"I SAID NEE-HA!"
The Late Night With Conan O'Brien Newsletter #06/28-028
Hola everyone!! I have had the weirdest most non-conetastic week ever and of course, I have to yell you about it. Gotta tell it to someone, right? For those of you not in the know or new to the newsletter. NBC Europe are in the process of making some major changes, see "KEEP EUROPE CONETASTIC" for the details. I'm all out of Conan earlier than expected. My krunk-like local cable operator whipped NBC off on Monday. Then they put it back on for Thursday (not that I seen the show or anything that swell). And on Friday morning it was gone again. That was disappointing to not see the last week of new shows lemme tell ya.
NBC's plans have become clearer as they announced more countries that would get their new localized version. See below for the details. And some good news... CNBC Europe are to show Late Night at weekends. Soooo, weekend Conan is better than no Conan at all. Right? Yesh it is, but the campaign continues... I want to ask everyone to help us out again by writing to CNBC and asking them to put Conan on five night's a week like normal.
Now that I have more time on my hands (due to having no Conan) I've been playing around with the idea of "NEE-HA!" having a website. It's gonna be pretty basic since my knowledge of HTML is just that. It will be up and running properly within the next few weeks. Also, speaking of websites, Jimmy Vivino fans will be pleased to hear that The Sons & Daughters Of Paramus Social Club (Jimmy's AOL fans) are also working on a little dedication to Jimmy on the web. Watch this space for details. It's been over a year since The Jimmy Man was featured as a muso guest on Late Night. Isn't it time he was seen live on Late Night again? Yesh it is. Viva Vivino people!! If you agree with me on this, put "Viva Vivino" in your subject line, add your comments and I will pass the message on to Late Night. We want Jimmy!!
Just in case anyone was wondering about last Friday's show. Yesh, we have confirmed it-- Conan really did eat that bug!! Yuk!! Enjoy your Conan hiatus, I hope EVERYONE has a truly conetastic week!! Let's get it awn!
Linzi
Editor/World Cup Correspondent
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CONTENTS
NBC EUROPE INFO
LATE NIGHT POLL
THE BONE OF CONTENTION by Micah Honees
UPCOMING GUESTS - June 29 - July 3 1998
THIS TIME LAST YEAR....
WEEK IN REVIEW
WEBSITE REVIEW by Quinn
END QUOTE
FYI
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NBC EUROPE INFO
As you know, from July 1 1998 there will be some major changes on NBC Europe. In some parts of Europe NBC have merged with National Geographic and left a large group of countries high and dry when it comes to seeing their favorite Late Night talk show.
In other parts, NBC have become partners with DFA (a German TV production company) and will continue to broadcast Late Night along with more locally produced shows. And some countries have been cut off completely from NBC Europe.
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If you live in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Poland, Czech Republic, France, Italy, Spain Portugal, Turkey or East/Central Europe you will receive a new localized version of NBC.
The channel will retain a large part of it's current schedule, including Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and The Tonight Show With Jay Leno.
This new service will be available on Cable and on DF-1. NBC have stated that there may be a temporary loss of the service in some areas.
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If you live in Republic of Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Hungary or Israel NBC Europe will be replaced by National Geographic Programming and six hours of CNBC News.
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If you live in another European country NBC Europe will no longer be shown in your area.
NBC are encouraging all NBC Europe viewers to retune to CNBC Europe to see Late Night With Conan O'Brien, which will now be shown at weekends on the channel. CNBC Europe is available through cable (contact your local operator) or via satellite (Astra 1D). If your local cable operator doesn't carry CNBC Europe take action. Write, fax, phone, email them. Tell them that you want to see CNBC.
You will find more info on how to tune into CNBC Europe at:
http://www.cnbceurope.com/connect/tuningin/index.htm
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IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT IT?
Yesh!! The "KEEP EUROPE CONETASTIC" campaign continues. While it is safe to say that we won't convince National Geographic to abandon it's monkey porn policy and start broadcasting shows like Late Night with Conan O'Brien. We can still write to CNBC Europe and ask them to broadcast the shows just as NBC do (one day later than their US air date) instead of just at weekends as they intend.
Please write to: feedback@cnbceurope.com
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LATE NIGHT POLL
THIS WEEK'S POLL QUESTION: If you could be Conan, Andy or Max for a day, which one would you chose to be and why???
Send your response before Thursday to: LateNightPoll@hotmail.com
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LAST WEEK'S POLL QUESTION: What's the best remote ever???
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This was one of our biggest Late Night Polls ever. So many people never put their names on their emails though, so I can't quote you.
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From: Rachel
Boy, this is really tough, I can't tell you if it is the visit to Houston, and his tangle with buffalo, or the ice cream truck. They were both so good!!! It just makes me giddy,
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From: FRENCDP
When Conan was a truck driver, undoubtedly when that old guy told truck driver stories, that was just TOO funny.
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From: Denver
Being from Houston I must vote for the time Conan visited my birth place. Besides that it was great. And the point still holds that they don't air the show until 4 in the morning or some ungodly time. That's why I moved to Austin. Not really, but I did drive to Houston to see Cabin Boy. The surreal part about that episode was that in September 96 I was in New York and went to see Conan's show for the second time. The trip itself was awful because the girl I was in love with dumped me during the trip. But anyway. So I went to the show, went back to the house I was staying at and watched the show, bla bla bla. About a year later I'm at home in Austin one night just minding my own business watching Conan and it's a rerun of the episode where I was in the audience. (Tyra Banks was on that episode) Another week goes by. I'm just sitting at home again watching Conan, and then he goes into the bit where he went to Houston going all over making people watch, yes you guessed it, the episode where I was in the audience. The best part was where he watched it on the big screen at the Astrodome, which holds a special place in my heart and will probably be torn down in a few years. (See the movie Brewster McCloud) And yes the Houston bus station is that scary. I don't think that was fake. I have been terrified in that place at much earlier times of the day and would never ever go there at that hour. Anyway that's my anecdote about that episode.
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From: Skoochee
The remote where Conan learns to dance "all the different styles" in one day is the funniest one I've ever seen. I love any kind of physical humor Conan does....
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From: LISA
The best remote so far is when Conan went to Germany. Where else would you see a vomit toilet on TV? Letterman or Leno wouldn't do it.
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From: AQUALUNG07
Definitely...Conan in Houston searching for fans, and meeting with Buffalo. Also give credit to when Andy went to the Kiss Concert and the Wrestling Party with Jimmy Snukka.
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From: Chantale
Conan's visit to Houston definitely. I think that has been my answer to more than one poll question ;) But it was honestly the dang funniest thing I'd ever seen. That and the St-Patricks day episode when Colin Quinn was on. Did any one see this? I think he was drunk. Omigod it was funny. Why am I rambling?
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From: Quinn
I have to go with Conan in Houston, just 'cause it's my hometown, and I have to deal with Conan being on at 2:40. It's sort of exciting to go by the places he visited in the remote and think, "Conan was there!" Runner-up goes to the ice cream truck (he just looked too cute in that uniform) and my fav Andy remote would be the KISS convention.
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From: Tracy
Conan learning to dance had to be one of the best remotes I've ever seen....it had it all...Conan in a leotard (rrrowwlll)....Conan with hip-hop threads dancin on a card board box....Conan spinning....even a sub sandwich. You really can't ask for more from a remote!
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From: Alan
Conan's visit to Houston was Late Night-style self-depreciating humor at its best. All the Houstonians' dazed replies to Conan's questions. And what about that guy Buffalo!!!?!? That was wonderful to see Conan get verbally abused and threatened by a fat drunken Texan. Conan's nervous comment: "I was just almost killed." And Andy's comment after the tape was over: "Little Fat Dude?!?!" I can say without a doubt that Conan's visit to Houston was definitely the best Late Night remote ever. Followed closely by Andy's recent visit to the Health Expo that ended at Taco Bell.
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From: Yoda Hart
I think the best remote ever done was where Conan was a child during Valentine's Day and he got the card signed from the whole class saying they hated him.
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From: NICK
Where he visits his old hotel and pretends to be great friends with the maid and stuff.
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From: Claudia
I guess I'll have to say that for me it is Conan in Houston. It is a classic, for sure, who can forget his attempt to get the nightowls in Houston to tune in, especially the college guy and the bum in the bus stop who insulted poor Andy!
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From: Jessica
My favorite would have to be when Conan takes dance lessons in NYC! Being a dancer myself, it just had me rolling on the floor laughing! Especially when Conan is in his hip hop "threads" and his pants start falling down. Let's see some more of that hip hop wear on the show, eh guys?
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From: Karen, goddess of odd
Uhhh... Well, I love them all. But I think I'll have to go with Conan learning to dance, since we got to see him in a leotard and all. Second prize goes to the remote where Conan recorded the Late Night song in Memphis (which I've only seen bits of)... and an honorable mention to Andy's visit to the KISS convention. =)
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From: Johnny Bluejeans
Well, this is a loaded question. I quite enjoyed the one where Conan and Billy Crystal went to Yankee Stadium. When they were walking around the players' clubhouse I thought they worked off each other remarkably well with Billy happy to play Conan's straight-man. But in all honestly, there can not be a better remote than the one in Houston. I myself--no shrinking violet--still have nightmares of an encounter with a fashion-risking redneck like Buffalo whenever I pass the train station in my hometown.
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THE BONE OF CONTENTION by Micah Honees
I'm getting soft. Those of you who read this column (you know who you are...and chances are that I know you as well) just waiting for me to make some smart-ass comment on a lazy guest who is disinterested or unprepared, well, you're gonna be disappointed again with me this week. (OK, just for you, I'll throw in this BONUS observation: Rebecca Lobo: Why?) Do you understand the sacrifice I just made for all of you? I live in a woman's basketball-intensive state where Becks actually played her college ball. I legally could be drawn and quartered for making fun of her. That's why it's a short observation.
Anyhoo, pressing on, I really enjoyed the Tuesday show this week. It was, in my opinion, exactly what "Late Night" strives to be: interesting and light, kind of like a fine French pastry--the kind of which is hard to get in a state run by female basketball players, I assure you.
I feel I can do justice to the show with a one-word explanation: Buffy. Mmmm, that's right all you men out there. Buffy. Even though I am in the (what is called in the entertainment industry) top left-hand corner of the demographic bell curve "Buffy" aims for, I feel no shame in admitting to all of you that I for one Loves the Buffy. I watch it every week when I can (it's good but not "tape worthy") and I have to say it's a pretty good show. In fact, in the all-important Me Demographic, used by advertisers to target the hockey-playing and Cartoon Network-intensive male audience, it pretty much has everything you could need: cute chicks and karate. Oh, sure. Some people will say there's a tension to the show and that the intrigue and cast make it all worth while but we all know that's a load. But what a load it is. Bottom line? The answer, my friends, is Buffy.
Buffy has a real name and it is Sarah Michelle Gellar. Gotta admit I was pleasantly surprised to see her on the show considering the USA TODAY listed Caroline Rhea as the guest (which she was, more on her later) but if Caroline Rhea was the undercard, then Buffy was the main event.
Sarah-and I can call her Sarah because I'm too lazy to type Sarah Michelle Gellar again-was quite entertaining. She seemed really at ease, which struck me immediately as refreshing because so many of those occupying the chair between Conan and Andy are quite a bit (shall-we-say) "more seasoned" than she is. But she is an engaging sort for a slayer. Coming across as a regular down-to-earth person (which may or may not be true) she enlightened us all on some of the secrets of film making (I knew it was in the shoes) and what it's like to be four and get sued by of all people, Mayor McCheese. Andy was allowed to do a hilarious and too-close to call Ed McMahon-equin impression that had to make us all laugh. I got a kick from it anyway. Maybe Ed did, too.
Next up on Tuesday was comedian and TV star her own damn self, Caroline Rhea. This, I thought, would be shaky. I only know her from baby-sitting my cousin and watching that "Sabrina" show but hey, anyone that can make me slap the chair convulsing over a cancer joke has got to be pretty good. Didn't want to laugh. Had to. Anyway, she was very good. The bit about the plastic surgeon struck me funny; as did the Vendela story. It was like the prom queen was being upstaged by the funny girl in school yet again-just like every episode of "Daria". Her facials sent me over the edge; complete with the stereotypical model "I'm smelling bad air" face when Vendela didn't get the "It's like looking in a mirror!" joke. I've seen the look before, mostly in bars. But that's how TV reaches us all, people. It brings life right into your living room!
At commercial, I really wished Caroline Rhea could become a Friend of the Show like Scott Thompson, Janeane Garofalo, or the previous week's Michael Rappaport just so we could see more of her. Hopefully she will be back soon.
Last on that show of shows was comedian Brian Regan. Look: I've admitted it before and I'll say it again. Come out and toss a line like "bring me the head of a pig...and a fiddle" and I am yours forever. Regan is one of my favorite comics so this was just icing on the cake when he jerked the curtain.
To sum up, let's see what is in the recipe for a truly fun and entertaining show. On the one hand, we have a good-looking woman who seems bright and talented. On the other hand we have a lady who just cracks us up. Then we have a good comic to put it to bed. Throw in Conan explaining his unique fighting style (The Original Godzilla short-arm) and Andy blowing a blood vessel in his brain then you have quality television. 'Nuff said...except that I must have a lot of hands. That's how I got this column.
Actually, that's not right. One more thing needs to be said. Although it's all over this newsletter and the website, I just personally wanted to thank all of you who gave a bit of time to get behind the KEEP EUROPE CONETASTIC!! campaign. While we may not have achieved total victory, we at least were heard. Some the biggest Conan fans I know live outside of North America and I know that they were happy we could rally ourselves in support. You all deserve a hand.
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UPCOMING GUESTS
June 29 - July 3 1998 is a Hiatus week.
MONDAY, June 29 (Repeat of 2/25/98):
Robert Duvall,
Samuel Fulsome
TUESDAY, June 30 (Repeat of 2/27/98):
David Schwimmer,
Kurt Loder,
Ed Byrne
WEDNESDAY, July 1 (Repeat of 3/3/98):
John Malkovich,
Craig T. Nelson,
H. Keith Melton
THURSDAY, July 2 (Repeat of 3/19/98):
Julianna Margulies,
Lewis Black
FRIDAY, July 3 (Repeat of 3/6/98):
Frederique,
Boyd Matson,
Finley Quaye
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ANDY RICHTER will appear as a guest alongside Shari Belafonte and Clay Jenkinson on ABC'S 'Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher' on Thursday July 2.
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THIS TIME LAST YEAR....
This time last year Late Night was in repeats. On Monday, June 30 - a repeat of April 4th guests included Jean-Claude van Damme or as he's known to Conan Jeanclaudevandamme, Margaret Colin, and music from Johnny Lang. Conan and Andy had another Staring Contest - which Andy lost again. And announcer Joel was depressed again.
On Tuesday July 1, Conan and Andy took the desk for a drive through New York. Max read some of his "wonderful" poetry, a talent that they keep pretty quiet these days. Guests were Justine Bateman and David Bowie. During the interview Conan took Bowie on a trip down memory lane showing off some of his different looks. Bowie also performed an acoustic version of "Dead Man Walking" which later appeared on the Late Night CD "Live From 6A".
An offer of political asylum was made to the President of Zaire on Wednesday - a repeat of Thursday, April 24th. Andy gained a new respect for weather presenters, as he became an On Camera Meteorologist for a day at the Weather Channel. He chose music and wore a blue suit that made him "invisible" on screen. They showed scenes around NBC from "Take Your Daughters To Work Day". Guests were Rob Schneider, Steven Webber and music from Raddish,
On Thursday July 3rd, a repeat of the May 1st 1997 show, Conan went down to Houston, Texas to check out who might be watching the show as the local affiliate doesn't show Late Night until 2:40 AM. He bumps into "Buffalo" who calls Andy "the little fat dude" and scares the crap out of Conan. Yet another offer of political asylum is made to the former President of Zaire. Andy shows the commercial he made for a "Dead Raising" law firm. The law firm is so successful that your dead relatives will come back for a piece of the action. Guests were Friends actress Lisa Kudrow, who flips for the other guest, Chips star Erik Estrada and muso guests were Silverchair.
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WEEK IN REVIEW - June 22 - 26 1998
MONDAY, June 22 (Re-run of 2-24-98):
Matthew Modine
Roy Jones Junior
Patty Loveless
Conan Remote: "Max on The Make"
Conan's Moral Dilemma -- should he keep an autographed baseball?
TUESDAY, June 23:
Sarah Michelle Geller,
Caroline Rhea,
Brian Regan,
Staring Contest,
Win A Date With Conan O'Brien Contest
WEDNESDAY, June 24:
Billy Bob Thornton,
Rebecca Lobo,
Fuel,
Clutch Cargo -- Clinton (live from Air Force One),
THURSDAY, June 25:
Connie Britton,
Conan & Andy; One Heck Of A Team
Joel Is Depressed
FRIDAY, June 26:
Ray Romano,
Christina Ricci,
Girls Against Boys,
Conan & Andy On The Aisle,
USA's World Cup Goal Montage,
Good Luck Bailey!!
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WEBSITE REVIEW by Quinn
If you're like me, and you better hope you are, you still find yourself humming "Where in the building is, HUH! Andy Richter!" whenever you feel like taking a break from "Bullet proof legs, I've got, bullet proof legs, they're long, white, and sexy, bullet proof legs!" But I digress. For anyone who longs for the days of "WITBIAR," (wow, the acronym almost forms a word,) fear not, for newsgroup favorite Jay (AKA the artist formerly known as Crooooow - apologies if I got the # of O's off) has come to the rescue. With the assistance of screen grabs, he has formed an animation of the spinning Andy head that made up the logo. No, it doesn't have a soundtrack, but you can sing along yourself. C'mon!
"He's taken an elevator to a hidden location
Tell me, where in the building is HUH! Andy Richter?"
Note: A decent modem is required to get this to work and there are a couple minutes of download time, but trust me, it is *so* worth it.
Good, clean, Andy fun for all at: http://www.buffnet.net/~bezlbozo/wandy.GIF
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END QUOTE
From Conan & Andy as New Age Folk Singers:
"There's a monster in the garden of love, and the monster's name is 'hate'. And if we don't destroy that monster soon... it just might be too late. So let's sip from the wine of tolerance and have a slice of compassion pie. And we'll all hold hands and dance around beneath the rainbow in the sky."
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FYI
HOW TO GET TICKETS FOR LATE NIGHT:
Write to:
NBC Tickets
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10112
Or call:
(212) 664 - 3056/3057
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Vote for your favorite trio, Conan, Andy and Max to be in a MILK ad.
Go to: http://www.whymilk.com
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Want to contribute to "NEE-HA!"? Drop me an email and ask for the "MOST WANTED" list.
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"NEE-HA!" #28 is here with thanks to Micah Honees, Robin Banks, Quinn, NBC Europe, Laurie.
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Comments & questions to moi: LACOB@AOL.COM
Poll Response to: LateNightPoll@hotmail.com