TV Bulletin Board (Sept. 16) -- Jay/Conan/guests
09/16/09 16:42
By ED BARK
You think Conan O'Brien might be having a little guest envy right now?
Some TV critic types -- guilty as charged -- speculated that the pecking order of The Jay Leno Show and The Tonight Show might end up biting O'Brien in the ass.
Well, it's still early. But based on announced guest lists through Oct. 2nd, it sure looks as though Leno is getting his pick of the celebrity litter while O'Brien subsists on leftovers or in some cases settles for seconds.
Drew Barrymore, scheduled to be Leno's first celebrity car racer on the Friday, Sept. 18th show, will get around to doing the Tonight Show on Monday, Sept. 28th. Michael Moore, who was Leno's guest on Tuesday of this week, is slotted for Tonight on Thursday, Oct. 1st. Brad Paisley will do Leno on Sept. 28th and Conan two nights later.
Here's a look at the Sept. 21 to Oct. 2 guest rosters:
Sept. 21
Leno -- Jennifer Garner
O'Brien -- Ricky Gervais and Lynyrd Skynyrd
Advantage: Pretty much a wash. I'd rather see Gervais, but Garner's arguably a bigger name and easier sell.
Sept. 22
Leno -- Pee-wee Herman and Amy Poehler
O'Brien -- Rebecca Romijn, Lisa Lampanelli and Monsters of Folk
Advantage: Leno
Sept. 23
Leno -- Vince Vaughn, Al Michaels and Bob Costas
O'Brien -- Martin Short, Tim Gunn and Wynonna
Advantage: Leno
Sept. 24
Leno -- Rush Limbaugh, Smokey Robinson and Joss Stone
O'Brien -- Calista Flockhart and Joel McHale
Advantage: Leno
Sept. 25
Leno -- Hugh Laurie
O'Brien -- Teri Hatcher and Seth MacFarlane
Advantage: -- Too close to call
Sept. 28
Leno -- Bill Maher, Brad Paisley and Sheryl Crow
O'Brien -- Drew Barrymore, Joe Talamo and Paramore
Advantage: Leno, who's already had Barrymore
Sept. 29
Leno -- Julia Louis-Dreyfus
O'Brien -- Brad Garrett and Quinn Dahle
Advantage: Leno
Sept. 30
Leno -- Steve Carell, Vince Gill and Emmy Lou Harris
O'Brien -- Kate Walsh, Patton Oswalt and Brad Paisley
Advantage: Leno, who's already had Paisley
Oct. 1
Leno -- Chris Rock
O'Brien -- Michael Moore
Advantage: Leno, who's already had Moore
Oct. 2
Leno -- Jenna Fischer
O'Brien -- John Krasinski
Advantage: It's a draw in battle of love-locked second bananas from The Office.