You're The Roots. You were hired for this because you're The Roots. It's not like the CBS Orchestra, who, while they are fantastic musicians (anyone who's been to a Letterman taping would agree, I believe), were hired not just for their musical ability but for their ability to adopt multiple styles of music without a problem (one of their favorite between-commercials instrumentals is a Tool song, for God's sake).

You guys weren't hired to be something you're not, or to adapt to various musical styles. You were hired because you're The Motherfucking Roots. If Lorne & Co. wanted something more like a traditional late-night talk-show band, that's what they would have hired. They wanted you.

Don't get me wrong: that doesn't mean you can't stretch yourselves if you want to. Just understand that there's no pressure to do so unless you put that pressure on yourselves. Just be yourselves and have fun with it, and the audience will have fun along with you.

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For the audience in the studio, tell them you're playing something special for them that the people at home can't hear. They'll feel like insiders.

As for Lorne, well, he's just like any boss. Ask for his opinion on something that actually doesn't matter. He feels like he's getting respect and cred but you're not beholden to what he suggests because it's not a real dilemma.

Also, I wouldn't like being called a Pooh-like pile. Even in the non-scatological sense, we're still talking about a make-believe bear that never wore pants and was always strung out on hunny.

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