Conan on TBS - Page 54

Here's a hint about late night hosts: not every night is a winner, not every joke is a scream. Even on the fabled Late Night years, he had stretches of jokes that didn't land anywhere near funny. But he keeps barrelling forward, and most of the time he at least realizes when something doesn't work. As far as his interviewing skills go, I find him pretty conversational. Yeah, he's working off some pre-planned questions (you think he's the only one?), but his back and forth with most of the guests usually leads to some great moments. At the very least, on his show, the ones who get into the groove with him seem to be having a blast.

Nobody but nobody could save a bad joke like Johnny Carson. And Conan really is one of the worst when it comes to ditching the blue cards. "Please repeat that story that was in another interview last month. Hey, you wrote a book. Do a couple of impressions from your stand-up act."

Lopez is the worst - I'll give you that. But Conan loves Deon Cole (the writer in question). He's featured him a number of times on the Tonight Show and the new show, and gave him a stand-up spot on his tour this summer. Conan introduces the guy like he's convinced that he's going to be this break-out comedic star. Plus, it looks like the parking space thing actually occurred. Don't 100% understand your beef with this. My beef is that I don't find Cole all that funny, actually.

As far as your complaints about his schtick, I mean, that's Conan. He's been at it forever. All of these hosts settle into characters. And I love his back and forths with Andy. Anyway, if you don't like one, there's always another doing a variation. I'm certainly getting tired of the format in general. But I love Conan (and Andy), so I'll stick with watching him.

People can have racist tendencies despite best intentions. It's why racism is so insidious; it generally not overt discrimination. The stereotype of Black men is that they are lazy, drug using, criminals. While I won't say that parking in someone else spot is necessarily a criminal offense, Conan specifically called him a "thief". Fine, I can get past that because the guy actually did take a spot assigned to someone else. But then the running "joke" throughout the episode was that Cole kept interrupting the show, first to get his "medicine" and then because he was going home despite the show not being over. The jokes hinge on racial stereotypes whether people are conscious of them or not. Have a White guy do the same things and the jokes wouldn't be as funny.

I hate talk shows, so yeah, its probably the format over Conan per se. But I like his sketches and pre-taped videos way better than his monologue and interviews. There's a weird awkwardness that he portrays live that just doesn't come across in his taped bits.


Really?

Yeah, that's pretty much why I said I don't 100% get your point, but I get it. You're right - we tend to brush stuff off as harmless as "eh, that's nothing" when there is so much more to it. I'm with you on that. But I think this about Conan showcasing what he thinks is a unique comic personality in Cole.

Anyway, have you seen Cole's "black-themed" promo spots for Conan that the show has been featuring? Look them up, if not. Could go either way for you, but they certainly play off cliches.

RE: Matchstick

I recall seeing one last week that I don't recall the specifics of. I had a mixed reaction in that I was psyched he was featuring a writer he loved, but annoyed that the bit played on racial cliches.

I think what was so great about Dave Chappelle's work, and why ultimately he had to stop, is that he played upon racial stereotypes to show how ridiculous they are. Unfortunately, people weren't getting the ridiculous part; they genuinely find stereotypical Black people funny.

So yeah, I get why Conan and Cole do these bits. It gets laughs. But at what cost? There aren't enough positive images of Black people out there to negate stuff like this IMO.

Right, because when other people do it it makes it okay.

I'm sorry, but I think you're being WAY overly sensitive on this one. I saw it and I didn't think one thing about that had anything to do with him being black, nor was there an implication that his parking privileges were revoked because he's black.

The little part with the bong really made think more of the stereotype of Conan's fans being potheads (which Conan has alluded to multiple times the past couple of weeks) rather than because Cole is black and therefore a druggie.

As far as the parking spot thing goes, again I find almost no racism in what was essentially a big piece of obvious product placement for the car disguised as a joke. I'm glad they had Cole come back and do the little bits because the blatantness of the product placement would have been even more apparent. As far as using Cole in the product placement/joke, I think they did because the guy is actually fairly funny and has pretty good timing and delivery, not because of the color of his skin.

Finally watched last nights show and I pretty much agree with this. I mean how you got "racist" outta that is amazing.

Yeah, that stereotype exsists but it wasn't being played at all last night.

When did I say this?

Except that it was. Just because the intent behind it wasn't based on racism, doesn't mean the stereotype wasn't played. We all can admit that the jokes last night were that Cole was a thief, a pothead, and a slacker, right? I'm just calling a spade a spade folks. You can rationalize it any way you want if it makes you feel better for laughing.

I'm not losing any sleep over laughing at it because it was funny.

Had you not overreacted I never would have thought...Wow you know saying a black dude wanted a closer parking space and smokes weed is very stereotypical and racist. And that thief crack...man that's crossing a line...

And yeah, if it had been a white guy it would have been just as funny. In fact the whole bit may have been better with someone like Andy or Pender. Hell, it would have been downright AWESOME with LaBamba. But then those damned Mexican stereotypes...

Listen, I get the point you are trying to make and I don't deny that the stereotype exsists. But I think you are just seeing something in the bit that isn't there.

As for tonight's show...Conan interupting saying he couldn't stop looking at Kim Kardashian was hilarious. So was Andy blurting out what a slore was.

I'm black, a longtime Coco fan, & I thought the parking spot bit was comedy gold. I'm very sensitive to portrayals of race in popular media &, darlin', I don't see what you're seeing.

Remember, "Black parking space thief" wasn't a bit cooked up by Conan & his writers. If it had been, then you'd have a point. But Deon Cole did actually "steal" (bear in mind, this term was used facetiously) a space he thought belonged to Bruce Willis & he was actually reprimanded for it. Sorry, but that's f'in hilarious.

I've been really disappointed so far. I've seen every episode, and the show just seems to be a VERY watered down version of the Tonight Show. There are funny moments, but it seems devoid of genuine excitement and pizazz.

I kinda agree with you but I also think he is just trying to find his bearings with the new show. Give him some time and I bet the show will start to get crazier and/or weirder.

And Andy has been on fire since the start; he is the unquestionable MVP of the show.

People are accusing me of being overly sensitive to one thing I posted I didn't really have a problem with.

In any case, potato, potahto. What's offensive to one doesn't have to be offensive to others. But people trying to claim some reactions don't count is why we'll never get past racism in this society. The fact that people can acknowledge where I'm coming from means that on some level they see how it could offend, which in turn means that some people other than myself may have gotten offended. Just sayin'.

So Conan wins me over by wearing jeggings. That's how easy it is to make me love you, CoCo.

Jesus christ, I need to get caught up with this show.

I'm not in any way trying to deny you the ability to be offended by jokes about black people using drugs, being criminals, etc as I can totally understand that. However, I do stand by the right to deny some people their reactions.

Some people (certainly not all) of ALL groups will use ANYTHING to deny responsibility for bad things in their lives. They will blame it on race, religion, gender, age... anything so they don't have to own up to having flaws. I have known people who were sure they didn't get the interview because their Italian name was on the resume, or because we all know how no one would hire a woman for that job. Don't get me wrong, there IS discrimination based on all those things. But that doesn't mean that every time something bad happens to someone or a joke is make about someone, it is actually discrimination.

I mean, if the comedian was a "dirty hippie" who was a pot-smoking, theiving, lazy ass would be be worried about discrimination against dirty hippies? How about Irish drinking stereotypes? Or the joy of the Conan geeky stereotypes?

I am anti-racism but I think the solution isn't to require ALL portrayals of blacks to be positive and uplifting.

I'd rather see The Cosby Show than any Tyler Perry enterprise. However, it's not everyone's cup of tea. Some people like Margaret Cho doing gay jokes more than they like Ellen being a friendly host who happens to be gay.

Comedy is often very insulting and plays on stereotypes. It is what it is. You don't have to like it or find it funny. It can be offensive. Conan is pretty awkward, and always has been. He prefers a live audience and the ability to talk to them (including to tell them not to laugh at his stupid jokes). I find him too self-effacing but it's the same schtick he's been doing for decades. I think (hope) they are being pretty broad and derivative initially because they are trying hard to do the somewhat safe version before they bring in other rather offensive things (masturbating bears aren't exactly family-friendly).

Unfortunately, "safe" in comedy is a lot of jokes about race, obesity, etc.

Yeah, the jeggings thing was fantastic. I'm so old that I had no idea they existed.

I also really dug the Spider-man musical bit. Basically for the ending, when they wheeled out R2-D2.

Certainly the kind of weirdness I'm looking for with this show.

Kardashian's were nutty. That Deerhunter song is great.

Pretty great show overall.

I agree.

We agree to disagree then. To say that someone is WAY overreacting and seeing things when there is nothing to see, while at the same time recognizing that I did see what I saw means I have every right to have that reaction. I'm not making it up. And unfortunately, there is tons of research on these "microaggressions" where people are told they are being overly sensitive, or making a mountain out of a mole hill, when they have a legitimate cause for their reactions. If you want to rail against people who use -isms to deflect personal responsibility, that's your right. But that ain't the discussion going on right now, and it isn't applicable to my argument.

And, I'm not sure where I ever argued that all portrayals of stigmatized groups should be positive.

Okay, let's not say WAY overreacting, just plain ol' overreacting then.

For what it's worth, it never once occured to me this was a bit about a black man in any way. It was a bit about a writer for a late-nite show getting in technical trouble with the powers-that-be over his poor (but hilarious) choice of a temporary parking space, and the host making comedy gold (silver? copper?) out of it.

The really GREAT part about the show, is the first 20 minutes. His monologue might not be great, but his new interactions with the audience and back and forth with Andy are great.

This x 1000.

It didn't occur to me either until the comedy gold was based on bongs and lack of work ethic. I honestly don't think those bits would have played as well if Cole were White. But whatevs. I've spent more time discussing this than its worth.

ETA: One of Cole's Black commercials for Conan. This is just ridiculous. I guess Cole thinks the only way he can get noticed is by relying on racial stereotypes for cheap laughs.

I think the joke here is that it's a "black" commercial. I think the "cheap" racial humor is supposed to be bad.

Actually I thought the joke there was about how they often make commercials targets specific groups. Remember when Mcdonalds would do that? Chappelle did a simliar bit about that with his "Wacarnold's" bit. It's about what marketing execs think black people like.

That may be true, but jokes like these get lost on most people. It's one of the reasons Chappelle stopped his show. "The wrong people were laughing."

Still not a good reason to not do the joke. "Art" is always misunderstood by people. At least in this case people that take the time to look will see that it's actually counter racism.

We can agree on the first part.

The worm bit was.

Also, that Frank Reynolds constantly being raped in prison sounded hilarious, too bad that will never be a Sunny episode.

I love that DeVito called his lawyer about it.

I knew we were gonna be in for it when he mentioned Tyler Perry.

and yeah, RickyLinks was pretty funny. Especially the last one about Worms and ham.

Dammit I totally forgot/fell asleep before I could record last night's episode. Does TBS put them up to watch later?

TeamCoCo.com has the full episodes.

Ha! That's the Conan I know and love. RickyLeaks was great. And what I would do to see that Sunny episode! But, man, NIcole Kidman is such a snooze. She does realize that the point of talk shows is to talk, right? Conan was practically pulling teeth.

It was stupid and unfunny, but not racist.

Yeah the Kidman interview was shit. And it wasn't Conans fault.

Yeah but im guessing thats one of those things the studio forced her to do and they had to take her because I guess she is still considered important. I never saw saw her as the type that loved talk shows. Although I haven't seen the interview yet.

"Mommy said Conan cornered her in the stairwell and said to give him some of that sweet, sweet honey. Now mommy cries all the time"

That plus Andy's "that was my daughter...Mystery Solved" was hilarious.

I just watched the Deon Cole thing and can't believe anything was thought about it with regard race, apart from the 'warned a brother' line. Firstly it was purported to be true, and even if it isn't it is a really straightforward skit with zero racial overtones.

Admittedly most of the Cole bits have been kind of hacky 'black folks are like this' material, but it was a standard comedy bit that used Cole, who is the most prominent non-Andy/band person on the show, for expediency. The pot-smoking thing was just a tag that plays to the stereotype of the Conan audience.

Also, I fucking loved Andy's key box.

This had me dying.

The girlfriend of the guy celebrating his birthday was rather...bubbly.

I dunno the whole bit was pretty funny. All Schlansky does is look menacing into the camera.

We can all agree that all the Spiderman musical bits are terrific, right? Doc Ock slays me.