On TV: Stewart Bludgeons Cramer, Clooney Returns and an 'Idol' Rules Change

Reality, Non-Reality and Everything In-Between

Columnist Lisa de Moraes was online Friday, March 13 at 1 p.m. ET to take your questions about the drama, comedy and heartbreak of the world of television -- both onscreen and behind-the-scenes.

This week, Lisa chats about the new "judge's save" rule on "Idol," as well as Chris Brown dropping out of the Kids Choice Awards, and if George Clooney's return to "ER" lived up the the hype.

The transcript follows.

Take this week's poll.

This week, Lisa contributed to a special TV section by writing: TV Networks Play Follow-the-Leader -- CBS -- in Choices for Fall Pilots.

TV columns | On TV discussion transcripts | de Moraes on TV blog.

De Moraes has written "The TV Column" for The Post since 1998. She served as the TV editor for the entertainment industry trade publication the "Hollywood Reporter" for almost a decade.

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Reston, Va.: Monday we discovered that Chuck has a chart on the back of his Tron poster trying to figure out who put the intersect in his head that is similar to the chart Charie Crews is using to figure out who framed him. Are these shows produced or written by the same people or is this a network referendum from NBC to add charts to all their shows? Where will a chart show up next -- "30 Rock"?

Lisa de Moraes: Hi. Maybe NBC is cutting costs (all the networks are telling their showrunners to trim budgets) by having the same writing staff on all primetime shows. But hey, if a chart shows up on "30 Rock" it would at least be a funny chart.

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Alexandria, Va.: Perhaps I am dating myself, Pookie, but do you remember talk shows where, when the second guest came out, the first guest wouldn't disappear but instead would just shift over to a sofa to the left of the guest chair. When the third guest arrived, the previous guests moved one seat to the left. This seemed to encourage interplay between the guests and often some extemporaneous wit surfaced.

Oops, silly me, it's all about the HOSTS now.

Lisa de Moraes: On Fallon's first week -- maybe it was only his first night? -- I dimly recall guests sticking around. What's really killing the art of late-night interviewing is that the guest is only there to plug something and tell the one story they've told one of the show's producers they want to be asked. The "pre-interview" is the worst enemy of great late night TV. It kills spontaneity and results in the interview appearing to be -- because it is -- totally scripted. "Oh, you want to know about my celebrity baby's first day at preschool? Well, that's funny, because I just happen to have pictures here in my pocket" zzzzzz...

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WAPO TEAM TV STATUS WATCH:

POSSIBLY RENEWED?

"Friday Night Lights" (NBC) The network is reportedly considering a two-season renewal deal with DirecTV.

"How I Met Your Mother" (CBS) Four scripts scripts for next season were ordered, making a pick-up likely.

DEFINITELY CANCELED

"DL Hughley Breaks the News" (CNN) after one season

"Chocolate News" (Comedy Central) after one season

NEXT WEEK

"Better Off Ted" (ABC) series debut Wednesday, March 18

"Battlestar Galactica" (Sci Fi) series finale Friday, March 20

Lisa de Moraes: ...and here is this week's Status Watch

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Cramer Schramer: George Clooney's naked shoulder is up there with Simon Baker without a shirt.

Lisa de Moraes: ...and we wonder why fewer people are watching broadcast TV these days. Last night was a great illustration of what broadcast is missing -- both on 'ER' and on 'Daily Show'-- really hot people who radiate "major star" and wonderful, real interview moments that don't seem totally scripted and do seem kind of "dangerous"

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Arlington, Va.: I cringe when I see the outdoor scenes on "The Office." Do the people behind the show actually think we believe those huge bushes, warm climate, very sunny weather is Scranton, Pa., during the winter months!

Lisa de Moraes: apparently yes. It is pretty lame...

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Watching TV on Saturday Night: Confession time - I'm a 29-year-old urban professional who (gasp!) stays home some Saturday nights and watch TV. I recently admitted this to some peers, and we all agreed that the best thing watch on that night is "48 Hours Mystery" on CBS, a.k.a. "the spouse on spouse murder show". How's that ol gray mare doing ratings wise?

Lisa de Moraes: It's doing fine, though yes it skews kind of old like most news shows. But I'm glad you like "48 Hours's" Be Afraid of Your Spouse approach to the news, as opposed to "Dateline's" If You Don't Watch This Your Child Could Die approach...

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Daily Show: One thing that drives me up the wall is people refer to it as fake news. It is not fake news, it is satire.

Lisa de Moraes: in fairness, I think Stewart's called it fake news once or twice. But you are right, it's brilliant satire. Except when he gets all crazed-fan fawning over guy comics who star in recent-release movies -- what's up with that?

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really hot people who radiate "major star" : Do you have any suggestions?

Lisa de Moraes: Yes, Clooney. Would love to see him back on TV. Brad Pitt -- would love to see him back on broadcast TV. Leonardo Di Caprio -- ditto. Johnny Depp. likewise... I could go on and on. Sadly, broadcast TV makes them stars, then they leave and never return.

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Washington, D.C.: Lisa,

I don't get Demitiri Martin. Why is he popular?

Lisa de Moraes: The most pettable hair on television. no contest.

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Memphis, Tenn.: I stumbled across the Daily Show before going to bed last night and did some serious eye-rolling. Does Jon Stewart suddenly think of him self as Mike Wallace or something? I can't stand "Mad Money," but I felt sorry for Jim Crammer last night.

Lisa de Moraes: Why, because Cramer was using his girlie voice and being all Uriah Heep-ish, and Stewart was grilling him? You're just not used to it because so few TV journalists ask tough questions.

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Albertville, Ala.: Perhaps if John Stewart could have interviewed Nixon instead of David Frost, Nixon might have confessed to the sins of Watergate in the first 15 minutes. Is Stewart turning into a younger version of the old Mike Wallace?

Lisa de Moraes: And here's the flip side of the Mike Wallace comparison....Personally I thought Stewart's show was highly entertaining last night. I don't have numbers until this afternoon but I'm guessing loads of other people did too...

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Except when he gets all crazed-fan fawning over guy comics who star in recent-release movies -- what's up with that? : Well, he's a comedian. A lot of those "guy comics" are probably his friends from his standup days, like Denis Leary and that sort.

Lisa de Moraes: It gets a little too boys club for me when he goes there. I'm expecting them to start patting each other on the rump...

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Minneapolis: Hi Lisa -- After ignoring it for six or so seasons, I'm now hooked on "Dancing With the Stars" -- the tacky costumes, the trainwreck performances, the squirrely judges with their odd little scoring paddles, the whole package. Shawn Johnson was adorable...the only thing better would have been to see her on the balance beam doing a cartwheel in those six-inch heels.

Lisa de Moraes: Of course this season seems to be already sewn up with Bachelor rejectee Melissa way out in front in the viewer voting according to Dialidol. And, have you heard about this season's injury rate. Two more celebrities are down with fairly serious injuries, though ABC is saying they will continue to participate. I wonder if the professional dancers feel compelled to do harder and harder routines each edition of the show, to out-do the previous season..

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Washington, D.C.: Jon Stewart fawning: I think the most fawning I ever saw him do--it was closer to open mouthed awe--was when he had Betty White on and she started talking about having Rose Marie and Fred Astaire over to her house and how she wanted to kill Rose Marie because she got Astaire to dance with her while White was in the kitchen fixing dinner. All Stewart did was stare in wonder and say things like, "So, Fred Astaire used to come to your house for dinner?!?"

washingtonpost.com: The Daily Show-Betty White - AOL Video

Lisa de Moraes: No, that one was brilliant....take a look and decide for yourself

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Bethesda, Md.: How long can Megan Corkrey's shoes keep her on "Idol"?

Lisa de Moraes: Forever! They were incredible. Why has she been keeping her talent hidden for so long. I'm surprised she didn't debut those ages ago...

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Columbia, MD: Adam Lambert....one of my least favorite candidates in AI history. If the judges use their save on him (not likely with the deluded fan base he has), I will never watch again. He is not as good as everyone thinks he is.

Lisa de Moraes: He's talented, but I did not think much of his performance this week. He really lost control and was reduced to screaming and stomping. Some speculation out there he was trying to make a comment about the homophobes who have been going after him in the blogosphere but, if that's the case, he really got carried away and it hurt his performance.

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Atlanta, GA: Is Don Draper done on Thirty Rock? How did they write him out? Did his character die? Because he can come back as a ghost. That show is not very realistic.

Lisa de Moraes: I have not seen this week's episode yet -- too busy attending TV industry black-tie clambake last night and watching Daily Show and "ER" -- but I think he was going to do a multiple episode arc that was more episodes than he's done so far. Which is a long way of saying I believe he's coming back...

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Idol Saves: The only two people worth saving are Adam and Matt and they will end being in the finals anyway.

Also, do you think that Adam's hair style will have changed by then?

Lisa de Moraes: I really, really hope so. He looks like Goth Peter Pan -- not a good look. I kind of like Allison too -- she's so goofy during interviews...

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Ba ROCK Obama: Dwayne Johnson was very good indeed as President Obama on SNL last Saturday. Can they hire him for the occasional sketch and put Fred Armisen on administrative leave?

washingtonpost.com:

Lisa de Moraes: Armisen just does not have it down, does he...

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Alexandria, Va.: Best thing I read all week, in Esquire's Answer Fella column: the question is basically why is David Caruso still on TV, and part of the answer is, "..he's so terrifically bad that he's really awesome to watch. He is so absurdly bad that you can't possibly believe he's on television..." Just wanted to share!

Lisa de Moraes: Answer Fella is very wise and has hit the nail on the head..

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Is CNBC the winner in the Daily Show kerfuffle?: It seems like Cramer went out determined to just say "gee I'm sorry" for 30 minutes will Stewart made his points -- but CNBC (with and via its sister networks) just seem drunk on the publicity of being invited to the cool kids' lunch table for a week. So, back to business as usual for them?

Lisa de Moraes: Cramer went on Stewart's show to do his Uriah Heep act because 2 million people watch "Daily Show," whereas only about 277,000 people watch his CNBC show "Mad Money" at 6 p.m. and 61,000 at 11 p.m. (do not know how many of those people are redundant but I'm guessing not many people who watch Cramer at 6 would watch again at 11 for fear it would make them want to gouge out their eyes). It's great PR for Cramer. Meanwhile, Stewart is a winner because he got to throttle Cramer for 30 minutes and look like a hero. Everyone wins!

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Anonymous: How is "Two and a Half Men" doing? I'm amazed the show is still going. I loved it for the first few years, but its charm in large part revolved around a semi-cute kid who has now, as was inevitable, grown up and is now a typically obnoxious teenager. They've also milked about all the jokes they can think of for all they're worth, but the kid is the worst part.

Lisa de Moraes: I think they've done a great job of ageing the kid dialogue-wise -- neither the show nor the kid can be faulted for his having grown up. That's life. Yes, he was adorable when he was tiny, but, unlike some breeds of dogs and cats, human children just don't seem to stay small for long.

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Jacksonville, Fla.: You guys talk and talk and talk about David Caruso on this chat, but I hadn't seen him recently until stumbling onto "CSI" last week.

My question is this: was there a plot development where something (a drug? a gypsy spell?) made him look really really old, or is that just how he looks these days?

Lisa de Moraes: A spell -- I like your theory. No, that's just how he looks these days. Too much Florida sun, maybe..

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AI: This show is such an anachronism. What is the prize? A record contract? The music industry is dead! Not even Bruce Springsteen can sell CDs. Kara keeps babbling about hearing contestants "on the radio." Kids in the audience look at each other and say: "people listen to the radio?" Its absurd...

Lisa de Moraes: So true. But so is the modeling industry -- mags want celebrities modeling clothes, not professional manequins -- and that doesn't stop "Top Model"...

Kara really does date herself every time she lobs that line out. But she has such a limited pack of phrases, she can't seem to help using it. Her only other choices seem to be "I don't know what to say," and "mad vocals" and "that was just sick"...

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Miami, Fla.: I saw the Jon Stewert interview. I think he was a wimp in that he didn't call out Cramer for is constantly shilling of "Buy buy buy" for items that he KNEW were going to fail.

The man has 30 years in the business and knows a lot more than he says (Cramer is a multi-millionaire from a hedge fund).

Lisa de Moraes: You are in the minority on this chat. Most people sending in comments think he was very tough, though they approve..

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Jimmyville: Ok, I am one of the 10 people that watched Conan in his first year and while it was painful, it was kind of a this-can-be-sort-of-funny-painful. I've watched Jimmy a few times now and I think he's just painful in a I-don't-see-hope-and-now-I-want-gauge-my-eyes-out-and-put-in-earplugs painful kind of way. I had hope, I know its early, but I don't see the potential. How long do I have to give him?

Lisa de Moraes: Remember when they would re-up Conan for like 12 weeks at a time? It was hilarious/sad the way they kept him dangling for ages while he figured out how to do this thing called late night hosting. The reason you don't see hope is that, unlike Conan, Fallon has years of on-screen experience so this is probably about as good as it's going to get. His opening monologue sounds exactly like weekend update -- one gag about a subject, follwed by second gag on entirely unrelated subject, followed by third gag on yet another subject. The guy doesn't appear to know how to talk. Meanwhile, tt's one of the things Craig Ferguson does best...

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Kara on AI: She doesn't add much to the equation, does she? Think she will be back next season, or was this just an experiment? I assumed someone with her background would have more of substance to say.

Lisa de Moraes: You'd think but she has not demonstrated that yet. She has added nothing but clutter so far, and ruined the dynamic among the other three judges. Randy seems off in space, tethered to the mothership by only the thinnest of lifelines.. I certainly hope they go back to three judges next season and maybe Kara was brought in this season to get her feet wet as a way of keeping the other judges in check come contract re-negotiating time. Were she more dynamic, I'm guessing that might have worked. As it is, not so much ...

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Speaking of Shoes on Idol: I was afraid we were going to see Paula's the other night. That was a very low-cut dress she had on. And then she has to stand up and dance as the loser sings, and it gets frightening.

Lisa de Moraes: Frightening-riveting Potaytoe-pohtahtoh....I love live television. Here's hoping Paula wears even less next week!

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Kara on AI: Is there any chance this chick's contract was for one season only and will NOT be renewed, or am I just delusional? I can't stand her. I think she tries to hard to be a cross between Simon, Randy, and Paula. Quite frankly, we don't need that when we have SRP v. 1.0 right next to her. Also, she brings down the banter between the judges because she's so pissy and doesn't know how to let Simon's comments - which he makes because he knows they rattle her - roll off. Of all of the weird changes they made this year, her addition is the only one that makes my skin crawl!

Lisa de Moraes: Welcome to the club. I'm not sure which of this season's changes have actually improved the show. Certainly not the revamping of the initial period -- viewers only got to hear each Idolette once. Definitely shortening Fly-Over Auditions was an improvement and reducing the ratio of really bad singers to good ones during that phase. But Hollywood Week doesn't seem to have improved -- just gotten longer...

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Richmond, Va.: you talk about Kara's stock phrases and you don't mention how often she says something "has chops"?

Lisa de Moraes: oh yes -- how could I forget "chops"....

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DC: Wait, back up... "only about 277,000 people watch his CNBC show " Really? Seriously? Before this whole kerfuffle, wasn't he already more famous than he deserved to be then? Why are we paying so much attention to this man?

On the other hand, I think it means there are more sane people in America than I thought.

Lisa de Moraes: bingo..

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"Life" crisis: I get the impression that this show knows it's days are numbered since they've brought in a British security expert whose character makes no sense except that she is the offscreen spouse of Damian Lewis. Are they just cashing in, before the inevitiable ax of the new fall sched - or will they bring it back for 13 next spring?

Lisa de Moraes: Not looking great for this show...

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Cleveland: Craig Ferguson makes me laugh, but I can't figure out if he actually says funny things or if I laugh just because he talks funny. I guess it doesn't matter in the end.

I have to go eat lunch now.

Lisa de Moraes: You have just written the best, most concise review of Ferguson's late night show I have ever read. Nicely done!

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Washington, DC: The thing about the Cramer issue was, you could almost hear the media trainer in the background. Act contrite. Don't bait Stewart. Admit that you made mistakes. Cramer came off as so insincere and disingenuous. The irony is, Jon Stewart is quite respectful when someone comes in with an opposing point of view and attempts to defend it with valid arguments. Cramer just clearly had nothing to back up his bone-headedness.

Lisa de Moraes: Yup, like I said, the Uriah Heep School of Media Training...

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20016: Jimmy Fallon might be funny, but he mumbles and can't understand anything he says.

Would they ever get a woman comedian to host a late night show? Sarah Silverman would be good. Ellen is great on daytime

Lisa de Moraes: Never. It's a guy's club. They're trying to attract guys.

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No 1 Ladies Detective: My No 1 TV Lady Detective, is it worth re-activating my HBO for this series? I love the books. Anything else I missed out on on HBO since "Six Feet Under" and "Sopranos" wrapped? (I canceled after that.)

Lisa de Moraes: Depends. Are you still employed? How's your 401K doing? Are you behind in your mortgate payments? Seriously, I'm hearing from a lot of people they are cancelling their premium TV subs -- some pulling the plug on cable or satellite altogether -- because they can watch it all online. Or get the DVD which, these days, are being put out the instant a season is wrapped...

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Rockville, Md.: Lisa,

Fans seem split on the new "AI" judges-save rule -- what do you think? As a former big fan, I feel like all the changes make it too complicated and none of the singers seem memorable enough to be worth caring about.

Lisa de Moraes: Just more clutter. I hear the producers have been trying to add this for years and the network fought them off. Apparently the producers have seized control this season. I'm not impressed with their "improvements"...

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really hot people who radiate "major star" : Well, Jon Hamm on "Mad Men" fits the bill.

Lisa de Moraes: Yes, you are right. But I said broadcast TV so that a mass market would get to see him. AMC is basic cable and , sadly, "Mad Men" averages a teensy tiny audience.

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Fairfax: If Jim Cramer's show gets canceled like Crossfire did, can Jon Stewart just start running through the rest of the low-rated, cable news morons -- Lou Dobbs, Larry Kudlow, Keith Olbermann, Nancy Grace, and the FOX News Blond Bimbo Brigade? I wish he could take down O'Reilly, Hannity, and Beck, too, but even that is beyond his power.

Lisa de Moraes: Sounds like fun to me...Stewart does seem to have gone for the slowest moving target....now let's seem him take on someone tough...

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Catonsville MD: What do you hear about this new Fox show "Glee"? The promos look promising...

Lisa de Moraes: The promos look great! I'm pleasantly surprised..

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Arlington VA : I wonder how many people out there can name the TV show that gave Brad Pitt his first big break?

Lisa de Moraes: any guesses?

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Arlington, Va.: Pookie, we've been loving "24" this season. Mostly because it's based in DC and the writers apparently did the minimum research. Did you know you can get from the Beltway to downtown NW, DC in under 10 minutes? Did you know that if the President's husband gets shot, they take him to West Arlington Hospital? Did you know the Potomac River runs directly under the White House?

The story line is as over contrived as always, but watching for the local references makes it Must See TV again!

Lisa de Moraes: My favorite part is the waterway under the White House. Excellent planning...Old Dynasty episodes are also fun to watch for the glimpses of Palm Trees in Denver...

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Anonymous: Cramer deserves worse than what he got from Jon Stewart. NO ONE on TV seems to feel accountable for the things they say. When Cramer says buy a stock A LOT of people listen and do it. He didn't recommend Bear - he ASKED people to buy it.

If Madoff drove people's financial lives off a cliff, Cramer is the valet.

Lisa de Moraes: Well, let's not forget his audience is pretty small...

Speaking thereof, Cramer's appearance is tracking at about 63 percent on today's TeamTV poll, and Clooney's return to "ER" second, with 20 percent. It appears poor Melissa's 15 minutes are finally over coughhooraycough because she's only clocked 10 percent of the votes...

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Brad's Big Break: Glory Days. Right?

What do I win?

Lisa de Moraes: um, we'll name next week's poll after you?

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From the non-book reading crowd, CA: You've been describing Cramer as Uriah Heep-ish all day. All along I've been thinking of the band and wondering why you think he sounds like the band.

Oops.

Thank you, Wikipedia!

Lisa de Moraes: You're talking to an English lit major...

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Hot Movie Star on TV: Selma Hayek has been hysterical on 30 Rock.

Lisa de Moraes: She's been great with Alec Baldwin. Loving that storyline and hope they keep it up.

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Anonymous: TV show that gave Brad Pitt his first big break?

IMDB says it's Another World

Lisa de Moraes: you win...

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Re: Brad Pitt: "Head of the Class"

And didn't he end up dating Robin Givens for a while? Seems like I remember that he used to tell a funny story about being at her place once when Mike Tyson stopped by....

Lisa de Moraes: you also win...

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Anonymous: "Never. It's a guy's club."

Joan Rivers did it

Lisa de Moraes: And failed miserably...

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Lisa de Moraes: i'm out of time. Bye.

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