YOU'VE GOT SOME...LENO...ON YOU: We've spent too much time today talking about this year's model of The Late Shift (which I've never read, though I've seen the movie--guess I need to head to Barnes and Noble tomorrow), but two questions:
1. We have to assume there's a book about this entire mess--assume it begins with the press conference where they announce the impending handover to Conan, hitting not just on the current Conan/Leno mess, but also the Letterman sex scandal. Obviously, we don't have the ending yet, but I'm guessing it'll be Conan taking the stage on his new show for the first time. Who writes it? Bill Carter again as a career-capper? Someone new?
2. Looking down the road, who plays these folks in the inevitable movie? Daniel Roebuck is still available to play Leno (his most recent memorable role? Arzt!), and John Michael Higgins could probably be persuaded to play Letterman again, but who plays Conan? Jeff Zucker? Of course, the most memorable turns in the original movie came from actors playing agents and managers, and those stories will take a while to tell.
BJ Novak plays Jon Stewart.
ReplyDeleteRich Little as the ghost of Carson?
ReplyDeleteI think Higgins kind of learned his lesson on that one, and won't be crossing Letterman again. Conan? Bill Hader comes to mind, but he's ensnared with Lorne and not stupid.
ReplyDeleteAnd as for the book, I'd love to see Bill Carter write it. The Late Shift was wonderful and he obviously knows the issues in and out.
ReplyDeleteI think I remember reading last summer that Bill Carter was working on a new book about the NBC situation, I'm assuming his book just got a third act.
ReplyDeletesorry to post links (feel free to delete this post if nec.) but here is a link about Carter working on a new book about NBC.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.deadline.com/hollywood/ny-times-bill-carter-is-at-it-again/
The thing is, depending on how the story winds up working out, Letterman could very well be the hero this time (a deeply and personally flawed hero, but a hero nonetheless).
ReplyDeleteFor Conan - ironically another former late night talker Craig Kilborne?
ReplyDeleteI love the Craig Kilborn idea. He's not doing anything better, is he? Alternatively, wait five years, get some stilts, and cast Michael Cera.
ReplyDeleteFor Conan, how about Finnish president Tarja Halonen?
ReplyDeleteAnd who can we get Kathy Bates to play in this one?
ReplyDelete