The Ashcan

The Morning Dump: inside late night TV, punk’s endangered species, hearting Mary HK Choi and stupid Americans

Posted on 16. Jan, 2010 by theashcan in Morning Dump, Music, Television, media

• The late night television debacle has me riveted in a manner which I, frankly, am not proud of. Constantly, I find myself reading rumours, watching video clips, skimming comments and sifting through Facebook fan pages in search of new, ultimately asinine gossip. What Will Conan Do? I haven’t been this intrigued by television since the Captain Power lightgun. One under the radar aspect of all this attention has been the spotlight suddenly cast on the quirky world that is “Late Night Television”. Lynn Harris has written a fascinating piece over at Salon.com that gives a unique insider perspective on late night shows, television writing and professional comedy, all in one fell swoop. Even more interesting? The article is actually about the state of feminism in those overtly male dominated spheres. A great read and a great way to get your fix of late night hi-jinx; while also feeling somewhat intelligent for it.

• If you aren’t familiar with Patti Smith, you’re missing out. She’s the artist’s hero, the poet’s hero, the punk’s hero, and I also consider her to be a hero of the everywoman. Check out the leading photo in New York‘s recent article about Smith. Caught mid-giggle, she looks almost girlish but that lined, weathered face tells a different story. In this profile, coinciding with the release of Smith’s book about her relationship with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, Vanessa Grigoriadis explores the psyche of a kind of performer that, when you think about it, is probably an endangered species today.

• I don’t care nathan about “Grey’s Anatomy” but I really love Mary HK Choi, and I just discovered she was writing recaps of the show for Videogum. Also, I don’t care about recaps, and even if, these recaps are months old. But you know what? Still full of awesome. Choi beams sincerity while the rest of us just try hard to sound cool, and holy she has an ability for on-point word choice. When I die, I would like to have her recap my life Ender Wiggin styles but with MORE CAPS and run-ons and definitely more roffles, because she can make even boring stuff sound mind-meltingly dope (like she did for “2012″ and “New Moon”, bless her heart, which because of her food writing I imagine as one giant tapioca pearl).

• Man, do I ever hate the Regis and Kelly show, especially when their “guest hosts” are just family members who don’t understand basic Canadian geography. They are literally making the same jokes I did in grade six. That said, I really like Jersey Shore, especially when they are schooled by a bunch of little kids with fake tanner on.

Tags: comedy, Grey's Anatomy, Jersey Shore, kelly ripa, late night TV, live with Regis and Kelly, Mary HK Choi, New York Magazine, Patti Smith, punk, writing