Pajiba

Anyone else remember when people like Paul Newman went on? Those were the days.

I can't watch James Lipton for too long without feeling sorry for him. The fawning! I just can't take the fawning.

Need I point this out?: A lot of these guys aren't even actors.

Realistically, are there any name movie stars, writers or directors left who are affiliated with Actors Studio anymore? I mean, back in the day, for as much of an acting lightweight as people thought she was, even Marilyn Monroe was a member in good standing. Mickey Rourke would be hard on the cameras, but at least he's still a Studio member.

Paul Newman's interview was wonderful.

JL: What job would you least like to do?
PN: A greeter

Also good was the Colin Firth show.

JL: If heaven exists, what would you like God to say to you on arrival?
CF: Actually I quite enjoyed your performance in Mamma Mia

But I agree, the way Lipton fawns is just uncomfortable to watch. I'm so embarrassed for him in every episode.

I loved the one where he interviewed the cast of the Simpsons. That was way back when that show was still funny, of course.

The J Lo interview is when I realized the show was shite.

His work is "scrumtrulescent."

Anyone using "pwned" in a non-ironic sense no longer has a good enough standing to be able to call someone else a "loser".

Holy crap. I need a drink.

Dave Chappelle (and I don't even like his comedy he was just honest as shit post-Africa)

Chappelle's is one of my all-time faves. Slightly behind it is Kevin Spacey's purely for Lipton's insistence that he do all his impressions.

Cos anything can happen when two people share a cell, cuz.

What about Leno's stunning performance as...er...himself in an episode of Homicide?

I'd just like to open your eyes to somethings that everyone over looks about the show Inside the Actors Studio having been one of the students in the audience, graduating there and sitting in on edit sessions with James Lipton and the directors.
1. The sessions are really four hours long. Some, like Spielberg and Hanks were even longer. Spielberg actually went until they ran out of master tape. The sessions are now edited down under 45mins. I think it is 38 mins all together. So it is not easy getting all the material they want into the show and trying to get all the best material in AND within some kind of timeline of the guests life.
2. The show is really a seminar class for students. Attendance is not mandatory and there is no pass fail, but every guest that appears has MAJOR VALUE to the core program of the school where all students including writers and directors start off as performers and must have a full year of Voice and Movement. So when you see Billy Joel.. which I was there for... the talk of technique and creativity can be very helpful for students. Also, seeing guys like Bon Jovi who started as kids with guitars in NJ that went on to pursue their dreams is also part of the experience because very few are "Born to Planet Show Business" as James Lipton would say. If you want to make it and aren't related you need to stay inspired! If you can't get inspired from these people in some way. You won't make it! Drive is ninety percent of it!
3. The show is also part of the design of the school. Lipton and other important members of the Actors Studio at the time (Arthur Penn, Paul Newman, Al Pacino, Ellen Burstyn and others) new that they had a chance to get some of the best teachers and artists that NYC had to offer. They broke it down into 3 groups. 1. Teachers they could get on a daily basis. 2. Teachers they could get for Master Classes during the semester. 3. Teachers they could get for one time and one class only. They have amazing teachers in all areas. There were suggestions to tape the third and second, but anything with students performing in studio or class they did not want a camera on. They decided to tape the third category and that eventually turned into the show Inside the Actors Studio. The show believe it or not was a bi-product that took off!
4. There is something to be learned from every actor, writer and director that makes a living off of entertainment. Their stories can inspire and instruct any student that wants this so bad that they sacrifce three years of their lives to dedicate to their craft. I saw DeNiro, Streep, Spacey and many others during the three years I was there and I learned just as much from Martin Short, Jerry Lewis and Val Kilmer as I did from the others. I also graduated with Bradley Cooper and watched that show with pride that finally someone who graduated the school had made it to the "hot seat". I would've cried too in that chair... it is a very special experience to go to school there and it's something I cherish and look back on fondly. Also, believe it or not...CELEBRITIES CANCEL ON THEM!!! There is one Oscar winner who has cancelled three times. The amount of research and prep is amazing and when you lose a guest 2 nights before taping... it's either get a replacement or lose millions on cancelling the production team and crew. The behind the scenes people have a handful trying to pull off the show. I watched it closely when I sat next to them, including Dean James Lipton. You can say what you want about the "caliber of guests", but their guests are all working professionals in an industry where only maybe 3% can really be called working show business professionals. You're right some shows are better than others, but Conan and Leno can say that too!