Who: Jimmy Fallon, interviewed by Brian Williams What:  “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon“ Where: Paley Center for Media When: May 27, 2010 Thumbs: Up Jimmy Fallon and Brian Williams engaged in a sort of role reversal. For starters, Fallon set the light tone for the evening by pretending to interview Williams about his life and [...]

Who: Brian Williams, interviewed by Jeff Greenfield
What: “In the News with Jeff Greenfield – Brian Williams”
Where: 92^nd St. Y
When: April 18, 2010
Thumbs: Up

Conan O’Brien is the funniest person I ever interviewed, which puts him atop a list that includes Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, Jon Stewart, Dave Chappelle, Sanjay Gupta, and Lil Kim. Conan is also funnier than his show — and Conan, like Dave, and unlike Jay, probably knows he could be doing better material if he weren’t performing for people who just flossed. But unlike Dave, Conan never seemed calm and in place. Until now.

As the face of media evolves, it’s important to honor the figures who helped define, shape and set the standards in their industries. These are some of the most prominent members of the media who passed away over the past 10 years. Take a look back with some snippets from their respective New York Times obituaries.

For anyone whose political identity was formed during the poison years bracketed by Walter Cronkite‘s tenure as CBS evening anchor, the avuncular newsman was like the kindly, reassuring narrator of a political horror story.

If, as CBS News president Sean McManus mourns, that Cronkite’s status “will never be duplicated again,” it’s not only due to the modern fragmentation of the news audience — it’s also because, ideally, the country will never again go through such an extended trainwreck.