Friday, July 30, 2004
Wednesday, July 28, 2004
Snippet from an article:
Mat men cometh
"There's a dog-and-pony show to everything," explained Big Show, a 500-pound, 7-foot-2, World Wrestling Entertainment performer from Tampa who said he had a hard time slipping between the metal detectors to get into the convention. "I think our whole world has become entertainment. You have to make things entertaining to give them an enlightening tone."
Big Show said he was particularly impressed with Bill Clinton's entrance onstage for the 2000 Democratic National Convention. The camera work, he said, looked borrowed from the wrestling world.
"It was the 'Raw' entrance -- the low camera shot," Big Show said.
One of the other wrestlers, Mick Foley, who broke in as Cactus Jack and once was The Rock's tag-team partner, says pro wrestlers, like everybody else, have issues. "Heath care is a huge issue," Foley said.
The wrestler said his biggest thrill has been meeting Ed Helms and Rob Corddry, two reporters from Comedy Central's The Daily Show, who are here spoofing the convention for the cable TV show.
For those of you keeping score at home: That's a fake wrestler being impressed by meeting two fake newsmen who have become stars of a show that parodies the news.
It all fits. The convention itself is kind of a parody of a news event.
Speaking of which, one of the Ohio delegates is talk-show host Jerry Springer, who walks the floor, leaving other delegates in his wake shouting, "Jerry! Jerry! Jerry!"
In other news, Teresa Heinz Kerry, the wife of the presumptive nominee, told a pissant newspaper editorial writer to "shove it!"
It is one of the few unscripted moments of the week, and something that I'm sure Big Show would applaud as entertainment that gives an enlightening tone.
Whatever that means.
Mat men cometh
"There's a dog-and-pony show to everything," explained Big Show, a 500-pound, 7-foot-2, World Wrestling Entertainment performer from Tampa who said he had a hard time slipping between the metal detectors to get into the convention. "I think our whole world has become entertainment. You have to make things entertaining to give them an enlightening tone."
Big Show said he was particularly impressed with Bill Clinton's entrance onstage for the 2000 Democratic National Convention. The camera work, he said, looked borrowed from the wrestling world.
"It was the 'Raw' entrance -- the low camera shot," Big Show said.
One of the other wrestlers, Mick Foley, who broke in as Cactus Jack and once was The Rock's tag-team partner, says pro wrestlers, like everybody else, have issues. "Heath care is a huge issue," Foley said.
The wrestler said his biggest thrill has been meeting Ed Helms and Rob Corddry, two reporters from Comedy Central's The Daily Show, who are here spoofing the convention for the cable TV show.
For those of you keeping score at home: That's a fake wrestler being impressed by meeting two fake newsmen who have become stars of a show that parodies the news.
It all fits. The convention itself is kind of a parody of a news event.
Speaking of which, one of the Ohio delegates is talk-show host Jerry Springer, who walks the floor, leaving other delegates in his wake shouting, "Jerry! Jerry! Jerry!"
In other news, Teresa Heinz Kerry, the wife of the presumptive nominee, told a pissant newspaper editorial writer to "shove it!"
It is one of the few unscripted moments of the week, and something that I'm sure Big Show would applaud as entertainment that gives an enlightening tone.
Whatever that means.
Tuesday, July 27, 2004
Analysis: What to expect from this year's political conventions; NEAL CONAN
Talk of the Nation (NPR) 07-19-2004
Analysis: What to expect from this year's political conventions
Host: NEAL CONAN
Time: 2:00-3:00 PM
....
Our guest is Ken Rudin, NPR's political editor. The major news outlets will not be the only media at this election cycle's conventions. The Comedy Central's parody news program, "The Daily Show," will also be there as part of its Indecision 2004 campaign or coverage. "Daily Show" correspondent Ed Helms has already been reporting on preparations in Boston and will be there next week for the actual events, and he joins us now from his office in New York.
Welcome to TALK OF THE NATION.
Mr. ED HELMS (Correspondent, "The Daily Show"): Thank you, Neal.
CONAN: It's going to be a little unusual for you to be covering an event where it is actually happening.
Mr. HELMS: Well, I guess you're revealing one of our tactics. But, yes, it's true. Most of the time we're not actually there. But we are, in fact, going to be in Boston for the entire week of the convention. In fact, our show will be--we'll be taping our show at a theater at Boston University.
CONAN: We had a listener just before the break talking about the free speech zone there in Boston. You visited that last week.
Mr. HELMS: I did visit the free speech zone and actually I heard her talking about it. And she had the facts a little off. The free speech zone--and you can certainly take issue with the name; I certainly had fun with it in my segment--but it is, in fact, right across the street from the Fleet Center.
CONAN: So right there.
Mr. HELMS: It's right there and it's actually next to (muffled sound)--it's actually next to...
CONAN: He was whispering that he was on the radio. I could hear that part.
Mr. HELMS: I'm getting harassed in my office. But--what was I saying?
CONAN: You were talking about the free speech zone in downtown Boston. Due to the great planning to have that Big Dig there for the last 400 years, there's lot of available waste ground right near the Fleet Center.
Mr. HELMS: Exactly. There's a big sort of like very raw lot that they'll be converting into the sort of bus depot for delegates to arrive and leave from. And next to that, under this giant steel girder that is a sort of remainder of the elevated T system is the free speech zone. So it's kind of--you know, it's not a great place. It's not comfy. It's not very pretty but it is right next to the Fleet Center, so you've got to give them props for that.
CONAN: Are you actually expecting any surprises whatsoever come next week?
Mr. HELMS: Expecting surprises? That sounds a little bit like an oxymoron. But I think that what I'm expecting--and keep in mind I'm incredibly jaded and cynical--is just the customary orgy of spin-doctoring, which I will enjoy, for that reason, 'cause I like dissecting that. But I don't--you know, I think you can count on each convention to sort of roll out something cool and unusual, but inasmuch as you can expect that, it won't be a surprise.
CONAN: Yeah. And they call you a cynic. Here's an e-mail we got from Val in New Jersey. `A comedy variety show starring the party members satirizing themselves, satirizing the other party, that would be fun and unlike the other conventions, it would be interesting.' There's an idea for spicing up the Democratic Convention.
Mr. HELMS: You mean, have them actually make fun of themselves?
CONAN: Yeah.
Mr. HELMS: Yeah. That's not going to happen. What was that you were reading?
CONAN: That was an e-mail suggestion.
Mr. HELMS: Oh, I gotcha. Yeah.
CONAN: Yeah.
Mr. HELMS: I agree. That would be--that might be kind of fun. We saw--did you see that footage of Colin Powell singing "YMCA" at that international conference in Indonesia?
CONAN: I did see that footage and I wondered why he decided to be the construction worker.
Mr. HELMS: (Laughs) That was amazing. I think if we saw more of that in politics--I'm not sure if our respect for politicians would go up or down.
CONAN: Any story that you're actively working on and would care to scoop yourself on right here on National Public Radio before the convention?
Mr. HELMS: Well, let's see. I will say this much. I am--this actually doesn't pertain exactly to the Boston convention, but I'm looking into a movement among Republicans to actively support Nader in order to effectively draw votes away from Kerry. Sort of a convoluted, very ethnically muddy tactic.
CONAN: Well, Ken Rudin, our political editor is here. And, Ken, as I was reading in the newspaper this morning, they're gathering signatures for Nader in some states.
Mr. HELMS: Exactly, in Michigan and Oregon they're gathering signatures.
CONAN: So you're going to...
Mr. HELMS: They're actually telemarketing for Nader.
CONAN: OK. Ed, you going to be there the whole week?
Mr. HELMS: We will be there--we'll have shows Tuesday through Friday. We're going up Sunday and we're coming back Saturday. So we'll be there the full week.
CONAN: Well, good luck.
Mr. HELMS: Thanks a lot.
CONAN: Appreciate it. Ed Helms, a correspondent for "The Daily Show," which is seen on Comedy Central.
- - -
I love how they call him "Mr. Helms" in the transcript, didn't they see that Digital Watch segment where Ed got mad when he was referred as "Mr. Helms"?
Talk of the Nation (NPR) 07-19-2004
Analysis: What to expect from this year's political conventions
Host: NEAL CONAN
Time: 2:00-3:00 PM
....
Our guest is Ken Rudin, NPR's political editor. The major news outlets will not be the only media at this election cycle's conventions. The Comedy Central's parody news program, "The Daily Show," will also be there as part of its Indecision 2004 campaign or coverage. "Daily Show" correspondent Ed Helms has already been reporting on preparations in Boston and will be there next week for the actual events, and he joins us now from his office in New York.
Welcome to TALK OF THE NATION.
Mr. ED HELMS (Correspondent, "The Daily Show"): Thank you, Neal.
CONAN: It's going to be a little unusual for you to be covering an event where it is actually happening.
Mr. HELMS: Well, I guess you're revealing one of our tactics. But, yes, it's true. Most of the time we're not actually there. But we are, in fact, going to be in Boston for the entire week of the convention. In fact, our show will be--we'll be taping our show at a theater at Boston University.
CONAN: We had a listener just before the break talking about the free speech zone there in Boston. You visited that last week.
Mr. HELMS: I did visit the free speech zone and actually I heard her talking about it. And she had the facts a little off. The free speech zone--and you can certainly take issue with the name; I certainly had fun with it in my segment--but it is, in fact, right across the street from the Fleet Center.
CONAN: So right there.
Mr. HELMS: It's right there and it's actually next to (muffled sound)--it's actually next to...
CONAN: He was whispering that he was on the radio. I could hear that part.
Mr. HELMS: I'm getting harassed in my office. But--what was I saying?
CONAN: You were talking about the free speech zone in downtown Boston. Due to the great planning to have that Big Dig there for the last 400 years, there's lot of available waste ground right near the Fleet Center.
Mr. HELMS: Exactly. There's a big sort of like very raw lot that they'll be converting into the sort of bus depot for delegates to arrive and leave from. And next to that, under this giant steel girder that is a sort of remainder of the elevated T system is the free speech zone. So it's kind of--you know, it's not a great place. It's not comfy. It's not very pretty but it is right next to the Fleet Center, so you've got to give them props for that.
CONAN: Are you actually expecting any surprises whatsoever come next week?
Mr. HELMS: Expecting surprises? That sounds a little bit like an oxymoron. But I think that what I'm expecting--and keep in mind I'm incredibly jaded and cynical--is just the customary orgy of spin-doctoring, which I will enjoy, for that reason, 'cause I like dissecting that. But I don't--you know, I think you can count on each convention to sort of roll out something cool and unusual, but inasmuch as you can expect that, it won't be a surprise.
CONAN: Yeah. And they call you a cynic. Here's an e-mail we got from Val in New Jersey. `A comedy variety show starring the party members satirizing themselves, satirizing the other party, that would be fun and unlike the other conventions, it would be interesting.' There's an idea for spicing up the Democratic Convention.
Mr. HELMS: You mean, have them actually make fun of themselves?
CONAN: Yeah.
Mr. HELMS: Yeah. That's not going to happen. What was that you were reading?
CONAN: That was an e-mail suggestion.
Mr. HELMS: Oh, I gotcha. Yeah.
CONAN: Yeah.
Mr. HELMS: I agree. That would be--that might be kind of fun. We saw--did you see that footage of Colin Powell singing "YMCA" at that international conference in Indonesia?
CONAN: I did see that footage and I wondered why he decided to be the construction worker.
Mr. HELMS: (Laughs) That was amazing. I think if we saw more of that in politics--I'm not sure if our respect for politicians would go up or down.
CONAN: Any story that you're actively working on and would care to scoop yourself on right here on National Public Radio before the convention?
Mr. HELMS: Well, let's see. I will say this much. I am--this actually doesn't pertain exactly to the Boston convention, but I'm looking into a movement among Republicans to actively support Nader in order to effectively draw votes away from Kerry. Sort of a convoluted, very ethnically muddy tactic.
CONAN: Well, Ken Rudin, our political editor is here. And, Ken, as I was reading in the newspaper this morning, they're gathering signatures for Nader in some states.
Mr. HELMS: Exactly, in Michigan and Oregon they're gathering signatures.
CONAN: So you're going to...
Mr. HELMS: They're actually telemarketing for Nader.
CONAN: OK. Ed, you going to be there the whole week?
Mr. HELMS: We will be there--we'll have shows Tuesday through Friday. We're going up Sunday and we're coming back Saturday. So we'll be there the full week.
CONAN: Well, good luck.
Mr. HELMS: Thanks a lot.
CONAN: Appreciate it. Ed Helms, a correspondent for "The Daily Show," which is seen on Comedy Central.
I love how they call him "Mr. Helms" in the transcript, didn't they see that Digital Watch segment where Ed got mad when he was referred as "Mr. Helms"?
Inside Track; Long live the King: `Lion' roars in debut; GAYLE FEE and LAURA RAPOSA with Nichole Gleisner
Boston Herald 07-22-2004
Inside Track; Long live the King: `Lion' roars in debut
Byline: GAYLE FEE and LAURA RAPOSA with Nichole Gleisner
Edition: All Editions
Section: NEWS
When it comes to blue language, the boys in blue at the BPD draw a thin blue line!
Case in point: Lt. Kevin Foley, who took a stab at stand-up comedy on Comedy Central's "Daily Show," but swears he didn't know about the less-than-arresting language in the bit!
According to the lieutenant, Jon Stewart's mob of muckrackers blew into Boston two weeks ago to shoot some advance convention craziness and he got the call at HIS Comedy Central - One Schroeder Plaza.
"They were looking for someone from the department to do a little tongue-in-cheek thing in the Free Speech Zone outside the FleetCenter," Foley told the Track.
"I know they poke fun at the news and I really didn't mind being poked fun at, as long as it didn't embarrass the department - which they did."
So on Stewart's show last night, Foley is shown being politely chatted up by correspondent Ed Helms outside the FSZ. But then, in a burst of First Amendment fervor, the "Daily Show" schmo hopped over the rail into the Zone and unleashed a string of profanity that curled the cop's hair!
"Whoa, I had to step away," he said. "Especially when he used that word that my wife hates. I told the guy that I have a female commissioner, so in the shot, you see me stepping away. They bleeped it. But it was all in fun, though. You got to have a sense of humor this week."
File Under: Copping A 'Tude.
Boston Herald 07-22-2004
Inside Track; Long live the King: `Lion' roars in debut
Byline: GAYLE FEE and LAURA RAPOSA with Nichole Gleisner
Edition: All Editions
Section: NEWS
When it comes to blue language, the boys in blue at the BPD draw a thin blue line!
Case in point: Lt. Kevin Foley, who took a stab at stand-up comedy on Comedy Central's "Daily Show," but swears he didn't know about the less-than-arresting language in the bit!
According to the lieutenant, Jon Stewart's mob of muckrackers blew into Boston two weeks ago to shoot some advance convention craziness and he got the call at HIS Comedy Central - One Schroeder Plaza.
"They were looking for someone from the department to do a little tongue-in-cheek thing in the Free Speech Zone outside the FleetCenter," Foley told the Track.
"I know they poke fun at the news and I really didn't mind being poked fun at, as long as it didn't embarrass the department - which they did."
So on Stewart's show last night, Foley is shown being politely chatted up by correspondent Ed Helms outside the FSZ. But then, in a burst of First Amendment fervor, the "Daily Show" schmo hopped over the rail into the Zone and unleashed a string of profanity that curled the cop's hair!
"Whoa, I had to step away," he said. "Especially when he used that word that my wife hates. I told the guy that I have a female commissioner, so in the shot, you see me stepping away. They bleeped it. But it was all in fun, though. You got to have a sense of humor this week."
File Under: Copping A 'Tude.
Tuesday, July 13, 2004
">I'm thinking, "Not too bad. Might even pull off looking not stupid on a Daily Show segment. Wow." "
Wednesday, July 07, 2004
[random yahoo searching]
You know, I thought when I woke up this morning, 'you know what would really be neat? If I could find a photo of Ed Helms dancing around his in boxers today'
Hot damn, it really happened.
You know, I thought when I woke up this morning, 'you know what would really be neat? If I could find a photo of Ed Helms dancing around his in boxers today'
Hot damn, it really happened.
