The week Martha Stewart (Living) desperately wanted me back

Is it a bad thing that an offer for a special magazine subscription rate makes me feel special?

It was back to school this week, which has meant meeting a new bunch of students, explaining my master plan to them (and convincing them that said master plan does NOT include the destruction of their academic careers), and adjusting to a new schedule.  The return to the semester grind also has me checking the skies in the evening to see if it's getting dark later.  Because when 5pm rolls around and it's still light out it means that May is almost here.  I guess until that time comes, I'll claim every 40-degree day is evidence of Spring's arrival and continue to wear short sleeves indoors while blasting the heat. 

Since I can't frolic and play outside without my jacket, here are some things that caught my eye this week:

1.)  We say goodbye to Conan O'Brien as host of The Tonight Show tonight.  His run was far too short, but I look forward to finding out where exactly he'll turn up.  If these past two weeks prove anything - aside from the fact that it's very interesting to watch late-night hosts dissect the events unfolding at NBC and The Tonight Show - wherever he turns up, he has an audience.  Here are some clips in case you need a reminder to watch him when he resurfaces.

Since Conan is trying to spend as much of NBC's money as possible before he leaves, he's started doing a bunch of sketches that have little to do with being funny and a lot to do with spending lots of money.  Here's the most expensive sketch to date (since Friday's show hasn't aired yet).


Oh yeah, and this week, the Masturbating Bear, who was not allowed to migrate to The Tonight Show from Late Night with Conan O'Brien, returned.


And, because I think this is brilliant, here's the cold open from the first episode of The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien. 


2.)  My friend Kim posted this great cartoon from The Oatmeal titled "10 Words You Need to Stop Misspelling."  If only I could tattoo this on the brains of students.

3.)  The Office ran a clip show.  It annoyed me.  Don't tell me it's a new episode when it's really just pieces of old episodes strung together within a crappy story matrix.  It makes a show look like it's stalling for time before sweeps.  It also reminded me that the old episodes that were used to make the clip show were far better than the crappy clip show.  The Office, I thought you were better than this. 

4.)  I'm still trying to figure out if I like Gawker's Gawker.TV site.  I think I do, but I'm still trying to figure out the rhythm of the site.  Pros:  Really nice posting about the late-night TV situation.  And I really like that they end the day with a really good stand-up clip.

5.)  Heather Armstrong of dooce announced today that she signed a development deal with HGTV today.  It's like my TV world and my internet world are having a love child.