John O'Hurley will be one of his guests. Chances are, he'll be talking about "Dancing With the Stars", not TTTT, so no ice cream pony orders. ;-)

If you don't catch this in time, CNBC (or is it MSNBC?) should air the repeat tomorrow at 7 pm EST.

CNBC, right after "Mad Money." Why do they show Conan letterboxed?. Is there that much on the sides of the set we have to see?

Because the show's being shot in hi-def now, which means by definition it's a widescreen picture. Right now? No, not much on the sides, but then the Conan set was blocked for a 4x3 picture. As time moves on, the old aspect ratio is phased out, and sets start being blocked for widescreen, you'll start seeing that real estate used.

Pardon my ignorance, but what could shows as mundane as Conan's (from a techno point of view) use with the extra space? Quality is the best it's getting from the HD deal IMO - sports broadcasts, movies and the like might like the ratio, but...

-Jason

Wide shots of a musical guest performing (or, indeed, the Max Weinberg 7) come immediately to mind. How about seeing a clip from a movie a guest is pimping exactly as you would at the theater, no letterboxing?

In terms of just the guest and the host? How about a closer shot that still includes both principals, and takes advantage of that great resolution? See just how horrible Jessica Simpson's skin really is?

Granted, it isn't much, but remember, that setup as you see it now has been ingrained in set designer's and director's heads for almost fifty years now. So it's gonna take time to get everyone thinking a different way.

With hi-def, they would probably have to go in and digitally "fix" Jessica's chin because of all the acne.

It's the Max Weinberg 9!

Randy
tvrandywest.com

...with Randy wearing La Bamba's hat no less.

Look at it this way, they could always use the extra space for Abe Vigoda and John Tesh.

I don't think you're alone in feeling that way. The first week of the hi-def format, Conan did a few jokes and comedy pieces about it with these overtones of "This is such a stupid idea."

Ultimately though, Chris is right, it's just a matter of getting used to for everybody, even Conan. FWIW, the shots of Conan talking to a guest look great in the new format (less cramped, specifically) and it's only during those first 15 minutes when Conan is out there alone that it looks weird.

I'm curious about Chris's observation about set design being affected by the aspect ratio...How would a hi-def set design look any different, and how would it prevent the scene from looking awkward when it's just Conan surrounded by a great big empty? Anybody can answer this one, I guess, I'm not personally challenging Chris.

Either I'm not completely understanding your question (which is likely) or I'm surprised you don't know the answer to this yourself.

Set designers (good ones, anyway) have created sets for half a century based on the knowledge that people at home are watching on a 4x3 box. Sooner or later, the shape of the box will change significantly, and modern set designers (good ones, anyway) will take that into account and design sets based on this new shape.

It's not as simple as just adding stuff to fill up the sides. Creative designers will look at that 16x9 box and make sets that appeal to the eye in that space, just as movie cinematographers have been doing for years. Sure, there will be some things -- like late-night comedians' monologues -- where our own perceptions will have to adjust. Many newscasts, national and local (not to mention The Daily Show), have already been making subtle changes toward the new aspect ratio.

Two words: chaise lounge.

(Pierre Bernard is clearly a visionary.)

The best examples of such sets are news sets. Best one that comes to mind is WNBC's current set with it's half a million dollar hi-def video background of NYC. Of course, WCAU in Philly has the worst example of this idea. The rear projection monitor in back of their set...it's great...for me to pee on (hey, Triumph took poop, I was left going number 1).

BOOYAH, JIMMY! (Jim Cramer is the best thing to happen to CNBC in a very long time. Adding Conan O'Brien reruns after the deal with Comedy Central lapsed is second.)

I caught O'Hurley on O'Brien last night. It wasn't a bad segment, primarily about O'Hurley's experience on Dancing with the Stars and the new "adults only" Mega M&Ms.

16x9 is a boon for the producers of Family Guy. Baby Football Head's (Stewie Griffin's) head was designed specifically for 16x9.

Klauss: Has Cramer made you any money?

Just curious, what would a bad set designer do?

Here is an interesting factoid (well, interesting to me): If the trilons on the Concentration board measured 5" x 8" on a facet, 8" x 5 = 40" in width, by 5" x 6 = 30" in height, thus the board measured 40" x 30", giving it a 4 x 3 aspect ratio.

Make the set for Face the Music : )

BOOYAH MIKE! Mad Money has become an addiction for me. My favorite part of the show shares the name of my favorite segment on Password: THE LIGHTNING ROUND! The most electrifying moment in television!

I've found out a lot about the stock market (haven't actually bought anything yet) but the daily ups and downs are facinating to watch. At the very least, they have a stock ticker where a black bar might appear otherwise.

With a name like Jim, like mine...we must all be in the same happy Cramerica family. I'm down with Mad Money...it's the best damn show in the biz. And, how about that live special a few weeks back...now THAT'S FOR ME...well aside from the use of Michael Buffer as an announcer.

A college student with stocks? Oh Chris, I like the way you overestimate my wealth.

I've made more money playing online poker freerolls than I have with Cramer's advice (at least $0.01 vs. absolutely nothing). Cramer is so damn entertaining plus, like Jimmy O., his show has educated me about the stock market.

Hey, in college I owned 1,000 shares of Consolidated Bupkis, ticker symbol BUYA.

That must be on the Now Pwns exchange.

*ducks*

I've read in some publication that the Mad Money guru is right about half the time. But, hey as long as he nails the big ones, brings in the big tech rally, and gets the MOWBACK ready...CNBC will say that "he's for us". His ratings have surpassed those of Miller and McEnroe (am I the only one who liked watching Dennis Miller's CNBC show?). If you'll excuse me, I gotta find out where Cramer is doing a special lightning round in South Jersey...QUADRUPLE BOOYAH SKE-DADDIES!

Wow, and if I blindfold myself and toss a coin, I'll be right half the time too. Where's my show?

To quote the great philosopher Cyrano Jones, twice nothing is still nothing. :)

Joy. Let me take a moment to thank Jim Rome for spreading the virus of crappe shock-talk radio to the world of financial television.

My local college station is in need for a show not hosted by me...come to southern NJ and bring bells and whistles and you too can be a stock analyst.

The S.F. Chronicle followed up on some of Cramer's picks and found they performed just so-so:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?...ed=rss.business