Letterman vs. Fallon (Jan. 23, 2014)

Got engrossed in David Letterman's show last night, with guests Rachel Maddow and Spike Jonze. Knew that Spike Jonze directed "Her" and had a good track record as a director and wanted to get a first glimpse of him. Rachel Maddow was a fixture on my radar screen. She seems truculent at times but also has a Nancy Drew quality, the innocent on a mission to right the wrongs of the world. I never read Nancy Drew books but that is how I imagine the girl detective. So I got started with Letterman and liked the way he approached his two guests in very distinct ways-- Rachel worked as a technical expert, a politics aficionado with whom David could explore the Chris Christie situation and the scary aspects of the Sochi Olympics.

Letterman's interview with Spike Jonze went well also, but Spike has less TV experience than Rachel Maddow, of course. David used deft interviewing to bring out the best in Spike. Spike conveyed his appreciation for David Letterman's talent, mentioned his longtime viewing of Letterman and excitement on being across the desk from the late night maestro. David corralled the impressive achievement of Jonze's film "Her"... making the love affair between a male human being and a disembodied female computer voice something "accessible" to the audience. He joked with Spike Jonze how his film had been chosen for Best Picture but he got snubbed for the Best Director award. Jonze just seemed happy to be there-- there at the Oscar's and on the Letterman show.

Stayed in the late night viewing mode when I realized Jimmy Fallon had Jonah Hill and Dick Cavett as his guests. Jonah had fun stories for Fallon about his excitement around "Wolf of Wall Street," where he stars opposite Leonardo DiCaprio. One of Jonah's best stories involved a brief meeting with Joe Pesci after the film had been completed. Jonah went towards Martin Scorsese to pay his respects and to thank the director for a great experience. He noticed the guy standing next to Scorsese was none other than Joe Pesci, star of "Goodfellas," Jonah's all-time favorite film. He joked how Scorsese and Pesci conversed like two characters from the film...."did you tell da guy about da ting..." Pesci gave Jonah some memorable advice-- "get a helmet now and put it on your head every night and see if it still fits." Pesci warned Jonah many people are going to go up his ass, "making your head big." Pesci goosed Jonah at the end. Jonah got quite a life lesson and told a great story. He and Fallon did well.

But here's da ting. When Dick Cavett came out I felt a lack of experience in Jimmy Fallon. Certainly he was respectful of Cavett's memorable talk show career. The Late Night crew had even built a replica of the set where Cavett once plied his TV trade. But I sensed Jimmy's lack of comfort with Cavett.  Cavett has gotten quite old and does not have the snap, or the responsibility, to control an entire exchange.  Jimmy Fallon did not highlight the magic of Cavett's career, the in-depth conversations Dick Cavett hosted in his glory days.  Letterman honed in on Spike Jonze's uncommon achievement but Fallon did not do the same for Cavett. Perhaps Fallon was nervous, awe-struck? He does not have the interview chops at this early stage to help the audience locate a guest like Cavett, a man from another era but a man of substance nevertheless.

 Jimmy Fallon has proven himself to be a great showman-- already funnier than Johnny Carson as a sketch artist. Fallon sings and dances with Justin Timberlake and holds his own. Fallon has a bright future but a long way to go as an interviewer and all-around host. Your job is to take control and make all the guests look good even it it's at your own expense.  Letterman has mastered this art.