Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
scott@scottlongonline.com
Hatred is not the concept of Please Explain, as it's just about me trying to find out why someone/something has greater popularity than I can understand. Now Jimmy Fallon... it's all about the hate.
A lot of comics hate Pauly Shore because of the amount of success he has had in life and while I do think he's enjoyed a much longer career than he has deserved, I think the guy has had moments. Shore created an original character in the Weasel that fit the times of the early 90's. Sure he often looked like a straight version of Richard Simmons, but the movie Son-in-Law had its moments. Like Carrot Top, Shore has been self-deprecating enough about his talent that I give him pass, despite not being a fan.
Jimmy Fallon did one character on SNL that I thought was consistently funny, Nic Burns. Burns was a computer technician who had the proper mix of sarcastic nerdiness and technical intelligence that made the character very real. His other characters were often showy, but only worked if the other people in the sketch did the heavy lifting. Fallon was billed as an impressionist, but his mimicry was on the level of an opening act at a Comedy Club B-room.
One of the most influential elements in SNL history has been the Weekend Update Segments. Just think about the talented comedians who have sat behind the desk. Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Dennis Miller, Kevin Nealon, and Norm Macdonald are just some of the names who done the gig. Weekend Update was the blueprint for The Daily Show and Colbert Report. Even lesser names who held the anchor job like Charles Rocket, Brad Hall, and Colin Quinn were intelligent guys who delivered the fake news like they understood what they were reading.
The first time this changed in SNL history was when the show paired the bright Tina Fey, with the air-headed Fallon. Fallon was fine when he did jokes on celebrities, but when he got one of a political nature, it came off flat. This was the most coveted job for a topical comic and they gave it to a dumbass. It kind of reminds me of a certain political election that was going on at the time...
Jimmy Fallon was the worst male Weekend Update anchor in SNL history. He was the male Mary Gross.
I'm guessing Lorne Michaels hired Fallon to fill the demographic niche that had been absent since Adam Sandler left. While Sandler is not high-brow, he has created a lot of hilarious, dim-witted characters. It might seem easy to accomplish, but think about how many bad comedies have been produced trying to fit the Sandler/JerryLewis/Steve Martin/Will Ferrell/Jim Carrey mold. Fallon definitely didn't have the chops to perform on these guys level. .
So what created Fallon's success on SNL. Young girls. Fallon was the first SNL cast member I can recall that was a good fit for Tiger Beat magazine. He was the kind of guy that young girls go for, as he had good hair, good teeth, and didn't seem like he had a brain in his head. Hollywood treasures above all, celebrities who test well with young girls, as this demographic has disposable income and is willing to try the newest product. Talent is always secondary to what Hollywood thinks is marketable. I'm sure in the vapid world of Hollywood, many thought Fallon would be the bigger star, instead of Will Ferrell.
In comedy, it helps to have quirky good looks, but not past that. Fallon was chosen by People Magazine as one of its 50 Most Beautiful People for 2004. Comedy is best when it puts a looking glass up to the struggles we try to overcome in our daily life. If you look like you are a member of a boy band, it really is hard to persuade your audience you understand this type of pain.
Tradiing on your looks, instead of your talent is not unique in the entertainment world. I don't have hatred for Fallon because of it. What made me grow to despise the guy was his constant breaking character during sketches. In the days of the Carol Burnett show, few things would make me laugh harder than when Tim Conway would cause Harvey Korman to lose it during a sketch. It always seemed genuine, especially since Conway was so funny. Fallon seemed to do this indiscriminately, as it was generally the only thing that he could do that would make a live audience laugh, since he lacked real talent. As much as I hated it, I have to guess that real Improv actors (Second City, Groundlings, etc) must have wanted to puke everytime they saw him do it.
Fallon has had a few film flops, so his career seems to be sitting more in the place it deserves. What concerns me though, was to see a piece in the February 22 edition of the New York Times which said NBC was looking to sign him to a deal which might have him replace Conan O'Brien, when he takes over The Tonight Show. When Conan was hired, it was quite a leap of faith decision by NBC, as he had never been a television performer. They knew that he was a brilliant comedy writer and believed this ability would evolve into being a great host. Major kudos to NBC, as his show has been the best of its kind, since the early years of David Letterman. The idea of taking this great show and giving it to Jimmy Fallon makes me feel violent inside.
So with my hands shaking as I finish this piece, PLEASE EXPLAIN Jimmy Fallon.
As for his SNL work, I haven't watched much of his material, but I do agree that Nic Burns is a great character. His turn as the overzealous Boston kid where he made out with Rachel Dratch every time as well as his sketches as the college webcam kid were also pretty funny, but I do agree that he laughed way too much during most bits.
I'd put Fallon in the meh category of celebrities that I think are pretty good but don't receive more hype than they're worth. If he does become the new Late Night guy and fails then I think he will be brought back down to Earth, but as it is it seems that he's about where he should be in the pantheon of comedic actors.
Other than that I'm not familiar with his work. Though I have heard good things about Fever Pitch, as mentioned above.
For him to get a big money deal to be in the running to replace conan is my final straw.
Adam sandler's first few movies really made me laugh. It is not merchant ivory fare, but I like them.
Lettermen likes conan a lot, so I doubt he would even go with bundy's opinion.
http://tinyurl.com/ysu8dc
vr, Xei
He was kind of funny on SNL when SNL was kind of funny, if that makes sense. And yes, the laughing bit sometimes seemed forced. I thought he was decent doing Weekend Update, though not in the same league as a Norm McDonald or Dennis Miller. As good as Seth Myers? Sure.
One of his funniest sketches was actually this past season, when Justin Timberlake hosted. (Timberlake is an awesome host, by the way.) Anyways, he cameo'd and they did a Bee Gees sketch and Fallon nailed Barry Gibb in that Gibb/Streisand ballad sort of way.
His Seinfeld and Sandler impressions were good, too. Though I can't think of any others and I certainly don't think of him as an impressionist.
Since you brought up fever pitch, Drew Barrymore is practically begging for a future "please explain."
I'd also nominate: Jimmy Kimmell
How Kimmell has gotten as far as he has, when IMO he was basically carried by Adam Carolla on Man Show, is something that needs to be explained.
1. Letterman
2. Conan
3. Ferguson
4. Leno
I don't know if I should blame it on the writers or Leno. All I know is that there is not one good recurring skit or segment on that show. Leno's interviews are terrible. And for crissake who wants to watch Terry Bradshaw ever let alone once a week???
Letterman used to be #1, but it feels like he's been coasting for some time now. His material, will it float?
I do a better Barry Gibb impression. Not something I'm proud of but I'm confident on this subject. It is his best impression, though. I might be more impressed if he didn't have to crack up in the middle of it.
I want to thank Mike J for bringing up his Weekend Update period. This is the one thing I meant to discuss which I forgot. I will post it below and will insert it in my above piece, as I want to be complete.
One of the most influential elements in SNL history has been the Weekend Update Segments. Just think about the talented comedians who have sat behind the desk. Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Dennis Miller, Kevin Nealon, and Norm Macdonald are just some of the names who done the gig. Weekend Update was the forerunner of The Daily Show and Colbert Report. Even lesser names who held the job like Charles Rocket, Brad Hall, and Colin Quinn were intelligent guys who delivered the fake news like they understood what they were reading.
The first time this changed in SNL history was when the show paired the bright Tina Fey, with the air-headed Fallon. Fallon was fine when he did jokes on celebrities, but when he got one of a political nature, it came off flat. This was the most coveted job for a political comedic and they gave it to dumbass. It kind of reminds me of a certain political election that was going on at the time...
Jimmy Fallon was the worst male Weekend Update anchor in SNL history. He was the male Mary Gross.
...but can we all at least agree that the current pair on Update is just terrible? Like, the worst anybody younger than Scott has seen?
I disagree.
I think it was Colin Quinn by far.
Of course, Quinn might have looked worse bc he was following Kevin Nealon and Norm McDonald.
His show is so LA. That's why it blows. It is unfunny and unwatchable. He's the McDonald's of latenight TV: I guess a lot of people like it, but I can't find anything on the menu I'd personally want.
He was terrible. He was light years worse than Colin Quinn. He made Horatio Sanz look hysterical.
Amy Poehler is a million times more entertaining than Fallon. He just has no business getting paid to be funny. I know 50 people personally who are funnier than him, who are not paid to be funny. He's like a dipshit frat boy who just got lucky and hung around the SNL set for a few years.
The fact that NBC wants him to host a talk show doesn't surprise me in the least. If someone paid Carson Daly to be vapid and chat with his dopey celebrity friends, why not Fallon. They are basically the same guy. And as I write that, I realize that I actually truly believe that Carson Daly has more talent than someone else on earth, and until this very moment, I never thought that was possible.
God.
Of course, only on Comedy Central can they cancel good shows like Strangers with Candy, Shorties Watchin Shorties, then discontinue airing mid 90's SNL's (the best seasons IMO) and Kids N The Hall---but now have have such crap on like Lil Bush.
Let me reiterate to JoeyP that I'm not a liberal, as my favorite list of politicians would bear out. I think Lil' Bush is really funny. The recent episode where he is a cheerleader and hangs out with his buddy, lil' tony blair was inspired.
I suggest you join the rest of the Republicans and jump off the Bush bandwagon while you still have a chance. Why have 2 more people get stuck with this idiot.
As for Lil Bush. I have only seen 2 episodes and I don't like it. Not because it makes fun of Bush. I'll be really clear, I think the only honorable thing Bush could do at this point is resign. He is beyond contemptable, I believe he is criminally dangerous to democracy. Anywhooo, the reason I don't like Lil' Bush is because it feels unnecessary.
Making a TV show late in Clinton's presidency about a little kid version of Bill who got laid by all the girls on the playground...now that would have been funny. But Bush is almost beyond satire. It's like, it's hard to tell jokes about cancer. And it's hard to make jokes about a President who completely, unapologetically, possibly ignorantly pisses on the Constitution of the country he is supposed to lead.
Stupid, maybe, but it makes me laugh. I know most of the reviews have been rough on the show. It does bother me that lil' bush seems co-opted from some of my pal Frank Caliendo's act, but I do find myself enjoying the show. Weird.
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