I'm Stephen Metcalf and this is the Slate Culture Gab Fest, The Undead Again Edition.

This is also the daily podcast from Slate.com for Wednesday, December 17th, 2008.

On today's program, we're going to talk about the fate of three beloved American institutions,

late-night television, publishing, and of course, Mickey Rourke.

Joining me today are Slate's deputy editor, Julia Turner.

Hello, Julia.

Hi, Steve.

And our film critic, Dana Stevens.

Hey, Dana.

Hi, Steve.

Good to be here.

I did a little research into late-night television before we came in to record today.

At the height of his popularity, Johnny Carson had something like

12 million nightly viewers. And there's a certain formula behind late night television, the sort

of topical but corny monologue, the ingrati demeanor of the host, and then a parade

of mega star, Hollywood star, guests. It seems to me that this formula was already getting

tired when Johnny Carson retired in 1992, and yet it generates an enormous amount of kind

of intrigue and gossip and interest. Dana, am I right in thinking there's no compelling reason

to really care about this LSAT problem.

We're working out about who gets what slot late at night between Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon.

Talk me out of my profound uninterest in the subject.

I'm not going to be able to argue the side of you should care about this,

...