Television Appearances
From This Might Be A Wiki
Since 1985, They Might Be Giants have made television appearances on a wide variety of network and cable talk shows. Below is a list of known appearances, along with links to download or view many of them.
Dates listed are airing dates, not necessarily performance/recording dates. Click any heading to sort entries by category.
| Date | Country | Network | Show | Content | Links | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985-12-17 | United States | WWOR-TV | The Joe Franklin Show | (unknown) | Discussed in a clip from a Joe Franklin documentary | First TMBG television appearance. |
| 1986-11-07 | United States | WWOR-TV | The Joe Franklin Show | Performed live: | First televised live performance.[1] | |
| 1987-04-17 | United States | CBS | KCTV | Performed live: | Writeup in the Kansas City Star (on the 1987-04-17 show page.) | On Good Friday. Infamously cut short after "I look like Jesus..." |
| 1987-09-22 | United States | WWOR-TV | The Joe Franklin Show | (unknown)[2] | ||
| 1987-??-?? | United States | MTV | 120 Minutes | Performed live: | on YouTube | Audio missing on Kiss Me, Son Of God. |
| 1988-03-08 | United States | Nickelodeon | Nick Rocks | Guest hosts. Performed live: | ||
| 1988-08-17 | United States | MTV | Randee of the Redwoods Convention | Performed live: | Full appearance | Read more on the 1988-08-17 show page. |
| 1988-10-24 | United States | Alternate Beat | Interview | Full interview
on YouTube |
Recorded backstage at Peabody's Down Under. | |
| 1988-12-25 | United States | MTV | 120 Minutes | Performed live: | ||
| 1988-??-?? | United States | Record Guide 88 | Performed live: | Full appearance
on YouTube |
Lie Still with better video here. | |
| 1989-01-30 | United Kingdom | TVS | Rockin' In The UK | Interview | Full appearance
on YouTube |
|
| 1989-02-01 | United States | NBC | Late Night with David Letterman | Performed live: | Full appearance
on YouTube |
TMBG's network television debut. |
| 1989-03-03 | United Kingdom | ITV | Night Network | Performed live:
|
on YouTube | Interview featured in the Flood EPK. |
| 1989-03-12 | United Kingdom | Channel 4 | Big World Cafe | Performed live:
|
on YouTube | |
| 1989-07-?? | United States | MTV | Post Modern | Guest hosts.
Performed live: |
on YouTube
|
Broadcast over several days. First tape with better video, but worse audio, here. |
| 1989-06-15 | United States | FOX | The Arsenio Hall Show | Performed live: | ||
| 1989-??-?? | United States | Nickelodeon | Nick Rocks | Guest hosts. Performed live:
|
Clips from the Gigantic DVD on YouTube | |
| 1990-02-05 | United States | MTV | 120 Minutes | Performed live: | Full recording session
on YouTube |
Recorded on 1990-01-29 |
| 1990-03-30 | United States | KDOC-TV | Request Video | Interview | Full interview
on YouTube |
Better quality, but incomplete, here. |
| 1990-04-03 | United States | NBC | The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson | Performed live: | Full appearance | Hosted by Jay Leno. Birdhouse is performed an unrehearsed 10bpm faster than usual[4]. |
| 1990-04-05 | United Kingdom | BBC | Top of the Pops | Lipsynced: | Full appearance | |
| 1990-05-12 | United States | NBC | Late Night with David Letterman | Played live: | Full appearance
on YouTube |
|
| 1990-05-?? | Canada | Much | The New Music | Interview | Full appearance
on YouTube |
|
| 1990-06-05 | United Kingdom | Channel 4 | Rock Steady | Performed live: | Full appearance
on YouTube |
|
| 1990-06-09 | United Kingdom | BBC | The 8:15 from Manchester | Lipsynced: | on YouTube | |
| 1990-06-18 | United States | NBC | Today | Performed live: | Full appearance
on YouTube |
|
| 1990-12-03 | Australia | MTV Australia | Interview | Full appearance
on YouTube |
||
| 1990-??-?? | United Kingdom | MTV Europe | 120 Minutes | Performed live:
|
on YouTube | |
| 1992-02-07 | United Kingdom | BBC | Tonight with Jonathan Ross | Performed live: | Full appearance | Full appearance with better visual quality but muffled audio here. |
| 1992-02-23 | Germany | WDR | Schmidteinander | Lipsynced: | Full appearance
on YouTube |
|
| 1992-04-13 | Canada | Much | Electric Circus | Performed live: | Full appearance
on YouTube |
|
| 1992-04-26 | United States | MTV | 120 Minutes | Performed live: | Full appearance
on YouTube |
Actual Size in better quality here. |
| 1992-05-19 | United States | NBC | Late Night with David Letterman | Played live: | Full appearance
on YouTube |
Better quality, but missing part of intro, here. |
| 1992-07-05 | United States | NBC | The Tonight Show with Jay Leno | Performed live:
|
on YouTube | Full appearance with crustier video but better audio here. |
| 1992-??-?? | United States | JBTV | JBTV | Performed live: | Full appearance | Mislabeled as 1991, likely during re-airing. |
| 1992-??-?? | United States | JBTV | JBTV | Performed live: | on YouTube | Late 1992 |
| 1993-03-14 | United States | MTV | 120 Minutes | Guest hosts for the New Wave Marathon. 120 Minutes Song sung a cappella. | Full appearance
on YouTube |
The "hot pink" jacket is reflective orange.[5] |
| 1993-07-18 | United States | MTV | 120 Minutes | Interview. John Flansburgh talks directing Frank Black's music video Hang On To Your Ego. | Full appearance
on YouTube |
|
| 1993-09-05 | United States | MTV | 120 Minutes | Guest hosts. Performed live: | Full episode | Recorded 1993-09-02. Better quality WDTSS here. |
| 1993-10-26 | United States | NBC | Late Night with Conan O'Brien | Performed live:
|
Full appearance
on YouTube |
Linnell wears a Brian Dewan t-shirt. William Shatner really was on before Them. |
| 1994-09-?? | United States | The Cutting Edge | Interview with John Flansburgh. | Full appearance
on YouTube |
||
| 1994-10-10 | United States | MTV | 120 Minutes | Performed live: | Full recording session
on YouTube |
Recorded 1994-10-06. Two takes of each song on the session tape. |
| 1994-10-30 | United States | ABC | Good Morning America | Performed live: | on YouTube | |
| 1994-10-31 | United States | NBC | Late Night with Conan O'Brien | Performed live: | Full performance
on YouTube |
John Linnell plays the MicroMoog. |
| 1994-??-?? | United States | JBTV | JBTV | Performed live: | Full appearance | "Northern Scum" is a band t-shirt for The Beautiful South. |
| 1994-??-?? | United States | MTV | The Jon Stewart Show | Performed live | Full appearance
on YouTube |
|
| 1995-02-10 | United States | TBS | Live from the House of Blues | Performed live: | Full episode
on YouTube |
Double-bill with Victoria Williams. Show footage recorded 1994-12-09. |
| 1995-03-15 | United States | FX | Sound fX | Performed live:
|
Full appearance on YouTube | Better visuals but audio only in the left channel / split into parts |
| 1996-03-31 | United States | MTV | 120 Minutes | Performed live:
|
Full recording session | For the 120 Minutes: A Decade on the Edge 10th anniversary show. Only the song aired. |
| 1996-09-21 | United States | HBO | The Larry Sanders Show | Performed live: | Full appearance
on YouTube |
|
| 1996-11-06 | United States | NBC | Late Night with Conan O'Brien | Performed live: | Full performance
on YouTube |
|
| 1996-??-?? | United States | FOX | The Spud Goodman Show | Performed live: | Full appearance | |
| 1997-03-22 | Australia | ABC | Recovery | Performed live:
|
Full appearance
on YouTube |
|
| 1997-04-08 | United States | Comedy Central | Viva Variety | Performed live: | Full appearance
on YouTube |
|
| 1998-10-11 | United States | FX | Penn & Teller's Sin City Spectacular | Performed live: | Full appearance
on YouTube |
|
| 1999-07-29 | United States | ABC | Brave New World | Featuring: | Full episode
on YouTube |
Music video also on the Gigantic DVD. |
| 1999-08-05 | United States | ABC | Brave New World | Featuring: | Full episode
on YouTube |
|
| 1999-08-26 | United States | ABC | Brave New World | Featuring: | Full episode
on YouTube |
|
| 1999-09-02 | United States | ABC | Brave New World | Featuring: | Full episode
on YouTube |
|
| 1999-09-02 | United States | ABC | Brave New World | Featuring: | Full episode
on YouTube |
|
| 1999-12-15 | United States | Comedy Central | The Daily Show | Performed live:
|
Full episode
on YouTube |
For the Greatest Millennium Special. |
| 2000-01-01 | United States | NBC | Late Night with Conan O'Brien | Performed live: | Full appearance
on YouTube |
John Linnell And The Statesmen appearance. |
| 2000-05-15 | United States | NBC | Late Night with Conan O'Brien | Performed live: | Full appearance
on YouTube |
|
| 2000-06-23 | United States | TechTV (ZDTV) | Internet Tonight | Interview | Full appearance
on YouTube |
|
| 2000-??-?? | United States | CBS | Entertainment Tonight | Behind-the-scenes on the Boss Of Me music video. | Clip
on YouTube |
|
| 2001-02-05 | United States | NBC | The Tonight Show with Jay Leno | Performed live: | Full appearance
on YouTube |
|
| 2001-02-15 | United States | NBC | Late Night with Conan O'Brien | Performed live: | Full appearance
on YouTube |
|
| 2001-02-06 | United States | CBS | The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn | Performed live: | Full appearance
on YouTube |
|
| 2001-06-20 | United Kingdom | BBC | Liquid News | (unknown) | ||
| 2001-07-01 | United Kingdom | BBC | Top of the Pops 2 | Performed live: | on Youtube | |
| 2001-07-27 | United Kingdom | BBC | Top of the Pops 2 | Performed live: | on YouTube | |
| 2001-09-07 | United States | NBC | Late Night with Conan O'Brien | Performed live: | Full appearance
on YouTube |
Performed with a reel-to-reel backing track and Phil Hernandez on drums. |
| 2001-09-10 | United States | Comedy Central | The Daily Show | Interview | Full appearance | |
| 2002-01-19 | United States | VH1 | Pop-Up Video | Featuring: | Full music video
on YouTube |
Preexisting Boss Of Me music video with trivia overlaid. |
| 2002-04-20 | Australia | ABC | Rage | Guest hosts.
Click here for the full playlist. |
on YouTube | |
| 2002-05-08 | United States | NBC | Late Night with Conan O'Brien | Performed live: | Full appearance
on YouTube |
|
| 2002-06-12 | United States | TechTV | The Screen Savers | Interview | Partial appearance
on YouTube |
|
| 2002-07-17 | United States | TechTV | The Screen Savers | Performed live: | Full appearance
on YouTube |
|
| 2002-08-02 | United States | CBS | The Early Show | Performed live: | Full appearance
on YouTube |
|
| 2002-08-13 | United States | NBC | Late Night with Conan O'Brien | Performed live: | Full appearance
on YouTube |
|
| 2002-12-26 | United States | TechTV | Call For Help | Performed live: | Full appearance
on YouTube |
Video-called in remotely for the Call For Help-A-Thon 2002. |
| 2003-03-23 | United States | Nickelodeon | Nick News | Interview. Snippet of Older performed live. | Full segment
on YouTube |
|
| 2003-04-29 | United States | TechTV | The Screen Savers | Performed live: | Full appearance
on YouTube |
|
| 2003-09-04 | United States | TechTV | The Screen Savers | Performed live:
|
Full appearance
on YouTube |
Debut of Stalk Of Wheat. Particle Man performed with John Linnell on Stylophone. |
| 2004-01-11 | United States | Adult Swim | Home Movies | Featuring: | S4E2, "Camp". John and John also provide voices for summer camp counselors Mike and Miguel throughout the episode. | |
| 2004-05-10 | United States | Nickelodeon | Blue's Clues | Lipsynced: | Full appearance
on YouTube |
S6E9, "Bluestock". |
| 2004-08-13 | United States | NBC | Late Night with Conan O'Brien | Performed live: | Full appearance
on YouTube |
|
| 2005-02-12 | United States | NBC | Today | Performed live: | ||
| 2005-02-15 | United States | NBC | Late Night with Conan O'Brien | Performed live: | Full appearance
on YouTube |
|
| 2005-05-13 | United States | ABC | Nightline | John Flansburgh profile on Beck. | on YouTube | |
| 2007-07-13 | United States | NBC | Late Night with Conan O'Brien | Performed live: | Full appearance
on YouTube |
John Linnell plays the celesta. |
| 2007-10-12 | United States | CBS | The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson | Performed live: | on YouTube | |
| 2007-10-19 | United States | CBS | The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson | Performed live: | on YouTube | Recorded on 2007-10-12. |
| 2007-12-01 | United States | Disney Channel | Higglytown Heroes | Voice acting (as Themselves).
Featuring: |
on YouTube | S3, "Bingo Bongos". Marty Beller, unvoiced, also appears. |
| 2007-12-09 | United States | Adult Swim | Xavier: Renegade Angel | John Flansburgh makes a live-action cameo as Xavier's computer. | Scenes clipped
on YouTube |
S1E6, "World of Hurt, B.C." |
| 2008-01-06 | United States | Adult Swim | Xavier: Renegade Angel | John Flansburgh makes a live-action cameo as Xavier's computer. | Scenes clipped
on YouTube |
S1E9, "Signs from Godrilla". |
| 2008-04-10 | United States | NBC | Late Night with Conan O'Brien | Performed live: | Full appearance
on YouTube |
|
| 2009-02-12 | United States | NBC | Late Night with Conan O'Brien | Performed live: | Full appearance
on YouTube |
Portraits commemorate Lincoln and Darwin's shared birthday. |
| 2009-10-06 | United States | NBC | Late Night with Jimmy Fallon | Performed live: | Dead web exclusive. | |
| 2009-12-11 | United States | CBS | The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson | Performed live: | Full appearance
on YouTube |
WDTSS featuring John Hodgman. |
| 2009-12-20 | United States | ABC | Good Morning America | Performed live: | on YouTube | |
| 2009-??-?? | United States | NBC | Talk Stoop | Interview. Snippet of Meet The Elements performed live. | Full appearance
on YouTube |
|
| 2011-07-27 | United States | NBC | Late Night with Jimmy Fallon | Performed live: | on YouTube: | Birdhouse In Your Soul web exclusive. |
| 2011-07-29 | United States | Fuse TV | Hoppus on Music | Performed live:
|
on YouTube | Recorded on 2011-07-11 |
| 2012-01-26 | United States | TBS | Conan | Performed live: | on YouTube: | Ana Ng web exclusive. |
| 2013-05-24 | United States | NBC | Late Night with Jimmy Fallon | Performed live: |
|
Istanbul (Not Constantinople) web exclusive. |
| 2013-11-22 | Germany | WDR | Rockpalast | Performed live: | Streamable
from WDR |
The first half of the 2013-11-22 show. |
| 2015-05-06 | United States | TBS | Conan | Performed live: | Full appearance
on YouTube |
|
| 2018-02-28 | United States | TBS | Conan | Performed live: | Full appearance
on YouTube |
|
| 2018-12-25 | United States | PBS | Articulate with Jim Cotter | Interview | Full appearance
on YouTube |
|
| 2023-04-24 | United States | ABC | Jimmy Kimmel Live! | Performed live: | on YouTube | |
| 2025-05-06 | United States | ABC | Jimmy Kimmel Live! | Performed live: | on YouTube | Promoting Beast Of Horns. |
Canceled/Unknown Appearances[edit]
- An interview with both Johns for The Week In Rock was recorded in December 1988 (possibly mislabeled as Mouth to Mouth on the tour itinerary)[6] but it is unknown if it aired. A rip of the master tape can be seen here (mov)
- A 1989 promotional highlights CD for Spruchreif (Norddeutscher Rundfunk, Germany) includes Ana Ng, meaning the song was likely lip-synced at an unknown appearance in early 1989.
- The unofficial compilation "A Little Late Music - The Late Show (BBC) 1989-95" includes a theme for the show performed by They Might Be Giants, taken from an unknown appearance likely in 1989.
- An interview with John Flansburgh was recorded for Space Ghost Coast To Coast Episode 59: "Joshua", but the final episode (aired January 1, 1998) did not include it.[7]
![[6]](https://tmbw.net/wiki/File:1988_December_Itinerary.png){kind=link}