Of all the Hollywood hopefuls who dream of becoming a late-night talk show host, John Henson is so dogged that once, while hosting "Talk Soup," which satirized daily talk shows, he announced that he would not eat until Dustin Hoffman appeared on his program.

Of course, it was only a mock hunger strike, which Henson schmaltzed up with his own death scene. Still, the ploy worked: Hoffman got word of Henson's antics, showed up on the set, and on the way even called his pal, Jon Lovitz, who was in the shower and said he'd be right over, too.

That was nine years ago, a good year for Henson: he ranked as the "sultan of sarcasm" among People magazine's 40 most fascinating television stars of 1997.

DUSTIN HOFFMAN SAYS SO

Now, as executive producer, head writer and host of "Watch This," a show on the TV Guide Channel that critiques what's on television, Henson is still vying for that coveted late-night gig. In fact, some industry insiders think he just might be the one in a million to make it.

"What he should do is go on a hunger strike until he gets it," says Hoffman, a self-described Henson fan, during a telephone interview from Los Angeles.

What does it take to scale the ladder to late-night?

Start with three things: persistence, persistence, persistence. "Every day he would talk about me on the show," says Hoffman, "that I've got to call or he'll die of starvation. It became the talk of the school that my kids were going to: how can I do this to this poor guy. Finally I watched the show and thought he was very spontaneous and funny. I've always responded to tenacity."

RIFF LIKE A JAZZ MUSICIAN

Indeed, Henson is doing everything he can to fire all the big guns. "I've worked constantly since getting to L.A.," he says, "having three different shows of my own, making appearances on at least five networks, doing the occasional movie role." He is working as a producer to develop a film with Oscar-winning director Steven Soderbergh. He clicks off additional coups: hosting prime-time specials for ABC, writing a screenplay with Kevin Nealon, selling material to a series on Spike TV and appearing on networks as a pop culture and entertainment expert. At last count, Henson figured he'd hosted more than 1,100 hours of television comedy.

Henson's spontaneity is a big draw, says Hoffman. "John, I felt, was naturally spontaneous. It would be refreshing if he'd do a late-night talk show because maybe he would do it without the usual kind of preparation," Hoffman says. "It's very rare when a comedian or talk show host can get out and riff like a jazz musician."

Hoffman suggests that if Henson ever gets his late-night show, his guest should surprise him by bringing along another guest. "The audience is yearning for that kind of spontaneity when the host doesn't have to look at cards all the time," Hoffman says.

"One thing any guest knows on these talk shows is that the host knows what to bring up," Hoffman says. "The host is prepared to ask you about things you know the answer to; they do pre-interviews. But when I did Lenny Bruce, the movie, I found out that Lenny Bruce would do something no other comedians would do: he would not have a clue (what was coming next). Comedians make it look spontaneous, but it's not; it's worked out."

INSTANTLY ADDICTED

Henson, 39, was born in Stamford, Conn., and by age six was memorizing his older brothers' extensive collection of comedy albums. He started stand-up at open mikes in Boston-area clubs. "I was instantly addicted to the rush of live performing and the instant gratification you received from a packed house," he says. A year later, he moved onto New York.

In 1994 he tried out for "Talk Soup," on E! Entertainment. "I remember seeing every single comic I had ever met at the audition," says Henson, who estimates 3,000 people showed up. "Guy, girl, cat, dog, they were looking at everyone."

Then there was the late-night talk show pilot he did for Sony. Ray Romano appeared as a guest.

"He's got what I think are all the ingredients you need," says Romano, who met Henson when they were both "really struggling to get stage time at the Improv in New York." They played on the same softball team in Central Park and ended up with the same manager.

RAY ROMANO SAYS SO

"If you look at the best talk show hosts," Romano says, "they all have this all-American, middle America tone, a friendly look to them — but can be very humorously sarcastic and biting at the same time. This is what I think makes a great talk show host. You need to be funny, but you need to be likable also — so you can say the sarcastic remark and not have people turn against you."

Beyond that, the host needs to multitask, as both a good comedian and a good interviewer, Romano says. "Very few people are both. I'll tell you why: a comedian's makeup is to perform, to be on. The talk show host has to also connect with that person they're interviewing."

So, could Henson make it? "I think he could get the opportunity to prove he can do it," Romano says. "He's established himself as a funny personality, so I don't see why someone wouldn't give him the opportunity now."

__

Francine Prose is a reporter in Los Angeles.

Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register.