I want to remind you of just how awesome your Friday night can be....
WHO: Jake Sasseville, creator and host of TV show, Late Night Republic.
WHAT: Dubbed the #1 Underdog in Late Night, (Not for Long) Late Night Republic is unlike any other late night show in history. Jake has something to say, not something to sell, and his fans love him for it! He will be mobilizing his audience, and recruiting members of his republic.
Don togas and face off in the ultimate battle of good and evil with thousands of cardboard tubes! Over 2,000 cardboard tubes will be distributed for free to worthy combatants - all we ask is that you don your most convincing Greco-Roman attire and Defend the Republic. Please arrive early to claim your tube.
WHERE: Chicago Water Tower, 806 North Michigan Avenue
WHEN: This Friday, September 24th, at 6 PM - Free
You can meet this dynamic famous person tonight. For some idea of what he's all about. Here's Jake Sasseville-
You've said that you want "Late Night" to be more about the people. Could you explain more about what you mean by this?
"For 50 years, the late night format has remainded unchanged. Desk, chairs, band. I don't want to revolutionize the late night experience per se, but I do want to make it more representative of the people that I think watch it and enjoy it (our generation). Late night has never been used to empower its audience - it's old, white haired executives that get paid millions to decide, based on research and focus groups, how to program late night. They sit in their fancy chairs, on the 20th floor in their Burbank, California offices. I've been to their offices. It smells like a funeral home. And they wouldn't put me on the air. So I had to go out and make it happen myself.
I want the People's Republic of Late Night to be representative of the generation, not just on television but everywhere our brand is - on campus, in music, on TV, online."
And do you think that this is more important now to do, than say ten years ago?
"I think I am the next evolution of late night talk, and that this format is the best way to achieve it. More important or less important is not really relevant, I don't think. It's more about being able to quickly take a pulse of where things are at - in my case, the generation, technology, broadcast television, pop culture, politics, advertising and marketing and being able to give the people what they want in the best way I know how."
Why is important to involve the people? (Aren't we call connected with technology now, anyway- or not?)
"Sure. But fans in Minneapolis aren't producing comedy calls on Jay Leno's show, or on Craig Ferguson's. No one from Austin is able to submit monologue jokes for George Lopez, and people in Chicago can't design Conan's new studio. No one from Shrevport or Champaign is able to say "hey, I'm funny, I'd like to write for Letterman, I'll submit something." The business hasn't been built this way. The business of Late Night Republic IS built this way.
We're very lucky to have FRS Healthy Energy backing a 45-city LNR RoadTrip 2010 tour where I get to meet and speak with fans of the show, and introduce this idea of crowd sourced TV. FRS gets it - they understand that energy is a blend of science and vitamins, and they get how late night is a blend of smart TV people and the energy and vitality of the US. That's why they are backing us and believe so deeply in our mission.
I think, out of necessity, we can re-build late night and the way it's done because we're smaller, smarter and more nimble than the other mamoth institutions out there."
Why the toga play?
"Why not? I love Rome. And for some odd reason, I'm a big guy who likes to wear small amounts of clothing. Bottom line, it's about having FUN and not caring too much about what others think about you."
What did you want to be when you grew up?
"An OBGYN (deliver babies). Then I found out science was involved. Then I found magic (I was a magician). And then I dreamed of hosting my own late night talk show. Interestingly, I'm more interested in science now more than ever. Meta physics is fascinating to me, and a secret passion."
Who was a role model for you growing up? Can you talk about their influence?
"Rosie O'Donnell- I was a huge fan of. I'll tell you, I read all about Rosie, Conan and Letterman when I was younger becuase I loved them. THey all ran very tight ships. I modeled my own business approach to theirs. From a comedy POV, Robin Williams, Don Rickles are both gems.
When I first launched my old show "The Edge" nationally after Jimmy Kimmel Live on ABC affiliates in 2007, I thought I was the coolest, most powerful person in my world. I was so disillusioned. I remember reading about how Rosie would go through directors on a weekly basis. So I fired a bunch of people just because subconsciously, this was my belief systems on how I was "successful. It was crazy. I was insane. I was 21 and a bit trigger happy. Then I would be a perfectionist on set because I saw how Conan did it. Or, I wanted to be isolated and stand off'ish at other times because that's how Letterman maneuvered around his studio and his office.
I had created these internal beliefs about how successful talk show hosts are based on these guys that I looked up to - and that created a real false reality. Luckily, I'm finding my voice and it's becoming clearer now more than ever. At 24, I've been through a lot, and I'm realizing it's OK to just be me! Although Jerry Springer's former executive producer called me the other day and said I was the "bastard love child of Oprah Winfrey and Howard Stern. That's the ultimate life journey though - not just as a talk show host or an entertainer - but as a person who's a work in progress - finding your voice and your You. Powerful place."
You have a heavy schedule of travel for this tour, if possible, can you say something about what distinguishes Chicago from other cities?
"I did one of my first on-location segments in Chicago for the National Air Guitar Competition. Though I thought I did well, the people of Chicago rated me with a "0," a "?" and a picture of a penis and testicles.
I really like Chicago. It's the brilliant blend of one of the largest (TV) markets in the country, yet with a very mid-western attitude and outlook. I connect with that because I'm originally from Maine and though my outrageousness sometimes disguises it, still love that home grown mentality. I like that Chicago is that blend of big city and heart of America."
If someone were to want to follow in your footsteps as a young entrepreneur, what advice would you give?
"I get asked this a lot. And I've thought a lot about it. Two things: Find your inner You. Call it spirituality, God, the Universe. Find it. And nurture it. We all have it. I'm not a new-age guru in any capacity, but from personal experience, when I connected with the Universe/God/Spirituality/One that's when my business flourished.
Second thing: Read up and learn about the Mind. The power of your mind is astonishing. You MUST get your mind to work for you, otherwise you start believing that you have to "play the hand of cards your dealt." This is such nonsense. Who can possibly live life this way?
Learning how to entertain, how to play the game in Hollywood, how to do everything I do all started with learning Reality Creation and how to put my mind in motion. Period. End of story. Anthony Robbins taught me a lot about this, as did Dr. Richard Bandler. Geniuses."
This is how I've become truly successful. It sounds silly, but it's true, and it works. People argue with me about it all the time, and I let them talk. I have nothing to argue about. It works, and there's no real reason to debate it."
What qualities do you think are important to have to do what you do?
"I don't know. I'm not that funny, I'm not a pretty boy by any stretch of anyone's imagination - so it's not that. I have a great friend, Ezra Horne, who's known me for 17 years and he always said that he thinks I'll succeed by sheer force of will and determination. I'm forceful, filled with determination and match that with wit, humor and joy.
If I was just forceful, I would annoy people (I annoy a lot of people, but I get the job done). There's real heart to what I do and who I am, people can see it real quick. That's disarming, thank God.
I think that helps me. But I've cultivated this after studying the human mind and other people for a very long time. Though when you see me on TV or hear me an interview, it seems random and off the wall, I actually reflect deeply on what I do and how I do it to make sure it's an enjoyable experience for everyone.'
If you were to write a "how to" book for what you are doing, what would the title be?
"I am writing a how-to book, actually. "Recovering Catholic....... Aspiring Jew: How a 24-year-old changes everything in late night."
What has been the most challenging part of what you're doing?
"Working with folks who may not necessarily have the highest standards. I raise my standards daily. I think I annoy my staff because of this. Those who don't like it, leave. Those who jive with it, stay, and they are very successful.
For being the #1 underdog in late night, I feel real real lucky to have one of the best staffs I've ever had. Ever! They are all top notch, aggressive, filled with heart, smart. Wow, they are so, so much smarter than me! It's the ultimate university master's program, running my own company! I get to learn from geniuses in the real world, and make a ton of money in the process!"
Do you think you could have done this 10 years ago and been successful?
"I was doing this 9 years ago on local access, and I felt successful. Who knows. The past is really an illusion."
What part does timing play in this?
"Funny question. I believe if you can real dig deep, self-motivate against any "odds," push through, shake hands, shift on a dime, make quick decisions, surround yourself with smart people, smile at people, state clearly what you want, decide what kind of people you want to work with, go at it, chip away, try different things, rest, remember that life is too short to get too stressed, then I think eventually Timing and your Desire will match up perfectly. So timing is as important as just doing it... over, and over, and over, and over, till you get the result you want."
Where would you like to see yourself and this endeavor in future? In other words, what do you hope will happen with Late Night Republic?
"In a year, Late Night Republic will be in 100 million household in the US. We will have really elevated standards in late night and really have made a mark in terms of crowd sourced late night. That's exciting!
I want to take the show to Japan. I'd like to see Late Night Republic become the default late night experience in other countries (with local "Jake Sasseville's") That would be the greatest joy for me - going to Japan, and South Africa, and France, and Russia, and find that country's "Jake Sasseville." LOVE that idea!"
I'll be doing late night talk for as long as people watch, stay interested, and as long as I can reinvent myself, be entertaining, engage with people in a way like no one else can. It could all end tomorrow, it could go on for 25 years. I'm just loving today - I'm in my Sprinter Bus driving to Chicago, with wonderful people, in comfortable chairs, listening to Yanni.
I hope I can stop when it stops becoming Fun. I worry about that - because I push through to my goals sometimes just for the sake of pushing through - people say "I'll stop when it stops being Fun." I don't know if I could do that. I'll let you know in 10 years :-)"
If you could describe yourself in three words, what would they be?
"JAKE (the entertainer, TV guy, host, interviewee): 'Eccentric, curious, magnetic'.
Jake (the guy at home): 'Intuitive, meditative, funny'.
Anything else you'd like to add?
"I like your name."
For more information: http://www.examiner.com/culture-events-in-chicago/jake-sasseville-of-tv-show-late-night-republic-chicago-this-friday-come-be-part-of-the-show
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