"I SAID NEE-HA!"
The Late Night With Conan O'Brien Newsletter #01/31-052
Hello everyone. Hope you've been having a conetastic hiatus. Well, it’s Superbowl Sunday… and I know what lust-see tv that is. So I will make this a quickie.
There’s been a lot of news, at least gossip anyway, in El Mondo Conan… and I although I am happy that Max is touring with the guy he quit to work for Conan, I am also sad… The show will miss him methinks. He owes it to Public Service Announcements to come back soon.
Oh, regarding Micah Honees, he sends his best wishes and promises he’ll be back with the freaks for his loyal readers next week.
Have a conanderful week everyone and let's get it awn!
Late Night Linzi
Editor
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CONTENTS -
LATE NIGHT NEWS
MAX WEINBERG HAS BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
WAS IT REALLY HIM?
LATE NIGHT POLL
THE CONOLOGUE JOKES
UPCOMING GUESTS – February 1 – 12 1999
THIS TIME LAST YEAR….
FYI
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LATE NIGHT NEWS
MAX TO LEAVE ON MARCH 1: It’s been revealed that Max Weinberg will take a hiatus of around six months from Late Night from March 1st to tour with Bruce Springsteen…
He will be replaced by drummer James Wormworth, a long-time friend of Jimmy Vivino, who has worked alongside the Vivino brothers, Al Kooper, Hubert Sumlin, John Sebastian, Johnnie Johnson, and members of the MW7 on several albums.
Jimmy Vivino will be taking over as bandleader for the duration of Max’s absence.
LATE NIGHT IS TO BE HONORED at The Museum of Television & Radio's 16th annual William S. Paley Television Festival on Friday, March 12. The festival, which salutes the makers of diverse programming, offers the public an appreciation of the medium’s commitment to quality. Thirteen events consisting of episodes of shows followed by Q&As make-up the festival, each saluting a program-chosen for its artistic merit, cultural impact, or historical significance-or an individual whose work has had a major impact on television.
NBC.COM/CONAN is highlighting the 15th Late Night Annual College Band Search competition. At the site right now you can see some of the bands who made the honorable mention category…. The actual grandprize winner, who will perform on the show next month, will be announced soon….
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MAX WEINBERG HAS BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
By DAVID BAUDER
The Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) -- The sound cut through one wall, across a hallway and through another wall to the backstage dressing room where Max Weinberg talked. There were horns, guitars and -- making him a little nervous -- the drums.
``My replacement is sitting in this week,'' the leader of the Max Weinberg 7 explained, after pausing to listen.
``No,'' he said, catching himself. ``He's not my replacement. He's my sub. He's very well aware of that.''
This leave of absence idea takes some getting used to. The bandleader for
``Late Night With Conan O'Brien'' will be absent for about six months starting in March. He's becoming ``Mighty Max'' again, the drummer for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band and will travel the world with the year's most anticipated rock concert tour before returning to TV at the end of summer.
Let's see: one person, two dream jobs. Weinberg is grateful he wasn't forced to make a choice.
When Springsteen announced in January that he would tour with the E Street Band for the first time in 11 years, Weinberg approached O'Brien and producer Jeff Ross. Was there any way he could do this?
He wasn't about to quit. No way. O'Brien's show had given the 48-year-old what few faded rock 'n' rollers ever get -- a second act in life. He'd never missed a Conan show -- 1,048 in a row -- even arranging to appear by satellite from Los Angeles when Springsteen asked him to drum on the Academy Awards.
After a shaky start, ``Late Night'' has hit its stride with the audience and critics. It's a great gig. If NBC had said no, Springsteen would be looking for another drummer.
``I love Bruce, the guys in the band,'' Weinberg said. ``I love the history and the music. But the last 5 1/2 years have really proved to me that I moved on.''
O'Brien and Ross gave him the chance to move back. They recognized the importance of this reunion to Weinberg and to rock history and felt the show was on solid footing to weather the change. Guitarist Jimmy Vivino will fill in as bandleader. Weinberg is in rehearsals with Springsteen.
Weinberg said he's returning to the road as much for his 11-year-old daughter and 8-year-old son as for himself. Dad spent 15 years with the E Street Band, but his children have never seen them perform. So they'll take time off from school to follow their parents on tour.
``I really want my children to see me in this sort of mythical situation that I was in that was pretty much over by the time they came around,'' he said.
Weinberg has a keen memory for dates, and here's one he'll never forget: Oct. 18, 1988. That was the day Springsteen called to say he wanted to try some new things and didn't need the band anymore.
There were inklings. Weinberg was convinced at the end of the ``Born in the USA'' tour in 1985 that the band had played its last show; they had worked hard for more than a decade and conquered the world. What more was there to do?
Springsteen called the band back for two more, shorter runs but when Weinberg saw the billing, ``Bruce Springsteen's Tunnel of Love Express featuring the E Street Band,'' he knew the end was near. Featuring?
But even if you're in a bad marriage, it's still a shock to be handed divorce papers.
``It was at the same time the most horrifying experience I've ever been through and the most liberating,'' he said. ``It was a tremendous period of personal growth. It was the first time in my life that I had been out of a band. It was the first time that I had been given walking papers. Plus, I had a family to support.''
Weinberg went to Seton Hall, the New Jersey college, earned a degree in communications. He briefly tried law school. He even turned to a buddy, ex-Beatle Ringo Starr, for advice on how to cope when the band you've made your life has broken up.
Springsteen urged him to keep drumming, but Weinberg had given it up by the day four years later when he spotted Conan O'Brien on a Manhattan street corner and introduced himself.
It was a fluke, just like when he answered an ad in the Village Voice and wound up in the E Street Band. O'Brien had just been selected to replace David Letterman when he left for CBS. He wanted something musically that no one else was doing and liked Weinberg's idea for a neo-swing band. The drummer auditioned and got the job.
About three-quarters of the mail Weinberg gets these days is about O'Brien's show, not the E Street Band. He suspects many young fans don't know his past life.
A year ago, a 14-year-old aspiring drummer sent a letter about how he loved to watch Weinberg drum. He wasn't getting along with his father and found it odd that he could relate to someone his father's age on TV.
One night his father confronted him about staying up late. The boy talked about how he liked to watch O'Brien's drummer, Max Weinberg. That's funny, the dad said, Bruce Springsteen used to have a drummer with that name. He looked at the screen and recognized Weinberg behind the kit.
So on a Friday night, father and son stayed up to watch Weinberg, Dad talking about all the Springsteen concerts he saw in the 1970s. Some of the ice was broken.
``My first thought when I realized that I would be doing this tour with the E Street Band was that I hope this guy takes his son to this concert,'' Weinberg said. ``I think a lot of that's going to happen.''
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WAS IT REALLY HIM?
There’s a new trend in the world of Conan fandom. Ever-vigilant Conan fans are not just seeing him on tv, but everywhere else too apparently. Spotted a Conan look-a-like recently? Tell us about it. Email: Linzi24@aol.com
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From Tara:
Once, when I was at this German heritage festival near my house, I could have swore I saw Conan. My friend and I were waiting for a concert by the band Savage Garden to begin, and we were getting kind of antsy. People were still finding seats, so we had to keep standing so people could pass by. All of the sudden, out of nowhere, I standing to let these people pass, and I'm staring right into the face of Conan O'Brien. Wow. The guy noticed me staring, so he was like "Hey hey" I pointed it out to my friend, but she didn't care, so I sat there and stared at him for practically the whole time. Also, he was wearing a yellow, short-sleeved button up shirt, and it looked quite nice.
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From Holly:
I haven't really spotted Conan...but there is a Dirt Devil vacuum cleaner commercial and on it, it has this little toy guy (looks like a lego man) and I think he looks exactly like Conan! (He gets sucked up in the vacuum).
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From Tracy:
I saw a guy on the game show "Jeopardy!" last night that resembled Conan. His name was Rich and he will be back on the show again tonight. Maybe he is one of Conan's long lost brothers or some distant cousin, like Dennis Leary. I guess it wasn't Neal or Luke because they're older and this guy looked young. I thought it could be possible that he was a relative since those Harvard smarts run in the family!
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LATE NIGHT POLL
THIS WEEK’S POLL QUESTION: What’s your favorite character?
Send your response before Thursday to: LateNightPoll@hotmail.com
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LAST WEEK’S POLL QUESTION: How has Late Night influenced your life?
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Julie -
Late Night has showed me that it is possible to have fun and get paid for it. Conan and Andy have been my role models and they will be forever! It is possible to have fun and influence people with such a passion. This is what I have learned from the show!! I believe that Conan and Andy do everything we would do if we had our own show! They are going to be around for a while. So sit back and laugh it up!!!
Kandyce -
Well, I don't get sleep like I used to (when I was like 10), and I often find myself, during conversation, quoting Conan and anything else on the show, leaving my peers lost and confused. It becomes sort of an inside joke for those of us who do watch the show though.
Peacelovefire -
Late night has influenced my life greatly, my dream has always been to be a movie star but after becoming a Conan fan I know what I wanna to do now, I want to be the first successful woman in latenight talk! I am hoping to get the late night spot after Conan goes for the late show i should probably graduate high school first though.
Jason -
Because of the Conan O’Brien show my life has been 100% up-lifted.
Because everybody at work doesn’t watch your show, they must be screwed up or something, but because of your show I am "the man" at work. Why u ask, because I tell everyone what happened on the show.
I am now the coolest man at work.
DoRheen -
I've had to adjust my sleeping pattern so that I can wake up at 12:35 Monday through Friday.
Kate -
I'm much more quick-witted. I can make fun of just about anything on the spot.
Jodi -
Watching the show keeps me laughing which, is more important every day, in this lifetime. : )
ABSOLFB7-
Conan and company has become a part in my everyday schedule. Sweet baby lovin. mmmm. I love that towering funny man.
Megan -
Before Late Night I had always thought that tall ghost like white men with flaming red hair and a charming funny humor could never be friends with an adorable witty chubby man. Where I live the tall men and the short men live at odds with the short men. Thank you late night for showing my people that there can be peace among the two groups. God bless you all!!!!!!!!
FISH -
Besides a deep obsession of wanting to BE Conan, altering myself from something or other to a red headed male. The height thing is still something to over come, but my plan shan't be spoiled. Plus the want to feed Conan and Andy grapes 'n' strawberries...I'd have to say the show has completely captured my life, bludgeoned it, whipped it with a sparkly pink whip, and left it on a large meat hook. I'll always watch and wonder just what it must be like to sit wedged between their greatness. Aw sweet wonderment...
Jennifer -
It hasn’t influenced my life that much, just my sleeping habits. Well, wait, maybe it has, I never used to go into depression over sleeping through one show without the v.c.r on. Also, I never used to use the words 'conetastic' and 'krunk' in every second sentence. Have a conetastic day!
Dan S. -
It's obviously kept me up later at night! : ) But seriously, I'm a college student and I refuse to have any classes before 9:30am so that I can stay up and watch the show the night before...Like clockwork! Conan rules!
Gluebug -
It has kept me from getting enough sleep many, many nights.
Noelle -
Late Night has influenced my life by simply not getting enough sleep every night. And that doesn't bother me because I know that watching an episode of Late Night and watching Conan is better than any dream I could possibly have! Oh, and it also has made me look at bears in a totally different way!
Karen, your goddess of odd -
My dorm computer has the network name "Tomorry". I have a picture of where I stood in line at 30 Rock to see the show over the summer. Plus, I have all these neat friends. I can't imagine what life was like before I found Conan and the gang, except that I got lots more sleep. But who needs sleep, anyway?
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THE CONOLOGUE JOKES
Transcribed By Robin Banks
Conologue Jokes from Tuesday 19th – Friday 22nd January 1999
"The State Of The Union address was tonight, and several Republicans chose not to attend because they felt that it would be quote 'hypocritical to applaud President Clinton', so instead they spent a quiet night at home with their mistresses."
"Last year, the speech was interrupted by applause 91 times and this year there weren't any applause breaks, in fact the only time the speech was interrupted was when Vernon Jordan sent the President a strip-o-gram."
"Reportedly Mick Jagger is now claiming that he was never married to Jerry Hall because their wedding on the island of Bali wasn't legal. Not only that, but experts say Keith Richard's marriage may not be legal because he's been dead for ten years."
"At one point during a speech President Clinton looked up at Hillary and he mouthed the words 'I love you'... which is fine, but then he did the same to four other women."
"The other day at an airport Monica Lewinsky told a fan that she doesn't give autographs because she's famous for the wrong reasons. Although, Monica did offer to give the fan oral sex."
"Yesterday Cindy Crawford and her husband announced that they're expecting a baby. The father said he doesn't care if it's a boy or a girl he's just happy he gets to have sex with Cindy Crawford."
"According to a recent statistic Americans use 200 billion kleenex a year. That number would be a lot higher, but technically George Michael is British."
"Today is the one year anniversary of the day the Monica Lewinsky scandal broke. To mark the occasion President Clinton sent Monica flowers and then had Betty Currie get them back."
"The other night the WB Network did not carry President Clinton's State Of The Union Address but instead aired the episode of 'Felicity' where Felicity loses her virginity. Apparently President Clinton was furious because he couldn't watch."
"Charlie Sheen announced that now that he's older and more mature he wants to be known as 'Charles Sheen'. Although to hookers he'll still be known as 'Bob Smith.'"
"Dan Quayle announced yesterday that he will run for President in the year 2000. That's right, and on behalf of Late Night talk show hosts everywhere I just wanna say 'Thank you.'"
"Today for the first time during the impeachment trial Senators were allowed to ask questions. Strom Thurmon went first and asked 'Has anyone seen my blue blanket.'"
"The other day in Indiana police arrested a man for driving to work drunk on his lawnmower. When police told him it was inappropriate to drive a lawnmower to work the man said 'That's right, it's winter, I should be on my zamboni.'"
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UPCOMING GUESTS – February 1 – 12 1999
MONDAY The 1st (First shown on 11/6/98):
David Spade
Fred Savage
Canibus
TUESDAY The 2nd
Julia Sweeney
Stephen Wright
The Marvelous 3
WEDNESDAY The 3rd
Jason Schwartzman
Eric McCormack
THURSDAY The 4th
Gwyneth Paltrow
Tim Russert
FRIDAY The 5th
Pamela Anderson
Michael T. Weiss
Ricky Skaggs
MONDAY The 8th (First shown on 10/14/98):
Sandra Bullock,
Scott Thompson,
Rasputina
TUESDAY The 9th:
Stephen King
WEDNESDAY The 10th:
John Tesh
Jeri Ryan
THURSDAY The 11th:
Daniel Stern
FRIDAY The 12th:
Bill Maher,
Fabio
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UPCOMING MUSO GUESTS:
The Marvelous 3 (Feb 02)
Ricky Skaggs (Feb 05)
Sixpence None The Richer (Feb 09)
Cyndi Lauper (Feb 12)
Susan Tedeschi (March 03)
The Chieftains (March 17)
Steve Earle & The Del McCoury Band (March 19)
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THIS TIME LAST YEAR….
Tuesday February 3rd 1998, Andy plugged his new off-Broadway show "Loose Lips"… Jerry Springer made an appearance on the show promoting his video. He was rather more subdued than anyone expected (given his rowdy show). Also guesting were Melinda Clark and David Brenner. Upfront Staff photographer "Norman" does some time travel taking pictures of Celebrity Tombstones, including that of Monica Lewinsky, whose last words were said to be "MMGMPH ". Later on came the advice the kids today need more than anything in Public Service Announcements. Max tells us "It’s wrong to sleep with someone just because they’ve offered to advance your career. It’s demeaning, it can even ruin your life. Of course, if you are actually attracted to the guy then that’s a different story. Come on Jessica, you know you want it…"
Wednesday February 4th "Smell the program, doesn’t it smell goood? … Lemony!" Andy Richter's "World of the Unexplained of the Unknown' made it’s debut with the compelling and revealing "Curse of Cocoon" tale. A strange spin-off of Andy’s that sadly never caught on. Guests were actor John Leguizamo, Ed McMahon, and singer Victoria Williams. Desk comedy piece was "Songs for Guests".
Show #888 last year saw guests Dan Ackroyd and Conan’s favorite supermodel the fab Rebecca Romijn visit the show. Also this was the day that Shannon Hall became the first guest who failed to show due to her being arrested. Conan read out the AP wire story. The Clinton-Lewinsky Sex Scandal remains The Topic of discussion (as always) in another Clutch Cargo Segment, and Bob Dole reveals his new campaign song… "Let’s get into a time machine and this time vote for Dole…." Andy makes some bets before the show and chaos ensues. As Conan tries to get on with the show…. Max drums his way through the segment, Bobby Bowman dances around in a tutu (he gets all the best jobs), Conan gets soaked by the special FX guy and producer Liz Plonka cuts Conan off in his prime.
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FYI
"NEE-HA!" #52 was edited by Linzi Gallacher with thanks to Robin Banks, Crispy, John, Tara, Holly and Tracy.
On The Web: http://www.angelfire.com/ny/lacob/conan.html
Email: linzi24@aol.com
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END QUOTE
"I can't believe he said that about us... oh look a butterfly!" - Conan impersonating Keith Richards
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