THIS WEEK AT THE TV BARN
from the TV Barn Web site
http://TVBarn.com
June 15, 2009


HERE'S WHAT'S WORKING FOR ME ...


1. The return of “Better Off Ted.” Seems ABC is treating this very funny
workplace comedy, set at a diabolical corporation, like it was a toxic asset.
Tune in or DVR these new episodes, which return 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, so the
network changes its mind.

2. The #CNNFail campaign. Even Twitter-haters had to admit that the microblog
service was indispensable to learning about the Iranian election crisis from the
inside — and forcing TV news channels to cover it better.

3. Michael Moore’s teaser trailer. We learned nothing about the “Sicko”
director’s upcoming film from the one-minute commercial shown in theatres last
weekend. Strangely, it just made me more eager to see it.

... and what’s not

1. Phony Palin controversy. I doubt that David Letterman was advocating
“statutory rape” any more than Sarah Palin was suggesting Dave was a threat
to 14-year-old girls.

2. Letterman’s “Palin bump.” Please, let’s not go down this road again!
Hugh Grant wasn’t responsible for Jay Leno’s turnaround and Willow Palin
wasn’t the reason Letterman beat Conan two nights last week in the ratings.

3. Michael Roof, RIP. A frequent performer at the Glazer comedy clubs, the
“XXX State of the Union” and “Black Hawk Down” character actor died last
week at 32.


WHAT'S ON TVB RIGHT NOW!
Here's what was going on in my world this week:

David Letterman beat Conan two out of five nights last week and darn near went
three-for-five. But most people will remember, instead, his getting used by
Sarah Palin to gin up the base.

The first week of Conan - my review: http://tr.im/ozuo

Chip and I talked about Palin-mony this morning: http://icanhaz.com/kogpal

Previously: Dave beats Conan. http://tinyurl.com/mcskyf

And then, beats him again. http://tr.im/ois0

ABC News gets next shot at Obama - unlike NBC, they aren't messing around:
http://tr.im/oxEV

The DTV switcheroo happened last week.

My day-before report (will this be Y2K?): http://tr.im/ozsX

My day-of report (it will not be Y2K!): http://tr.im/oisd

And I made a video at one of the more unusual fine-arts events anywhere in the
country, the annual Symphony in the Flint Hills, where an entire city springs up
on the Kansas prairie: http://tr.im/oz0v


*** From the TVB Ticker (twitter.com/tvbarn) ***

Michael Roof is dead - did anyone see him in KC when he did standup comedy? -
http://tr.im/oyNc

Old Jews Telling Jokes (as seen in NYMag) exposes Norm Macdonald for the tummler
he is!! http://tr.im/oy8K

Congrats to Frank Morris for his report on Greensburg ... and all the other
KCUR/KC Star winners at the Press Club awards http://is.gd/12uAn

What was Current TV doing sending journalists into Korea, anyway?
http://tr.im/oy4M

Canada Fights Back: Stop lying about our healthcare system!! http://tr.im/oxcu

Average network TV hour is 41% commercials and promos - BIGGEST LOSER also
biggest offender - http://tr.im/owES

Someone wanted me to comment on the Letterman-Palin manufactured "controversy,"
but Evanier's already done so quite ably: http://tr.im/otLf




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and let me know what you think!


*** Sue's late-night lineups ***
Updated regularly at interbridge.com/lineups.html

LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN, CBS
Mo 6/15: Jack Black, M.A. Sanjayan
Tu 6/16: Michelle Pfeiffer, Ian McLagan & the Bump Band
We 6/17: Ryan Reynolds
Th 6/18: Phoenix
Fr 6/19: Jada Pinkett Smith, Michael Cera, the Sounds

Mo 6/22: Samuel L. Jackson, Emeril Lagasse, Iggy Pop & the Brighton
Port Authority
Tu 6/23: Sandra Day O'Connor, MSTRKRFT with John Legend
We 6/24: Shia LaBeouf, St. Vincent
Th 6/25: Ray Romano, Megan Fox
Fr 6/26: Martin Short, Regina Spektor

THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH CONAN O'BRIEN, NBC
Mo 6/15: Joe Torre, Spinal Tap
Tu 6/16: Larry David, Lauren Conrad, Gavin Rossdale
We 6/17: William Shatner, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Incubus
Th 6/18: Eva Mendes, the Dead Weather
Fr 6/19: Brandon McMillan, Holly Williams

Mo 6/22: Cameron Diaz, Johnny Strange, Pete Yorn
Tu 6/23: Lisa Kudrow, Billy Mays & Anthony Sullivan, Elvis Costello
We 6/24: Kerry Washington, Wilco
Th 6/25: Bruno, Cirque du Soleil Zumanity
Fr 6/26: Snoop Dogg, Adele

LATE LATE SHOW WITH CRAIG FERGUSON, CBS
Mo 6/15: Holly Hunter, Camera Obscura
Tu 6/16: Jeff Foxworthy, Gavin DeGraw
We 6/17: Julia Ormond, Derrick Pitts
Th 6/18: Sandra Bullock, Metric, David Feldman
Fr 6/19: Bryan Cranston, Christopher Mintz-Plasse

Mo 6/22: Marion Cotillard, Michael Musto
Tu 6/23: Jim Parsons, James Frey
We 6/24: Mary Steenburgen, Bettye LaVette, Todd Sawyer
Th 6/25: Larry David, Wolfgang Puck
Fr 6/26: Lisa Kudrow, Alan Furst, Chairlift

LATE NIGHT WITH JIMMY FALLON, NBC
Mo 6/15: Matthew Broderick, Sean Avery, Jason Aldean
Tu 6/16: Horatio Sanz, Selena Gomez, Hank Williams Jr.
We 6/17: Al Roker, Street Sweeper Social Club
Th 6/18: Ryan Reynolds, Lauren Conrad, the Fray
Fr 6/19: Jeff Goldblum, Tamra Davis

Mo 6/22: John Leguizamo, Nick Cannon, Sonic Youth
Tu 6/23: Abigail Breslin, James Purefoy, Blake Griffin, Iggy Pop & the
Brighton Port Authority
We 6/24: Richard Branson, Neil deGrasse Tyson, the Roots
Th 6/25: Tiger Woods, Evan Rachel Wood, Dinosaur Jr.
Fr 6/26: Cameron Diaz, Grizzly Bear

LAST CALL WITH CARSON DALY, NBC
Mo 6/15: Common, Doves (R 5/26/09)
Tu 6/16: Diane Birch
We 6/17: Zee Avi
Th 6/18: Peaches
Fr 6/19: Kathy Griffin, the Ting Tings

Mo 6/22: Tim Roth, Miranda Kerr, Black Kids (R 5/7/09)

THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART, Comedy Central
Mo 6/15: Ed Helms
Tu 6/16: Tom Folsom
We 6/17: Peter Laufer
Th 6/18: Mike Huckabee

THE COLBERT REPORT, Comedy Central
Mo 6/15: Austan Goolsbee
Tu 6/16: Jim Rogers
We 6/17: Joshua Micah Marshall
Th 6/18: Paul Muldoon

JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE, ABC
Mo 6/15: David Spade, Zoe Saldana, Black Eyed Peas (R 5/6/09)
Tu 6/16: Ty Pennington, David Sedaris, the Jonas Brothers
We 6/17: Roseanne Barr, Ryan Kwanten
Th 6/18: Kathy Griffin, Ramon Rodriguez, Ben Harper
Fr 6/19: TBA

Mo 6/22: Heather Graham, Lance Krall, Katie Melua (R 6/3/09)
Tu 6/23: Aretha Franklin, Isabel Lucas
We 6/24: Josh Duhamel, Tracy Hutson
Th 6/25: Shia LaBeouf, June Diane Raphael, Eric Hutchinson
Fr 6/26: Megan Fox, David Cross, Phoenix

THE VIEW, ABC
Mo 6/15: Wrestler MVP, Dr. Larry Norton
Tu 6/16: Jada Pinkett Smith, food stylist Lauren Costello
We 6/17: Michelle Pfeiffer, Rupert Friend, Shirley Jones, Marty Ingels
Th 6/18: Lauren Conrad, Anne Hathaway
Fr 6/19: George Lopez, Mario Cantone, Lewis Black

Mo 6/22: A day of Hot Topics
Tu 6/23: Benjamin Bratt
We 6/24: Joan Rivers, designer Michael Smith
Th 6/25: Larry David, Evan Rachel Wood, Darius Rucker

LIVE WITH REGIS AND KELLY, syndicated
Mo 6/15: Jack Black, guest co-host Megan Mullally
Tu 6/16: Selena Gomez, guest co-host Molly Shannon
We 6/17: Sandra Bullock, guest co-host Joy Philbin
Th 6/18: Ryan Reynolds, guest co-host Joy Philbin
Fr 6/19: Julia Roberts, New Kids on the Block, Keke Palmer, David Bach
(R)

Mo 6/22: Dwayne Johnson, Kelly Clarkson, Bruno Tonioli
Tu 6/23: Nick Cannon, Ashanti, guest co-host Kara Dioguardi
We 6/24: Cameron Diaz, Mark Feuerstein
Th 6/25: Shia Labeouf, Il Divo
Fr 6/26: Ray Romano, Megan Fox

THE ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW, syndicated
Mo 6/15: Mariah Carey, 5-year-old basketball star Milan Simone Tuttle
(R 11/26/08)
Tu 6/16: David Cook, Dr. Drew Pinsky, Alec Greven (R 12/1/08)
We 6/17: Brad Pitt, Keane, Lisa Suatoni (R 12/3/08)
Th 6/18: Melissa Rycroft, Kym Douglas (R 3/5/09)
Fr 6/19: Jason Mesnick and Molly Malaney, Science Guy Steve Spangler (R
3/6/09)

Mo 6/22: Clint Eastwood, Jason Mesnick (R 1/9/09)
Tu 6/23: Dustin Hoffman, Dev Patel, Freida Pinto, 6-year-old
solar-system enthusiast Brandt Bickford (R 1/14/09)
We 6/24: Anderson Cooper, Katy Perry (R 3/19/09)
Th 6/25: Steve Martin (R 5/25/09)
Fr 6/26: George Lopez, No Doubt (R 5/19/09)

TAVIS SMILEY, PBS
Mo 6/15: Karen Bass, Mary McCormack
Tu 6/16: Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller
We 6/17: Chris Noth, Ali Sethi
Th 6/18: Roseanne Barr
Fr 6/19: Luma Mufleh, Rick Steves

CHELSEA LATELY, E!
Mo 6/15: Betty White, Josh Wolf, George Wallace, Jen Kirkman
Tu 6/16: MC Hammer, John Caparulo, Kevin Hart, Sarah Colonna
We 6/17: Denise Richards, Loni Love, Brad Wollack, Heather McDonald
Th 6/18: Holly Williams, Bryan Callen, Chris Franjola, Ken Baker
Fr 6/19: Nia Vardalos, Guy Branum, Arden Myrin, Chris Hardwick (R
6/11/09)

THE HOUR WITH GEORGE STROUMBOULOPOULOS, CBC
Mo 6/15: Michaelle Jean, Joe Dinicol (R)
Tu 6/16: Malcolm McDowell, Gene Simmons (R)
We 6/17: David Thewlis, Alanis Morissette (R)
Th 6/18: Malcolm Gladwell, Jamie Kennedy (R)
Fr 6/19: Tom Cruise (R)

THE BONNIE HUNT SHOW, syndicated
Mo 6/15: Carnie Wilson, Derek Luke (R 1/13/09)
Tu 6/16: Brian Austin Green, Mark Ballas and Derek Hough (R 3/3/09)
We 6/17: Tony Shalhoub, Spike Feresten, 7-year-old gymnast Gabriella
Crump (R 1/8/09)
Th 6/18: Jane Kaczmarek, Jensen Ackles, Dr. Ian K. Smith (R 1/9/09)
Fr 6/19: Billy Bob Thornton and the Boxmasters, Carrie Ann Inaba (R
4/24/09)

Mo 6/22: Paula Deen, Gurbaksh Chahal (R 12/11/08)
Tu 6/23: Zachary Levi, Tony Hawk (R 11/7/08)
We 6/24: Jeff Probst, Debbie Reynolds, 7-year-old chef Jake Littell (R
3/5/09)
Th 6/25: TBA
Fr 6/26: Jennifer Love Hewitt, Freddy Rodriguez, REO Speedwagon (R
12/12/08)