the rix mix

Two unfunny talk show appearances by Bill Maher promoting his new Real Time season demonstrated how much he depends on his writers. & how come Conan O'Brien's three shows this week were unpredictable, well-paced, & pretty funny while Letterman's were draggy & substandard, & Craig Ferguson almost unwatchable? You'd think with eight weeks off the writers & hosts would have stockpiled some first rate material. Apparently, it helped that Conan kept coming to his office at 30 Rock.