Did anyone else catch Chris Isaak’s return to television last night? The singer-actor-personality debuted The Chris Isaak Hour on the Biography Channel, which is essentially his own version of Spectacle: Elvis Costello With… For his inaugural show, Isaak welcomed country star Trisha Yearwood. Now, I have to be honest: I wasn’t particularly enthused about the show beforehand, and that can mostly be attributed to talk show fatigue. With Jimmy Fallon joining the late night fray on Monday, it feels a bit crowded in TV land these days.
But I found myself really charmed by The Chris Isaak Hour, and that’s mostly because of Isaak himself. He has a sort of affable, goofy sincerity, and is not one to shy away from self-deprecating humor, which is of course why he’s perfect for a show like this. It helps that he seems to have an easy rapport with Yearwood. In return, Yearwood was surprisingly candid in retracing her steps to stardom — from tour guiding at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, meeting her future husband Garth Brooks for the first time, to joking how she pretty much gave Matthew McConaughey his career with a guest spot in her "Walkaway Joe" video. (Isaak astutely pointed out that McConaughey was, of course, shirtless at one point in the video.)
Spliced in between the interview were five performances: A couple of duets between Isaak and Yearwood (including "Breaking Apart," off Isaak’s just-released Mr. Lucky album), and solo renditions of songs like "Cowboys Are My Weakness." All in all, a solid hour of television (if a bit awkward in spots). With guests like Stevie Nicks, Michael Buble, and Yusuf Islam (formerly known as Cat Stevens) forthcoming, I will definitely be tuning in again (the show will air weekly, Thursdays at 10 p.m.). What about you, PopWatchers? Who was digging the offbeat charm of Mr. Isaak? And did anyone else find it funny that Yearwood gave McConaughey one of his first big breaks?
i tuned in and will be tuning in weeks to come mainly because i’m such a big fan of isaak but i thought his personality fit well for this type of show also. i did think it was weird how they were not performing in front of a live audience though. i think they need more brownie-baking scenes and other similiar moments from the showtime series included in the future also. more isaak singing on his own also…
Like you, I was totally charmed by Chris (and his dog…). I loved his Showtime series from a few years ago so I was thrilled to see him on TV again.
He can sing with just about anyone and Yearwood was a great first guest. Am looking forward to all of his guests.
I, too, was charmed by Mr. Isaak and Ms. Yearwood. I’m not particularly a fan of his, although I like her and have at least one of her CDs, and didn’t watch his Showtime series, but I think I’ll Season-Pass this show on my TiVo. I very much did like the fact that there was no audience, and found it endearing that his dog — assuming it was his dog — was on the couch with him. A welcome addition to talk shows, most of which I don’t watch.
I thought it was great and I’m no fan of country music. I still miss the show he used to have on Showtime– it was so funny!
I like Chris but I watched mainly because I am a big fan of Trisha Yearwood. I also love their duet and wanted to hear them sing that. I really enjoyed the hour and became a bigger fan of Chris than in the past. I thought he was very relaxed and enjoyable as the host and only expect it to get better. Loved the dog there too! I’ll definitely be watching this again. It was a fun show!
The Chris Isaak show was different; I enjoyed the Trisha Yearwood interview. Chris’s interview style is as unique as his voice, which is refreshing. The song collaboration with his guest was definitely an unexpected bonus. I am really looking forward to the Stevie Nicks interview especially, since back in 1989 a buddy and I were rock climbing in the mountains behind Stevie Nicks house and repelled down in her back yard and drank water out of her garden hose. (My claim to fame) I was going to School in Arizona at the time oh those carefree college daze, back in the Northwest now. Looking forward to the new Fleetwood Mac album as well as Stevie’s. Hope they might tour the Northwest. Good job Chris keeps up your (oddball) style.
Sincerely, Sammy
Chris is so charming and smart and funny and hot…check out his video of Wicked Game, yummy and he is wicked sexy..what i watched was great, will continue to tivo this show and can’t wait for him to interview and sing with Cat Stevens…now that’s must see tv for me
I am crazy about Chris Isaak – really really crazy. I would watch him do anything and feel like it was time well spent.
Hey Chris! I hope you will read this. I am so excited to hear you have a new show and will definitely TVO the show forever! I have always been just totally zinged by your energy since the 1st time I heard your voice back in the 90′s. Came to see you perform in Pittsburgh back in 2003…COME BACK….because I read that you had a thing for Barbara Stanwick…well, guess what..I look very very much like Barbara and am told that all the time by anyone who knew her young face. I think I saw you looking at me from the stage in Pittsburgh, but it could have been just wishfule thinking. Well, look, I’m single, you’re single, and I’d love to talk more with you. In the meantime I need to program you in and look forward to your return email. I wish you all the very best. xoxograce
I loved the show. Then again, who doesn`t like Chris isaak? Ok, I know there are plenty who don`t, but ya have to admit, he has a certain disarming style that, yet, just reeks of silky-smooth, “old school cool”
I live in Canada and was afraid we wouldn’t get to se the show here. Well it was on A&E at 8:30 saturday morning and I taped it! I am a huge CI fan, and was also charmed by Trisha Yearwood, although not a country fan. So great to see you back on tv Chris where you belong…and not just as an “Extra” reporter. Please come back to St. JOhn’s NL…the audition went great!
I first heard of Chris Isaak when he was on a program on my local Public TV channel. I only heard part of one song (Wicked Game). I bought 5 albums of his before I found out what the actual title was. It was well worth it. I have been a fan ever since. I like the new show and the fact that his band is with him. I hope it has a long run.
I caught the show Sunday morning, and was happily entranced by the interview and the songs. Chris Isaak is just such a natural at this – his easy-going style is great at getting others to chat. And Trisha Yearwood was a treat. I downloaded “Cowboys Are My Weakness” immediately, even though country isn’t my main cup of tea. Oddly enough, I know people who have worked closely with both Chris & Trisha and they have said that they’re each hard-working, salt-of-the-earth types. I’ve seen them both perform, and I’d go back again!
I didn’t know much about him, and didn’t really recognize him , but I stumbled unto the show with TY and loved the whole hour. So glad I taped it, especially their duet, which I really loved. The show with Stevie Nicks was really interesting. She was so forthcoming about her past and her work with the wounded vets and he was amusing and caring and as comfortable as any interviewer I have ever seen. He;s great. Its a great format and the guests seem to really appreciate the forum he is giving them.
Really looking forward to the rest of the season.
I didn’t know much about him, and didn’t really recognize him , but I stumbled unto the show with TY and loved the whole hour. So glad I taped it, especially their duet, which I really loved. The show with Stevie Nicks was really interesting. She was so forthcoming about her past and her work with the wounded vets and he was amusing and caring and as comfortable as any interviewer I have ever seen. He;s great. Its a great format and the guests seem to really appreciate the forum he is giving them.
Really looking forward to the rest of the season.