Remember that band the Boxmasters? It was just a couple of weeks ago when all anyone could talk about was Billy Bob Thornton and his mesmerizing appearance on Q, a show on Canada's CBC Radio, in which he successfully insulted the show host, the Canadian people, Tom Petty fans (indirectly), and the intelligence of anyone listening, not to mention inducing painfully obvious wincing and cringing (that could be a Boxmasters song title!) from his bandmates. Yeah, you remember. And so do TV casting agents and bookers, who must be salivating at the chance to "get" Billy Bob on their show before anyone else. If they have to take on the band, too, that's a small price to pay. An appearance by Billy Bob Thornton could be a ratings bonanza, and deservedly so - who wouldn't want to see a smug famous dude get taken down by some hard-hitting journalist like Jimmy Kimmel? So here's what will go down: Kimmel will ask him a faux-tough first question. Billy Bob will be self-deprecating and poke fun at himself, before warmly explaining that it was all a big misunderstanding, and that he bears no ill will toward Canada. Blah, blah, blah.
The biggest shame is that the non-Billy Bob members of the Boxmasters are clearly pretty decent musicians; they don't deserve this sh*t. But you know, musicians have been taking sh*t since the dawn of time.
Other big events this week include supergroup Tinted Windows on Letterman Tuesday (members of Smashing Pumpkins, Cheap Trick, Fountains Of Wayne and Hanson) and the Dead on Letterman Thursday. See below video of the Grateful Dead on Letterman in 1987. They were then riding the wave of their successful In The Dark album, which had gone platinum the week of this appearance. Naturally, the band plays a Dylan cover not on the album.
Also this week - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy on Leno? Really? Is the revival of the mid-'90s swing revival really here?
The Tonight Show [sched]
Monday: The Killers
Tuesday: Ida Maria
Thursday: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Friday: Brad Paisley
Late Show With David Letterman [sched]
Tuesday: Tinted Windows
Thursday: The Dead
Friday: Lily Allen
Late Night With Jimmy Fallon [sched]
Monday: Rick Ross
Tuesday: Chester French
Thursday: Tinted Windows
Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson [sched]
Monday: Erin McCarley
Thursday: Martina McBride
Jimmy Kimmel Live [sched]
Monday: Eli Young Band
Tuesday: Billy Bob Thornton (Canada-hater)
Wednesday: The Whip
Thursday: Depeche Mode
Last Call With Carson Daly [sched]
Monday: Nico Stai