Bumped

Kate Winslet [The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, 12.15.08]: Hey Movie Star, I would like to thank you for keeping the camera off Jay. Was just discussing this with some terrible Scene It? player—why no comedies for Kate? She’s got the timing, get-go and accents (Trinidadian in-laws! fussy daughter! delusional son!) to pull it off. Let me repeat: even the kid stories fly. Kate Winslet’s toddlers are so much cooler than me it’s sickening. A- [video]

Bon Iver [Late Show with David Letterman, 12.11.08]: Just realized Mr. Brawny made the record Timberlake thinks he can make with Rick Rubin. Plus, he’s trying AutoTune and multiple dudes hitting drums at the same time? Heartbreak it is, then. A- [video]

Mike Huckabee [The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, 12.09.08]: With all the talk of Jay and 10 p.m. and spanking new ideas like JayTalkers and replacing the band with Rock-afire Explosion, I’m thinking about Jon Stewart. Mostly because I tried to watch The Tonight Show yesterday and couldn’t. The Daily Show is still the most consistently funny late night show (granted: lead is dwindling post-election). But if Jon was to take over The Late Show in 2010 (or 2012), he would need to talk to stars. Jon is not good at talking to stars: inside joke, Big Daddy joke, awkwardly laughing at something the star said that’s not funny, out. The best Daily Show interviews are the confrontational ones, where Jon can barely look the guest in the eye as if to say, “I know this is a fun show and maybe you didn’t expect this but I really hate your book/politics/sense of self and I don’t feel like hiding it, sorry.” This Mike Huckabee interview was one of those.

Huckabee is promoting a book all about how people should be nice to each other. And he doesn’t think gay people should have the right to get married. This is a conflict that Huckabee doesn’t acknowledge, but it bothers Jon Stewart. A lot. “At what age did you decide not to be gay?” isn’t an applause line, really. It’s a shake-some-sense line. And I can see why Jon’s  pressing here—Huckabee seems like a decent guy who can understand reason. “Seems” being the keyword. It’s sad how Huckabee is totally oblivious to the fact that he’s on the wrong side of history, and I think Jon wanted to plant that seed, basically. If so, he did a good, polite job. The preaching to the choir aspect was (relatively) muted. And, of course, Huckabee’s game. It was just uncomfortable enough. But this can’t be his go-to schitck for 11:30 on a network. Dave claims to be dumb, but it’s only half true; his intelligence lies in experience, and he makes it work. Jon is more of a nerd. Which is great. For Comedy Central. At 11. Elsewhere? Not so great. A-

Tina Fey [Late Show with David Letterman, 10.17.08]: A great finish to probably the best week of Letterman this year. And, if all works out well, the World’s Most Famous Impression will soon cease and simply provide an ideal tease for 30 Rock, which should bump the little-show-that-could up to America’s Sitcom this season. Not sure how wishful that line of logic may be, but I’m thinking it. Remember when everyone thought Studio 60 was going to trounce Fey & Co. in the fake SNL wars? What Matt Perry would do for a three episode arc as Jack’s long-lost son right about now … A-

Bill Murray [Late Show with David Letterman, 10.09.08]: He’s in the upper left corner for a reason. First act bit is textbook Bill: silly, smart, good-natured. Suspenders are a go. Doesn’t hurt that Dave seems as surprised and happy with it as any audience member. Watching their rapport is enough for me. Interview is meh—it’s not ‘82 or ‘93 anymore. These men are old, they need breaks. A-

Brian Williams [The Late Show with David Letterman, 10.03.08]: Williams—who is funnier than most people who get paid to be funny—does a saintly job of playing straight man against a relentless Letterman, who’s still salty about McCain’s no show. Fair and balanced doesn’t get classier than this. And still, his 9/11 hypothetical is more damning than Dave’s “gotcha” Shoeless Joe conspiracy theories. A-

Bill Hader [Late Show with David Letterman, 10.02.08]: Not so famous, so he talks about people who are. It’s nice to know my imagined interactions with Tom Cruise are basically legit. Also: Seth Rogen impression wins. Still not sure why SNL takes him for granted. A-