Tuned In
Tuned In+Uncategorized | 969 days ago

Conan's Second Night—Your Thoughts?

By James Poniewozik

While working on my column for this week—it is probably no trade secret to reveal that it has to do with late-night TV—I just watched Conan O’Brien’s second Tonight Show. A solid outing, I thought: Andy Richter fit into the show better, Tom Hanks was a good guest, and the taped bit about Conan’s wardrobe [...]

Tuned In
Tuned In+Uncategorized | 969 days ago

The Morning After: The First Couple, and the Last

By James Poniewozik

I’m turning around a last-minute column this morning, so talk amongst yourselves for a while.  About, for instance: last night, our two-night-long national nightmare ended as Speidi finally quit I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! For now. But not before Spencer Pratt declared himself and wife Heidi “the biggest celebrities in the world.” [...]

Tuned In
Tuned In+970 days ago

Corporate Press Release Theater: Jay Sets a Date

By James Poniewozik

Maybe the welter of mostly positive attention to Conan O’Brien’s Tonight Show debut made the perfect setting to start building hype for NBC’s biggest fall debut. Maybe NBC simply can’t let Conan have 24 freaking hours in the spotlight before stepping on him with Leno news. Either way, the network announced a premiere date for [...]

Tuned In
Tuned In+970 days ago

Devalue of Fame

By James Poniewozik

  Last night was one of those nights when TV critics earn their paychecks. No, I don’t mean staying up until the wee hours to review Conan O’Brien’s first Tonight Show. I mean watching two hours of I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! on NBC.    Now, this franchise has been running [...]

Tuned In
Tuned In+Uncategorized | 970 days ago

The Morning After: Jon & Kate, Divided

By James Poniewozik

Last week, 9.8 million people watched the season 5 premiere of Jon & Kate Plus 8—the first since the family of multiples went through a circus of adultery charges—and judging by the comments at Tuned In and elsewhere, every single one of them vowed never to watch the show again.  We’ll see when the ratings [...]

+Television | 970 days ago

Top 10 Skanky Reality Shows

By TIME Staff
Everett

Sometimes, reality shows make us feel bad about (a) America (b) ourselves and (c) humanity. Here are the worst.

Tuned In
Tuned In+Uncategorized | 970 days ago

Conan O'Brien's Tonight Show Debut: In the Year 2009…

By James Poniewozik

Conan O’Brien’s first Tonight Show guest, Will Ferrell, welcomed the new host last night in fitting, if exaggerated, fashion. “No one thought you could do it! No one!” Ferrell gushed. “It’s Conan O’Brien. What? What? That guy? Literally, no one thought you could do it! No one! Not one person, and you’re here!” Even a [...]

Tuned In
Tuned In+Advertising | 971 days ago

How to Pay for Journalism? Morning Joe Brews a Lucrative Solution

By James Poniewozik

I cursed my parents when I first heard about the product-placement deal MSNBC’s Morning Joe had secured with Starbucks. The news-talk show, on which Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski regularly trade barbs over their choice of caffeinated beverage, is being paid upward of eight figures, according to the New York Times, to officially incorporate the [...]

Tuned In
Tuned In+Uncategorized | 971 days ago

All Eyes on Conan—Including Yours?

By James Poniewozik

Today, Conan O’Brien finally assumes the chair of The Tonight Show and begins a glorious three-month reign as NBC’s chief nightly talk-show host. Already the speculation is running hot as to whether can retain Jay Leno’s audience, as Jay himself gets ready to settle into the timeslot an hour and a half ahead of Conan [...]

Tuned In
Tuned In+Uncategorized | 971 days ago

Breaking Bad Watch: Crash

By James Poniewozik

Spoilers for the season finale of Breaking Bad coming up after the jump: 

Tuned In
Tuned In+Uncategorized | 971 days ago

The Morning After: Britain Failed to Get the Memo

By James Poniewozik

SPOILER ALERT: In the dramatic finale of America’s favorite TV show that does not actually air in America, Britain’s Got Talent, Susan Boyle was upset by Diversity, a dance group. Afterward, according to reports in the British press, Boyle was admitted to a London clinic, for “exhaustion” or an emotional breakdown, depending on the report.  [...]