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May 25, 2012

Why would any star go on Carson Daly's show?

by Joel Keller, posted May 5th 2006 1:55AM
Carson DalyOne day around Christmas a couple of years ago, my friend and I were tooling around Rockefeller Center, home of NBC, when someone came up to us and asked us if we wanted to see a talk show.

"Uh, which show is it?" we asked warily, knowing that any of NBC's popular shows have audience lines going out the door.

"Last Call with Carson Daly!" the probable intern chirpily replied.

"No thanks," we said dismissively, as if she was a Hare Krishna in a banana suit holding out cupons for free smoothies. The dejected intern went to go beg other rubes (oops, I mean visitors) to see her boss' show.

That's what I think of when I think of Last Call, even after it moved to Los Angeles: it's a show that can't even find enough people to fill its studio audience, much less watch it on TV. I mean, really, it's on at 1:30 in the morning. At this point of the night, only hallucinating insomniacs, stoned college students, and people who drink coffee at 11:00 at night (like I did tonight) are watching the show.

So why do I see reasonably decent stars booked on the show? Tonight, for instance is my girl Sarah Chalke from Scrubs and singer Ben Harper (who's actually there all week). Do either of these people need the tiny amount of publicity being on a talk show at 1:30 in the morning brings? What's drawing them to Carson? My mind is boggling, but I might just be coming down from the caffeine. If anyone knows, please tell me in the comments.

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Jo Kraynick

It's kind of funny that you think that. In my trips to LA and NYC I have been offered free tickets to Carson, Politically Incorrect, Leno, Letterman, Oprah, Conan, Montel, Danson, Price is Right, Wheel of Fortune, MTV and others as well as movie screenings.

That being said...

Celebrities like airtime. Whereever they can get it. AND they get paid. Yeah, it's a pittance, but money is money. Carson's show isn't the worst one out there. It's entertaining for a night worker like me.

May 06 2006 at 5:41 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Erin

Carson > Seacrest.

Why not go on his show? Celebs get to be on tv and he will only ever be accommodating and flattering.

May 06 2006 at 3:47 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
doc

You can't discount the egostroke involved in being invited. It reaffirms someone's celebrity and could be the reason for some of the bookings. Other than that, I would guess back room deals, corporate synergy, and things of that ilk also come into play.

And this just in from Carson Daly: 'Why would anyone do an interview with Joel Keller on TVSquad? Do these people need the tiny amount of publicity being on a website frequented by television obsessives brings?'

:D

May 05 2006 at 3:02 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Erica

I managed to catch the show a few nights back...Not only is it a bad time slot, Carson's a crappy host.

May 05 2006 at 11:59 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
cheryl

I do get to watch the Carson Daly Show that often because like you said it is on so late. But honestly I like it better then Conan O'Brien. It's a more mordern show with not a lot of the lame humor you sometimes find on other shows. He usually has great guests and he is a young guy that can appeal to a younger crowd. I would watch more if there was a network that would put him on earlier. Why doesn't fox do it??? do they have a late night show? Here my fox affiliate goes to news at 10:00 P.M. put him on after that and I would probably watch him all the time. And I'm not a young teenager I'm in my early thirties and married with kids but it's nice to watch something different. To be honest I don't even watch most of the other late nite shows anymore I switch to TBS or something else. They've just gotten so boring.

May 05 2006 at 8:53 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Bruce Bromley

It either has to be contractual, Sarah being part of the NBC family. Or Carson's show must have a well stocked bar back in the green room. It's hard to see any other reason someone would be there just for six minutes on the couch with Carson.

May 05 2006 at 7:12 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Katie

Yes, I had a similar experience while taking the NBC tour in NYC. They were hounding people, hawking the show left and right as our group was finishing up the tour. A few young people took the tickets and with giddiness left the group and were shown where to go for the show. At that time I didn't even know who he was. I might have taken advantage of being on a show but had to scoot to catch the next bus home....

May 05 2006 at 6:15 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Arissa

well.....Carson is on TV for some reason. I am sure he would not be on the air if he were not a hit.
HOWEVER, I do think that you slandered college students when you ensenuated that if they are up at that time they are stoned. If they were stoned they probably would be asleep.

May 05 2006 at 4:58 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Lindsay

I have kind of grown fond of Carson. He seems really sweet, he has fun, and he's smart. His show is on pretty late, and I watch it most of the time. I've loved him since TRL. He seems really down to earth, and he does appreciate his fans.

May 05 2006 at 4:31 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
brian

must be that the aforementioned 'demographic' are the same people that make 5 easy payments of 19.95 on a pair of scissors that will cut a penny. maybe they think 500 viewers = 500 ben harper albums sold, 500 new scrubs viewers?

May 05 2006 at 2:44 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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