Both shows are on TV late night. The "Tonight Show with Jay leno" and "Late Show with David Letterman" feature a number of the same things:
- Opening monologue
- Guest interviews
- Musical guest or a stand up routine
David Letterman has his top ten list and is located in NY, while Jay Leno does Jay Walking, headlines and is located in Hollywood. Clearly both Dave and Jay are professionals and are very good at what they do. They have mastered their craft and rarely stumble on TV. In fact, sometimes they even are so funny they crack themselves up.
- Who do you like better?
- Whose personality do you like better?
- Who do you think is funnier?
- If you are going to watch or TIVO only one which one is it?
- Does anyone miss Conan?
I look forward to reading your comments.
Stephenie Gordon says:
Letterman, Letterman, Letterman, Letterman.
And i do miss Conan.
Merrill Dubrow says:
Stephenie,
Safe to say your vote is Mr. Letterman!
Thanks.
Merrill
Bob Graham says:
First, I’m a big fan of Conan and hope he lands anotehr Late Nigh gig in September.
I used to be a fan of both Jay and Dave, but now their antics leave me cold. Dave has become too comfortable playing the crotchety curmudgeon. He has lost the twinkle he used to have in his eye when he presented his outrageous stunts.
Jay has totally lost his edge. He will make lame jokes about someone this week and then be totally subservient to them when they show up on his show next week. His jokes are tame, his sketches horrible and old.
I miss the hosts of the Johnny Carson/Steve Allen era and the time when guests actually stayed around and interacted with each other. Like Little Richard constantly telling Don Rickles to “Shut up!” or Grouch Marx casually turning to Truman Capote and saying “So tell me, Truman, when are you going to get married?” Now a-days a guest comes on, plugs his book or movie, leaves and a new guest comes on.
When I want to laugh at night, I turn on “The Daily Show” and “The Colbert Report”. I though Jon Stewart’s recent extended routine on Glen Beck (http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-march-18-2010/conservative-libertarian) was brilliant!
Bob Graham says:
(I should note that the language in the link above, although it did appear on basic cable, is not totally “safe for work”. Open with discretion, or Merrill, please delete).
Ed Sugar says:
I agree with Bob. I have no interest in either Leno or Letterman (Conan too). I miss Johnny, Dick Cavett, Jack Paar and even the likes of Mike Douglas. Guests were there to be interviewed and we the TV audience learned so much more about them than their new book or film.
I recently watched a wonderful documentary on Jack Paar. An extra DVD disc had 3 shows in their entirety. The first show had a guest lineup of singer Gisele Mackenzie, comedian Jonathan Winters and actress Bette Davis. At one point during Jack’s interview with Bette Davis, Jonathan Winters started to mock and needle her. She got rather annoyed and just turned to Jonathan and said “Oh drop dead”. The 2nd show from 1964 had Richard Burton recite Winston Churchill’s entire “Iron Curtain” speech and several scenes from “Hamlet”. Wow! The 3rd show was from London around 1962 and the featured guest was Judy Garland, who was “two sheets to the wind” and barely coherent. Watching Jack guide and carry her through this live 20+ minute segment is one of the more touching TV moments I have ever seen.
Back then talk shows were not about lists, tricks, botch headlines, new released films, pimping ghost written books or hyping a TV show (in fact in those days a TV star on ABC or CBS was not allowed to appear of “The Tonight Show” or vice versa). It was about listening to celebrities and officials talking with skilled interviewers, who would get them to open up and expose their hidden layers, be it good, bad or ugly.
Michael Braunberg says:
I would pretty much agree with Bob Graham’s post. Why choose between Leno or Letterman when Stewart and Colbert are there for the picking? Of course, if one’s true ambition is to be lulled to sleep, then it is a toss-up – either Leno or Letterman will suffice.
Sarah Greenberg says:
David Letterman is smarter and more current than Jay, so Letterman gets No. 1 in my Top 10 list. Jon Stewart is brillant and hilarious. Conan’s absence has gone unnoticed…Jimmy Fallon is doing a great job in Conan’s old slot. Colbert can be funny too although he’d be ranked after David, Jon and Jimmy Fallon.
Kelly Heatly says:
Neither one. I miss Conan.
Dan Bernard says:
Letterman has gotten mean.
Leno isn’t all that funny.
I enjoy Stewart.
Ferguson is a riot. He’d need to clean it up a bit for late night (vs late late). He gets my vote.
Merrill Dubrow says:
Dan,
Interesting I never watch Jon Stewart – maybe I should start?
Thanks for the idea.
Merrill