Nerve Endings Firing Away

Most (all?) of the guests on late-night talk shows are selling their books, movies, music, or even fashion lines. Call it the perfect product placement. And often talk show hosts will help their guests sell their crap. But it makes for great television when the hosts veer off the scripted lines and wade into their guests by questioning their crap. Guests so used to people praising their work even when it is honestly not worthy of respect are taken aback and mutter weak responses.

Case in point – Jon Stewart completely blasting Chris ‘Hardball’ Matthews by questioning the very core of his latest book, “Life’s a Campaign: What Politics Has Taught Me About Friendship, Rivalry, Reputation, and Success” (that’s a mouthful). At the end of the interview, poor Chris Matthews, the usually tough guy on his MSNBC show said, “This is a book interview from hell! This is the worst interview I’ve ever had in my life!” Ouch! I haven’t read his book and I even like watching Hardball but this was priceless.