Carrie Fisher's relaxing new show is a welcome alternative to Conan, Jay, Dave, Greg, and Charlie. The celebrities that appear aren't pushing their latest movie or political propaganda and they're not used as a springboard for stale jokes. There's a genuine sense of respect and humor between host and guest that is rare these days. Working out of her own living room, Ms. Fisher and guest sit in comfortable looking chairs across from one another and let it all hang out with no visible care about audience laughter. This is the second show that offers a viewer a glimpse into Hollywood culture and celebrities, the first being Dinner for Five. But while that show is littered with people striving to get a joke laughed at or a show biz tale told, Carrie Fisher allows her guests the opportunity to free-form in jazz-like style. The result is very successful.
A diverse and entertaining list of celebs is offered -Robin Williams, George Lucas, Janeane Garafalo, Melanie Griffith- but sometimes the host is far more interesting. She was a little too willing to let herself be intimidated by Lisa Kudrow and Diane Keaton, but she struck a great, early-Gloria Steinem pose with Courtney Love. She was cool and on-the-same-wavelength with Jude Law, but she would have fed grapes to Ben Affleck had they been available. Known for her sardonic wit and self-deprecating humor, her interviews also show a great deal of compassion and comradery especially when it comes to the subject of the burden-filled status of being a celebrity.
Carrie Fisher's work in film is respectable and includes some for the time capsule: Shampoo, the Star Wars Trilogy, Hannah & Her Sisters, When Harry Met Sally. Her script for Postcards from the Edge is a modern classic and shows a sharp sense of skilled wit -it never bogs itself down with too many quips and becomes monotonous like others do. But it seems like she's found her true calling here with this show. She gets the best side from whomever enters her cozy, little realm and they in turn bring out the best in her.
