the rix mix

Tom Snyder died. I was a fan for decades, even when he infuriated me. So was David Letterman, who created the Late Late Show for Tom. It was a sad night when Tom was replaced by the execrable Craig Kilborn. So many notable interviews, so many stories. But I especially appreciated the nights on Tomorrow & LLN when nothing much was happening & Tom, lighting a ciggie & joking with his studio crew, leaned back in his chair & chatted about mundane things he'd done that day, or something odd that caught his eye in the newspaper. I envied his monologue style, sharp & observant yet off-the-cuff. I think of Tom while watching Conan O'Brien, a terrible interviewer, habitually redirect attention back to himself for a stupid laugh whenever a guest says something not jokey or flippant. Letterman & Craig Ferguson do this also, but they show impatience on occasion with the narrow framework of their programs. Ferguson is an intelligent autodidact in the manner of Johnny Carson, & he's slowly getting braver about displaying it. Henry Rollins reminds me a bit of Tom Snyder as he becomes a more focused & comfortable interviewer during his second season.