My buddy Anthony Tollin writes…
You've devoted several blog entries to the final episode of The Colbert Report. Just curious: What did you think of Craig Ferguson's last episode?
I thought it was pretty good. Their musical opening was overshadowed by Colbert's but it really was quite wonderful on its own terms. I liked the conversation with Leno — two guys in the same line of work bantering with what seemed like genuine respect for each other, neither of them plugging anything.
I guessed Ferguson's twist ending in advance but I still liked it. They made a mistake, me thinks, not taping it in front of a live audience. It made it feel artificial…not a part of the actual show. And it meant they didn't have that big "Whoop!" audience reaction, which is what made the original version work so well on Newhart.
Most of all, I felt it had the proper scale. Colbert's last show, impressive as it was, had the feel of Stephen going away forever…not "Stephen's moving from this 11:30 show to another 11:30 show." You could argue that we were saying farewell to that character but that's not the same thing.
While I'm rummaging through the old e-mailbag here, I have a message I got last week, thought I'd posted and didn't. Steve Winer went to see the first "live" performance of one of my favorite animated specials as a stage production…
I thought you might like to hear from someone who was in the audience for last night's live production of Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol. It was, as you hoped, "as wonderful as it should be."
They kept the show to one act. They added only some additional dialogue from the original story, some short dance sequences and an overture.
It was staged very like the Encores shows — with the orchestra on stage and some of the actors carrying books. Bits of animation and backgrounds from the original show were put on a screen for "scenery."
Douglas Sills played Magoo/Scrooge and, wisely I think, made no attempt to imitate Jim Backus's Magoo voice. But, unlike Backus, he can really sing and I realized this is actually the first time I could hear the full melodies for the Magoo numbers. Hearing all of the songs with talented Broadway singers in front of a full orchestra made it clear what a fine score Jule Styne and Bob Merrill wrote for that little show.
The audience loved the whole evening and responded with great enthusiasm. I wouldn't be surprised to see a production like this open next year at this time in a commercial theater. I think they might have a surprise hit on their hands. However, if they're really smart, they'll sell razzleberry dressing in the lobby.
That's all great to hear. I have a feeling we're going to see a lot of this next holiday season.