Fans discuss Jerry Seinfeld's appearance on Charlie Rose, praising the show and Jerry's insights about comedy, sneaker collection, and George's character, with optimism about the series continuing.
Did anybody else see Jerry on the Charlie Rose show - who is this guy anyway? Some PBS show from LA that was on about 11:30 last night. Show is definitely moving to Thursday 9:30 slot starting Feb 4th - no mention of Home Improvement. Good quote about the later shows being more "dense" than the earlier shows. "We look at the early shows and say 'C'mon, pick up the pace'"
Jerry had Air Jordans on - said he has about 30 pairs of NIKEs - said wearing sneakers it reminds him he doesn't have a job. Another good quote on us shmucks working in the 9-5 world - "I never wantred a real job - I see people going into buildings in the morning - I don't know what they do there!?" (or something like that)
On "The Movie", it may not have been great, but I like to see the characters get out. "The Subway" was a classic, for instance. George out with other people (Mrs. Sokol in "The Boyfriend") is hilarious. And last night - give me the $20, I'll owe you - is this guy for real? Jerry was asked last night if George was based on Larry David - he thought and said not really - nobody is really as far out as George. I know Jerry did not mention quitting work on the series after the 5th year - so I have my fingers crossed!
Charlie Rose is one of the great TV secrets, known only to those of us who use Late Nite TV like others use a radio while working at their jobs. There are some awfully bad interviewers out in TV land where the talk show has supersaturated the airwaves. In considering all these interviewers on how good they are, and using a scale of 1 to 10, Charlie Rose comes out about 190. There is just no comparison. The best interviewers out there readily admit this in quick comments here and there. Bob Costas had him on and was practically fawning and stumbling over him, asking for tips on how to be better and tips on what he (Bob) was doing wrong. Why is he not better known? Because for several years Rose ran a show aired only in the wee hours of the morning in where he interviewed at leisure in half hour segments, every manner of guest from the famous to little known artists and persons of particular interests. He was not only well versed on what they were doing, what they had done, what anyone else said about them and what were the most interesting points about what they did, wrote, or played in but he conveyed a calm, studied enthusiasm that got the interviewee to open up to his questions like no one else could do. I'm 45. I have never seen anyone come close to Rose as the epitome of the best that a TV interviewer could achieve. When he left CBS's Nightwatch it was a sad day, for they continued the show with the worst round of interviewers I have ever seen. One woman was interviewing a leading, well informed expert on the Soviet society. He was starting a three point explanation of the forces at work in the USSR that would prevent their being able to readjust their Society to a better form. In the middle of his first point, she jumped in to give her moronic, simple minded view contradicting his well reasoned point, she went to comercial and we never heard the answer in what was left of the interview. I was so pissed that I turned off the set and never watched NightWatch again. A third grader could have done better. Charlie Rose would never have done that. It is with great joy that I find the PBS has again picked up a show using his masterful techniques and I look forward to more hours of fascinating, insightful interviews.
PS. I also look forward to the Seinfeld move. I agree with everyone
here that Seinfeld is the best comedy on TV today but its ratings have
not kept up with its critical praise. A week ago I scanned the AP
reports on ratings and I believe that Seinfeld was in the 35-40 range
while Home Improv. was in the upper 20's. If Seinfeld is to get its
deserved share of the market, it has to be moved away from Home Improv.
It is just my opinion but I watched Home Improv. in its first few
episodes and found it funny at first. But after several episodes, they
seemed to overplay the core humor of the main character. There was no
subtlety or variety, so it soured for me. Several plot and character
side points are funny but do not add up to enough to make me want to
watch it over time and definitely not choose it over Seinfeld.
ALAN ROGERS **** [email] * I speak only for myself as a *
VMKRAFT INC. 708-675-8615 * citizen of the UNIVERSE, not *
* as an employee of Vmkraft nor*
* as a user of U of I Services.*
Rose's alright, but he kisses too much hiney. Did you see the Barbara Walters/Spike Lee interview? What did the NYTimes reviewer say, something like "Stifling Barbara Walters under an ocean of platitudes"? I quite agree. I was squirming and quickly flipping channels, which I often do when I'm embarrassed. He's much better than ARSEnio or Jay Lame-o, but I much prefer Koppel for news or Dave for Late night tomfoolery.
btw: Does anyone else out there ENJOY World News Now on ABC? I get a real kick out of it... (Weather report for Aurora, Ill: Excellent.)
Most definitely!! I'm extremely saddened to have seen Lisa leave, though. "It's three a.m., you're wide awake, and you're not wearing pants/So grab your World News Now mug and, everybody, dance!"