On Tuesday, I predicted that William Shatner had stumbled onto a new career interpreting the incoherent speeches of politicians for those of us who speak English. Well, I was partly right.
Last night Shatner returned to “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien,” where he’s becoming kind of a semi-regular cast member, to deliver another brilliant spoken word performance.
But he didn’t take his inspiration from statements by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell or even Vice President Joe Biden (although there’s probably a wealth of material there). This time his source was the rambling, disconnected messages posted on Twitter by – ex-Gov. Sarah Palin.
Once again accompanied by an upright bass and bongos, the former Captain Kirk and Denny Crane breathed new life into chestnuts like, “Left Unalakleet warmth for rain in Juno tonight / No drought threat down here ever / But consistent rain reminds us, no rain, no rainbow.”
Thursday, July 30
“Thunder From Down Under” – “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” – rerun
Ashford & Simpson – “The Tavis Smiley Show” – rerun
Eliot Chang, Gary Valentine, Greg Proops – “Chelsea Lately”
Kristin Chenoweth – “The Bonnie Hunt Show” – rerun
Cage the Elephant – “Late Show with David Letterman”
Regina Spektor – “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien”
Ashley Tisdale, Tim Meadows, Jarvis Cocker – “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon”
Jack’s Mannequin – “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
Franz Ferdinand – “Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson”
Ben Harper & Relentless 7 – “Last Call with Carson Daly” – rerun
Friday, July 31
Bette Midler – “Live with Regis & Kelly”
John Mayer, Josh Groban, Lady Antebellum – “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” – rerun
Lamont Dozier, Raphael Saadiq – “The Tavis Smiley Show” – rerun
Jen Kirkman – “Chelsea Lately” – rerun
Colin Mochrie, The Killers – “The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos” – rerun
The Bacon Brothers – “The Bonnie Hunt Show” – rerun
Dave Matthews Band – “Late Show with David Letterman”
Ben Harper & Relentless 7 – “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien”
Jimmy Buffett – “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon”
Diane Birch – “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
Crystal Antlers – “Last Call with Carson Daly” – rerun
Saturday, August 1
Wilco – “Austin City Limits” – rerun
Phoenix – “Saturday Night Live” – rerun