's sake as opposed to more commercial purposes. Jay Leno's Tonight Show is a formula that doesn't function well on change (they had the same backdrop for nearly 15 years and only changed the set furniture as part of a "Queer Eye" gimmick). Leno's show is the McDonald's of late night. It isn't great or even good most of the time, but when you tune in you know exactly what you will get. The Roots have more freedom at 12:35 on a less established/more experimental show. But ?uesto is very social and political -- if NBC or Lorne Michaels tries to stifle the band, he -- like Brandord -- isn't in a position where he needs the gig. And it isn't like Max Weinberg who assembled a band specifically for a show -- if ?uestlove were to leave, his band would not stay. -- Kevin M. (RPCV) -- 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
