Letterman Tore Blagojevich Apart, BTW

Jake Kalish — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 23:25:00 GMT

Saw Blago on Letterman, and wow. He ripped him up, telling him flat-out he thought he was guilty, and taking him to task for appearing on TV all the time. It was the sort of real, tough, direct television you don't see much these days - except on Letterman. Honestly, with this and the airing of Bill Hicks' censored performance, Dave is threatening to make his program essential viewing. Steve Johnson of the Chicago Tribune wrote a great piece on how "Goofy Dave" has become "Citizen Dave." Here are some excerpts:

(Letterman has) completed in this, his third decade on national television, a remarkable transformation from Goofy Dave, the young guy deconstructing the late-night talk-show format, to Citizen Dave, the older guy using that format as a forum to express his concerns about the world.

Since his 2000 heart surgery, he has taken on President Bush and candidate John McCain, global warming and Bill O'Reilly, Rush Limbaugh and the lack of national leadership. His first broadcast after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks was an almost oracular expression of what a nation was feeling and the best thing any broadcaster found to say in that dark period.

He even turned a post-jail visit by Paris Hilton political, in a sense, using her appearance as cultural critique, a riotous dismantling of the notion of unearned celebrity and blind adherence to promotional agendas...

The most recent example came Tuesday night, when the "Late Show" hosted Rod Blagojevich in the midst of the deposed Illinois governor's pursuit of every last ounce of available attention. Or perhaps Letterman, to phrase it better, deposed the deposed governor; there were hints of the prosecutorial in his approach.

"I saw you on—I think every other show that is in production currently," Letterman said to Blagojevich, "and the more you talked and the more you repeated your innocence, the more I said to myself, 'Oh, this guy's guilty.' "

Here's a clip of Dave ripping Rod a new one...

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Bill Hicks On Letterman: Better 15 Years late Than Never

Blago On Letterman Tonight

Come and Get Some Juicy "Chuck" Spoilers

Ben Kallen — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 20:25:00 GMT

Executive Producer Josh Schwartz just gave Chicago Tribune TV critic Maureen Ryan a bunch of scoops about the spy comedy's new season, from a 3-D episode to meeting Captain Awesome's mom. Here's what's coming up on Chuck:

-- In the big Christmas episode, some guy will hold everyone hostage in the Buy More.

-- Arrested Development's Tony Hale will play the Buy More's new assistant manager.

-- The episode that airs right after the Super Bowl will be broadcast in 3-D.

-- Captain Awesome's parents will be played by Morgan Fairchild and Bruce Boxleitner, which sounds about right.

-- Ellie and Awesome will prepare for their wedding (whether it actually happens or not, we don't know).

-- We'll also meet Sarah's dad, played by the great Gary Cole.

-- As we mentioned a while ago, Jordana Brewster will play Chuck's ex-girlfriend, Jill -- the one who cheated on him with frenemy-turned-fellow agent Bryce, who's also back this season.

-- Other various good guys and bad guys will be played by John Larroquette, Michael Clarke Duncan, The O.C.'s Melinda Clarke, and somebody named Nicole Richie.

The new season starts September 29.

Photo: NBC

Previously:
Jordana Brewster To Try On Some Chuck

The Remote Island : Chicago Tribune

Letterman Tore Blagojevich Apart, BTW

Come and Get Some Juicy "Chuck" Spoilers