The the fake news hosts’ remarkable talent rivals their major network counterparts. Their interaction with NBC’s “Today” show crew provides all the proof (and laughter) you need to back that statement. [via HuffPost]

Yeah – You’ve probably seen it, but we feel the need to post it here for posterity.

What a queen.

The full interview, he goes about 6 minutes in. Really watch dad’s reaction and the proven NBC “show must go on” interviewing style after the blow.

Here’s the dirty part:

What will Conan do to remember him? Could be another big ratings night for him …

For his part, David Letterman said before the top ten list that he didn’t even know Palin was going to be in town and issued an apology, stating that the joke was about Bristol, not Willow Palin. Furthermore, he reminds people that he’s a comic and he doesn’t always have the best taste.

But the real story here is John Ziegler who makes a complete ass of himself on live television because he disagrees with people. This is the problem with debate in the country, and is really a microcosm for all the problems with the Republican Party at the moment. Brewer shows herself to be open and willing to talk with him about the actual content of the interview, and tries to ask some questions. Ziegler responds by insulting her, her network, the media in general and basically does everything but answer the questions he’s asked. Rather than sit down and have a conversation as to why David Letterman would make such a joke and why Sarah Palin would call attention to it by actually responding to it, he proceeds to accuse NBC and CBS of–basically–being in a liberal conspiracy. What Ziegler must realize is that NBC would never do anything to give favors to David Letterman. The late night ratings battle is one of the most long lasting feuds on television. And Letterman may have the upper hand again.

But even Sarah Palin’s bizarre reaction to being made fun of by Letterman can’t compare to Rush Limbaugh’s reaction Brewer letting Ziegler trash her network for four minutes on the air. Now that’s funny.

[Gizmodo via Serious Lunch]

Leno signed off Friday after 17 years in Johnny Carson’s old chair, metaphorically speaking. The old one certainly wouldn’t meet modern HD standards. As Leno points out, his tenure is the span of four American presidents, two wars, Sept. 11 and a shit-ton of natural disasters. On the lighter side, it’s also enough time to raise a girl.

His touching final segment:

But, as unique as LOST is, and there’s nothing really like it anywhere, time travel shows are a dime a dozen. Before LOST was ever an apple in J.J. Abrams eyes, Dr. Samuel Beckett was hopping through time and Gary Hobson was getting tomorrow’s newspaper today. After a 10 year break, time travel is back in prime time with LOST, Life on Mars, Heroes, Terminator: The Sarah Conner Chronicles and a new Dr. Who. The shows themselves, however, have achieved mixed success. Heroes time-traveling Hiro is a popular character, but his adventures through time have become a crutch the writers use to raise the stakes, Life on Mars is unwatched despite the lead-in from LOST, Terminator is teetering on the cusp of cancelation. So, is there any hope LOST can succeed where others have failed?

LOST has a few things on it’s side. First, it established itself as a character and mystery show very early on, and has maintained a loyal, if not devout fanbase. The producers has a finite end date for the program. They don’t have to worry about being renewed or ratings as much as telling a story. This will allow them to tell the story well, which, actually, will likely help the show keep the viewers it has.

But the biggest advantage LOST has is simple: it has not fallen into the trap of so many other time travel fiction falls into. It has not become obsessed with trying to change the future. Quantum Leap and Early Edition both used this as the main plot device: by using information they have in the future, you can fix a mistake. Both shows were modest hits, last five and four seasons respectively. Heroes, on the other hand, has already presented it’s audience with several alternate futures. LOST’s producers have promised that anything shown on the show actually happened, and that there is only one time line.

The first episode to feature time travel, “Flashes Before Your Eyes”, went one step further, establishing that you can not change the future or prevent someones death, because the universe has course-correction. And, in a recent episode, when a character was asked why he didn’t try to change his past and save himself from the pain, he retorts: “I needed that pain to get to where I am now.” I think that’s writer for ‘everyone does that and it’s not really interesting.’

Head’s up: This vid is NSFW.

The clip, clearly a follow up to Justin Timberlake’s “Dick in the Box” video, aired late in NBC’s Saturday Night Live broadcast this weekend.

[Props @Logan Braman for the tip, via RedEye's Show Patro]

• Variety is reporting that no one is watching NBC’s new show My Own Worst Enemy. I don’t know if it was the duel personality angle that is so tired or the fact that it stars mega-star Christian Slater… but it’ll be lucky to make it to 13 episodes.
• Johniffer is back together, FoxNews reports.
• Dante Love is coming home!
• Entertainment Weekly is asking where the best picture nominees are, after Body of Lies sizzled at the box office, due, in large part, to lackluster reviews and it’s Iraq war setting. Not one of these movies has been a critical or box office hit. Which means it’s time to let Christopher Nolan or Paul Greengrass loose.
• Marvel seems to think all black people look alike, as they’ve replaced Terrance Howard with Don Cheadle in the upcoming Iron Man sequel. It’s some of Howard’s best work, and a real shame.
• The guy who took Mark Foley’s seat? Sex scandal.
• Go, Granny, Go Granny, Go Granny…. oh shit.
• That‘ll teach her!

And finally, because after those last three stories, we need something a bit lighter, here’s a preview for the new Toy Story movie.