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Too Late with Adam Carolla
0 hour(s) and 30 minutes - Movie - 2005
I enjoyed this show very much, however I can understand why many people didn't. When you're flipping the channels at midnight, your choices consist of a lot of scripted, overproduced, gimmicky talk segments. Alternatively,the effect that Adam Carolla brought forth was and is something that is very unusual; real talk with a real host. Similar to his radio shows, Adam would speak what was on his mind, steered ever so slightly by that days topics, but most of the time he would choose his own personal beefs or thoughts to discuss.That's what I enjoyed most about the show. You felt like you were actually talking to a human being. An incredibly humorous story teller who was amazingly quick witted, Adam never loses your attention. He never goes for the traditional sight gags or cheap laughs either. Perhaps that is what lost him casual viewership.I admit that the show has served me best when I watch many in a row, just from my PC (where it can easily be found online at acsarchive.com) So I can see why the commercial interruptions and competing shows would make "Too Late" seem too subtle and unable to maintain traction in comparison.Going beyond his conversational skills, Adam complemented his style with several segments that balanced his improvisational observations with something more tangible and interactive; like making fun of clips from a movie, going through a slide show, remote pieces on the streets, and other, unique, one-off segments. Perhaps what made the show even more inviting was the chemistry Adam had with his guests, whom he would not only have humorous discussions with, but often include in these segments. That is seldom, if ever, attempted elsewhere.For the second half of the series, the crowd was removed, and ironically made the show even more intimate, by bringing more focus to the man, Adam, who really is 99% of the show anyway as well as expanding the length of time with the guests. Usually the guest was interesting and eclectic to Adam's personality, from Sarah Silverman to Buzz Aldrin and Alec Baldwin. And when two comedians or interesting people talk, with less commercial agendas, the result is a more genuinely entertaining talk show.Rounding out the show were two regular bits Adam would use coming into and out of commercials; "slippery slope guy" and "1780's guy", as well as the infrequent Sensai Adam. All were great concepts that, even though you knew the punchline, never lost their poignancy or hilarity. The real staple of the show, however, was the viewers who were always on the phone waiting for Adam to dance with whatever they threw his way, showcasing his every man appeal and universal humor.I guess what could be the double edge sword that made "Too Late" an extremely enjoyable, addictive show for some and one that seemed too slow for the average viewer was its more relaxed style. In my eyes, however, this adds greatly to the lasting appeal and freshness, proving to be a classic talk show that will most likely never be matched. |
