late night tv

Took a nap yesterday afternoon, so I had a slight bit of trouble sleeping initially
 
Didn't feel in the mood for [adult swim] or whatever was on comedy central, so I tuned way down to the big network channels to check out their offerings, since I'd heard Letterman was thriving despite recent controversy, and I missed me some Conan. 
 
I used to religiously watch Leno and Conan (and sometimes Carson Daly, though he was usually talked over) every damn evening in college with the roommates, since it was more important to get cable internet than cable TV for us. 
 
 The last Late Night with Conan O'Brien was very emotional for me, and the subsequent first episode of the new Tonight Show was exciting initially but (and I know old school Conan fans will kill me for this) I find Andy Richter a bit annoying (he says that bacon flavored vodka is terrible but he keeps drinkin it! wokka wokka!).   From what I've seen of Jay Leno's new show, it's quite terrible, but at least there's Jay's Garage on the internets (& appearances on Top Gear and Adam Carolla's Carcast).  I really tried to root for Fallon at first but I couldn't hang in there (at least he is supporting gaming/geek culture a bit, with Tim Schafer and the Diggnation guys), but that didn't stop me from going to see his show when I was in NY (which got me a free copy of UFC 09 at least - Dana White was a guest).  Not to get too sidetracked, but going to see a show live you notice how huge of a distance there is between the desk/stage and the audience, and how a stylist has to run up and touch up Jimmy's hair between segments - ah the fakeness of showbiz.
 
Bringin it back, last night I actually tried focusing on Letterman for once and I have to say the show has never interested me that much but there's an honesty to the guy's posture during his monologue (lowered gaze, hands dug in coat pockets) that I see how people are fans of the guy.  Leno's monologues were (are?) still sharper and snappier but Dave's personality brings a warmth to the screen... I dunno I'm gonna leave it at that. 
 
Letterman's guests bored me a bit so I remembered that Jimmy Kimmel Live comes on at midnight so I checked that out and damn Joel McHale and Richard Belzer were worth seeing last night.  Then KISS started playing some new song of theirs and I flipped to Craig Ferguson, turned down the volume, and finally nodded off.  An interesting diverse experience in putting off zZz.