Mike King

Leno's Classy Farewell on the Tonight Show

I clearly remember Johnny Carson’s last Tonight Show episode.  It was quite moving when Bette Midler sang him off the air.  I haven’t been a big fan of Jay Leno.  I much prefer David Letterman.  But I did record and watch Jay’s last Tonight Show.  His monologue was funny.   Jay Walking is always a hoot and Conan as a guest was brilliant.  I will be conflicted now with Conan and Letterman going head to head.  James Taylor singing Sweet Baby James is American Classic.  But the testimony of Jay Leno’s classy superiority over Carson emerged in the final minutes of the show as he genuinely thanked his entire team, most who had been with him for 17 years.  He became visibly emotional when he thanked his wife who has faithfully “danced with him” through his 17 years on the show.   Leno then turned his attention to one of his staff that had a baby just days into his Tonight Show run.  He had the 17-year-old girl come on stage.  He proceeded to run down a list of all the Tonight Show staff that met through the show, got married and had children.  Leno opened the curtain to show all 68 children born to Tonight Show staff.  He closed by saying that this is what he wanted his legacy to be.  With an emotion-laden voice he declared, “When people ask these children where their parents met, they will say my parents met on the stage of the Tonight Show.”  Class Act.

American Idol Season 8 favorite...

I know season 8 of American Idol is just starting but I already have a favorite -> 28-year-old Danny Gokey from Milwaukee, WI.  Gokey is a Church Music Teacher (whatever that means?).   Maybe I like him because he looks like my friend Doug Jones and Doug is cool.  Anyway, Gokey seems so soulfully natural... he will at least make the top 5.  Here is Danny singing "I hope you dance" during Hollywood Week.

David Cook

I'm not going to write a long e-mail boasting about David Cook's Blue Springs hometown being our hometown, about our kids going to school with him or about teaching David a few things... blah, blah, blah... I'm just happy that David Cook from BLUE SPRINGS won American Idol.

Late Show with Conan

I'm in New York city with Vicki, our son Micah and daughter-in-law, Anne.  Through gracious goodness of friends we are in a beautiful condominium at Trump Parc overlooking Central Park.  Earlier we attended the Late Night with Conan O'BrIen.   It will be airing on NBC at 11:30 tonight.  If you are watching, look behind the audience member Conan surprises with a birthday acknowledgment.  I'm wearing my Syracuse orange North Face waving my hands in the air with a shout out to all my friends watching.  Max Weinberg and his band are amazing musicians. 

24, Lost, Grey's

While here in San Diego this week I have been able to be in some (of all things) fun TV Show experiences.  Monday night I watched 24 at Mark and Jeannie Oestreicher’s home with Doug and Shelley Pagitt, John Raymond, Alex Roller, and Mark Scandrette.  Tim Keel, Shayne Wessel, Mike Crawford and I took in the Wednesday night Lost spring kickoff.  Vicki flew in to join me in San Diego for a long weekend in time for Grey’s Anatomy. 

Funny Commercial

This Blue Cross Blue Shield Commercial is soooo funny.  Shout out to Daniel for this.