Thoughts on late night TV

Spent some time watching television last night.  I only have the basic, antenna-reception cable, and it was late, so obviously: Conan.  His guest was X-Men star Hugh Jackman, who was on hand to promote Australia, the movie he did with Nicole Kidman and director Baz Lurhmann (all are Aussies).

So anyway, if you'd like, go watch his appearance on the show. (You can skip ahead).

Am I the only one completely creeped out by this?

The first thing they talk about is that he is 'Sexiest Man Alive.' And he tries to come off as a hard-ass, talking about his 'mates.' Then he whips out a wallet-sized photo of his People magazine cover, which he announces the audience will be lucky enough to have. The whole thing is odd. Maybe its only because I watch Entourage and think I know how this whole business works.  How these talk shows and magazines basically collude to pump up the fame and egos of these guys that star in hundred-million-dollar movies.

There's no real substance there.  He's faking it, whatever it is, and it comes off horribly condescending.

I'm not sure if anyone else is going to agree with me.  But the audience seemed to be just as bored and/or confused.

BONUS POINTS HERE: For Conan.  He tries to get Jackman (whom I like, for the record) to give an example of phrases that Australians use that Americans don't know or understand.  The dude comes up with, "Kick the bucket," which is so trite and American a phrase they made a sappy old-man movie about it.  Conan's response: Well, yeah, we know that one.  "Shut the door means close the door..." he said.  Nice.

And then the odd smuggling the buggie(sp?) thing, where he's basically like, "Hey, girls, let me talk about my kibbles and bits for ya, I'm sexiest man alive!" in that Crocodile-Dundee, my-knife-is-bigger-than-your-knife dick-swinging voice.

I hope this is not coming off as jealousy. I'm just offended by the canned questions and the obvious advertisements (more later).  And the awkwardness was palpable. OK basically this guy can act and all but his charm is so forced and faked he comes off like a boob. Like the complete opposite of Clooney. That's just what I think.

I still might see that movie, anyway.

UPDATE: If you don't care enough about any of this, you can skip ahead in the Conan episode to Tom Morello, performing Whatever it Takes. I wasn't even sure what to make of this song at first, but I think it's pretty damn good.  Watch 'til the end.