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Fox News' ‘RedEye' stays up for the election
PopWire: News, Reviews and Commentary
by Kate O'Hare
Zap2it.com (MCT)
3 November 2008
Depending upon how you look at it, when it launched in Feb. 2007, Fox News Channel’s late-night comedy-news hour “RedEye w/Greg Gutfeld” - it airs weeknights at 3 a.m. EST, with repeats on weekends - was either lucky or unlucky enough to slip onto the air just ahead of the start of perhaps the longest U.S. presidential campaign ever.
The electoral marathon is expected to lurch to an end Tuesday, with either the historic and oft-predicted victory of Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., as the first U.S. president of African descent, or the less-oft-predicted but equally historic (since he has the female Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska as a running mate) victory of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.
“I can’t wait until it ends,” says Gutfeld, a former Huffington Post blogger and Maxim U.K. editor. “I think everybody feels that way. But it’s also great for a show, because there’s a new story breaking every day. You’ve got something to talk about.
“Everybody’s got an opinion, including corpses and children. It’s like, corpses and children and Mickey Mouse felt so strongly about this election that they’re actually coming out to vote, and that’s important.
“We’ve had to reduce the number of stories we do on abusive strippers to make way for the political coverage.”
Gutfeld presides over a freewheeling round-table that features his regular sidekick, the “disgusting” (according to Gutfeld) writer and editor Bill Schulz, and a revolving stable of guests that includes such diverse characters as former CIA operative Mike Baker, comedian Sherrod Small, forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden (the show’s “death correspondent") and a variety of Fox News and Fox Business Network correspondents, such as Julie Banderas, Patti Ann Browne (aka “The Notorious P.A.B.") and Anna Gilligan.
Among those appearing in remote segments - remote is deceptive, since the people are sometimes just in another part of the Fox News studios in New York City - are British military veteran Kevin Godlington, financial expert Jonathan Hoenig of the Capitalist Pig hedge fund, and such funnymen as Greg ("I am outraged!") Wilson and Greg Proops.
“Greg Proops is amazing,” Gutfeld says. “He can go in with nothing and create an entire story, because he’s got that history of improvisation.”
Keeping everyone honest is “ombudsman” Andy Levy, who appears at the 30-minute mark and at the end of the show to either correct or merely mock misstatements and factual errors, and to help the guests plug their projects.
Gutfeld’s octogenarian mother also calls to offer her take on the events of the day and to remind her son to check in over the weekend.
Taking Fox News’ “fair and balanced” slogan more or less seriously, “RedEye” has diverse political viewpoints, spearheaded by Gutfeld taking the conservative side, Shultz taking the liberal counterpoint, and libertarian Levy looking at both of them like they’re stupid.
Gutfeld’s voting McCain; Schulz is voting Obama; Levy has announced he’s sitting this one out.
“I don’t know if it’s a principled stand,” Gutfeld says, “or a laziness stand. The idea of just lying in bed with his cats is more preferable to voting.”
Asked how partisan he wants “RedEye” to be, Gutfeld says, “My feeling is, for 98 percent of the day, people hear the same thing over and over again on the other networks. If you come here, I don’t care what your political affiliation is, you’re going to get the unvarnished truth, whether it’s right ... it’ll never be left.
“We have to call BS every bit as often on the Republicans as we do on the Democrats, or we wouldn’t be doing our job. But the No. 1 thing is to talk about the news from a unique perspective, whatever that perspective may be, and try to come to some kind of truth about each issue.
“Generally, one pretty obvious truth is that all politicians lie. So, the thing is, you can’t focus on the lies of Democrats and ignore the lies of Republicans. That ain’t fair. So you have to hit them both.”
Gutfeld has invited both Obama and McCain to be on the show, and both have declined. He’s also approached former New York mayor, and GOP presidential candidate, Rudy Giuliani.
“We’ve asked Giuliani a number of times,” Gutfeld says, “and he said yes, but he’s always very difficult to get a hold of after he says yes, so something tells me he’s being polite.”
One obvious choice would be former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who also was a GOP presidential contender and now is host of “Huckabee,” a weekend talk show for Fox News (the first show to land famed Obama questioner Samuel Joseph “Joe the Plumber” Wurzelbacher as an in-studio guest).
“Huckabee is going to be on,” Gutfeld says, “but I don’t know when.” - Story by Kate O'Hare (PopWire)
Move over, Miley. Nickelodeon is launching the already very accomplished Keke Palmer into the best-of-both-worlds world tonight at 9:30 with "True Jackson, VP," and hallelujah, there's no singing or guitar playing.
Palmer, who starred in “Akeelah and the Bee," plays True Jackson, a fashion-savvy high school girl who accidentally becomes the head of the youth division at major fashion label Mad Style. How does she do this? By selling sandwiches in the fashion district wearing Mad Style duds that she modified (and all over America, girls will be reaching for the scissors and some orange buttons).
Max, the head of Mad (please, please let Mad Max be intentional) is played deliciously by Greg Proops ("Whose Line Is It Anyway?"). He takes one look at True and hires her On The Spot.
Two seconds later, True (kudos, by the way, to whomever came up with that very cool name) is ensconced in her own fabulous office, with a view of Fifth Avenue and a highly resentful grown-up assistant. Of course, all those snarky fashionistas are none too pleased to be upstaged by a teenager -- fellow VP Amanda (Danielle Bisutti) is particularly put out. "Well then, eat a handful of jelly beans," she says when True informs her she isn't allowed to drink coffee, "because it's going to be a long night."
Fortunately, True has her trusty sidekicks -- the ADD-addled Lulu (Ashley Argota) and cool-geek Ryan (Matt Shively) -- to help her survive a world not much different from high school.
If this sounds like a junior edition of " Ugly Betty," or "Hannah Montana" in the fashion world, it is, but so what? Ever since children's literature rejected the fairy-tale morality of "The Red Shoes," most stories written for kids, from E. Nesbit's to J.K. Rowling's, are wish-fulfillment dramas in which children take on the adult world. I'm just grateful that "True Jackson, VP" ditched the exhausting coming-of-age-through-music theme -- the adult mind can only handle so many digitally sweetened young voices lecturing them about the need to express oneself.
And with its coterie of models, designers and other well-known diva types, the fashion world is ripe for a junior takedown. Kids watch other kids on television mainly to pick up dramatic moves and witty rejoinders of which "True Jackson, VP" promises many. (There is not the CD-synergy so beloved by Disney, but the merchandising possibilities are endless and obvious.)
It may take a few episodes for the young actors to find their groove -- as Lulu, for instance, Argota seemed at several times in danger of actually destroying the set with her agitated physical comedy -- but that's the nature of pilots. Proops is hilarious (and looks great too), Bisutti hits her notes with a lovely "The Devil Wears Prada" flare and smaller roles, including True's assistant and the guy who answers the phones, show comedic promise.
But the heart of the matter is Palmer, who easily plays both sassy and serious, broad comedy and subtle, and has great appeal. She is already a star, and True should make her an even bigger one.
- Mary McNamara (LA Times)
NEW YORK, Nov 11, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --
iCarly's "iGo to Japan" Ranks as Week's Top Cable Entertainment Program with 7.6 Million Total Viewers and Number-One Telecast with Kids and Tweens
True Jackson, VP Sews Up Nick's Largest Audience Ever with Total Viewers, Tweens for Live-Action Series Debut
Nickelodeon is the top destination for kids, tweens and total viewers (P2+) and scored big with the record-breaking, back-to-back premieres of the first-ever iCarly TV movie ("iGo to Japan," 8-9:30 p.m. [all times ET/PT]) and the series debut of True Jackson, VP (9:30-10 p.m.) on Saturday, Nov 8.
iCarly was broadcast and cable TV's number-one show for the week (11/3/08-11/9/08) with kids and tweens; and was the week's number-one cable entertainment program with total viewers (7.6 million P2+). iCarly "iGo to Japan" stands as the highest-rated live-action television movie with K2-11, K6-11 and total viewers in Nickelodeon's history.
True Jackson, VP bowed with the network's largest audience ever of kids 6-11, tweens and total viewers for a live-action series debut. For the week, True Jackson, VP was the number-two premiere with kids and tweens on broadcast and cable TV, only behind iCarly "iGo to Japan".
Cumulatively, the two shows reached 11.0 million total viewers* from 8-10 p.m. and ranked as the week's top two series on all of TV with kids and tweens. Additionally, each show scored triple-digit increases with all key demos over their respective year-ago time periods.
iCarly "iGo to Japan" highlights include:
-- iCarly was broadcast and cable TV's number-one show for the week (11/3/08-11/9/08) with kids and tweens, averaging a 12.2/4.3 million K2-11, up +239% in rating; a 16.7/3.6 million K6-11, up +288%; and a 14.1/3.1 million T9-14, up +292% over last year's like time period.
-- "iGo to Japan" was the week's number-one entertainment program on cable with 7.6 million total viewers, up +213% over last year.
-- iCarly "iGo to Japan" is the highest-rated live-action television movie with K2-11, K6-11 and total viewers in Nickelodeon's history. With tweens 9-14, it ranks as the second highest rated only behind Goodbye Zoey (Jan. 4, 8-9 p.m.). Fourth quarter to-date, iCarly is the number-one show with kids 6-11 and tweens.
-- More than 500,000 viewers caught iCarly's adventure to Japan on VOD platforms (Rentrak: 10/27/08- 11/9/08).
-- Since promotion began for the primetime special (Oct. 23), the iCarly companion website, http://www.icarly.com increased +18% in unique visitors, and the "iGo to Japan" dedicated mini-site, http://www.nick.com/ijapan received 639,000 visits. The "iGo to Japan" sneak peak on TurboNick received more than 1.6 million streams (11/3/08-11/9/08) (Source: Omniture SiteCatalyst V. 13.5).
True Jackson, VP premiere highlights include:
-- The critically acclaimed True Jackson, VP delivered Nick's biggest audience ever for a live-action premiere with kids 6-11, tweens 9-14 and total viewers, averaging a 9.5/2.0 million K6-11, up +111%; a 9.1/2.0 million with T9-14, up +139%; and drawing 4.8 million total viewers, up +119% versus last year's like time period.
-- True Jackson, VP was the number-two-ranked premiere with kids and tweens on broadcast and cable TV, only behind iCarly "iGo to Japan".
-- True Jackson, VP earned a 7.1/2.5 million K2-11, up +122% over last year.
-- The True Jackson, VP premiere episode on the Zune Marketplace was the most downloaded TV episode on the service during its window (Nov. 4-Nov. 10).
-- A special True Jackson, VP dedicated mini-site drew more than 370,000 visitors since its October launch and since Sept. 1, True Jackson video content on TurboNick-Nickelodeon's broadband video service-generated 8.5 million streams.
"iGo to Japan," the first-ever TV movie inspired by convergent mega-hit series iCarly, follows iWeb Award-nominees Carly (Miranda Cosgrove), Sam (Jennette McCurdy) and Freddie (Nathan Kress) on a laugh-packed, mud-soaked adventure overseas. The teen travelers must parachute from a possum-filled cargo plane, outwit conniving rivals, jump the language barrier and race the clock to compete for the ultimate Internet prize: Best Comedy Web Show in the world!
iCarly has been a top-five show with tweens since its September 2007 launch. Year-to-date, the series has consistently ranked among the top five live-action shows on cable TV with Kids 6-11 (delivering an average of 1.7 million K6-11) and tweens 9-14 (delivering an average of 1.6 million T9-14). Since debuting internationally in March 2008, iCarly has also become a global hit and is among the top ten shows in the UK, Australia, Germany, Singapore, Brazil, Mexico and Columbia.
True Jackson, VP-which will air regularly on Saturdays at 8:30 p.m. (ET/PT) -centers on 15-year-old True Jackson (Keke Palmer) who is tapped to head the youth division of Mad Style, a major fashion label. True soon learns that navigating the grown-up corporate world has both highs and lows-like high school, but with cool perks. An accomplished singer, Palmer also co-wrote and sings the series' theme song. Andy Gordon (NewsRadio, Just Shoot Me!, Mad About You) is Creator and Executive Producer of the series.
Nickelodeon, now in its 29th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in more than 96 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 14 consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (VIA:
SOURCE Nickelodeon
http://www.nick.com/ijapan
Copyright (C) 2008 PR Newswire. All rights reserved End of Story
Comtex
- WSJ.com
Discography
TV: Chelsea Lately on E!, Whose Line Is It Anyway? on ABC Family, True Jackson VP on Nickelodeon, Red Eye on Fox News,
Photos
Bio
Greg Proops
“Sharp dressed and even sharper witted.”
-LA Times
Greg Proops is a stand up comic from San Francisco. He lives in Hollywood. And likes it.
Greg will soon be seen on a new comedy series on Nickelodeon called True Jackson VP. Starring Keke Palmer, NAACP Image Award winner, as True. Mr. Greg plays Max Madigan president of Mad Fashion. True Jackson gets the chance of a lifetime when she’s hired by Max and made VP of his fashion empire. Premieres November 8th on Nickelodeon.
Greg joined long time cohort Ryan Stiles in a two-man improvised show, “Unplanned.” They performed for sell out crowds at the Just For laughs Festival in Montreal and taped a gala for the CBC.
The Proopdog is best known for his unpredictable appearances on Whose Line is it Anyway?The hit, improvised comedy show on ABC hosted by Drew Carey. Greg is also a regular on the long running British version of WLIIA? Whose Line is currently seen on ABC Family Channel.
Mr. Proops is a frequent guest on Chelsea Later on E! and on Red Eye with Greg Gutfeld on Fox News.
Proopworld provides the announcer voice Hank “Buckshot” Holmes for the forthcoming game Mad World for SEGA.
He can also be heard as the bad guy Tal Merrick in the animated TV series Clone Warson Cartoon Network.
Greg can also be heard as the voice of Bob the Builder on the popular children’s series seen on PBS.
Mr. Proops cares like Bono and has performed and hosted at many events for the ACLU including the 2008 membership conference and a rally to stop torture with Rep. Dennis Kucinich, SenatorPatrick Leahy and Larry Cox, Director of Amnesty International USA.
Mr. Proopwell aided and abetted Joan and Melissa Rivers on the red carpet at the 2007 Oscars, Emmys, SAG and Grammy awards as a wag and celebrity traffic cop on TV Guide Channel.
Mr. Prooples regularly hosts his own live comedy chat show at the ridiculously hip Hollywood rock joint Largo. Guests have included Flight of the Conchords, Jason Schwartzman, Russell Brand, Jack Black, Sarah Silverman, Joe Walsh, Janeane Garofalo, David Cross, Margaret Cho, Dave Eggers, Joan Rivers, Aidan Quinn, Jeff Goldblum, Kathy Griffin, Lewis Black, Patton Oswalt and John C. Reilly. Providing musical magic is genius and imp Jon Brion.
Mr. Proops has also performed his chat show in Aspen at the HBO Comedy Arts Festival, The Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Montreal at the Just For Laughs Festival.
He also accompanied Drew Carey to the 2006 World Cup and produced and starred in Drew Carey’s Sporting Adventures on the Travel Channel.
Mr. Proops other television sightings include, The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Last Comic Standing, Ugly Betty, The Bigger Picture with Graham Norton on BBC, Mock the Week on BBC2 and The Drew Carey Show.
Mr. P is very pleased to improvise with Drew Carey, Ryan Styles, Kathy Kinney, Colin Mochrie and many talented others as part of the Improv All Stars. They had the honor of performing for the troops in Bosnia, Kosovo and the Persian Gulf as part of the USO. The All-Stars can be seen on a fabulous Showtime comedy special. When over the pond in London, Greg sits in with the renowned Comedy Store Players.
Darth Proops was so excited to portray Fode, one half of the pod race announcer in the hit motion picture Star Wars: The Phantom Menace and all the subsequent video games. As well as many voices in Tim Burrton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Greg went medieval as Cryptograf in the animated feature Asterix and the Vikings based on the popular French comic book. Greg may be heard as Gommi, the Articulate Worm in Kaena: The Prophecy a full length animated feature starring Kirsten Dunst. He was also Bernard, a mad scientist on Pam Anderson’s animated series Stripperella. Proopbear may also be heard as Lover Bear in Disney’s animated feature Brother Bear.
Mr. Greg was spotted hosting his own syndicated, national dating show Rendez View. He also hosted the now cult classic game show Comedy Central’s VS. Senor Proops threw down an original half-hour of stand up on Comedy Central Presents. Which is repeated ad infinitum.
Across the wide Atlantic in the United Kingdom Greg had his own chat show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival broadcast live on BBC Radio Scotland. Groovy guests like Candace Bushnell, Rich Hall, Geraldine Chaplin, Steven Berkoff and Garrison Keillor have snuggled his sofa.
Mr. Proops performed stand up at How to Cook a benefit with Michael Palin and Terry Jones for the Peter Cook Foundation a BBC Christmas special. Greg was honored to be invited to rock the mike at Prince Charles’ 50th Royal Birthday Gala seen on ITV in Britain. He performed a stand up half-hour on Comedy Store Five for Channel Five and has bantered on All Talk with Clive Anderson.
The Proopkitty is a total smartyboots: he won The Weakest Link, Ben Stein’s Money and Rock n’ Roll Jeopardy. He also asked Dick Clark what h
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