Neeson's Back, Fighting on Thin
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Talk show host stays true to form as he wraps his show Conan O’Brien ends TBS late-night show with snark, gratitude LOS ANGELES, June 26, (AP): Conan O’Brien stayed true to “It’s become (expletive) exhausting,” Ferrell replied. He then pro- Frank Sinatra standard, “My Way.” form as he wrapped his TBS show “Conan” after nearly 11 years, ceeded to perform farewells that he suggested O’Brien should bank “Conan, you are my friend. You are the best, and so is Andy,” bouncing between self-deprecating and smart-aleck humor be- for probable future need, including for his new HBO Max series. Black sang, switching up the lyrics to honor “Con’s way.” fore allowing himself a touch of sentiment. “People would say six episodes isn’t a lot, but you packed The host, whose gravity-defying, trademark swoop of red hair “Try to do what you love with people you love, and if you enough entertainment in them for eight episodes,” Ferrell said. has remained virtually unchanged through the years, wrapped up can manage that, it’s the defi nition of heaven on Earth,” he said, He then lauded him for a string of projected talk show fl ops on Al the show with heartfelt thanks to his colleagues, family and fans. marking the end of his third late-night show over 28 years. It’s Jazeera and Delta Airlines, and his YouTube “classic unboxing He also shared a slice of philosophy. a tenure second only to Johnny Carson’s 30 years on “Tonight.” videos.” ”I have devoted all of my adult life, all of it, to pursuing this O’Brien’s next venture is a weekly variety series for HBO strange, phantom intersection between smart and stupid,” things Max, set to arrive in 2022 with an as-yet unannounced format. Surprise he said many people believe can’t coexist. But when the two come The hour-long “Conan” fi nale Thursday was largely a trip O’Brien, a writer for “The Simpsons” in his salad days, sat for together, he said, there is a tiny fl icker of “what is a kind of magic.” down memory lane with clips of guests including Steve Mar- his exit interview with surprise HR rep Homer Simpson, who was O’Brien, formerly a writer for “Saturday Night Live,” was tin, Tom Hanks and Sarah Silverman, and highlights of specials unimpressed when reminded that O’Brien was a talk show host. championed by “SNL” creator Lorne Michaels to succeed Da- Television taped outside the United States. Will Ferrell appeared by Zoom “Wow, a dying breed,” Simpson told the animated version of vid Letterman as “Late Night” host. Letterman moved to CBS in from Boston, with Jack Black on hand to salute O’Brien. O’Brien. “There’s only like 800 of you left.” “The Late Show” after losing the post-Carson “Tonight” job to Ferrell noted that he’s been a guest for the conclusions of Black limped onto the stage wearing an orthopedic boot, which Jay Leno, a rivalry that became a media fi xation. O’Brien’s previous shows, “Late Night With Conan O’Brien” and he and O’Brien explained was because of a badly sprained ankle In an effort to design an orderly transition, NBC executives in “Tonight,” both on NBC but with widely varying runs: the former Black suffered during pre-taping of what was supposed to be a 2004 anointed O’Brien to take over for Leno in 2009. After rat- from 1993 to 2009, the latter for less than eight months in 2009-10. big-fi nish action and dancing skit. ings for “Tonight” faltered with O’Brien, Leno ended up reclaim- “It’s kind of become a tradition,” O’Brien said of Ferrell’s In its place, Black serenaded O’Brien and his longtime side- ing the show and O’Brien found a new home and, he said, more presence. kick Andy Richter with revamped lyrics set to the signature creative freedom at TBS. Variety s e r u t a This image released by Netfl ix shows Benjamin Walker, Amber Midthunder, Marcus Thomas and Liam Neeson in a scene from ‘The Ice Road.’ (AP) Film e Oscars to honor Elaine May, Danny Glover, Samuel L. Jackson NEW YORK: Ousted Grammys CEO Deborah Dugan and the Recording Academy have reached Neeson’s back, fi ghting on thin ice a confi dential settlement over why F Features the former leader was let go from By Jocelyn Noveck driver for whom the job is more personal than fi nancial has resonated across genres and generations and audi- the organization. — her brother’s trapped in the mine. ences worldwide, while Elaine May’s bold, uncompro- “The Recording Academy and t’s intriguing to imagine Liam Neeson’s management There’s one more passenger in the three-rig convoy: mising approach to fi lmmaking, as a writer, director and Deborah Dugan have agreed to Iteam, contemplating his next fi lm. Perhaps “Uber Ex- an insurance guy from the company that runs the mine, actress, reverberates as loudly as ever with movie lov- resolve their differences and to press”? Maybe “Lyfted Up”? apparently needed for his actuarial skills (Benjamin ers,” said David Rubin, academy president. “Liv Ul- keep the terms of their agreement There’s just something symbiotic about Neeson and Walker, whose considerable acting talents aren’t really lmann’s bravery and emotional transparency has gifted private,” the academy and Dugan vehicles — not only cars, but planes (“Non-Stop”), sub- mined here, if you’ll excuse the pun). audiences with deeply affecting screen portrayals, and said in a joint statement late urban commuter trains (“The Commuter”), even snow- Thursday. Scenery Danny Glover’s decades-long advocacy for justice and plows (“Cold Pursuit”). human rights refl ects his dedication to recognizing our Dugan was fi red days before the And now in “The Ice Road,” this durable action hero 2020 Grammys. She has since said In a fi lm that’s big on great scenery but skimps on shared humanity on and off the screen.” improbably pushing 70 is at the wheel of a big ol’ truck character development and backstory, we know from The honorary awards are given to honor extraordi- the awards show was rigged and — not your normal truck, but a 65,000-pound rig. And muddled with confl icts of interest. the outset who the good guys are — especially Mike nary distinction in lifetime achievement, exceptional The former CEO of Bono’s (RED) not on regular roads, of course. On ice roads, meaning and Gurty. We also know soon enough who the bad contributions to the state of motion picture arts and sci- charity organization was the fi rst frozen lakes or oceans, where the spring thaw brings guys are; they’re cartoonish as can be. As for the ice, ences, or for outstanding service to the academy. None woman to hold the title of presi- treacherous conditions and one wrong move sends you well, there’s lots, and it gets thinner and thinner — of the recipients have previously received an Academy dent and CEO at the academy. straight into the freezing abyss. which one could say of the plot if one wanted to grab Award. Luckily, Neeson has a way of lending his rough- The settlement comes weeks low-hanging fruit off the tree of potential puns. May was nominated twice for writing (1978’s after the academy said its interim hewn dignity to even the most perfunctory of plots — More low-hanging fruit is offered in the lyrics of the because this one, it must be said, is perfunctory. All you “Heaven Can Wait,” with Warren Beatty; and 1999’s leader, Harvey Mason jr., would Johnny Cash song on the country-infused soundtrack: “Primary Colors”). The 89-year-old made up half of the SUNDAY, JUNE 27, 2021 be its offi cial CEO. This week the need to understand are three elements: Good guys, bad “All I do is drive, drive, drive,” it goes (sung by Jason academy named Valeisha Butter- guys — no subtlety here — and the fact that ice is very legendary comedy team Nichols and May, with Mike Isbell here). “Try to stay alive.” And while you might Nichols, before embarking on a trailblazing career as a fi eld Jones and Panos A. Panay slippery, very cold, and has a tendency to melt in sun- be thinking back to these lyrics as you watch Neeson’s as co-presidents of the organiza- shine. Got it? fi lmmaker — writing, directing and acting in comedies Mike do just that — drive, drive, drive — you might like “A New Leaf,” “The Heartbreak Kid” and “Mikey tion. (AP) In this latest installment of the Neeson vehicular can- also focus on the “alive” part. and Nicky.” ❑ ❑ ❑ on, written and directed by Jonathan Hensleigh, Neeson That’s because Neeson’s durability as an action hero is Mike McCann, a long-haul trucker who’s also the seems more remarkable as the years go on. Yes, he’s Jackson, 72, was nominated for supporting actor for LOS ANGELES: Songwriter Di- 1994’s “Pulp Fiction.” In an explosive, often brilliantly ane Warren stepped in Thursday caretaker of his brother, Gurty, a war veteran suffering older and brittler and paler here, and there’s not even a from PTSD. Mike can’t manage to hold onto a job very hint of a love interest — unless you count Mike’s be- foul-mouthed career, Jackson’s fi lms have accounted to save the life of cow that eluded for some $27 billion in box offi ce.