Mandy Patinkin - Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

[hibob418]

Guys, what's all the hostility? This was a running gag. After Letterman came over to CBS, they'd pull this bit where Tony Randall and Mandy would bust in during the middle of Dave talking, ask if he could rehearse, and then Mandy would completely bring down the house with a standard, and then they'd run out without breaking character. It was great TV, and a nod to a time when anything could (and would) happen on a network variety show - it's why you tuned in. Kudos, thanks for posting!

[TheAdchix]

Simply amazing.

[hellozio]

the audience laugh as  if they are nervous, of course that great wanker dave dosent help.

[lovemywolfie]

Waves of goosebumps the whole song! Mandy!!!

[HeyBuddyGotALight]

hahaha, it's gideon.

[SantaTracker2000]

@HeyBuddyGotALight Yes lol hehe

[Drbarrelroll369]

I got goosebumps from this in school, well I don't think people are laughing at this because it's funny but because it's unexpected and the way he it's done, the situation if you will.

[karin32288]

I would be nice with better quality, but still reflect reality.

[CarolPetunia]

He's a natural wonder. What a blast!



[MiyuEmi]

My name is Inigo Montoya, you kill my father, prepare to die.  He's amazing, but whenever I see him, I can't get that line out of my head!

[kavtoM]

I get the cheering, but what are they laughing at?

[wanlockhead]

See Charlie Palloys version, it'll beak yer heart.

x

[MarcBrewer]

Great Yip Harburg song! I didn't see any yellow post-it notes, so I guess Mandy/Rube was not there on reaper business.

[UselessTrivia]

Is it just me or is this song incredibly haunting and really not funny or *clap-worthy* at all.

[Eye2EyeIIIV]

It's Inigo Montoya! lol

I read he's Jewish - that's cool

[CapSkip145]

what I Wouldn't give to be able to meet this man and hear him sing this song.

[angel83119]

I Love him!!!

[tuxguys]

7/17/11: Well, well, back again to this amazing, and prescient, footage...

Notice how visually beautiful, and perfectly directed, this segment is...

This may SEEM spontaneous (brilliantly so), but this was PLANNED.

[rvlqcitizen]

@krabbyappleton It's happening again and Joe the Plumber won't know what hit em. All the folk who were living high on the credit hog and buyin Chinese shit, all the while not even CARING that their towns were drying up RIGHT BEFORE THEIR APATHETIC GIVE IT TO ME NOW EYES because they were buying all this foreign made shit from Walmart,are gonna blame it on folk that ended up on the dole cause there arent jobs HERE anymore and call for their heads in the guillotine. Left/right b.s will be the end

[triskweline]

That's your States of America. Fascinating country and the strongtest people of all.

[atombomb31458]

tony randall could still run pretty fast at his age..

[ShagohodArkan]

Omg, he is awesome!! :D is the first time i hear of him, but gosh..... :D

[mcleanartists]

Patinkin & Rosenberg!

[ugha323a]

@mcleanartists

Yeah, both left wing asshats.

[tuxguys]

@ugha323a

I think the reference was to Patinkin playing a character based on Julius Rosenberg in a movie in the early '80's.

[zappafanman]

Brilliant song, well delivered, idiotically received.

[ugha323a]

@zappafanman

Thats because people are DUMB in AmeriKa now

[mhstpt]

It is called doing a bit. Television used to be filled with the soaring talents of day just stopping by and eliciting all sorts of emotions from the audience. The impact of Tony Randall and mandy Patinkin walking in unannounced, as if randomly wandering onto the stage had to have been overwhelming. It also was not cavalier. Tony lived through much of the 20th century and Mandy's singular talents cannot be denied.

[sa65cn1]

This song is not funny! it was written in the 1930's about how men went to WWI and came home did WPA work and then were kicked to the curb. This is happening today in the USA.

[kginsbo]

@sa65cn1

Thanks for the astute observation! I don't think anyone thinks the song is funny, it's the set up and concept that's funny.

[TheCrazycook14]

I love Mandy's voice! :)

[reevolution137]

They had no idea what he was singing about. My generation will soon understand

[MrFunxy]

That beard is almost as epic as his voice! XD

[rexmundi2012]

The audience doesn't seem to "get it".

No matter.

Little do they realise that they will soon enough know exactly what this song means.

Give it time.......

It'll come again.

[illiteratellipsis]

How is he not sweating bullets wearing a coat and a sweatshirt under stagelights?

[toby0cooper]

He sounds so much like Hugh Jackman at the start!

[FWYGINOND]

I love this guy's version! The song is great too.

[2460199]

I think the audience is getting too much of a hard time here. Yes, it's not a light-hearted song, but look at the context. If Patinkin had been a scheduled guest on the show and told the audience he was going to sing a heart wrenching song about the depression, the reaction would have been different. He's playing it straight, but also playing it for laughs. Listen to the band accompaniment build-up, especially 2:32 to the end, and tell me they don't want the crowd to go wild with cheering.

[frankietrent]

Awesome! Back in the day when Dave wasn't a jackass.

[Lucindavay]

Why are people lauphing? Claping? Are you guys that insensitive? You guys should be a shame of yourself, this guy is a excelent singer, but the audiance sux.

[CulturePeaceForever]

Oooooh,my Gosh,That is Mandy Patinkin????? I just recalled he also acted in Ragtime..dang,the guy is talented,and his voice is really nice..

[goldbird29]

Bravo!!

[theallyobrero]

Interrupting Mandy Patinkin while he's singing by laughing, and then clapping in the middle of the song? Blasphemy.

[GriffonKeeper]

God, people are such idiots. Keep laughing. Yeah, its the funniest song ever written.

[krammit69]

I remember watching this on Letterman and being blown away. That's back when Letterman's show was good. I'll just leave it at that.

[sa65cn1]

Wasp9, I agree with you completely, especially now, I haveln't had a good job in 18 months !!!. At the time this peice was done it was obviously interrputed differently.

[Elenitaabc]

su conducta es muy graciosa

[broadwaystar2011]

Mandy, I LOVE YOU! Haha

[solredoc]

bravo. molto bravo.

[wasp9]

Why the fuck were laughing?

This is a song about the depression, which people were fortunate enough not to have to experience.

[huxley12s]

i going to see he in concert on september 26

[dantelara]

@huxley12s ...WHERE???

[huxley12s]

@dantelara

at Queensborough PAC

222-05 56th Avenue

Bayside, NY 11364

he doing two show around 3pm and 7pm

[majik2hanz]

Wish someone would get the "Rockabye My Baby" Patinkin sang on Letterman show. This running gag of Tony Randall and Patinkin stopping by was vintage old time radio style hijinks with video. What makes it funny is that oft times the audience couldn't really figure it out and couple that with Dave giving them madcap reign to liven up the normally boring comic routine. Dave was best from mid 80's to early 90's most of his stuff is crap now.

[setalip68]

Patinkin's rendition of this classic embittered depression era song is actually very moving. A shame that it's bit lost on Letterman's audience.

[2460199]

Mandy Patinkin is fantastic, but it's Tony Randall here that cracks me up.

[TheTurczyn]

I like to see mandy and josh groban to a song together. that would be great

[zapwatt]

Mandy Patinkin=genius

[ErnestStation]

Great! Thanks. Reminds me of when TV was free and worth every penny'

[heavyd1313]

Dude's awesome. Loved him in the princess bride and dead like me. never got to see him live unfortunately.

[surrealfarm]

@heavyd1313 I was able to see him perform live in Evita many years ago. He is brilliant!

[heavyd1313]

@surrealfarm that would've been great!

[laylo777]

So this is why Agent Gideon retired.. he turned into a hobo.

[SurekillPA]

@laylo777

This clip is 10+ years older than "Criminal Minds". Patinkin is a singer first, actor second; theater first, film second. Considering his vocal talents, his preference for stage over film, and singing over acting, is understandable (by me at least).

[xander7ful]

Tony Randall was still pretty spry there and must still have been in good shape to run and jump off the stage. I'd agree with early 90s or late 80s.

[shroomduke]

@xander7ful

Tony Randall lived to be 84 and he was always in very good shape.

Tony Randall February 26, 1920 May 17, 2004 Beloved actor, humanitarian and New York icon

RIP!

[jdeppluver1599]

hes hot with a beard... go mandy! amazing talent!

[tuxguys]

Why am I so drawn to this performance? I discover something new every time I see this footage... this time, I notice that the crowd, once they begin clapping along with Patinkin's singing, is clapping on '2' and '4,' which means they are SWINGING. If they were under a tent, you could pass a collection plate... this is WONDERFUL.

[tuxguys]

Look at the guy with the beard standing up applauding by the door, as they run out (2:49): Dennis Miller?

[SeptemberStarz]

I just learned about the Great Depression in class and my teacher played this... It's amazing how little I knew... Life really was terrible... But I do love this song, 5 stars and favorited

[ShermansAlley]

1) This has to be post-1993, because it looks like the Ed Sullivan Theater, not Letterman's NBC studio.

2) Tony Randall can really move for a man 70+ years old.

3) Letterman's sycophantic audience will laugh and/or applaud anything, whether it makes sense or not. There's nothing funny here, but they're still laughing. When he admitted to the affair, they laughed at THAT!

4) This is one of the great songs of Americana, powerfully sung. I watched this maybe 30 times in ONE DAY. Incredible..

[tuxguys]

I think I disagree about the date: The band set-up (quartet, everybody else to the stage-right of Shaffer) is pre-CBS, thus pre-1993. (I also recall seeing this in my apartment when it aired prior to my being married, so I can vouch that it's pre-1986...)

[ShermansAlley]

I'm not disagreeing with you, tuxguys. If you personally remember this, I take you at your word. But when Patinkin and Randall run off the stage and out the door at the end, it doesn't look like Letterman's old NBC studio to me. Remember, that was a studio, not a theater, so there was no "stage" there. And I don't remember that door being there either.

[tuxguys]

Let me simply thank you for the graciousness of your response, and to concur that this is a priceless piece of musical Americana. Jolson, Crosby, even Valee f'godsake, sounded great doing this tune. (I think Judy Collins did it as a bossa nova...)

[Phanatical92]

Why the hell is the audience laughing?

[Cettoto]

@Phanatical92

To deal with the unexpected event of having THE Mandy Patinkin come and sing for them.

[lyletuck]

Because of the way Mandy and Tony interrupted the show, supposedly to "rehearse" in front of Dave's audience. It was unexpected, and the audience didn't know when he was going to be finished. Every pregnant pause became a cause for delight, thus the laughing.

This is one of my all-time favorite moments from any David Letterman show. Mandy rips this song apart.

[Schneider10101]

Fuckin' A!

[kkd1976]

I remember watching this as a kid.... some time in the early 90's, it blew me away as a kid. now I watch it and understand the lyrics and have tears build up because of the performance. amazing

[NYCBostero]

I thought I was the only one that thought the same thing. At first I thought it was just another skit, but as the song progressed I remember saying how amazing he sings.

And like you, as I hear the words now, I feel the same thing. I'm speechless.

[bobf4428]

My God - I still remember seing this when I was younger. I was just as impressed then as I am now! What a performance! :-)

[kkd1976]

me too, can't remember when but it stuck with me. that is an amazing voice and what a performance.

[43oun]

WOW..what a performance _^

[bonfid]

It's amazing the perspective that 20 or 25 years can give you. I remember watching this live when I was a kid and thinking that my Grandma would like this, now I'm bawling like a baby.

[TalklikeAPirate]

Does anyone know when this might have taken place? what year?

[tuxguys]

I believe it was somewhere between 1982 and 1984.

[frankantoniomartin]

I am not sure when the Letterman show was, but the album was released on October 25, 1990. His cover of "Brother can you spare a dime" is very moving. know almost 20 years later it has a lot of resonance.

[tuxguys]

Post-modern entertainment? Meta-entertainment? I saw this when it first aired, didn't know Mandy could sing and was knocked out by how good he was; doubly knocked out by how flawless a "listener" (acting term, kids) Tony is in the scene; triply knocked out by how the audience finds itself having conflicted responses (hilarity at the set-up, stunned silence at the intensity and content); quadruply knocked out that it seems to be a genuine surprise to Dave.

Was it really a surprise to him?

[Masamage]

It was a surprise, yeah. Mandy was on the way to another gig, and was already buddies with Letterman, so he decided to just drop in and get some extra practice. That's why he's in costume, and has to hurry away so fast at the end.

[tuxguys]

Fair enough, but explain, please, Tony Randall's presence and involvement.

[birdstuckinchimney]

Nope

[tuxguys]

"Nope, " what?

[cubanbach]

Patinkin is a great performer/singer....still not used as much as he should be!

[Erabot]

As cool as Letterman ever got.

[mroneoftheguys]

Seen this when it came on David's show...As I remember he did a couple more...yes, it was something and made me go to the record store to look up his recordings...One of the best male voices to ever sing on Broadway......

[souldiver101]

That was hilarious. I love Mandy.

[surfpretzelbsa]

hes got such a beautiful voice

[Zipppppppp]

what a brilliant man

[Zipppppppp]

look! Paul still had hair then LOL

[MRotman]

Remember when TV used to be good and was actually funny? Sigh.

[flaggfam]

he did that!

[FStaff63]

This was actually a reoccurring bit that evolved, but the premises for this one was basically during a lull in the show Tony Randall and Mandy Patinkin would quickly run in and Randall would announce that they were late on their way to the theater to do the big Big Show, but they heard Dave was bombing that night so they stopped off to do a quick rehearsal and maybe save Daves show in the process. Patinkin would kill and then they would quickly run back out and continue on to Broadway.

[Talloweed]

Thanks for clearing that up!

[BethDiane]

I think the idea is that we're supposed to believe that Mandy Patinkin is a street person and that Tony Curtis at first allows him to sing with the band and then chases him offstage.

[Masamage]

I always figured they were laughing because they were so startled. That and happy. I know I laugh when I watch it for those reasons.

[blackpython]

I honestly don't know what the audience is laughing at. I feel like it doesn't get ridiculous until Tony Randall chases him out of the theater.

[ashkank2002]

Do audience think they have to laugh for no reason?

[gdmadix]

I don't think it is over the top It was meant to be humerous. His involvement in his music is legendary.

[pjcgatsby]

it's true, he is over the top. in an interview on youtube he acknowledged it, saying that this is his temperament. i applaud his williningness to be who he is--over the top and a little bit annoying. but then there's the man's talent which is absolutely unequically awesome. that voice! if he was around fifty years earlier, he'd be the biggest star in the world--that was a time when audiences went for the fireworks like that. you gotta hand it to the guy; he's got that awesome talent.

[noidea63]

I absolutely love Mandy. Bravo!

[MrsMe16]

He was Inigo Montoya, everyone's argument about this being bad is irrelevant.

[blackpython]

I like your logic

[Quixote010]

This is a fantastic version.. I wish he would record it without the audience interference.

[Masamage]

I know he has a version on his self-titled album, but I'm not sure it's exactly the same.

[northshore7x]

this was an awesome preformance by mandy......laughter turns to cheers.......

[Talloweed]

Seeing Tony Randall stand to the side and enjoy the song like a fine wine makes it even better.

[Oplexicon]

....prepare to die.

Mandy is awesome!

[Jaimo1985]

Awesome!

[MorriganBlackkite]

Beautiful, I never heard this before. Great thanks for uploading.

[rachmaninovbrahms]

what the hell are these people laughing at! are they hearing the words?? Anyway, Mandy is great

[aminmontrose]

Obviously the seven green thumbs show that a lot of people are going to disagree with me, but I think they're laughing at Mandy because he is over the top and contrived. I've been to his concerts a few times, and I'm always so intrigued by the obliviousness of some of his hard-core fan. He is WAY over the top - And funny as a result. He is just false, false, false. Personally, I love broadway, I love musicals, and your old school 'smultzy' performing but Mandy is SO INSINCERE to distraction.

[blackpython]

I admit, when left to his own devices (when he doesn't have a director or musical director) Mandy is incredibly over the top, but at the points they were laughing at... he was just standing there and singing. He didn't even get to the over the top parts yet! Though I think when Mandy has a director he is a fantastic performer. Which is why I have some of his solo albums, but will always listen to his cast recordings over them if given the choice.

[someonezmom]

@rachmaninovbrahms

take a look at the "Letterman" cuts..sheesh relax..we all love Mandy!

[dave1argaman]

wonderfull

[dangervich]

In the teens of the 20th century, Oswald Spengler, in The Decline of the West, wrote that one of the key features of the end of a culture was when one couldn't tell sensation from feeling. Thank God Mandy Patinkin at least shows us the difference: and how to feel! A hero!

[zaloo]

when did this air?

[SomeStrangeFreak]

rube is awesome!

[lyletuck]

Jeez, he really has some serious pipes. I'm so glad somebody posted this. I didn't think it would be here when I searched for it, but I was wrong!

[bonesmoloney16]

is there anything this man cant do to absolute perfection?will alwaya miss gideon!but what a performer!!!

[coo428]

There is also one more of these that I would love to see again where they burst in and Mandy sings Rockabye Your Baby With a Dixie Melody...it's awesome!! Someone please post that!!

[muzzleray]

totally amazing performer, intense sincerity.

[giantballoon]

I remember seeing this when it aired, Tony Randall come into the studio and asks Dave if he "can have this kid sing a song?" it was really funny, so I think any laughing is a result of the spontaneous moment (Dave's reaction, etc...), not at the content of the song or Mandy's performance.

[wellershill]

Fair point. I think it is a combination of what you say, plus Letterman getting a cheap laugh when the camera cuts to him (maybe unintentionally - he wasn't in the control room), and people laughing an embarrassed and surprised laugh at suddenly getting something serious and moving in a light entertainment show. I think Mandy was serious though, as muzzleray says.

[dackjaniels555]

What are those idiots in the audience laughing at?!

[mrdandrea]

I was watching this when it first aired and the hilarity was in the spontaneity of the event for it is one of those rare unrehearsed moments as even Dave did not know what was going on. I don't understand the problem ... are we supposed to be sobbing?

[wellershill]

They are laughing because they are ignorant morons who don't know what Americans went through in the Depression - not the rich ones - they did fine - ordinary people suffered - just like now under Bush. Beautiful singing Mandy.

[MacToronto]

I remember watching this, seems Mandy and Tony were walking by the theatre and wandered in and asked if he could sing something...it was wild. I'm not a fan of his voice (he's always too falcetto) but this song is fantastic and what gusto!

[johnnieanon]

They don't write 'em like this anymore (Yip Harburg). A fantastic performance -- the innate absurdity of Letterman's show turns out to be the perfect atmosphere for the juxtaposed poignancy of this Depression-era gem.

[averyellis]

is his set under construction or something?

[mrdandrea]

It caught me off guard as it did almost everyone. The climax is in the last note ... and the laughing did not wreck this classic moment for me. The old Jewish/Hebrew proverb says that "even in laughter, the heart is sorrowful." (Pr 14:13) Mandy Patinkin embodied the Cinderella Man here in song!

[tabfiend]

I get the impression that Patinkin was in an "intense" mood and really feeling the meaning behind this song, and Letterman (for once) had no idea what was going on........ It's a shame the audience were laughing and thinking it was a pre-arranged joke.

[JackalopeChar]

How sad people are laughing through what is such a poignant song from the Great Depression era!

Mandy P. does a lovely job of singing it.

[olddeudynku]

wow!

[Leonardswomanthiswee]

mandy is the ninth wonder of the world.

[iamtheperfectcrime]

That was... something. I have no idea WHAT that was, but I like it.

[yellohcard]

that was fantastic!

[AxisAnalysis]

These bits were always fantastic.

[Mambu152]

thanks - i remember when this first aired - great performance