Sunday Funnies: Leno Goes After Katie Couric

Photo of Noel Sheppard.
By Noel Sheppard | April 13, 2008 - 17:51 ET

"The Tonight Show's" Jay Leno had some fun Friday night at Katie Couric's expense -- with a dash of Hillary hilarity on the side (h/t TVNewser):

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Oh that is offensive! I am

April 13, 2008 - 17:58 ET by balboa

Oh that is offensive! I am offended! Stupid big-chin, non-Carson-talent having loser!!!

It was actually sort of sad

April 13, 2008 - 18:44 ET by tracheostomy

It was actually sort of sad to see.  Pathetic actually.  The TV equivalent of the vultures circling the carcass. 

-PJ

"Trake: Your lofty convictions are another blemish on the rump of congregational sectarianism." -Tumbler 5/15/07

Oh boo--hoo....Surely you

April 13, 2008 - 18:47 ET by bigtimer

Oh boo--hoo....Surely you jest trach...it is comedy... it was funny to some of us that have a sense of humor.

"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill

I must lack a sense of humor, so please educate me then.

April 13, 2008 - 19:07 ET by tracheostomy

So all stand-up humor always has to have a "named" target now?  Is that how it works? 

I'm getting pretty sick and tired of it and I don't care who does it, whether it's Jon Stewart or Leno.   

Everyone's lying if they claim it's truly tongue-in-cheek anymore.  I'm not gonna be fished in by Balboa's insinuation of hypocrisy and choose to remain consistent. 

Couric's in free-fall without a parachute.  Time to switch to a stronger and more high-profile liberal target.  Kicking them when they're down is nothing more than what a sick mob of kids would do after the bully gets his fair comeuppance.  

-PJ

"Trake: Your lofty convictions are another blemish on the rump of congregational sectarianism." -Tumbler 5/15/07

trach... Couric has been

April 13, 2008 - 19:11 ET by bigtimer

trach...

Couric has been criticized here long before she became the famous nightly newscaster for CBS by a lot of us now and then...

All I meant was this was put here today for some danged humor...

To each their own, if you need to feel sorrow for Couric so be it...I'm sure she's laughing all the way to the bank...bank on it.

"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill

BT:  Couric has been

April 13, 2008 - 19:22 ET by tracheostomy

BT:  Couric has been criticized here long before she became the famous nightly newscaster for CBS by a lot of us now and then...

Which I've been in on.

BT:  All I meant was this was put here today for some danged humor...

I'm getting tired of watching people shoot satirical bullets with people's names written on them.  Open mockery is elevated to a virtue now.   

BT:  To each their own, if you need to feel sorrow for Couric so be it...I'm sure she's laughing all the way to the bank...bank on it. 

You mean before or after they re-negotiate her contract?  You assuming there isn't a hidden clause somewhere?

And money doesn't do your self-esteem much good when your rep has been shot down in flames.  Stick a fork in her.  She's done. 

We'll have time to dance on their graves when the culture war is over.

-PJ

"Trake: Your lofty convictions are another blemish on the rump of congregational sectarianism." -Tumbler 5/15/07

Katie will be just fine.

April 13, 2008 - 19:27 ET by balboa

Katie will be just fine.

When's that "culture war" really get in full swing? 

Bal:  Katie will be just

April 13, 2008 - 19:38 ET by tracheostomy

Bal:  Katie will be just fine.

*Paging Jane Pauley, courtesy call for Jane Pauley.*

Bal:  When's that "culture war" really get in full swing? 

When the combatants forget what side their fighting on and fail to discriminate between targets. 

I want to sit with these guys and ask them, "so what lessons are you trying to teach us again when you go after absolutely everyone?" 

It's so easy to do when you sit in the seat of judgement on Comedy Central, whild divested of holding absolutely anything sacred, just for the sake of a cheap-assed laugh. 

-PJ

"Trake: Your lofty convictions are another blemish on the rump of congregational sectarianism." -Tumbler 5/15/07

I don't think Jane Pauley's

April 13, 2008 - 20:24 ET by balboa

I don't think Jane Pauley's living paycheck to paycheck or anything. 

What lessons? You think Leno's trying to teach lessons? It's COMEDY. 

Yeah, yeah. . .he was "just

April 13, 2008 - 20:30 ET by tracheostomy

Yeah, yeah. . .he was "just kidding." 

I already explained that one.  Thanks for playing.  If it's not the lowest form of network-to-network career-stomping snark, then it's some higher; more cerebral form of "satire." 

Whatever it is, Jay got his laughs.

-PJ 

"Trake: Your lofty convictions are another blemish on the rump of congregational sectarianism." -Tumbler 5/15/07

Hey, writing for a daily

April 13, 2008 - 20:34 ET by balboa

Hey, writing for a daily show is not easy, and the lower common denominators are often relied on. No, it's not the greatest comedy ever, but you'll have to go to a comedy club for that.

→ Open season on Perky

April 13, 2008 - 21:42 ET by Cool Arrow

I've got a long memory on Katie.

She never apologized for making that joke about castrating a boyfriend.

♣ a seal

?  

April 13, 2008 - 21:50 ET by balboa

?

 

→ bal

April 13, 2008 - 21:54 ET by Cool Arrow

You don't remember?

♣ a seal

I've never heard of that

April 13, 2008 - 22:02 ET by balboa

I've never heard of that incident. 

I haven't either...I don't

April 13, 2008 - 22:05 ET by bigtimer

I haven't either...I don't think anyway...

Eye-opening though...

"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill

Don't sweat it. 

April 13, 2008 - 23:57 ET by tracheostomy

Don't sweat it.  If Couric was confronted about it, she could always say she was "just kidding."

Oh, you don't have a sense of humor about this?  Wha. . .? 

Then, if you call her on her BS, she'll think you outrageously sensitive for seriously thinking she'd truly ever advise someone to surgically assault another human being.

-PJ

"Trake: Your lofty convictions are another blemish on the rump of congregational sectarianism." -Tumbler 5/15/07

You thought she was

April 14, 2008 - 14:01 ET by balboa

You thought she was serious?

Oh get a grip trach...I am

April 13, 2008 - 19:28 ET by bigtimer

Oh get a grip trach...I am sorry I ever replied to you.

You make everything a big damned deal...everything.

By the way, I don't dance on any-one's grave....save it.

I'm keeping some sense of lightheartedness today...pick on someone else for your incessant nit-picking.

"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill

~

April 13, 2008 - 19:31 ET by Free Stinker

trach: 1

bigtimer: 0

 

 

Pledge to not support RINOs ever again!

Free... I see you still

April 13, 2008 - 19:40 ET by bigtimer

Free...

I see you still play with that silly immature scoreboard thing.

Sad.

"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill

You RINOs are so touchy

April 13, 2008 - 19:47 ET by Free Stinker

You RINOs are so touchy these days.

 

Pledge to not support RINOs ever again!

FS RINO you

April 13, 2008 - 19:50 ET by bigtimer

FS

RINO you say... you're a tad touched in the head tonight.

"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill

BT:  Oh get a grip

April 13, 2008 - 19:43 ET by tracheostomy

BT:  Oh get a grip trach...I am sorry I ever replied to you.

I know you are.  I'm sorry I'm your personal cold-water-in-the-face killjoy. 

BT:  I'm keeping some sense of lightheartedness today...pick on someone else for your incessant nit-picking.

Apre-vous!

I'm trying not to become one of the insane here.  I don't want to turn into a right-wing version of Al Franken, who can flip-flop anything under cover of "satire."

-PJ

"Trake: Your lofty convictions are another blemish on the rump of congregational sectarianism." -Tumbler 5/15/07

For heavens sake trach,

April 13, 2008 - 19:47 ET by bigtimer

For heavens sake trach, this was put here for a little laughter for a week-end...I can't believe what this has turned into.

Bet you are a barrel of fun in real life.

"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill

BT:  Bet you are a barrel

April 13, 2008 - 19:57 ET by tracheostomy

BT:  Bet you are a barrel of fun in real life.

I'm not gonna be guilt tripped for that either.  
 
Why?  
 
Everyone is misusing it.  Everyone.  TV, real life person-to-person; everyone.  The only talk-radio I listen to anymore is Dennis Miller.  That's it.
 
How do I know someone is really "just kidding around" huh?  Sometimes people think the nicest way to treat others without openly confronting them is to slip their criticism in a joke envelope to make it go down more smoothly.  It's always a win-win for those too chickenshit to just come out and say it.  I never treated any of my friends like this, ever.  And if I ever did, it was a heinous thing to do.    
 
You laugh at my personal satirical criticism of you? = win.
 
Change the habits I find distasteful through use of my cutting satire? = DOUBLE WIN.
 
Oh, you don't find it funny? = Still win, because I can simply accuse you of being a killjoy and having no sense of humor. 
 
Oh, you find it offensive and dishonest?  = Jackpot win!  Because I can marginalize you as a hypersensitive crazy-cabin shut-in 'get off my lawn' old guy who yells at kids who accidentally kick a ball into their yard.

I know a manipulator when I see one.

Don't fall in with the crowd.  It's possible to smile with a clear conscience and without having to give approval to rank wolfpack hostility.
 
-PJ

"Trake: Your lofty convictions are another blemish on the rump of congregational sectarianism." -Tumbler 5/15/07

It must be near to or a

April 13, 2008 - 20:02 ET by bigtimer

It must be near to or a full moon...I'm moving on...gotta' get dinner on the table.

Life is short trach, and laughter is the best medicine.

Try it some time, you may find you like it.

"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill

BT:  Try it some time, you

April 13, 2008 - 20:09 ET by tracheostomy

BT:  Try it some time, you may find you like it.

Okay, sure!  Why not?  Let's do this.  Who are we gonna mock now?

-PJ

"Trake: Your lofty convictions are another blemish on the rump of congregational sectarianism." -Tumbler 5/15/07

Mock me, trach!

April 13, 2008 - 22:25 ET by Blonde

Mock me...... 

Seriously...sometimes it gets downright silly here.

David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive

 

Self edit:  Thinking twice

April 13, 2008 - 22:35 ET by tracheostomy

Self edit:  Thinking twice about how that would be interpreted.

hi blonde

April 13, 2008 - 22:34 ET by shawn228

Your take down of PT was a masterpiece. I really enjoyed it. Will there be a repeat performance with trach? Guess that is his choice.

Thanks, Shawn

April 13, 2008 - 22:41 ET by Blonde

I don't think so...I respect trach.

PT...well that was a different story. 

Glad you enjoyed it tho...I was in a bit of a mood...go figure.

P.S.  Hi trach! 

David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive

 

Whoa whoa whoa. You don't

April 13, 2008 - 20:36 ET by balboa

Whoa whoa whoa. You don't appreciate the snark of Leno, but DENNIS MILLER you like. 

Really?

You don't know when comedians doing monologues on nightly comedy shows are kidding?

Really? 

Bal:  Whoa whoa whoa. You

April 13, 2008 - 20:49 ET by tracheostomy

Bal:  Whoa whoa whoa. You don't appreciate the snark of Leno, but DENNIS MILLER you like. 

Really?

You haven't listened to him lately, have you?  Miller follows a consistent standard of humorous criticism and I can respect that.  He doesn't abandon his personal beliefs at the drop of a hat for the sake of a cheap laugh.  He's not a whore for the audience.  Heck, he even apologizes on air when he thinks he's gone too far with the ironic mockery.  But to every other comedian, no apologies are necessary because they can cover for everything as kewl and edgy. 

Bal: You don't know when comedians doing monologues on nightly comedy shows are kidding?

Really? 

Yeah.  Really.  I dunno when they're telling jokes or giving me a candy-coated sermon anymore.  I can't follow every single event they bring up, so I'm naturally suspicious. 

Either comedy has a certain element of truth to it, or else it's purely absurd.  In which case, a named-target isn't necessary.  Self-depreciating humor is obvious and doesn't need to be mentioned.

-PJ 

"Trake: Your lofty convictions are another blemish on the rump of congregational sectarianism." -Tumbler 5/15/07

Well, first, Miller doesn't

April 13, 2008 - 20:54 ET by balboa

Well, first, Miller doesn't have to play to the same audience that Leno does. Leno used to be much funnier when he was a guest host. He's gone "mainstream" now and is not that interesting anymore. Miller had to go to HBO to get the freedom he wanted. 

I'm talking about all

April 13, 2008 - 21:07 ET by tracheostomy

I'm talking about all comedians. 

You were smart to marginalize only the late-night monologuers there.  But the entire career of comedy has fanned out in all directions.  And where's the choicest spot?

Why, political opinion and social commentary, of course.  The most popular stuff is even done on a mock news set.

I really can't relax anymore without hearing someone's opinion of something that went on in the news this very second.  If you really want to give me a humorous distraction, then distract me.

-PJ 

"Trake: Your lofty convictions are another blemish on the rump of congregational sectarianism." -Tumbler 5/15/07

BT,

April 13, 2008 - 19:50 ET by tracheostomy

BT:  You make everything a big damned deal...everything.

Life is a big-damned deal.

Wow, if I didn't already have a sweet sig to describe me, I'd proudly adopt this one.

-PJ 

"Trake: Your lofty convictions are another blemish on the rump of congregational sectarianism." -Tumbler 5/15/07

It's not kicking them when

April 13, 2008 - 19:21 ET by balboa

It's not kicking them when they're down; it's topical. It was just announced that Couric would be  parting ways with CBS, along with news that HRC is losing ground in PA. That's what late night talk show hosts do: jokes about current events. 

You're not going to accuse

April 13, 2008 - 19:25 ET by tracheostomy

You're not going to accuse me of hypocrisy Bal, and comedy has grown a bitterness to it that I can't stomach anymore.   

-PJ 

"Trake: Your lofty convictions are another blemish on the rump of congregational sectarianism." -Tumbler 5/15/07

I'm not trying to. I'm

April 13, 2008 - 19:28 ET by balboa

I'm not trying to. I'm saying, this is a funny line. I don't think it's over the line in any way.

Wow, I used to trust you. 

April 13, 2008 - 19:46 ET by tracheostomy

Wow, I used to trust you.  But now I'm not so sure. 

Were you not satirizing the perceived hypocrisy of the anti-MSM members of NB?

OR WAS IT JUST A LITTLE JOKE???

-PJ

"Trake: Your lofty convictions are another blemish on the rump of congregational sectarianism." -Tumbler 5/15/07

No, I was satirizing the

April 13, 2008 - 20:08 ET by balboa

No, I was satirizing the reaction of everyone on this board when NewsBusters highlights a comedian making fun of a Republican.

Bingo. 

April 13, 2008 - 20:11 ET by tracheostomy

Bingo. 

-PJ

"Trake: Your lofty convictions are another blemish on the rump of congregational sectarianism." -Tumbler 5/15/07

Ya' lost me. I didn't do it

April 13, 2008 - 20:22 ET by balboa

Ya' lost me. I didn't do it to "catch" anyone being hypocritical.

Something tells me she'll

April 13, 2008 - 23:10 ET by fitzfong

Something tells me she'll comfort herself with all that unearned income while the bones are being picked clean.  Surely the shareholders are the only losers here.

That's so judgemental Bal.

April 13, 2008 - 18:48 ET by Free Stinker

That's so judgemental Bal.

Tsk tsk. ;-)

 

Pledge to not support RINOs ever again!

Haha. That was pretty funny

April 13, 2008 - 18:53 ET by balboa

Haha. That was pretty funny from Leno. I don't like him that much, but that was a good bit.

I just picture the secret service guys escorting Hillary talking into their communication devices, "'Katie Couric' is moving, repeat, 'Katie Couric' is on the move." 

I miss Carson

April 13, 2008 - 18:55 ET by Free Stinker

I miss Carson too.

 

Pledge to not support RINOs ever again!

bal

April 13, 2008 - 19:11 ET by botg

but it is make believe since we know her handle is "broomstick 1"

   “i am the quixotic botg and i approved this message”   

Feminist handwringing

April 13, 2008 - 17:59 ET by nkviking75

With Hillary and Katie both going down in flames, brace yourselves for the feminist handwringing about what a sexist country this is.  Hillary is a lousy candidate and Katie is a lousy anchor, but that doesn't matter.  We're sexist!

When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.

Feminist handwringing

April 13, 2008 - 18:50 ET by ThisnThat

Vike75, were you referring to today's NY Post article about the handwringing? This woman just went bonkers on the mistreatment of Katie and Hillary -- "two of America's most prominent women". Here are a few of her ravings:

  • Nobody ever instructed Dan Rather to flash his shapely legs and a titillating glimpse of thigh for the cameras, as they have done to Katie

  • All it takes to rivet attention on the reproductive organs of female politicians [i.e., Clinton] is the biological accident of gender

  • Lest anyone forget the proper role of women, there were helpful reminders from morons like the heckler shouting "Iron my shirts!" during a Clinton campaign appearance

  • Who can forget Nora Ephron annihilating Couric's election-night performance in 2006 with the verdict that nothing mattered except her appearance?

  • Men practically have to commit homicide before they're accused of being too aggressive, but with a woman, a couple of penetrating follow-up questions is enough to send everyone into a frenzy of indignation.

So, only we sexist pigs are holding up Couric and Clinton. Nowhere, however, is any mention of Couric and Clinton's incompetance. I guess that simply doesn't factor into the discussion.

___________________________________ 

If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber

TnT... They did the same

April 13, 2008 - 19:00 ET by bigtimer

TnT...

They did the same thing on The Reliable Sources Show with Howard Kurtz on CNN this morning, first segment no less, none of the talking heads blamed the person at fault, Couric.

Talk about aggravating.

"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill

CBS's denial that anything

April 13, 2008 - 18:01 ET by motherbelt

CBS's denial that anything is wrong was the dead giveaway. Just like when a politician gets caught and says "I have no plans to resign" that means that even now the speech is being written.

and sometimes it's already written for you

April 13, 2008 - 23:25 ET by mom_rox

since most of the resignation speeches include the phrase "I am resigning to spend more time with my family". (Except in cases like Gov. Spitzer's where he has to acknowledge the real reason.)

I don't remember where, but recently I saw a funny cartoon with a coach saying that he was extending his contract because his family did not want to spend more time with him.

A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.
- George Bernard Shaw, 1944

That Help Wanted graphic

April 13, 2008 - 18:22 ET by bigtimer

That Help Wanted graphic was great....I'm still laughing...

I bet if Mika saw this on Leno she took it seriously and called for an application!

"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill

I bet if Mika saw this on

April 13, 2008 - 18:31 ET by motherbelt


I bet if Mika saw this on Leno she took it seriously and called for an application!

Wait, bt...did it say they were hiring waitresses in the CBS cafeteria???

Hilarious

April 13, 2008 - 18:32 ET by Pam

That humorous!

Feel sorry for Katie Couric?

April 13, 2008 - 23:12 ET by dcbatlle

Feel sorry for her? The same Katie Couric who blamed evangelicals for Matthew Shephard's murder? Hell no. Seeing her go down in flames is a pleasure I'm savouring every minute of.  I won't apologize for that.  It's not like I'm rejoicing that she's dead or dying, like the leftwingers do. She's just losing a job, and I couldn't be happier about it.