Inquisitionist
Dec 14, 2005 @ 9:40 am
Premieres tonight on TVLand. Steinberg's first guest is Mike Myers. The
New York Times notes:
As an example of the "comedy gold" that can result from his seat-of-the-pants approach, he pointed to his interview with Mike Myers, a flamboyant performer but by his own admission something of an introvert when not playing a character. On his segment of "Sit Down Comedy," which kicks off the series tonight (at 10, Eastern and Pacific times; 9, Central time), Mr. Myers is anything but introverted or, for that matter, polite: he aggressively needles Mr. Steinberg, mocking him for not doing his homework and for talking too much about himself. ("What else did you do, David? Because this is about you now, isn't it?")
Mr. Steinberg said: "When I walked onstage with Mike, a little director instinct kicked in. I told him, 'Don't respect me in any way.' It wasn't an idea 30 seconds before we went out, but he went with it. And there was nothing he didn't get a laugh out of."
My TiVo is set. I'm looking forward to this. The upcoming episode with Larry David sounds really good, too.
iMissEthan
Dec 14, 2005 @ 1:49 pm
You can listen to all of these (and view video too, if you have that kind of iPod) via iTunes. Perhaps it's just a snippet of the interviews. I've heard a bunch so far and they're between 5-15 minutes each.
Inquisitionist
Dec 14, 2005 @ 6:28 pm
Must be snippets, because the show is scheduled to run for an hour. How have you liked the snippets you've heard?
alynn
Dec 15, 2005 @ 1:39 am
David Steinberg seems very much like a character who would be played by Mike Myers. The experience is very wierd.
This show is like Inside the Comedian's Studio.
BetyBee
Dec 15, 2005 @ 7:25 am
I enjoyed it very much. Mike Myers was very funny and David Steinberg seemed totally tickled by him.
This show is like Inside the Comedian's Studio.
That's an apt description. The style also reminded me of the old Dick Cavett show.
iMissEthan
Dec 15, 2005 @ 2:49 pm
Yes, they've been funny. The only one I didn't listen to was George Lopez because I don't care for him. Jon Lovitz was funny in that nearly his entire snippet was him imitating a Woody Allen standup record like he did when he was a kid. The weird thing is I had that record growing up as well, and I knew when he was making a mistake, even if it was one word missing or changed. His impression was quite good though. I could recite the routine verbatim, but my voice wouldn't sound like Woody's.
Inquisitionist
Dec 16, 2005 @ 11:00 am
It was fascinating to hear Mike Myers describe himself as introverted when he's not performing -- which I guess is not that uncommon among actors, and comic actors in particular, but just seems so difficult to reconcile with their public personas. His wife sounds cool.
Steinberg seemed a little too smiley, but he did a great job of eliciting info from Myers and keeping the interview flowing. That "director's instinct" he talked about in the NYT article I quoted above was spot-on. I'm looking forward to future installments.
Inquisitionist
Dec 22, 2005 @ 5:51 pm
Watched the second installment last night -- guest was Larry David. Steinberg has directed episodes of CYE, so they had a lot of rapport. I've read about David's failures as a stand-up comedian, but hearing him talk about it was much funnier, especially his affinity for the tu vs. usted bit.
Arcey
Dec 23, 2005 @ 5:58 pm
When I was a pre-teen/teen (I think that's when it was), David Steinberg was doing a lot of stand up on the Tonight Show, and other shows like that. I just loved him then, and even had a little crush on him. He was probably 8-10 years older than me, but "such a nice Jewish boy." Sigh. I was jazzed years later when I saw his name connected with directing.
I didn't know about any of this before seeing it on the Seinfeld thread. I do get TVLand on my TV, and now have something else to check up on. I'll check out the snippets. In fact, I'll even download iTunes in order to do it. Anything for a belly laugh.
P.S. Someone mentioned that Mike Myers wife sounds cool. I just read today that they've filed for divorce after 12 years of marriage. Oh well...
BetyBee
Dec 23, 2005 @ 6:25 pm
When I was a pre-teen/teen (I think that's when it was), David Steinberg was doing a lot of stand up on the Tonight Show, and other shows like that. I just loved him then, and even had a little crush on him. He was probably 8-10 years older than me, but "such a nice Jewish boy." Sigh. I was jazzed years later when I saw his name connected with directing.
Same here
Arcey! I had such a crush on him, and always wondered what became of him. He's very talented. I just hope I can remember to watch more than one week in a row, because I don't regularly watch TVLand.
veryoldperson
Dec 24, 2005 @ 2:32 pm
Yes, too smiley! Good one.
Yes, like an Inside the Comedian's Studio, only without the nails-on-a-blackboard annoying Lipton, who does better as an impersonation on SNL than he does in real life.
Yes, like Dick Cavett. Also, on the old Odd Couple show, Steinberg played a talk show host where Felix and Oscar were his guests.
So now all these images are swirling around in my brain, and I too will probably not know when it is next on.
Meanwhile, I like Larry David, and if he really is schlumpy and wears sneakers and kvetches about life, well, darn, I really like the guy. Now, how is it possible that a gazillionaire looks schlumpy and wears sneakers and has ANYTHING to kvetch about, that's what I want to know!
Arcey
Dec 24, 2005 @ 3:06 pm
If anyone's interested in hearing a very funny hour-long radio interview with Larry David, click on the link here:
Larry David interview in San Francisco. When you get to the file sharing site, click on the free option, and then on the HTTP option. Enjoy!
Inquisitionist
Dec 27, 2005 @ 10:21 am
I just hope I can remember to watch more than one week in a row, because I don't regularly watch TVLand.
The first-run episodes are on Wednesday nights at 10e/9c. Then they rerun a gazillion times during the week. The episodes are usually an hour long, but I believe tomorrow's with Bob Newhart is only half an hour. Steinberg got his TV directing start with "Newhart" (the series set in Vermont), and apparently it was the conversations he used to have with Bob about comedy that inspired him to do this interview series.
doctorwu
Dec 27, 2005 @ 11:36 am
Jon Lovitz was funny in that nearly his entire snippet was him imitating a Woody Allen standup record like he did when he was a kid.
Now if I were on the show, I'd break into Steinberg's old Dating Game routine.
friendperidot
Dec 27, 2005 @ 6:33 pm
I have got to catch this show. I also had the biggest crush on David Steinberg in the 60's (he was cute and had a sense of humor, what more could you want?) when he was on the Smothers Brothers' Comedy Hour. Isn't one of the big reasons given for the cancellation of their show his sermonettes? They were hilarious.
Elektra501
Dec 27, 2005 @ 8:47 pm
I can't believe I missed Jon Lovitz. When was he on? He cracks me up.
David and Larry David were hilarious together since they work together on Curb and Larry kept making little digs at David.
Mike Myers seemed subdued and I was puzzled about Robin, his wife, not being there. They've always been a very cool very cute couple. Then I read that they are separated and I felt so sad for both of them.
According to my FauxVo, it's Bob Newhart tomorrow night but only for half an hour. Is that right? I'm so hoping they repeat Lovitz. Did he do the Liar guy?
Thanks!
Inquisitionist
Dec 28, 2005 @ 8:03 am
Not to worry, you haven't missed Lovitz. If you read the entire thread (which is, like, TWO pages ;-) you'll see that iMissEthan downloaded some interview snippets on iPod. The only interviews that have been broadcast so far were Myers and David, with Newhart coming up tonight. (And my TiVo also says it's only half an hour long.)
Elektra501
Dec 29, 2005 @ 5:23 am
Thanks, Inquisitionist. I'm a tech moron. Do not get the whole podcast thing. I figured the order out finally. It kind of bugs me that Newhart, Short and Lovitz only get half an hour. Well, what bugs me more is that they haven't scheduled more hour-worthy comedians. But, hey, it's a decent show and this hiatus is killing me. :)
Arcey
Dec 29, 2005 @ 1:15 pm
I tried to watch the full episodes on TVLand.com, and I wasn't able to. Has anyone else had this problem, watching the full ep on their web site? Instead of the episode, they show a full length commercial for Bounty paper towels, and then nothing. Any ideas?
Inquisitionist
Dec 30, 2005 @ 11:00 am
Any idea why some of the episodes are only half an hour long? Bummer. Bob Newhart clearly had a lot more to say. Like we really need another episode of Good Times at 10:30...
contretemps
Dec 30, 2005 @ 12:40 pm
No kidding, Inquisitionist. I'd have loved another half hour with Newhart. And wouldn't it have been great if they followed it up with an ep of The Bob Newhart Show or Newhart?
I thnk they've really screwed up TVLand and Nick at Nite. Too much crapola-Good Times,Full House,What's Happening. Overkill on Roseanne,Cosby,and Fresh Prince. And what the hell is with Leave it to Beaver and Andy Griffith still being shown and not Mary Tyler Moore, Dick Van Dyke, Bob Newhart and Lucy? Ticks me off.
Angora Deb
Dec 30, 2005 @ 12:44 pm
TVLand shows Dick Van Dyke then Lucy at 11 am to noon.
Loved the story about the flasher and the perp lineup.
Arcey
Dec 31, 2005 @ 7:03 pm
Okay, I finally figured out how the TVLand video works. I just finished watching the Mike Myers segments. Wow, is he shy! That was pretty awkward interview, imho. And esp. compared to the LArry David one. (Which only has 4 segments listed to watch -- the 5th segment is missing. Boo hoo. I sent them an email about it -- let's see if that helps.)
How ironic that David Steinberg put the "kibosh" on Mike Myers toward the end of the interview, saying that he's too happy and everything's going too well for him, and that's bad for a comedian. Oops. Now MM is separated from his wife Robin. Now are you happy, Mr. Steinberg? See what you get for putting the "kinahora" on poor Mikey? And David went on and on about how great Robin is too. (said like Jon Stewart)Awwkwaard. (/Jon Stewart)
iMissEthan
Feb 22, 2007 @ 5:08 pm
Heads up for DVR users. Last season this show was called Sitdown Comedy w/David Steinberg. Now it seems to be called Sit Down Comedy w/David Steinberg. My DVR didn't recognize it as the same show due to the spelling change. Seinfeld is this week - can't wait for Jon Stewart's episode.
gnbhull
Mar 3, 2007 @ 2:25 pm
Just watched some of the Robin Williams episode and it was classic. I loved it, but expect it will be absolutely unwatchable for people who hate RW. Steinberg asks a question and he just runs with it. Of course Steinberg reduced RW to a giggling fool with a classic story about Milton Berle.
iMissEthan
Mar 3, 2007 @ 6:09 pm
I found out that they're charging for the show on iTunes this season, whereas last season it was free. Money grubbing bastards at TV Land! If they're going to charge, it should be the unedited interview. Someone in the Daily Show's thread was there for the Jon Stewart interview and said it was over two hours.
KimB77
Mar 4, 2007 @ 5:19 pm
If they're going to charge, it should be the unedited interview. Someone in the Daily Show's thread was there for the Jon Stewart interview and said it was over two hours.
Seriously, I want every minute of Jon I can get :P
On the bright side, I thought they were all 30 minutes but his is one of the hour long interviews!
*squee*
Miss Kean
Mar 4, 2007 @ 5:26 pm
That was me, and I'm glad to hear that they're airing an hour long interview. It wasn't two hours long, but it was over an hour and then there were questions which added to the length. It's a great interview and I can't wait to see it, nine months later!
iMissEthan
Mar 15, 2007 @ 1:58 pm
Wow, I loved Jon before and now it threatens to spill over into full blown obsession. What a great interview subject he is. Gracious, engaging, hilarious and so touching when he speaks of his kids. His daughter was four months and now is over a year, and the Oscar hosting question is now past its expiration date, but aside from that, it was fantastic.
nm317
Mar 15, 2007 @ 2:04 pm
That interview was really funny. I laughed so hard I couldn't breathe a couple of times. And the stories about his kids are always absolutely adorable.
Inquisitionist
Mar 16, 2007 @ 12:00 pm
The bit about Jon's son removing his pacifier to announce what he was looking at (Pluck. Pause. "Dog.") was priceless.
Inquisitionist
Mar 29, 2007 @ 7:28 pm
I was kinda disappointed in Ray Romano's interview, but I've already bitched about it in the ELR thread...
mmb8446
Mar 30, 2007 @ 12:42 pm
I was also disappointed with the Ray Romano interview. After watching so many lovely, flowing, conversational interviews with Jon Stewart, Jerry Seinfeld, Garry Shandling, even Larry David, it felt like Ray was doing stand up. Sex with his wife? Yuck.
Inquisitionist
Apr 2, 2007 @ 8:12 am
Yeah, the one with Larry David last year was really good! Unfortunately I missed Seinfeld and Shandling this year. I hope they'll rerun the series at some point so that I can catch them.
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