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First review of Fox comedy show: It’s an atomic bomb
Hot Air ^ | February 14, 2007 | Allahpundit

Posted on 02/14/2007 4:49:37 PM PST by PJ-Comix

Sounds like that clip I posted yesterday was some of the stronger material, god help us:

This show was meant to be a conservative version of “The Daily Show.” It is a botch.

“The 1/2 Hour News Hour” does not comment on what is happening; it simply takes swipes at people. These people include Howard Dean, Hillary Clinton, Dennis Kucinich, Barack Obama and Ed Begley Jr. Other joke topics are the ACLU, Time magazine, children’s books and global warming.

Laughter, of an awfully canned variety, greets all the gags. Nothing happening on screen justifies these outbursts.

Hey, I’m all for a good dig at the high and the mighty. But these satirists fall short of hitting their targets with wit, timeliness or punch…

Fox News Channel will offer a second episode at 10 p.m. March 4. If we’re lucky, we’ll never hear of this dreadful show again.

Even discounting for the presumed anti-FNC liberal bias of the reviewer, it’s a pan. Which brings us to our exit question, per an e-mail exchange I was privy to this morning involving bloggers who shall remain nameless: with this show poised to do for conservative humor what “Pink Lady and Jeff” did for variety, is it better if Fox just pulls the trapdoor and walks away whistling?

Update: False flag!

The new FoxNews’ show is, because it is playing on an ostensibly all-news network, is thus compelled to follow Tina Fey’s mistake, albeit with even weaker material. Material so weak, in fact, that one suspects the writers are all liberals deliberately sabotaging the show, or so horribly out of touch with conservative opinion as to have no real idea what a conservative might find funny, or — likeliest of all — convinced conservatives are abject morons who will not get a joke unless it’s seltzer-down-the-pants woca-woca-woca sledgehammer obvious.



TOPICS: Humor; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: fnc; foxnews; joelsurnow
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Material so weak, in fact, that one suspects the writers are all liberals deliberately sabotaging the show, or so horribly out of touch with conservative opinion as to have no real idea what a conservative might find funny, or — likeliest of all — convinced conservatives are abject morons who will not get a joke unless it’s seltzer-down-the-pants woca-woca-woca sledgehammer obvious.

This comedy show is sooooo bad that, to me, the likeliest scenario was the first one mentioned---liberals deliberately sabotaging the show. FNC needs to give those writers the boot. We already know they have little talent and I am now strongly suspecting they must be liberals purposely writing material so unfunny as to make the show a bomb.

1 posted on 02/14/2007 4:49:40 PM PST by PJ-Comix
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To: PJ-Comix

In case you haven't heard .. Rush announced today that he and Ann Coulter are involved in this program.

It's no wonder the left is going beserk!


2 posted on 02/14/2007 4:54:20 PM PST by CyberAnt (Drive-By Media: Fake news, fake documents, fake polls)
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To: PJ-Comix

I happened to catch Rush Limbaugh's comments about the show, apparently there is a sketch in the second or third one where he plays the president, Ann Coulter plays the vice president.

I think I'll see it before I make up my mind, but thanks for the review.


3 posted on 02/14/2007 4:54:26 PM PST by Judith Anne (Thank you St. Jude for favors granted.)
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To: PJ-Comix

Good comedy is basically conservative anyway - based as it is on exposing human foibles and pretense - so it's not necessary to hit the political nail on the head to express a conservative position. Sounds like this show is trying way too hard.


4 posted on 02/14/2007 4:55:13 PM PST by Argus
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To: PJ-Comix

The one clip I saw was horrendous. I wish the show to die an uncomfortable death.


5 posted on 02/14/2007 4:56:20 PM PST by July 4th (A vacant lot cancelled out my vote for Bush.)
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To: PJ-Comix
“The 1/2 Hour News Hour” does not comment on what is happening; it simply takes swipes at people. These people include Howard Dean, Hillary Clinton, Dennis Kucinich, Barack Obama and Ed Begley Jr. Other joke topics are the ACLU, Time magazine, children’s books and global warming. Laughter, of an awfully canned variety, greets all the gags. Nothing happening on screen justifies these outbursts.

Sounds like a mirror image of the Daily Show. I wonder if the "reviewer" criticized that show as well.

6 posted on 02/14/2007 4:56:21 PM PST by plain talk
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To: PJ-Comix

saw a preview on youtube, oh boy is it a stinker. The fake laughter is cringe inducing not comedic.


7 posted on 02/14/2007 4:56:25 PM PST by cmdjing
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To: PJ-Comix

FoxNews, in general, is becoming a comedy.

We are now in day 7 of all day breaking news of various aspects of Anna Nichole Smith's death, life, baby, son, husband, boyfriends, money.

Yesterday, they cut away from Romney's announcement after a few minutes to return to breaking news coverage of various aspects of Anna Nichole Smith's death, life, baby, son, husband, boyfriends, money.

FoxNews is rapidly becoming the FoxFluff channel. They seem more interested in competing with E! than with CNN.


8 posted on 02/14/2007 4:57:45 PM PST by TomGuy
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To: PJ-Comix

I'll watch it anyway.


9 posted on 02/14/2007 4:59:01 PM PST by Enterprise (Drop pork bombs on the Islamofascist wankers. Praise the Lord and pass the hammunition.)
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To: PJ-Comix

I was excited.....for.............a..................while.


10 posted on 02/14/2007 4:59:13 PM PST by unkus
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To: Judith Anne
I think I'll see it before I make up my mind, but thanks for the review.

I already saw a video clip that I posted on the FR this morning. Sorry but it STINKS bigtime. Very unsubtle humor. And just flat out STUPID.

11 posted on 02/14/2007 5:01:28 PM PST by PJ-Comix (Join the DUmmie FUnnies PING List for the FUNNIEST Blog on the Web)
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To: TomGuy

Fox News started out in the center and started drifting left. It's kind of sad, but if there were really conservative media out there, it would be censored in every blue state in the country.


12 posted on 02/14/2007 5:02:39 PM PST by dan1123
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To: TomGuy

Ditto.

I woke up one day a couple of months ago and realized that the only reason I was paying ~$50 for cable instead of ~$20 for cable was to get FNC. I decided to give myself a gift of $30 a month, and haven't missed it for a second.

If I need news, I'll get it from Drudge, or Rush. Fox's endless foray into tabloid journalism (read: Greta) was the final straw for me.


13 posted on 02/14/2007 5:02:44 PM PST by Pravious
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To: PJ-Comix

The way to make this show work is to show in a funny way how left the media is, As in ask liberals hard questions and just sit there and look at them with that "look"


14 posted on 02/14/2007 5:02:53 PM PST by cody32127 (When is The New York Times going to get around to uncovering an al-Qaida secret program?)
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To: cmdjing
saw a preview on youtube, oh boy is it a stinker. The fake laughter is cringe inducing not comedic.

The more I find out about that show, the more convinced I am that the writers are liberals who are deliberately sabotaging that show.

15 posted on 02/14/2007 5:03:10 PM PST by PJ-Comix (Join the DUmmie FUnnies PING List for the FUNNIEST Blog on the Web)
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To: Enterprise
I'll watch it anyway.

Prepare for the painful death of many brain cells.

16 posted on 02/14/2007 5:04:15 PM PST by PJ-Comix (Join the DUmmie FUnnies PING List for the FUNNIEST Blog on the Web)
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To: PJ-Comix

The YouTube clip is pathetic. If Joel has any sense, he'll pull it fast.

This one looks real bad.


17 posted on 02/14/2007 5:05:31 PM PST by GAD
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To: PJ-Comix
I listened to Rush talking about this today. These are pilots, and though they made three, only two have been picked up by Fox at this time. They are being produced by the same folks who produce the show "24".

Personally, I can't imagine Ann Coulter being anything other than hardbiting and funny. I also think that Rush has a good sense of humor.

I think we need to see for ourselves before making up our minds. I am thinking about turning on a tv for this., something I don't normally do.

18 posted on 02/14/2007 5:06:15 PM PST by basil (Exercise your Second Amendment rights--buy another gun today.)
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To: TomGuy
We are now in day 7 of all day breaking news of various aspects of Anna Nichole Smith's death, life, baby, son, husband, boyfriends, money.

I have SHOCKING news to announce. I am hereby declaring that I am NOT the father of Anna Nicole Smith's baby. Send over the FNC satellite trucks for this exclusive breaking announcement.

19 posted on 02/14/2007 5:06:21 PM PST by PJ-Comix (Join the DUmmie FUnnies PING List for the FUNNIEST Blog on the Web)
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To: basil
I think we need to see for ourselves before making up our minds.

I posted a clip of this show this morning. It definitely needs the stake thru the heart at once.

20 posted on 02/14/2007 5:07:38 PM PST by PJ-Comix (Join the DUmmie FUnnies PING List for the FUNNIEST Blog on the Web)
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To: PJ-Comix

Uh oh, I can't afford to lose too many more.


21 posted on 02/14/2007 5:07:38 PM PST by Enterprise (Drop pork bombs on the Islamofascist wankers. Praise the Lord and pass the hammunition.)
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To: PJ-Comix

Pink Lady & Jeff is available on DVD these days.


22 posted on 02/14/2007 5:08:23 PM PST by weegee (No third term. Hillary Clinton's 2008 election run presents a Constitutional Crisis.)
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To: CyberAnt

They can lose the canned laughter....you can hear the same guy over and over again.


23 posted on 02/14/2007 5:09:12 PM PST by Loud Mime (“War’s very object is victory, not prolonged indecision." Gen Douglas Mac Arthur)
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To: PJ-Comix

Fox is to the right of American CNN but American CNN is to the right of European CNN.

I heard some hype for this in an interview on Michael Medved's program but I wasn't hearing much of the "comedy", just the concept.

Get some FReepers on that staff.


24 posted on 02/14/2007 5:10:22 PM PST by weegee (No third term. Hillary Clinton's 2008 election run presents a Constitutional Crisis.)
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To: GAD
This one looks real bad.

It sooo bad that it's Jenny McCarthy bad. Remember her NBC "comedy" show? Better yet, DON'T remember it.

25 posted on 02/14/2007 5:10:32 PM PST by PJ-Comix (Join the DUmmie FUnnies PING List for the FUNNIEST Blog on the Web)
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To: dan1123

Canada banned Fox News for awhile (while permitting Al Jazeera).


26 posted on 02/14/2007 5:12:17 PM PST by weegee (No third term. Hillary Clinton's 2008 election run presents a Constitutional Crisis.)
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To: All
If any of you have any doubt as to just how horrible this FNC "comedy" show is, this VIDEO will put those doubts to rest.
27 posted on 02/14/2007 5:13:04 PM PST by PJ-Comix (Join the DUmmie FUnnies PING List for the FUNNIEST Blog on the Web)
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To: PJ-Comix

Is it "That's My Bush" bad?

Selective memory can dump the libeal stinkers (like the female president show).


28 posted on 02/14/2007 5:13:36 PM PST by weegee (No third term. Hillary Clinton's 2008 election run presents a Constitutional Crisis.)
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To: weegee

Take a look at the video and judge for yourself. That "BO" shtick was old weeks ago. It was ORIGINALLY posted here on the FR but has already become stale.


29 posted on 02/14/2007 5:15:47 PM PST by PJ-Comix (Join the DUmmie FUnnies PING List for the FUNNIEST Blog on the Web)
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To: PJ-Comix; CyberAnt; Judith Anne; ChicagoConservative27; LibertyLee; A.Hun; MaestroLC; Argus; ...

So you made your decision based on one little snippet?
I saw the clip and thought it was funny. But I'm nobody...
Jo Q. Conservative who happened to see the material as
refreshing. I'm still going to watch the program and make
my own decision.


30 posted on 02/14/2007 5:15:48 PM PST by Jo Nuvark (Those who bless Israel will be blessed, those who curse Israel will be cursed. Gen 12:3)
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To: cody32127

I was surprised by a bit on SNL last year that had Palestinian terrorists hiring Steve Martin to speak before a crowd they had gathered. He kept weighing the tradeoff of dealing with violent antisemites and being "the biggest star" in a region of the world.


31 posted on 02/14/2007 5:16:10 PM PST by weegee (No third term. Hillary Clinton's 2008 election run presents a Constitutional Crisis.)
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To: PJ-Comix
That's your opinion. Since I didn't see it, I don't yet have an opinion. I'll let you know when I do--LOL!

Folks don't always agree on what they think is funny.

32 posted on 02/14/2007 5:16:13 PM PST by basil (Exercise your Second Amendment rights--buy another gun today.)
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To: PJ-Comix
"the writers are liberals who are deliberately sabotaging that show."

They should have got you to write for the show. If you did half the job on the media and the liberals in general, that you do on the DUmmies on a daily basis it would be hilarious!!

33 posted on 02/14/2007 5:17:11 PM PST by KoRn
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To: Jo Nuvark; Charles Henrickson
Conservative who happened to see the material as refreshing.

"Refreshing" material that was posted WEEKS ago here on the FR. I believe Charles Henrickson was the one who first posted some "BO" material. So when is FNC going to send him a royality payment for using his material?

34 posted on 02/14/2007 5:17:28 PM PST by PJ-Comix (Join the DUmmie FUnnies PING List for the FUNNIEST Blog on the Web)
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To: PJ-Comix

I'll take your assessment for now, I don't have high bandwidth at home.

But I still think that there are some great conservative humorists and would like to see them get on this show.

Why not an animated segment (flash animation) from that GOOD conservative strip about the multicultural office workers?

If the program is going to be canned, why not shoot for a conservative Laugh-In approach?

Daily Show type anchor comedy tends to work while it is fresh.

Rush was always good at finding video clips. Laura Ingraham had staffers milling about the anti-American/pro-Communist war protest. Show some of that footage.

People would wonder "what's real and what isn't" just like the old Realist used to do.


35 posted on 02/14/2007 5:20:44 PM PST by weegee (No third term. Hillary Clinton's 2008 election run presents a Constitutional Crisis.)
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To: KoRn

I will be posting some scripts from my "Media Circus" concept concurrent with the FNC "comedy" show bombing. I already hate those writers for being so untalented at the very least. BTW, I have a reputation for, despite being otherwise totally amiable, being hell on "comedy" writers. At the Laugh Factory I actually got into a fistfight with one of them. It was on a stairwell. I got in a lucky punch to his jaw and he slipped more than reeled from the punch and fell down the flight of stairs.


36 posted on 02/14/2007 5:20:57 PM PST by PJ-Comix (Join the DUmmie FUnnies PING List for the FUNNIEST Blog on the Web)
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To: PJ-Comix

Free Republic is pithy, and a great resource for material,
but it doesn't mean comments like "BO" have made it to the
mainstream. If I were Charles Henrickson, I'd be flattered.


37 posted on 02/14/2007 5:21:24 PM PST by Jo Nuvark (Those who bless Israel will be blessed, those who curse Israel will be cursed. Gen 12:3)
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To: weegee
I'll take your assessment for now, I don't have high bandwidth at home.

You should drop to your knees and praise the Almighty that you didn't have to be subjected to that "comedy" show. Trust me, it is horrible. Plus check out the comments of the others. They agree.

38 posted on 02/14/2007 5:23:04 PM PST by PJ-Comix (Join the DUmmie FUnnies PING List for the FUNNIEST Blog on the Web)
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To: Jo Nuvark; Charles Henrickson
If I were Charles Henrickson, I'd be flattered.

If I were Charles Henrickson, I'd be pissed off over being ripped off without being compensated.

39 posted on 02/14/2007 5:24:25 PM PST by PJ-Comix (Join the DUmmie FUnnies PING List for the FUNNIEST Blog on the Web)
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To: PJ-Comix

Generally speaking, comedians are some of the most miserable humans on earth.


40 posted on 02/14/2007 5:25:31 PM PST by Argus
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To: Argus
Generally speaking, comedians are some of the most miserable humans on earth.

You bet. BTW, I wrote comedy material for your namesake---Argus Hamilton. He was one of the few good guys but, well, I better not say it here. He's a good guy but he did have some problems. Roughed up his "girlfriend" a bit. Actually I don't blame him since it was Mitzi Shore (mother of Pauly). That sounds like a harsh comment on my part but you sort of have to meet Mitzi to understand.

41 posted on 02/14/2007 5:28:44 PM PST by PJ-Comix (Join the DUmmie FUnnies PING List for the FUNNIEST Blog on the Web)
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To: PJ-Comix

I guess nobody remembers the early days of The Daily Show (back then it was Craig Kilborn as anchor). There was no live audience at first, at least for the first month. EVERYTHING klunked. It slowly built up steam. Now, of course, it's a cause celebre of liberal wussiness, but it was really a bomb out of the gate. I'd say it's quite likely that a show like this would have to find its legs, but I'm dubious that it will be given long enough to do so.


42 posted on 02/14/2007 5:29:10 PM PST by atomicpossum (Replies must follow approved guidelines or you will be kill-filed without appeal.)
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To: atomicpossum

Why don't they come up with a comedy format OTHER than the Daily Show format? Somehow what FNC is doing sounds very unoriginal.


43 posted on 02/14/2007 5:32:38 PM PST by PJ-Comix (Join the DUmmie FUnnies PING List for the FUNNIEST Blog on the Web)
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To: PJ-Comix

Oh come on. It's not like the Jr. High kids
hadn't already come up with the BO joke. It's
just not that important.

The concept of "dishing" is a great way to
turn the tables on liberals. The genre is
tried, tested and perfected. I can't wait.


44 posted on 02/14/2007 5:33:39 PM PST by Jo Nuvark (Those who bless Israel will be blessed, those who curse Israel will be cursed. Gen 12:3)
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To: Jo Nuvark
The concept of "dishing" is a great way to turn the tables on liberals. The genre is tried, tested and...

Stupid. This show has all the subtlety of a buffalo fart.

45 posted on 02/14/2007 5:39:42 PM PST by PJ-Comix (Join the DUmmie FUnnies PING List for the FUNNIEST Blog on the Web)
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To: PJ-Comix; Jo Nuvark
I believe Charles Henrickson was the one who first posted some "BO" material.

DUmmie FUnnies 12-11-06 (Obama Orgasma), from post 31:

B.O. is their fantasy lover. "He's so dreamy!" they swoon to themselves. If they had Tiger Beat for female school teachers, B.O. Plenty would be the cover boy.

And I did a couple other B.O. references that thread. But I didn't do like a five-minute segment or whatever on just the B.O. joke. Also, the B.O. joke, once introduced, has a short shelf life.

46 posted on 02/14/2007 5:39:45 PM PST by Charles Henrickson (So to speak.)
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To: PJ-Comix
Why don't they come up with a comedy format OTHER than the Daily Show format? Somehow what FNC is doing sounds very unoriginal.

Well, two reasons:

1) It's successful.

2) It's cheap. Standard set, small cast, mostly other people's video and a few studio guests. If you did staged comedy, you'd need sets, actors, props, etc. Talk shows, by comparison, are really cheap.

Successful and cheap is the Holy Grail of Television.

Frankly, I'd like to see them use a cast of impersonators for some of the name players, and do fake 'segments behind the news' kind of things (like Joe Biden trying to breathe life into his campaign by trying on blackface, stuff like that). I'd love to see them introduce a Barack Obama puppet, which is really nothing but an Armani suit on a wire armature that makes it look like it's empty, worked like a marionette from above during an in-studio interview (maybe cut back at the end of the interview to see who's pulling the puppet's strings...hehe...)

47 posted on 02/14/2007 5:40:00 PM PST by atomicpossum (Replies must follow approved guidelines or you will be kill-filed without appeal.)
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To: PJ-Comix

I hung out on the fringes of the Comedy Store back in the mid 70's and had slight acquaintance with some of the players before they were famous. Leno was okay but Letterman was a jerk. Freddie Prinze was a sad, lonely guy. Didn't know the Shores.


48 posted on 02/14/2007 5:42:24 PM PST by Argus
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To: atomicpossum
I'd love to see them introduce a Barack Obama puppet, which is really nothing but an Armani suit on a wire armature that makes it look like it's empty, worked like a marionette from above during an in-studio interview...

The Brits had a great show portraying poltical figures via puppetry. I remember a tremendous segment about Reagan called "Do Run Ron" or something like that using that tune.

49 posted on 02/14/2007 5:43:17 PM PST by PJ-Comix (Join the DUmmie FUnnies PING List for the FUNNIEST Blog on the Web)
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To: Argus
Leno was okay but Letterman was a jerk.

I met Letterman too and agree with your assessment.

50 posted on 02/14/2007 5:44:39 PM PST by PJ-Comix (Join the DUmmie FUnnies PING List for the FUNNIEST Blog on the Web)
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