This is why I don’t stay up past 10

Monday, May 12, 2008

It's official: Jay Leno is on the outs, to be replaced by Conan O'Brien on "The Tonight Show."
I hate Jay Leno.
Well, I suppose "hate" is too strong a word; I just can't stand him or his version of "The Tonight Show." I long for the gentle days of Johnny Carson, and when NBC, in its infinite wisdom, dissed Johnny's legacy by bringing forth crass and lowest-common-denominator comedy to late night, I switched off the TV.
What will Conan bring to the desk?
Meanwhile, O'Brien's replacement is now confirmed to be Jimmy Fallon, who I enjoy somewhat -- but the executive producer will be Lorne Michaels, who I think is overdue for retirement along with his flagship, "Saturday Night Live." It ranks way up there with shows that have lived far past their useful or entertaining lives, along with "The Simpsons."

Speaking of good TV from the past: "The Electric Company" is back in production over at Children's Television Workshop -- now known, rather cynically as a way to extend the brand, as "Sesame Workshop."

"The Electric Company" is turning on the juice again.

An update of the classic kids TV series will begin production today with location shots in Gotham's Washington Heights and the Lower East Side. Show will run weekly beginning in January on PBS stations around the country.

Produced by the Sesame Workshop, the series will target 6- to 9-year-olds, with specific goals to improve the reading habits of children. Like the original version, there will be plenty of music and dance numbers to help kids learn.

Original "Electric Company" episodes ran from 1971-77 and starred Morgan Freeman and Rita Moreno. It continued in reruns until 1985.

"The literacy crisis today is as pervasive and alarming as it was in 1971 when we created the first version of 'The Electric Company,' " said Scott Cameron, director of education and research for Sesame Workshop. "We know that if struggling readers don't get the literacy help they need by the end of second grade, they are in danger of never catching up."

Series will consist of 26 half-hour episodes and, following its initial TV run, will segue into books, games and digital media.

Child actors to co-star include Ricky Smith, Priscilla Diaz, Jenni Barber and Josh Segarra.

Karen Fowler will exec produce.
[Variety]

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