something I like about David Letterman

[Syrinx]

He shows loyalty to his old friends.

Where else on network television are you going to see performers like John Witherspoon, Gary Mule Deer, or Jimmie "JJ" Walker these days? Not that they are particularly funny. Last time I saw Jimmie Walker he was painfully unfunny.

But Jimmie Walker gave Dave a big break back in the seventies, by hiring him as a joke writer. David remembers that, and still feels grateful.

I think David Letterman was mostly apolitical for most of his life. But the hellish Bush years, and the very real and frightening threat of global climate change I think pushed him over to the left.

He's obviously friendly to gay people, judging from his executive staff.

And he has the most amusingly named charity organization that I know of: The American Foundation for Courtesy and Grooming.

Oh yeah. Jimmie "JJ" Walker will be on the show tonight, August 30, 2010.

And here's a photo I came across. The Comedy Store basketball team of 1978.

That's Dave on the top row, left, number nine. I think that's Tim "Venus Flytrap" Reid next to him. And at the other end, I think that's JJ, John Witherspoon, and Tom Dreesen (who was on the show very recently).



Oh yeah, add Johnny Dark to the list of mostly forgotten comics that have appeared on Letterman's show.

And an interesting tidbit I recently came across. In college, at Ball State, DL was in a comedy troupe of sorts with "future" Three's Company star Joyce DeWitt. He should have her on the show sometime.

[Dennis Donovan]

1. I really got turned on to Dave during his short-lived morning show in 1980...

...and have been one his biggest fans since. He really didn't deserve the "asshole" label Cher gave him in 1986, since he's probably the nicest guy in entertainment, bar none. It's funny that Leno was considered the "nice guy" all those years when he's probably the biggest back-biting tool on late night TV...

[lazarus]

5. I loved that morning show

it was genius.

[Syrinx]

6. I remember that show

I don't think the local NBC affiliate in Birmingham carried it, but I spent that summer with some relatives up north. It was a wild production -- sort of a surreal, outlaw kind of show. Hunter Thompson meets Salvador Dali meets Steve Allen... or something. ;)

I agree that Dave was never really an "asshole," but he used to a lot snarkier to his guests than he is nowadays. I think being a parent has softened him up a bit, but his rough edges were smoothed a long time before Harry was born.

I do kind of miss the stunts of the earlier days, and the bit where he would have Rupert saying rude things to people on the streets of New York. But I can understand him wanting to cut back on that stuff after he almost got Rupert stabbed. :)

[wookie72]

2. He also helped out Leno a lot

which is why I could never get behind Leno, the backstabbing schmuck.

Have you read Tim and Tom? If not, you need to. Great book.

[Syrinx]

7. I haven't read that book

But I remember seeing Tim and Tom making a joint appearance on the show promoting it. It sounded fascinating. Honestly, I don't buy a lot of books, but if I ever come across it at the library, I'll snap it up in an instant.

[wookie72]

10. It's a pretty decent book

At first you think "wow, why were they the only ones to think of a biracial comedy team?" and then you think, "oh, yeah, that's why."

The really interesting thing is that they are very different people. Dreeson is a born stand-up comic who loves showbiz, whereas Reid took it as a springboard to a much broader career.

[Rhiannon12866]

3. I agree with you on all points and he's a favorite of mine, too...

I remember seeing Jimmie Walker on his show long after noticing that he was making an appearance in a small town here in NY. I remember the days when every kid wore a "Dyno-mite!" T-shirt... :(

I also had the privilege of being in his studio audience in 2008 and he's amazingly cordial to his in-house audience, too. After the show, he made it a point to come out and thank us. He's a class act. :)

Wish I could recommend this post, my friend... :hi:

[Syrinx]

8. hello Rhiannon!

I think I recall reading that post about your visit to the Ed. Or maybe you told me about it before.

You're such a positive, sweet soul. Thanks. :loveya:

[Rhiannon12866]

12. Hello, my friend,

And I did mention my visit to Letterman. I also went to see The Daily Show a few months later and that was cool, too, but very much different. With Letterman, we just stood in line, got instructions from friendly interns and chatted with others who were waiting. When we went to The Daily Show, we were repeatedly told which weapons we couldn't bring in, went through metal detectors and even had to remove our belts... :wow: Jon Stewart was very nice, though, and certainly very funny... :D

And thank you for the compliment, my friend. I rarely lose my temper on the board, but yesterday I got crap for dissing celebrity news, and instead of hitting back, I considered just hiding for awhile... :hide: :( :pals:

[glinda]

4. Heart David big time and also Craig.

[Syrinx]

9. I really liked Craig's show for the first couple of years

Instead of the usual rat-a-tat-tat of jokes in his monologue, he would tell very interesting, personal stories. It was a breath of fresh air. And hilarious. I even downloaded (on dialup) the one where he talked about coming to Birmingham to do stand-up comedy. But he seems to have run out of stories. I'm really getting tired of his puppets. He's still a very charming guy though.

[glinda]

11. I think he is evolving. Love his mockery of tv entertainment with the puppets.

[NorthCarolinaLiberty]

13. Adapted his style

I really don't watch him any more for some reason, but went to his show around 1998. If you even get a chance to go, then go. The tickets were free then, and probably still are free. The studio atmosphere is much different than watching at home. You get caught up in it, and it is funnier.

I also saw Conan around 2001. I have not watched him in years, but that is also a different atmosphere in person.

[mackerel]

14. I remember that Letterman morning show! Fantastic!