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The ‘Soul Train’ Musical Explodes With Talent, Despite Following the Formula

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In the early 1970s, Don Cornelius broke ground on national television with Soul Train . Yet as days turned into years, that same broken ground was unable to stabilize beneath him, the beauty of his calling ultimately unfolding into tragedy borne of his ambition.

In the long-awaited, monumental world premiere of Hippest Trip: The Soul Train Musical at American Conservatory Theater, the grandiloquent celebration of Black music and dance shoots fire through every nook and cranny of the theater. With its commitment to largesse, along with a mostly solid penning of Cornelius’ complicated legacy by Dominique Morisseau, the show’s future is laser-focused on Broadway, despite flaws that compromise the show’s organicity.

Chicago south sider and local television host Don Cornelius (Quentin Earl Darrington) is a golden-throated visionary, convincing his bosses at WCIU in Chicago to support a Black version of Dick Clark’s popular American Bandstand , a show with minimal interactions with Black artists. While those bosses ultimately approve the move, with the first episode premiering in 1970, none feel it necessary to own a piece of the pie, making Cornelius the overnight owner of a franchise that would last for 35 years and become the nation’s epicenter for Black culture and entertainment.

The ascendance of Cornelius ushers in problematic relationships with many in his orbit, including wife Delores (Angela Birchett), manager Pam Brown (Amber Iman) and son Tony (Sidney Dupont). As time goes on, wars are waged with the evolution of music itself as Cornelius rails against “fuckin’ disco” and “fuckin’ hip-hop,” turning the very name of the show, Soul Train , into an anachronism. Those battles expand to a mind and body that begins to fail him, leading to a self-inflicted death by gunshot in 2012.

The music — drawing on dozens of hits from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s — is, of course, great, shaped by Kenny Seymour’s terrific arrangements. Director Kamilah Forbes has oodles of talent to work with, and the collection of dancers shaped by Camille A. Brown’s choreography that cooks with butane are the heartbeat of the show. The ubiquity of the Soul Train dance line and the evolution of popular movement that informed parties and dance halls around the world are given royal treatment here, assisted mightily by Dede Ayite’s multi-decade costume plot, Jason Sherwood’s gargantuan scenic design and the luminous lighting of Jen Schriever.

Many of Soul Train ‘s highs and lows are prominently displayed in the narrative. While the early 1970s brought the forces of Soul Train and Motown into Los Angeles, where the hippest dancers and musicians splashed California sun all over their midwest artistic creations, booking talent was still difficult. Even Dick Clark recognized the evolving purchase power of Black viewers, starting his own ill-fated knockoff named Soul Unlimited , which, thanks to a Cornelius ally named Jesse Jackson, proved to be very limited.

While dance is the star of the show, it’s the story of Cornelius itself that compels. As time marches forward, Cornelius finds his influence slipping away, his abilities to serve as kingmaker giving way to new genres like rap and New Jack Swing. Finding ways for an old soul man to interact with the uncompromising power of Public Enemy or the visceral smoldering of “My Prerogative” (a scalding number that garnered a standing ovation) pushes Cornelius deeper into a King Lear-like tragedy.

The show is not without its flaws. Based on the tried-and-true formula that many jukebox musicals follow, Hippest Trip doesn’t break any new ground. Many elements of the blueprint are instantly recognizable, including problems introduced and solved with glaring rapidity. While songs like the Five Stairsteps’ “O-o-h Child” and Al Green’s “Tired of Being Alone” weave into the storyline, the majority of its big numbers, despite talent overflowing from the stage, are in the service of nostalgia.

Amber Iman, as brilliant a musical theater performer as they come, plays a role that feels underdeveloped. And Angela Birchett, as the ill-fated Delores, seems as if she was given minimal stage directions which probably say something like, “stand here and sing sadly.”

The show finds more success when it barrels down and dives deeply into what made Cornelius the man he was, Darrington passionately channeling the weight of Cornelius on his powerful shoulders. Cornelius invokes figures like Martin Luther King Jr., Fred Hampton, the Last Poets and the Black Arts Movement in too-brief passing mentions that nonetheless signify his place among them.

There are plenty of historical figures that come along and change the world, and Cornelius is on the short list of those who have. Coming out of the explosive images and harmful media depictions of Black people in the 1960s, it was Cornelius and his vision that put a people on his back in the 1970s and beyond, showcasing the beauty of Black culture and self-expression, providing agency and careers to massively talented artists.

The brilliant multi-hyphenate Gil Scott-Heron, who makes brief appearances in Hippest Trip , was incorrect about one small detail – every Saturday morning for 35 years, the revolution of Don Cornelius was most certainly televised.

‘Hippest Trip: The Soul Train Musical runs through Oct. 8, 2023, at the Toni Rembe Theater in San Francisco. Details here .

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Photos: HIPPEST TRIP- THE SOUL TRAIN MUSICAL Prepares For Its World Premiere!

Performances of Hippest Trip begin on Friday, August 25 at the Toni Rembe Theater.

See first look photos from rehearsals for the world premiere of Hippest Trip – The Soul Train Musical at San Francisco's American Conservatory Theater. Performances of Hippest Trip begin on Friday, August 25 at the Toni Rembe Theater. For tickets, visit  www.act-sf.org/whats-on/2023-24-season/soul-train/ .  Journey back to 1971 Chicago, when Black entrepreneur and radio DJ Don Cornelius transformed the pop culture landscape by recognizing the lack of Black musical artists on television. Within a year, his local dance show went national and became one of the longest running shows in television history. Elegant, determined, and complicated, Cornelius set trends for nearly 40 years by giving a stage—and a camera—to the artists who created the soundtrack of multiple generations, and to the dancers, many of whom went on to became superstars. The cast of Hippest Trip includes (in alphabetical order):  Terence Archie  (Ensemble),  Angela Birchett  (Delores Cornelius), Unissa Cruse (Swing),  Quentin Earl Darrington  (Don Cornelius),  Kayla Davion  ( Jody Watley ),  Sidney Dupont  ( Tony Cornelius ), Jennifer Marie Frazier (Ensemble),  McKenzie Frye  (Ensemble), Cameron Hah (Cheryl Song / Ensemble),  Amber Iman  (Pam Brown), Rich James (Tyrone Proctor / Ensemble), Jaquez ( Jeffrey Daniel ), Justin Jorrell (Ensemble),  Jahi Kearse  (Ensemble), Alain “Hurrikane” Lauture (Don Campbellock / Ensemble), Alora Tonielle Martinez (Ensemble), Miki Michelle (Ensemble),  Mayte Natalio  ( Rosie Perez / Ensemble), Amanda Le Nguyen (Swing), Aché Richardson (Ensemble), Roukijah “NutellaK” Rooks (Ensemble), SeQuoiia (Ensemble), Charlene “Chi-Chi” Smith (Damita Jo / Ensemble), Aya Travick-Best (Swing), and  Maleek Washington  (Ensemble).   The acclaimed creative team of Hippest Trip includes two-time Tony Award-nominated playwright and MacArthur Genius  Dominique Morisseau  (Broadway’s Ain’t Too Proud; The Detroit Project; “Shameless”),  Kenny Seymour  (Music Supervision, Orchestrations & Arrangements), three-time Tony Award nominated and Obie Award winning choreographer  Camille A. Brown  (A.C.T.’s Toni Stone; Broadway’s for colored girls…), and acclaimed director and NAACP Image Award recipient  Kamilah Forbes  (Apollo Theater’s Executive Producer, Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Between the World and Me on HBO; By The Way, Meet Vera Stark). Rounding out the creative team are  Jason Sherwood  (Scenic Designer),  Dede Ayite  (Costume Designer),  Jen Schriever   (Lighting Designer),  Jonathan Deans  (Sound Designer),  Aaron Rhyne  (Projection Designer),  Mia Neal  (Wigs Designer),  Jimmy Keys  (Music Curator), and Sean Kana (Music Director),  Zane Mark  (Dance Music Arranger), X Casting / Victor Vazquez , CSA (Casting),  Adesola Osakalumi  (Associate Choreographer and Dance Consultant),  Rickey Tripp  (Associate Choreographer),  Matthew Johnson Harris (Associate Director), Eryn Allen (Associate Music Director),  Anixter Rice Music Service (Copyist),  Randy Cohen  (Keyboard Programmer),  Ann James  (Intimacy and Cultural Coordinator),  Stori Ayers  (Writer’s Associate),  Kevin Bertolacci  (Production Stage Manager),  Shannon Hammons  and  Wesley Apfel  (Assistant Stage Managers). Hippest Trip is produced by special arrangement with Tony Award nominee  Matthew Weaver  (Rock of Ages),  Jeffrey Tick  (former owner of Broadway’s Helen Hayes Theater), and Richard Gay (5Pack Entertainment founder, Superfly COO, and former executive at Viacom’s Music Networks & BET Networks ). Serving as executive producers are four-time Grammy Award-winning & Academy Award-winning artist and author of Soul Train: The Music, Dance and Style of a Generation Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson; Don Cornelius’s son  Tony Cornelius ; Emmy Award nominated CSI creator  Anthony E. Zuiker ; Live Nation Urban president  Shawn Gee , and Broadway veteran  Devin Keudell  (MJ, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical).

Photo Credit: Bekah Lynn

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Theater Review: HIPPEST TRIP–THE SOUL TRAIN MUSICAL (Pre-Broadway World Premiere at A.C.T.’s Toni Rembe Theatre in San Francisco)

by Chuck Louden on September 9, 2023

in Theater-San Francisco / Bay Area

A LOTTA SOUL IN THIS EXPRESS TRAIN TO JOY

Officially starting A.C.T.’s 23/24 Season is the Broadway-bound world premiere musical based on the iconic TV Show Soul Train , which opened last Wednesday at the Toni Rembe Theater . Several years in the making, the jukebox musical Hippest Trip — The Soul Train Musical traces the story of radio DJ Don Cornelius’s journey to produce the first show for black people by black people.

Soul Train debuted on a small UHF television show in Chicago in October 1971. It lasted 36 years until March 2006. At the time, American Bandstand was the only game in town to showcase the top songs, artists and dances of the day. That show featured mostly white artists catering to a mostly white audience. Don Cornelius ( Quentin Earl Darrington ) wanted to change all that. He recognized the need for black artists and dancers to be seen and exposed on television. Also of course at the time, the producers and executives were all white. Don called in favors and begged producers to let him produce his own show, starting out with his own hand picked black in studio dancers.

He befriended Pam Brown ( Amber Inman ) who worked with the local youth at teen centers Pam helped pick out the most talented dancers and ultimately became one of his producers. Their working relationship lasted throughout his entire time producing Soul Train . Pam tries to act as The Greek Chorus or Don’s moral compass as he often seemed to put his own success above the needs of the cast and crew. The show was a big hit and within a year relocated to Los Angeles and nationwide syndication.

As the years went on the pressure of keeping the show current and relevant takes its toll on Don. His family fades into the background.  Don’s first wife Dolores (Angela Birchett) and son Tony ( Sidney DuMont ) fight a losing battle for his attention. Their strong performances and powerful voices aren’t able to get through to the single-focused Don Cornelius.

Over the years there are of course break out stars among the dancers including Jody Watley ( Kayla Davion ) and Rosie Perez ( Mayte Natalo ) who challenge Don’s control over all of his dancers. Keeping up with the changing phase of music through the end of the 20th century as well as keeping control of his empire gradually took their toll on Cornelius. His conservative tastes in pop music, against the changing times and will of his staff and dancers, have Don fighting Disco and later on the whole Hip Hop culture (which just hit its 50th anniversary).

The Soul Train songs literally had the audience swaying — and sometimes singing along — throughout the show. Camille A. Brown ‘s well-choreographed numbers cover over three decades of music. Staples of pop culture and the music industry include “Brickhouse”, “I Will Survive”, “Wrappers Delight”, “Theme from Shaft”, “Walk on By”, “Funky Town” and “September.” One after another, the show-stopping numbers kept coming, thanks to the phenomenal dancers’ exuberant energy, acrobatic spins and flips, and powerhouse vocal talents.

As Soul Train maintains its popularity on television, Don Cornelius seems to slowly come apart at the seams. Director Kamilah Forbes strikes the right balance of the dancing with the drama, which never seems heavy-handed in the book by Dominique Morisseau (Broadway’s Ain’t Too Proud ).

DeDe Ayite ’s costume design brings us back to the days of bell bottom jeans, form-fitting polyester pants and psychedelic tops in neon colors. Later on, the colorful sequins of the disco era — complete with the glittering disco balls — capture the late 70s perfectly. Black leather jackets and pants signify Hip Hop’s seemingly angry message in its music. Set designer Jason Sherwood cleverly has the drama unfold inside a giant television set in dazzling colors with the familiar Soul Train logo.

At just over two hours, the show covers a lot of ground and nearly four decades of music. As such, there’s not a dull moment or superfluous scene in the entire show. From a nostalgic point of view alone, it’s exciting to relive a particular time in history involving both television and music. The appeal of the show though is not just for aging baby boomers. This is a compelling story, and the sights and sounds will please all ages. With dazzling music supervision and orchestrations by Kenny Seymour , I would say that adding even more time to the musical numbers would not hurt the show at all. It’s definitely going places, and in this case, straight to Broadway after its initial run here at A.C.T. in San Francisco. I predict that a year or two from now, Hippest Trip — The Soul Train Musical will be getting lots of attention at The Tony Awards.

photos by Kevin Berne

Hippest Trip — The Soul Train Musical A.C.T.’s Toni Rembe Theatre, 415 Geary Street in San Francisco ends on October 8, 2023 for tickets, call 415-749-2228 or visit  A.C.T.

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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }

Wow Wow Wow—- loved everything about this show!!! Didn’t want it to end!!!!! Such energy, great music, talented singers, and the dancers!!!! Wow, wow, wow!!! Going to see it again before it’s gone.

I loved Soul Train . I loved the dancers, the musical guests and THE man DC.

This show was really fun, and the music, dancers and acting was truly spectacular.

I am a Boomer and watched forever and still feel strongly that the show had all the right moves and sound for the decades it presented.

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“A RAUCOUSLY JOYFUL RIDE!”

“AN EXPLOSIVELY KINETIC, PROPULSIVE WORLD PREMIERE!”

“HIGH-ENERGY, UTTERLY EXUBERANT, AUTHENTIC AND CELEBRATORY.”

“ HIPPEST TRIP EXPLODES WITH TALENT, SHOOTING FIRE THROUGH EVERY NOOK AND CRANNY OF THE THEATER.”

“The hippest trip in America” is finally making a stop on Broadway in a  brand-new  musical based on “Soul Train,” the iconic television program. Experience the moment when entrepreneur and radio DJ Don Cornelius first transformed the pop culture landscape with his hit show, creating the soundtrack of generations for nearly 40 years alongside the talented dancers who became superstars in their own right.

Written by two-time Tony Award ® -nominated playwright and MacArthur Genius Dominique Morisseau, choreographed by three-time Tony Award nominee Camille A. Brown, and directed by Apollo Theater’s executive director Kamilah Forbes, HIPPEST TRIP: THE SOUL TRAIN MUSICAL is a vibrant, exhilarating musical event that’ll have you singing in your seat and dancing in the aisles. You’ll no longer have to wait until Saturday morning for an energizing dose of “love, peace, and soul!”

“My family turned on ‘Soul Train’ every week expecting nothing less than a house party... we got that and a whole lot more!” - Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, Executive Producer and author of Soul Train: The Music, Dance, and Style of a Generation

BOOK BY DOMINIQUE MORISSEAU

Music supervision, orchestrations, & arrangements by kenny seymour, choreographed by camille a. brown, directed by kamilah forbes.

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Sights and Soul Travels for Women exclusive, small group, women-only tours blend top destinations with exciting outdoor adventures and luxury retreats. The locations, activities and hotels are carefully selected to inspire you with their history, natural beauty and uniqueness, so your travel experience can be exciting, rewarding and fun. Sights and Soul Travels for Women has been in business for almost 20 years. …

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I've been on 10 Sights and Soul trips over the past twelve years and have never been disappointed in the company, the tour leaders or the itineraries. I've seen the company grow by offering more tours each year with no change in their customer service. I've also seen S&S's tour director's go above and beyond to accommodate any traveler's needs. COVID was horrible for so many companies and individuals and I'm sure S&S had to take a large hit for circumstances beyond their control. I know the airlines gave me minimal credit ($150) for a $2,100 ticket in 2020. I will continue to travel with Sights and Soul as I trust in their excellent service, especially when traveling to countries outside of the US.

A friend and I planned to travel from the West coast to join this company's group tour of New York City in May 2015. We had trouble finding flights that would get us there by the tour's start time, so I emailed S and S asking for help. My first email received no reply. In my second email, I specifically asked for lower priced hotel recommendations near the airport, in case we decided to take the red-eye the night before. Their reply was curt, without any of the requested referrals. The only option they gave was to stay an extra night in the tour-selected hotel on Time's Square for $395/night. I've been on a few group tours with companies also based on the East coast. However, they went out of their way to help me plan my trip & answer my questions. They wanted my business and proved it through their actions. This company's representatives gave the impression that they didn't care whether we travelled with them or not - at $1900 per person. So, we decided to go to Washington DC instead.

this tour group response to covid is outrageous. i paid them 600 dollar deposit. when covid was becoming wide spread i wanted to cancel. they certainly did not react like so many other tour groups did. they refused to refund and took 100 dollars as a fee and then said i would have a 500 dollar credit on future trip or give credit to someone else. in these stressful times they certainly behaved very badly. they even charge extra when you pay with a credit card. i know times are bad for small businesses but they should be thinking down the road and trying to create goodwill. i believe the trip was canceled anyway by them they no longer list it on their site.

Sights and Soul Travel provided the perfect trip for me and mom! We traveled to Ireland with them in 2016 for the trip of a lifetime! S&S was great about providing a pre-trip itinerary as well as suggested reading prior to the trip. They even arranged for a driver to meet us at the airport! Our S&S guide, Kerry, was excellent and made sure no detail was overlooked. She checked and confirmed reservations, pre-arranged tours at every stop, and helped create some very special experiences for us. We never waited in a single line and always had plenty of time for shopping and sight-seeing at every locale. I like the fact that the group was small group - just 15 of us. The other women on the trip were all had different backgrounds but I found all of them interesting and fun to get to know! Many were repeat S&S travelers. Thanks to S&S for arranging an amazing trip for me and my mom!

I have taken 4 tours with S&S, Amalfi, Ireland, Venice and Scotland and next year France. I have always had a wonderful time. This tour company includes almost everything so there are few out of pocket expenses. The accommodations and food have been good to excellent. I will continue to travel with them and I am looking forward to my next trip! Beth B this is a tour company not a travel agency. If you need a flight or cheaper hotel, go online!

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Southern Soul on the River 2024 (Detroit) | The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre

Get ready to groove at the highly anticipated event, Southern Soul on the River, taking place at The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre on July 20, 2024. The venue's address is 2600 E Atwater, Detroit, MI, 48207, where music enthusiasts will come together to enjoy an unforgettable evening filled with soulful melodies and electrifying performances. With tickets going on sale from April 12, 2024, at 14:00, until July 21, 2024, at 00:00, fans can secure their spot to witness a lineup of top-tier artists delivering soul-stirring tunes. This concert promises to be a one-of-a-kind experience, transporting attendees to a realm of musical bliss along the scenic river setting. So mark your calendars and get ready to immerse yourself in the soulful rhythms of Southern Soul on the River.

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How to buy New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival tickets: Dates and prices compared

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The 2024 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is officially underway, and the lineup is a can't-miss experience. The Rolling Stones are among the many performers slated to play, making it one of the most highly-anticipated stops on the festival circuit this spring. With the festival just around the corner, we've put together everything you need to know about how to buy New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival tickets, including who's playing what day and how to find tickets to sold-out dates. 

First established in the '70s, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival has become a staple of the music scene for both Louisiana and the country as a whole. The Rolling Stones were originally slated to play five years ago but had to reschedule. They intended to play again a few years ago, but the entire festival was canceled, so their upcoming headlining performance has been a long time in the making. This year's festival will also bring Vampire Weekend, Hozier, and Neil Young Crazy Horse to the stage, among many others.

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New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival Schedule

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival will take place over two weeks, April 25-28 and May 2-5. Single-day tickets are available, in addition to multi-day ticket packages. Below, you'll find the cheapest starting prices listed on StubHub and Vivid Seats at the time of writing. 

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Tickets to the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival are sold through AXS. Some tickets, like the May 2 single-day tickets and some multi-day packages, have sold out. Tickets and packages for every day are available through resale vendors like StubHub and Vivid Seats . 

How much are New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival tickets?

Original single-day tickets range in price from $85 (for the "Early Bird Ticket," which was available until February 19) to $225 (for the "Rolling Stones & More" single-day ticket on May 2). Original multi-day packages start from $240 (for a 3-day package on the second week that excludes May 2 performances).

There are several VIP ticket tiers like the GA+ 4-day, the Big Chief VIP, the Grand Marshall VIP, and the Krewe of Jazz Fest. Original VIP packages are sold out for the second week, but resale packages are still available on StubHub and Vivid Seats.

StubHub's cheapest single-day tickets start at $82 on May 5. Vivid Seats' cheapest single-day ticket listings start at $94 on May 4. Three-day listings for the second week start at $200 on StubHub and $342 on Vivid Seats. Four-day listings, which include the coveted May 2 tickets, start at $500 on StubHub and $568 on Vivid Seats.

Who is playing at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival?

The 2024 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival has an impressive lineup. The first week includes performances from The Beach Boys (April 25), The Killers (April 26), Jon Batiste (April 26), Christ Stapleton (April 27), Vampire Weekend (April 27), and Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals (April 28), among others. 

The second week features performances from The Rolling Stones (May 2), Foo Fighters (May 3), Hozier (May 3), Neil Young & Crazy Horse (May 4), Greta Van Fleet (May 4), Queen Latifah (May 4), Bonnie Raitt (May 5), and Earth, Wind & Fire (May 5), among others.

The festival has always drawn in big names, even if they're not in the jazz music scene. Past performers include Aretha Franklin, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan, Miles Davis, Jimmy Buffett, Paul Simon, Linda Ronstadt, Gladys Knight, Van Morrison, and Willie Nelson, among many others. 

Note: Certain services and regions prohibit the resale of tickets. Business Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal reselling of tickets, and entry into an event is at the venue's discretion.

You can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here . Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at [email protected] .

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Is Southwest about to end its free-for-all seating?

The company says it is ‘very seriously studying’ alternatives to its signature open-seating system.

Southwest Airlines fans know the drill: Check in to your flight exactly 24 hours in advance and secure your spot in line to board the plane. What seat you’ll end up in? That’s a mystery until the last minute.

A puzzle to some and an invigorating challenge to others, Southwest’s unique boarding process and one-class cabin are now under the microscope as the airline looks for ways to prop up its financial performance. In a call with investors Thursday, Southwest CEO Bob Jordan said executives are “very seriously studying” seating and the way passengers board the planes.

“It’s been several years since we last studied this in-depth, and customer preference and expectations change over time,” Jordan said. “We are also studying the operations and financial benefits of any potential change.”

Unlike most airlines, Southwest doesn’t have a premium section on its planes that commands higher fares. Where other carriers might charge extra for a cushy seat in the first few rows or an extra-legroom option near the front, Southwest customers can grab whatever seat is open. A spot near the front won’t come with any additional frills, however.

In a news release announcing quarterly earnings, a conference call discussing those results and an interview with CNBC , representatives said they were taking a deep look at customer preferences around seating and boarding. The current open-seating system was put in place when airliners were generally less full, the company said, noting that preferences change as planes fill up.

“There’s no decision, there’s nothing to report other than we are seriously looking at this,” Jordan said in response to a question about seating. “But early indications both for our customers and for Southwest look pretty darn interesting.”

While Southwest has contemplated the possibility of assigned seating for nearly two decades at least , the review has accelerated over the past six months, the CEO said. Jordan said the company will say more during an event for investors in September. The company has also recently said that it is preparing to add red-eye flights in the next couple of years.

Today, Southwest passengers can pay more to end up in a better seat, even without picking that seat in advance. Upgrades that provide priority boarding and early check-in give customers the first pick of spots. The airline makes “hundreds of millions of dollars” from those upgraded boarding options, executives said last year.

“They’re in kind of a pickle regarding revenue generation, so they’re looking at everything,” said Robert W. Mann, a consultant and former airline executive. “I think what they have seen is that when they’ve tweaked their existing cattle call … they find it to be very lucrative.”

He said that if the airline could deliver a more “pleasant” boarding process, or seat selection for a fee, it would probably be attractive to travelers.

“There’s nothing about their boarding process that they couldn’t improve,” Mann said.

Travel analyst Henry Harteveldt, president of Atmosphere Research Group , said he did research more than a decade ago that found a large number of people avoided Southwest because it did not offer extra-legroom seats, assigned seats or a premium business-class cabin. He said that the airline could make “an enormous amount of money” by adding assigned seating — and that travelers would probably welcome knowing what seat they would end up in.

“I think it could be an incredibly positive thing for the airline, but I recognize that Southwest has a more-than-50-year history of being egalitarian, of having open seating and being different from other airlines,” he said.

More on air travel

Leave flying to the pros: Think you could land a plane in an emergency? Experts say you’re wrong . Here’s what you should actually do if something goes awry during a flight .

Pet peeves: Why do “gate lice” line up early for a flight ? Psychologists explained for us. Another move that annoys airline workers: abusing the flight attendant call button . For more on how to behave on a flight, check out our 52 definitive rules of flying .

Plane mess: Stories about extremely disgusting airplanes have been grossing out travelers. The question of plane cleanups became the subject of a recent debate after a flight attendant allegedly told a pregnant passenger to pick up the popcorn spilled by her toddler.

Frequent flying: Airline status isn’t what it used to be, but at least there are some good movies and TV shows to watch in the air. And somewhere out there, experts are trying to make airline food taste good.

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'Conan O'Brien Must Go' is side-splitting evidence of life beyond late night TV

Eric Deggans

Conan O'Brien dresses as a Viking in Norway. Conaco/Max hide caption

Conan O'Brien dresses as a Viking in Norway.

To be honest, when I first heard Conan O'Brien was ending his TV talk show in 2021, I assumed news that he might turn to variety shows and online programs to continue his career was some combination of face-saving and wishful thinking.

But after watching the four episodes of his new Max series Conan O'Brien Must Go , it's now obvious — even to a thickheaded critic like me — that leaving late night TV really was liberating for O'Brien. He's leveraged his unique sensibility into several different podcasts, a deal with Sirius XM , specials featuring other stand-up comics and now this travel series for Max — which resembles jokey specials he did for cable channel TBS back in the day.

And as the late night TV genre crumbles under sagging viewership and the decline of traditional media, O'Brien's renaissance also provides an example for the future — where fertile comedy minds and talented performers can spread their work over a much larger canvas.

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Is conan o'brien the best 'hot ones' guest ever discuss., learning a lesson from 'hot ones'.

O'Brien already made a splash recently with his brilliantly maniacal appearance on the interview-while-eating-hot-wings show Hot Ones , slobbering over hot sauces while claiming, as he was checked over by a fake doctor, that "I'm fine! I'm perfectly f*****g fine!"

This is the place where O'Brien shines — he's called it "this strange phantom intersection between smart and stupid" — and it's on full, freakish, super silly display in every episode of Conan O'Brien Must Go .

The conceit of the show is pretty simple. O'Brien heads overseas to visit average folks in Norway, Argentina, Thailand and Ireland who had once Zoomed in to speak with him on the podcast Conan O'Brien Needs a Fan . Sometimes the visits seem like a surprise — he catches one aspiring Norwegian rapper in shorts and Crocs after popping up on his doorstep — and others seem a bit more planned, including his visit to a radio show with about four listeners in Buenos Aires.

Each episode begins with a solemn monologue which sounds like it is delivered by the film world's most eccentric voice, German filmmaker and actor Werner Herzog (he's not credited in the show and when asked, a publicist at Max shared a quote from O'Brien: "I can neither confirm nor deny the voice in question.")

The torturous accent by "Herzog" makes every line sound absurdly hilarious, describing O'Brien as "the defiler ... with dull, tiny eyes ... the eyes of a crudely painted doll ... he scavenges in distant lands, uninvited, fueled by a bottomless hunger for recognition and the occasional selfie."

Now that's smart. And oh so stupid.

A funhouse mirror version of a travel show

O'Brien performs onstage with a fan in Norway Conaco/Max hide caption

O'Brien performs onstage with a fan in Norway

Fans of O'Brien's Conan Without Borders specials on TBS already know what his style is when he tackles a travel show — throwing himself into outrageous reactions and situations while working his quirky brand of improvised conversations with hapless bystanders.

In the Max series Conan O'Brien Must Go , that includes O'Brien offering screechy vocals onstage during a performance of a Norwegian emo/rap band. Or asking provocative questions of a couple therapist/sex expert. Or getting beat up in a "fight" with a 10-year-old boy in a bar.

It's all an excuse for O'Brien to unleash his energetic wit, taste for silly absurdity and skill at drawing laughs from sympathetic — if often befuddled — strangers. Whether you enjoy this special will depend on how you feel about O'Brien's style, which can feel a bit like the world's best class clown doing everything possible to make you crack a smile.

(Rent a family in Norway so they can say goodbye when he gets on a SeaCraft? Check. Get local artists to paint a mural of O'Brien, a soccer star and The Pope on the side of a building in Argentina? Double check.)

'Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend' Is A Joke Name For A Podcast — Sort Of

But what amazes in a larger sense is how O'Brien has turned his sensibility into a comedy brand to fuel work on many different platforms. And, at age 60, with more than 30 years as a comedy star, he's been released from the shackles of any genre to shine wherever he chooses — whether it's an episode of Hot Ones or a streaming service which sometimes looks like a collision between True Detective and 90 Day Fiancé .

Leaving late night TV as late night left him

I'm old enough that I started covering TV not long after O'Brien made his first move from the shadows of life as a comedy writer – he worked on Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons — to succeed David Letterman in 1993 as host of NBC's show Late Night (now hosted by Seth Meyers). Back then, NBC gave O'Brien years to figure out the show, honing his smartly serious comedy in a way that would inspire then-teenage fans like Seth Rogen and Bill Hader .

O'Brien left NBC after a disastrous deal where the network tried to make him host of its venerated late night program The Tonight Show and also keep its former host Jay Leno at the network. He moved to a late night show on TBS in 2010, but even then, there was a sense that his creativity was a bit hemmed in by the format.

After 28 Quirky Years, Conan O'Brien Is Leaving Late Night

By the time he left his TBS show Conan for good, it seemed O'Brien was already caught in a trend which would hobble other late night shows — as young viewers consumed his content online and ratings on cable dropped.

Now, with a podcast and digital media company worth many millions and growing status as a TV comedy legend still willing to do almost anything for a laugh, O'Brien is proving there is a successful life beyond late night.

Particularly, if you have the talent to play the fool while leaving little doubt you're also the smartest person in the room.

‘Conan O’Brien Must Go’ Is a Keeper: TV Review

Legendary talk show host and hot wing evangelist returns to television with hilarious new Max travel show

By Stephen Rodrick

Stephen Rodrick

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The key to understanding Conan O’Brien’s comedy is knowing that it comes from a point of kindness. Yes, I know in this age of comics punching down , this kind of compliment may leave you with a neon “Must Avoid!” sign flashing in your bleary eyes — but stay with me.

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Conan’s three-decade run as a talk show host ended in 2021 under less-than-optimal circumstances , as he wound down his TBS show during the pandemic year. He talked to longtime sidekick Andy Richter , who sat among dozens of cardboard cutout fans. O’Brien quipped that they were last in line for the vaccine because the CDC had looked at the shows and “they said ours is the least essential of pretty much all the non-essential shows.”

There was some truth in that, but Conan had already started his move to other outlets , starting with his “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend” podcast in 2018.

The podcast is funny and sweet, especially the pre-interview segments with longtime associate Sona Movsesian and producer Matt Gourley. Conan mocks Sona’s legendarily bad work habits. and Gourley’s flea market predilections, but any kind of comedic acid is reserved for the self-lacerating O’Brien. (On a recent episode, Conan runs down his own looks, and it is cruel and hilarious, but part of me is thinking, “Dude, cut yourself a break.”). The only time things get contentious is when Conan visited by longtime friend Kevin Nealon — perhaps the podcast’s best episodes.

The podcast had an offshoot called “Conan O’Brien Needs a Fan,” on which O’Brien would talk to a fan, often in a faraway land. That led to O’Brien traveling to Norway, Thailand, Ireland and Argentina to meet them. Why? Well, a dour and ominous narrator, aka Werner Herzog, offered this rationale at the beginning of each episode: “Once a proud talk show host, he’s been driven by a changing ecosystem to a drier and harsher climate: the weekly podcast. Here , without the nourishment of his studio audience, this clown with dull , tiny eyes, the eye of a crudely painted doll , is forced to feed on that meagerest of morsels: the random call-in fan. Unhinged by the feral scent of their mild enthusiasm. He scavenges in distant lands uninvited, fueled by a bottomless hunger for recognition , and the occasional selfie.”

It’s a self-deprecating bit, but it’s also the truth. Conan has been doing travel shows for years, most notably one to Movsesian’s native Armenia , as well as a chaotic trip to Finland where O’Brien is treated as a god because of his physical resemblance to the Finnish president who happens to be a woman. He clearly loves the journey. And he loves the comedy set piece–see his classic “Old Timey Baseball” opus — which has always been an essential part of his appeal.

The encounters work because O’Brien doesn’t treat his new friends as fools — rather , he revels in the fact that he is the fool. (See his instant-classic appearance on “Hot Ones,” the show where interviews are conducted while the celebrity consumes increasingly acidic chicken wings. Conan rhapsodizes on comedy being all around us as green-yellow mucus drips down his nose.) Of course, there are exceptions made for old friends. Conan goes out for asada in Buenos Aires with the effete and erudite Jordan Schlansky, a longtime producer and frenemy. Schlansky and Conan are the Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon of American cable , and on his TBS show and podcast the two have tangled over Japanese customs, Conan hosting Schlansky’s bachelor party in his own office, and Schlansky hiding an expensive Espresso machine in an inaccessible part of their offices. (As with the Courtney Thorne-Smith segment, Conan’s visceral malice toward Schlansky works because it is so out-of-character).

During the Argentina episode, they get into a fierce argument about the proper pronunciation of the word “tango,” Conan then licks Schlansky’s favorite cut of meat — wait, that came out wrong. After, they go on an ill-fated trip to the Pampas, where both fail spectacularly at gaucho life.

Not everything works. O’Brien does a self-referential bit about the expensive drone he is using on the first show , and for the next four episodes I am distracted every time I see a beautiful shot thinking about the drone’s specifications and capabilities. Some of the stuff goes on a bit long, but so does my writing.

These are minor quibbles. If you’re a Conan fan, you’ll treasure the trips, just like his completists treasure encounters with a masturbating bear. The series ends with Conan tracing his family’s roots in Ireland. He comes across his ancestor’s land, makes a few jokes, but then looks at the land, clearly moved. Conan O’Brien has played the fool long enough; we grant him this moment of humanity with all our hearts.

All four episodes of “Conan O’Brien Must Go” are now available on Max.

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