Okay, so I'm not posting much lately. Sorry. I will more than make up for it tomorrow with another Tale of My Mother.
I didn't link this year to the videos of the White House Correspondents' Dinner because I've started to get real uncomfy with the whole concept. I used to be interested in it from the viewpoint of a comedy writer observing perhaps the toughest stand-up gig in the world and how various comics rose (or didn't) to the challenge. That's still of interest but there's a certain overriding phoniness to the occasion; to all these folks who accuse each other of destroying America and human lives all getting dressed-up to joke and act like Milton Berle and Buddy Hackett insulting each other at a Friars Roast. I haven't quite sorted out how it bothers me or even that it should but until I'm clearer on it with myself, I don't feel like writing about the event. If you want to view the speeches or highlights, there are only about eighty thousand places on the Internet to find them.
A list is circulating on the 'net of folks CBS is allegedly considering for Craig Ferguson's time slot. The list is Neil Patrick Harris, Michael Ian Black, Joel McHale, Aisha Tyler, Jason Jones, John Hodgman and Amy Schumer. I am skeptical this list actually came from a significant CBS source. It sounds like a list any blogger could have made up, which is not to say CBS might not have discussed any or all of these people. I could imagine any one of them doing a pretty good show. Real CBS sources are saying that there have been no discussions and that there will be no announcement before the upfronts, which are on May 14.
I don't believe the first part of that. Some of those folks are in-demand and are getting offers for other projects every day. If they decide they want Neil Patrick Harris, for instance, they at least have to open discussions now with his reps to see if he's interested, to get a sense of what kind of commitment he would want. What if he gets a huge offer for a movie that will occupy him for all of 2015? Or an offer of a contract for a different show, talk or otherwise, on a different network? His reps are not going to let N.P.H. lose out on those other gigs on the chance that CBS might offer him the 12:35 slot.
Personally, I think Les Moonves knows exactly who they want even if they haven't firmed up a deal. He must have made some decision as to whether CBS wanted to pursue Harris for another prime-time series…and that might be the reason Neil doesn't succeed Ferguson: Because CBS wants to see if they can steer him back to prime-time. But I do believe they won't be making the announcement until after the upfronts if only so it doesn't detract from the other business they hope to do there. And my money is still on Neil Patrick Harris with a small side bet on Aisha Tyler. Norm MacDonald, who's been out there campaigning for the job, probably has about the same chance as Donald Sterling…which is a shame because he's a very funny guy. (Norm, not Don…)
Last month was the first in this blog's existence when the income from my Amazon links and PayPal contributions didn't pay for the bandwidth the blog consumes. That was a function of the former going down and the latter going up. It's not a big deal if I have to pay — I can afford it — but I thought it was worth a subtle hint. Thanks in advance to anyone who takes it.