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Review: Episode Two of Craig Kilborn's 'The Late Late Show'
by Jody Beth Rosen

published 4/5/99

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Jody Beth Rosen is a contributor to LeisureSuit.net based in Brooklyn.



MOST RECENT YAK ABOUT THIS ARTICLE:

Subj: Kilby Rulez!
The Late Late Show Has To Be The Best On The Air...Craig Keeps It Real And Funny All At The Same Time....This Is My Fav Show To Watch..I Stay Up And Watch It From 2-3am Every Morning...And Believe Me Its Worth It!!! Craigy Rules....

-- Krystal
Nov 16, 2003 at 4:44PM

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There was a game on, and I missed Craig's premiere on "The Late Late Show" because it was pre-empted (even we tireless LeisureSuit.net writers must fall aslumber.) I made the effort to stay up for Episode 2 (March 31, 1999.) After all, the future of any show rests on the oft-ignored second episode, where ratings can differ significantly from the pilot. (Nota bene: CBS' web site calls this episode the "premiere," but Craig Kilborn made reference on the show to a star-studded premiere the previous evening. You be the judge.)

Replacing the creepy bedside manner of the uni-browed Tom Snyder with the dazzling goyische blond stallion that is Craig Kilborn will push the buttons of many insomniac Nielsen-family housewives, thus guaranteeing steady viewers. Tom left with the facing chairs, the "toll-free" and the probing interview. Barbara Walters--to whom "in-depth" is little more than a measurement inquiry ("So, Monica, how big was it, in depth?")--and Chucky Rose are free to yap at (or about) length.

Craig brings in various items from his "Daily Show" suitcase, including the "5 Questions" segment. Here, Bill Murray got to answer trivia questions about Mount Rushmore, Gavin McLeod, and model Heidi Klum, interpret Kenny Rogers, lounge-singer-style, and make a Rob Roy with "The Late Late Show"'s bartending setup. All five questions were answered correctly, and more important, all were answered in the language of funny.

A quick note about Bill Murray: he's a good "professional talk-show guest." Everyone's seen Ghostbusters and Caddyshack, but he's not a consummate "star." There are better, more attractive actors, and younger, more annoying comedians. Bill Murray, while a respected part of pop culture, doesn't really open movies. But put him on a struggling late-night chat show and audiences go apeshit.

Bill is king. He's also a notorious Kilby kiss-ass. He was "The Daily Show"'s first guest, made many appearances there, and was an habitual "5 out of 5" on what came to be known on "TDS" as "the 5."

Although Craiggers doesn't have the exclusive right to satirize the news (as opposed to "the 5," which he owns), he threw in a news segment (gotta stay current, so people will know what's a rerun and what's not.) Me, I'm a little tired of the news parodies, having grown up with "Not Necessarily the News" and Dennis Miller/"SNL", and having seen the genre perfected on "The Daily Show," where the writing is stronger now than it's ever been. I can't tell you whether Craig's "news" was successful, because in one night, I'd seen Leno and Jon Stewart (Kilborn's "TDS" replacement) do the same shtick, and on commercials, I'd flipped over to ABC and watched that smug, sanctimonious prick Bill Maher mouth-breathing his opinions of the day's events.

"The Late Late Show" is already clicking--it's got what it needs to be quality comedy. Right now, it's borrowing a lot from Conan O' Brien (the lack of linearity, the 4th-wall-busting ad nauseam), but what separates Craig from Conan is Craig's experience as an anchor, as a TV personality (Conan's background is television writing.) Craig is slick, articulate, narcissistic (I've heard him say "don't touch the hair"): with every angle change, he's one step ahead of the cameras. He's a disciplined interviewer; he knows what to bring out of people and when to shut them up (in contrast, I love Jon Stewart's new "4-minute Interview," but his conversational, feel-like-I've-known-ya-all-my-life questioning style seems inappropriate for such a short time allotment.)

From what I've seen, Craig Kilborn is doing solid work in an exhausted genre, in an unenviable time slot. If I can stay up late enough (surely I'll tune in for those reruns of "Taxi" Nick at Nite has exhumed), Kilby's will be the last face I see before I drift off into sweet, sweet dreams.

"The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn" airs on CBS at 12:30 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, after "The Late Show with David Letterman."


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Name: Krystal
Subject: Kilby Rulez!
-- Nov 16, 2003 at 4:44PM
The Late Late Show Has To Be The Best On The Air...Craig Keeps It Real And Funny All At The Same Time....This Is My Fav Show To Watch..I Stay Up And Watch It From 2-3am Every Morning...And Believe Me Its Worth It!!! Craigy Rules....

Name: T.
Subject: Craiggers
-- Aug 7, 2003 at 3:02PM
Craiggers is bling-bling pure and simple.
And believe me, I have personal reasons
to despise the guy. We love the close-ups!
Although I must say, the show's not quite as
cutting-edge funny as it was 2 years ago.
Time wounds all heels I guess!
Gibby and Craig make good foils for each
other. Writers, throw some more funny
bits of Craig in there, he's got the perfect
acting hilarity. Forget the guests, we want
more Craig!!! One more thing, how about
seeing that pretty face of his smothered
between some huge knockers!

Name: Donald Winters
Subject: Craig Kilborn
-- Jul 19, 2003 at 3:04PM
Kilborn is one of the most annoying personalities on t.v. He's self-absorbed, egotistical and shallow. Why does he do his own intros? That's just one annoying quality. Another are the numerous close-ups that he obviously feel are appealing. Nonsense. He will never get an Emmy because he sucks.

Name: Alison
Subject: Kilby
-- Jun 24, 2002 at 4:20AM
I don't know how I stumbled upon this article, but I found it quite good. I think Craiggers is the best thing to ever hit late-night television, as well as Hollywood too. He's smart, funny, witty, and damn hot. I make sure to catch his show every night and will watch it till the end of time. No joke. My favorite clips are ones such as "Craig's Movie Poster Review" or "Recreation of a Press Photo." I also love "This Just In" and clips such as "Craig yells at his writing staff but it's funny because he has a Q-Tip stuck in his ear." Now that's comedy people. Proud of you Craig!

Name: Kerilyn
Subject: Craiggers is ready!!!
-- Apr 13, 2001 at 12:07PM
I'm a huge fan of the Late late Show, especially within the past 2 years since Craig Kilborn has been the host. He's hilarious, and has great guests. Not to mention, easy on the eyes. Keep up the great work Kilby!!!

Name: Rhune
Subject: Craig Kilborn
-- Apr 4, 2001 at 2:40AM
Craig Kilborn is the "Jack Ass' - not Dr. Laura - as he proclaimed this evening! What a 'pathetic' let down that You are -- after the wonderful humour of Mr. Letterman. I tried; I listened to your first few shows - all you talked about were breasts - do you really think this is amusing to women? You have no class! ...I would like to see you go 'head to head' with Dr. Laura. You havenot a prayer - nor the intellect! Sincerely, Rhune.

Name: Dan Coogan
Subject: Craig Kilborn is Awesome!
-- Nov 18, 2000 at 3:31AM
I've been a fan of the late night comedy shows for a long long time. I used to watch SCTV at 2am before it became popular. I watched Letterman whan he had a daytime show, and since his debut ion '82. Fridays, SNL, and Politically Incorrect are all great and so is Conan. Craig Kilborn is Awesome, sarcastic, and very ON. And the main thing is he's funny.

Name: tyler mcneil
Subject: kilborn still going strong, but not as strong
-- Jun 28, 2000 at 2:32PM
I have always been The Late Late Show's biggest pusher, from the early days when people went "Craig who? or said "I thought Tom Snyder hosted that"
The show was a strong full hour of comedy, even the music and set was perfect. I loved the comical way he bridged from the monologue to the desk....but now, some of these vital elements are missing! No opening to tell you whos on the show, just a wide shot when he walks to the desk and a toned down version of the music...i hope the shows producers see what they have done wrong and things return to their usual hilarity...because it is a good show that deserves a shot....and at a better time slot, but thats another issue.

Name: Anonymous
Subject: Rethink the show
-- Feb 5, 2000 at 1:39AM
Dear Jody Beth Rosen,
I am sitting here watching
Kilborn's show and after
my positive impression of
his show initially, I find
the show terribly tiresome.
Kilborn is irritatingly not funny.
CBS needs to rethink this one.
I really wished his show would work but it doesn't.
I thought you may want to re-review his show.


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