Occasionally letterman would call a nearby shop owner and have him run around saying things that Dave told him to say via phone or walkie talkie... Anybody remember that guys name?
It's funny...Dave and Conan were both 46 when they did their last show on the "Late Night" franchise. Somehow...Dave seems much older at 46 than CoCo. Probably his demeanor.
By that standard...Jimmy Fallon has ten years left. He's currently 36. So in ten years...NBC can offer him the Tonight Show, he'll take it, then they'll replace him yet again with Leno after seven months. Or he can accept a lucrative offer to replace Conan at TBS after Conan is picked to replace Dave at CBS.
One thing I can say for David over Leno: At least he didn't steal his old show back from Conan. Then again, he was under contract with CBS. But even if that weren't the case, he wouldn't have taken the show back from Conan.
@gswoop40 Well, I'll explain to you then. Yes, your comment proves you love Dave. But for no reason, you felt the need to insult people who like Leno by calling them "Mostly Uneducated People". I would assume this guy is a fan of Leno and didn't appreciate that.
@gswoop40 You´re so right to love Letterman....he really has the greatest intellect of all those hosts....to say sth like that will always make you unpopular, but it´s just the truth. You can see that in his cynical comments and his clever kind of telling a simple joke, when he knows it´s a stupid one ;-). Dave ist just the greatest!!! Plus, in interviews like the one with Paris Hilton 2009 you just see why he has always been, is and will always be better than that Leno-asshole.
We just didnt know how damn good we had it when letterman was on 11:30 on NBC. Money ruined him....CBS runined him,....and he ruined him. Late Night was great....now it sucks bad...
also, i think there's too much unnecessary obsession over the 11:30 time slot...sure, that means you're the first one on in the lineup, but coming from an edgy, take-no-prisoners 12:30 show, wouldn't it just be cringe-worthy to nearly shift your comedic persona for a "mainstream" 11:30 audience?? We're talking about doing shit not for your own happiness but for the happiness of five million strangers watching at home...it seems like its quantity over quality in the late night game.....
@GD29 i think what is so iconic about the 11:30 timeslot is because it is The TONIGHT show. the one Carson hosted. for people like Dave... this guy is their idol. they worship-- well Dave does anyway. don't know about leno. Carson never even went on his show. but kept in touch with letterman and has appeared on his show after his 'retirement.'. the tonight show is symbolic. this is why dave wanted the 11:30 shift. just like Conan wanted it.
@foxpawz i understand the legacy of the show and believe me i respect it on all levels but in the end, espiacelly after leno took over, it's just another of the many network shows on television. comedians past and present worship the tonight show for more of what carson did with it rather than just the show itself....after all, it is the platform where many of today's top stars got their big break and as much as dave and conan want to imitate that, they can't...there's only one carson....
Wow. Letterman gets screwed by Leno and NBC, now Conan gets screwed by Leno and NBC. Will Leno be still alive and all to screw Fallon over by the time that comes?
only question is where would they put conan? CBS has seen what would happen if they do a talk show before the late news...and we all know how that turned out...
i have a bold prediction... conan obrien obrien will take over the late show when dave retires and craig ferguson will retire and never be heard from again..... pains me to say that
I guess Leno had to steal ONE LAST JOKE from David Letterman when Leno had Trump "fire him" on his 10 o'clock show (appears at 2:48 in this video). I'm reading The Late Shift now, which I recommend to everyone watching this video!!
@colpetne if fallon is smart, after about ten years or so with the "late night" gig, he should just say fuck it and move to another network to avoid what happened to dave and conan cuz god knows if leno will ACTUALLY retire before he dies....knowing his insane work ethic, "the tonight show with jay leno" will continue on into his afterlife...what do you think? if leno pulls another "I'll retire", will he actually go through with it?
no way Letterman is KING of late night. Leno will just have to blame someone else when his poor ratings continue. Conando will come back and it shall be glorious. but i need my Letterman too !
Actually, "JayWalking" was first done by Steve Allen, the original Tonight Show host. He was the one who coined the phrase "man on the street interview." Dave stole it from Steve, and Jay stole it from Dave. That's kind of a Tonight Show staple. I don't recall Jack Paar ever doing it but he might have. I don't think we have much archived video from the Allen or Paar days.
Letterman invented MANY of the skits that Jay Leno has used over the years when he was at NBC. "HEADLINES" was called "SMALL TOWN NEWS" and was used extensively throughout the 80s on the NBC Late Night With David Letterman. While Letterman DIDN'T call it "Jaywalking", he did use the camera on the street more than any other talk show host during his time (especially during the NBC era) and would ask many people questions to stump them.
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juliet97, Letterman didn't do headlines first and he did bring over all of his stuff from NBC like the Top Ten List, Stupid Human/Pet Tricks, and even his theme song. I suppose you think Letterman came up with Jay walking too and Leno stole that. Yeah, and Conan ripped off Triumph and the Masterbating bear.
Letterman brought hip to tv before any of these other guys thought about having a tv show. ALl those acts like leno's headlines were already done by Letterman. But as we all know, those were the property of NBC. A lot of stuff Letterman couldn't do at cbs because of all the lawsuits.
Dave is smart. His humor is smart. People who prefer Dave over Jay have actually read a book...One has to have a certain intellect to appreciate Dave's humor. Jay appeals to a broader (read: Mostly Uneducated People) audience.
@goddamnit345 Pekar published literary and jazz criticism throughout his life. Just because he was working class doesn't mean he's not brilliant and scholarly.
@gswoop40 I've actually thought about what you have said before and I agree. Letterman definitely is an intelligent person and has an incredibly original sense of humor.
@gswoop40 Agreed sometimes it takes a genius to know a genius....Nobody has the comedic wit of Letterman when it comes to throwing in a funny unexpected remark or joke....people rea words but Dave reads the entire convo
@gswoop40 Boy, what a smarmy, self-serving opinion. Could you really be that much of a dick? I see nothing 'extra-intellectual' about Letterman. He's just dry, that's all. He's actually more awkward of an interviewer than Jay, but I guess somehow that makes him more hip. Letterman's sense of humor is what is known as 'twee'. So what you're saying is that only stupid people prefer to hear a monologue filled with well-written jokes delivered by one of the country's best stand-ups ever?
@jumpoutatree Jay Leno used to be one of the best stand ups. He isn't now, and all the top comedians of today agree with that. And I respect their opinion a hell of a lot more than some youtube commenter who probably hasn't even seen Leno's stand up and is just going by what he's heard. Leno does simple jokes, about simple things, and that's all his show is. It isn't comedy. It's lame stand up that you can hear at your local bar on comedy night.
@theodorelaurence Notice I said 'one of the best stand-ups ever'... and any comedian who disagrees is a comedian who hasn't been around long enough to remember when Jay Leno used to be one of the biggest names in the business. I never said anything about how I personally rank Leno today. It would be very far down on the list, but it would be higher than Letterman, that's for sure. I don't like being in the position where I feel I have to defend Leno, but the irrational hate for him is crazy.
@gswoop40 What class-conscious nonsense. So Dave viewers have read a book? What a high standards you have. I hope for the sake of Dave's ratings his educated viewers do not decide to read another book.
Leno said a few months ago that he thought he was a better comedian, but that Letterman was a better broadcaster. I think that's a fair statement. I still far perfer Letterman, but the ratings told the story of who most people prefered.
Leno is more scripted funny Dave is more off the top of his head funny....Leno beat Dave in ratings because Dave was an asshole when he hosted the awards and he is kind of harsh....Dave didnt get the celebs Leno got because dave did what he wanted to do with celebs but still both in prime I would have to say Dave comes out on top would you agree? I mean Daves ratings in 93/94 Leno has never ever seen.
@somewhatlongdong that's because Jay appeals to a broader audience. And that broader audience is far less sophisticated than Jay's audience. I don't think Jay has had Tom Waits on as a guest very often. I also don't think he would ever devote an entire show to Warren Zevon. Jay's audience are similar to people who actually care about American Idol...
There was a certain chemistry that NBC had "back then". Dave's show was funny, and most of what the network put up was quality. Something happened when GE took control of the network. Too much control and regulation - who knows. I think Dave hit it on the head when he said "If GE had a sense of humor". They apparently didn't... and the network suffers to this very day with blandness. The only exception I can see is "The Office", which is totally off-the-hook funny.
You don't have to worry about it anymore David Letterman fans. The Late show with david letterman on cbs had just beaten the tonight show with conan o'brien for 4 weeks in a row. I just heard that he's going for his 5th week beaten conan o'brien in the ratings.
its such a shame to see whats happened to late night today. Jimmy Fallon is the absolute worst late night talk show host ever. Seriously, how could NBC pick him to host, following in the footsteps of legends like Letterman and Conan. Fallon is an immature giddy giggly little tool, is not funny, and blows dick at interviewing. When hes not busy giggling annoyingly, hes helping to make his guests feel awkward.
Jimmy Fallon is off to a weak start, but I remember Conan and Letterman were weak when they first started out. Maybe Fallon needs some time to develop. Worst host ever? I think that title belongs to Magic Johnson, now that was a real bad show.
Fallons had plenty of time to develop, he was on SNL for a while and even did a movie. Conan on the other hand had ZERO experience doing TV so he obviously needed time to develop, plus you could see the potential in him even when he first started. Fallon on the other hand is already pretty set in his TV personality, he's not going to change much and frankly I don't see any potential at all. Hes just not funny or witty or any good at talking to people, and hes insanely giggly and annoying.
Damn straight! Other then taking a few cues from Carson and Steve Allen, he was so inventive. He created segments that even Carson would steal. He may be far from his prime, but Letterman is still by far the best interviewer on late night. I like some of Jay's comedy, but he's still terrible at interviews after all these years...Fallon is HORRIBLE!!!
I agree with you...Letterman is not as funny as Carson but nobody and I mean nobody has the personality and skill to host a talk show better then David Letterman.....people forget the old Dave and judge him on what he is like today...but I always ask if Michael Jordan was still in the NBA today would he be the same?
That's a perfect analogy about Jordan. He's now not the innovative Dave of "Late Night", but he's still funny, a great interviewer, and a much nicer person then people beleive. People have been calling him things like "pedophile" and "scumbag" since the scandal...Just don't get it because, though (not defending what he did) he was with Regina for many years, they wern't married yet. Letteman handled the situation with a hell of a lot more integrity then a lot of show-biz people would have.
Wow...I really like Dave's old blue set. I wish it was kept the same,, but oh well, the new set was good.
I think Dave was good on CBS till about the last 5 or 6 years. Dave just gets so relaxed in this job, and that's one thing I do really admire about Jay, in that he has more of a duty to Stand up as he still performs it outside of the Tonight Show. Dave used to be so off-the-wall that we just don't see anymore.
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No, don't think so. Remember, Dave and Jay were good friends too at one time. Though I don't think Dave would be upset at Conan personally, he's upset by hearing any new host in general. He has never gotten over the fact he lost that show and you can see it in his overall bitterness ever since. He's a grumpy old man driven by what he perceives to be that missed goal. He's swims in negativity.
I'm in the rare camp of liking both guys for diff. reasons. Like Jay's monologue, but like Dave's comedy pieces more. And Dave isn't edgy?? He's turned into a bulldog interviewer, never afraid to razz guests about tabloid stuff. Conan ebbs and flows, can't imagine what his 11:35 show will be like.
Kimmell is ok, Ferguson's affable but rambles too much, Daly has good bits now and then...but does NOT have the timing or delivery of a comedian.
No, it's bad compared to the NBC days. Dave lost his edge as soon as The Late Show started. No longer edgy, no longer dangerous, no longer smart ass. He gained acceptance by the masses and lost acceptance by the college crowd, by the smart ass audience who idolized him, by the quirky crowd who idolized him. The dull masses now accept him. Ho hum. I miss the old Dave. I was a huge fan of Dave's who could not imagine ever not being a huge fan.
Carson will always be the king, but Letterman is my guy. I was in college when the show debuted, which was the perfect age for what they were going for. I taped it every night to watch it the next day, in those early days of VCRs. Letterman's smartass humour and journalistic interview style had a huge pop culture impact. The same can't be said for Leno, or Conan, or any other host you care to name.
i'm a college student but i don't relate to conan's humor at all. Letterman's smartass humor, as daryl said, puts him in a class by himself. I wish i could have seen his earlier shows live.
You're right, "bad" is a subjective term - I don't think fans, or critics for that matter, can determine if something is "bad" or "good." Life isn't black or white, neither are our likes & dislikes. I think what he means is it was an edgier show, more similar to the path Conan has taken on his show. He can get away with more and censors are much more lax with a post midnight start time. I mean, could you imagine a masturbating bear on primetime?
Thanks a lot, I was actually able to figure it out when I got to the Tom Hanks - Sleepless in Seattle part when Dave said the movie was opening that day and then I looked up the movie's official opening date.
I agree, it seemed like he said "fuck off -thank you!" ..I mean NBC and Johnny Carson did screw him over with giving Leno the top show forcing Dave to switch to CBS. He's still pissed at Leno and NBC for that.
Time out. Johnny Carson had nothing to do with Dave not getting The Tonight Show. It was NBC's decision and there's alone. NBC was pretty much trying to push Carson out the door to give Leno the show. Read the book "The Late Shift" to get the real story. In fact in was Carson that told Dave to go to CBS because NBC was just jerking Dave's chain about giving Dave The Tonight Show in 1994. Johnny's advice has made Dave richer and more successful than he ever would have been if he stayed at NBC.
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But Letterman made a mistake going to CBS. His CBS show is bad. And the ratings show that. I loved the NBC Show. It had a lower budget but that's what made it so much fun to watch. Letterman takes himself too seriously today.
Well you thinking his show is bad is your opinion and not a fact. Many critcs don't think it's bad and The Late Show has won numerous Emmy Awards. The Late Show won the Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series Emmy from 1999-2002 plus one in 1994 after the first year at CBS. Leno's show only won one and that was back in 1995.
It would have been stupid for Letterman to stay at NBC, Johnny knew that and so did Dave. Dave wanted an 11:30 show and CBS gave him that.
I really hope Conan is able to keep his show the way it is when he moves to the 1105 or 1135 time slot... I just can't see the censors or network giving him the room he has now at that time slot. I think Dave's done all he can do at CBS. I don't think it's the network. Were he on NBC still it would be no different. I think it's the timeslot, not the network.
Wow, It looks like he did mouth "F*** Off" then he said Thank You and laughed at it. Interesting enough, there is another clip on YouTube of Lettermans last show on NBC and this 'moment' does not exist at all like it had been cut. This couple be nothing, but you never know!
Occasionally letterman would call a nearby shop owner and have him run around saying things that Dave told him to say via phone or walkie talkie... Anybody remember that guys name?
Ui2019 2 months ago
@Ui2019 Rupert Jee
BillyWagner13 1 day ago
The perfect cure for insomnia
RockRobster71 4 months ago
I think I know why they put the Cheers cast in the first part of the opening...
Because they both began on NBC in 1982, and they both left NBC in 1993.
May be a stupid reason, but it's the only one I've got...for now.
Tubewings 5 months ago
this reminds me so much about conan's last tonight show episode......*weeps*
cybertron50 6 months ago
It's funny...Dave and Conan were both 46 when they did their last show on the "Late Night" franchise. Somehow...Dave seems much older at 46 than CoCo. Probably his demeanor.
By that standard...Jimmy Fallon has ten years left. He's currently 36. So in ten years...NBC can offer him the Tonight Show, he'll take it, then they'll replace him yet again with Leno after seven months. Or he can accept a lucrative offer to replace Conan at TBS after Conan is picked to replace Dave at CBS.
traininvain7 7 months ago
@traininvain7 Where does Craig Ferguson fit into this theory?
24JGM 5 months ago
I LOVED Late Night with Letterman. I was still a kid at this time, but I watched this show a TON. Every chance I got.
GrassValleyGreg 9 months ago
One thing I can say for David over Leno: At least he didn't steal his old show back from Conan. Then again, he was under contract with CBS. But even if that weren't the case, he wouldn't have taken the show back from Conan.
johnissoevil 10 months ago
I cant watch more then 2 min of Jay big jaw Leno,
- David Letterman is the king of Late Night, just ask howard stern
importfighter 10 months ago
I don't get it. I love Dave and some dude just slammed me. Wow!
gswoop40 1 year ago
@gswoop40 Well, I'll explain to you then. Yes, your comment proves you love Dave. But for no reason, you felt the need to insult people who like Leno by calling them "Mostly Uneducated People". I would assume this guy is a fan of Leno and didn't appreciate that.
Rayla840 10 months ago
@gswoop40 You´re so right to love Letterman....he really has the greatest intellect of all those hosts....to say sth like that will always make you unpopular, but it´s just the truth. You can see that in his cynical comments and his clever kind of telling a simple joke, when he knows it´s a stupid one ;-). Dave ist just the greatest!!! Plus, in interviews like the one with Paris Hilton 2009 you just see why he has always been, is and will always be better than that Leno-asshole.
lukasnummer1 9 months ago
Love letterman but you all have to admitt that when Conan took over his show it was GLORIOUS!!!!!! (love conan and dave so no insults intended) :)
VonZeb 1 year ago
LaRRY!!!!! bud Melman....classic
tombat40 1 year ago
dave's "smart humor" is "smart" in a sense that people love the failure of others,sarcasm,etc doesnt really take a genius.
no doubt i really enjoy dave though
adrian92107 1 year ago
I thought Letterman was Angus from Ac/Dc.
Aandunno 1 year ago
We just didnt know how damn good we had it when letterman was on 11:30 on NBC. Money ruined him....CBS runined him,....and he ruined him. Late Night was great....now it sucks bad...
nsra1933 1 year ago 2
"gave conan o'brien's home address to the woman keep busting into my house" hehe
chgw01 1 year ago
The last time Dave was funny.
MillBelater 1 year ago
I miss Larry Bud Melman
SunsetSupermanRMB 1 year ago 4
also, i think there's too much unnecessary obsession over the 11:30 time slot...sure, that means you're the first one on in the lineup, but coming from an edgy, take-no-prisoners 12:30 show, wouldn't it just be cringe-worthy to nearly shift your comedic persona for a "mainstream" 11:30 audience?? We're talking about doing shit not for your own happiness but for the happiness of five million strangers watching at home...it seems like its quantity over quality in the late night game.....
GD29 1 year ago
@GD29 i think what is so iconic about the 11:30 timeslot is because it is The TONIGHT show. the one Carson hosted. for people like Dave... this guy is their idol. they worship-- well Dave does anyway. don't know about leno. Carson never even went on his show. but kept in touch with letterman and has appeared on his show after his 'retirement.'. the tonight show is symbolic. this is why dave wanted the 11:30 shift. just like Conan wanted it.
foxpawz 1 year ago
@foxpawz i understand the legacy of the show and believe me i respect it on all levels but in the end, espiacelly after leno took over, it's just another of the many network shows on television. comedians past and present worship the tonight show for more of what carson did with it rather than just the show itself....after all, it is the platform where many of today's top stars got their big break and as much as dave and conan want to imitate that, they can't...there's only one carson....
GD29 1 year ago
BTW Johnny Carson stole that joke at 2:22 from Dave
hgates101 1 year ago
David Letterman is to the night talk show as Martha Stewart is to porn
nyc2604 1 year ago
@nyc2604 ...A show of hands people for those who'd love to see Martha Stewart porn?
Hands!..lol (well one if you know what I mean..wink wink)
Lennon4life1968 1 year ago
Wow. Letterman gets screwed by Leno and NBC, now Conan gets screwed by Leno and NBC. Will Leno be still alive and all to screw Fallon over by the time that comes?
utubetrollcopycat 1 year ago
@utubetrollcopycat nahh. i expect by 2018 or god knows when, Carson Daly will get a comeback and then get screwed after 8 months or so
TVgeinus90sSim 1 year ago
i am sorry guys don't forget ferguson he is a pure genius
nenomadrid 1 year ago 4
Dave the king.......
hgates101 1 year ago
Agreed...letterman loves conan. CBS will get Conan.
blairzel 1 year ago 7
only question is where would they put conan? CBS has seen what would happen if they do a talk show before the late news...and we all know how that turned out...
zackman86 1 year ago
Conan will go to to 12:30 until Dave retires...then will kick Jay Leno's ass...
blairzel 1 year ago 3
Dont know man Ferguson is too strong I think....
hgates101 1 year ago
i have a bold prediction... conan obrien obrien will take over the late show when dave retires and craig ferguson will retire and never be heard from again..... pains me to say that
enamom 1 year ago
I guess Leno had to steal ONE LAST JOKE from David Letterman when Leno had Trump "fire him" on his 10 o'clock show (appears at 2:48 in this video). I'm reading The Late Shift now, which I recommend to everyone watching this video!!
ibillabong 1 year ago
@ibillabong "The Late Shift" was an absolute drug for me....I think I got through it in like two days....
GD29 1 year ago
Why does Tom Hanks get to be on all of the last shows?
Coastergeekperson04 1 year ago
@Coastergeekperson04 'Cause he's worth it, lol.
LetThatChildAlone 1 year ago 2
how come every comedian so far who hosted late night on nbc always left nbc I wonder what will happen to Jimmy Fallon
colpetne 1 year ago
Fallon's full aware methinks
Time has proven that, make no mistake, "Late Night" is the real star-maker veichle Night forever
heyarnoldsknee 1 year ago
@colpetne if fallon is smart, after about ten years or so with the "late night" gig, he should just say fuck it and move to another network to avoid what happened to dave and conan cuz god knows if leno will ACTUALLY retire before he dies....knowing his insane work ethic, "the tonight show with jay leno" will continue on into his afterlife...what do you think? if leno pulls another "I'll retire", will he actually go through with it?
GD29 1 year ago
Letterman will always be my number one late night talk show host! Conan comes in a very close second
inxsamy 2 years ago 12
Tom Hanks was in the Conan's last show on NBC too... :)
stalkata 2 years ago 4
Letterman should hand over the show to Conan. Now that would be sweet. Both of them screwed over by Leno and Conan can go 1 on 1 vs. D-bag Leno.
MrSeriousIssues1 2 years ago
That would almost be like the Leno/Letterman Debacle but instead it would be Conan/Ferguson.
anarchyrulzoxymoron 2 years ago
no way Letterman is KING of late night. Leno will just have to blame someone else when his poor ratings continue. Conando will come back and it shall be glorious. but i need my Letterman too !
foxpawz 2 years ago 5
Agreed w/Steve Allen doing Jaywalking. Letterman admired Steve Allen and he was a guest on Letterman's show for years.
evertonrecords 2 years ago
Actually, "JayWalking" was first done by Steve Allen, the original Tonight Show host. He was the one who coined the phrase "man on the street interview." Dave stole it from Steve, and Jay stole it from Dave. That's kind of a Tonight Show staple. I don't recall Jack Paar ever doing it but he might have. I don't think we have much archived video from the Allen or Paar days.
ZachsMind 2 years ago 4
WOW Tom Hank was indeed on last night's Conan O'brien's last show, isn't that spooky??
BH1827 2 years ago 9
I guess Tom Hanks likes being a part of "late night history".
prsnth1111 2 years ago 36
Tom Hanks also gonna be on the last Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien episode!
guilleskitz 2 years ago 7
This comment has received too many negative votes show
So? Your point is?
pittresident 2 years ago
Letterman invented MANY of the skits that Jay Leno has used over the years when he was at NBC. "HEADLINES" was called "SMALL TOWN NEWS" and was used extensively throughout the 80s on the NBC Late Night With David Letterman. While Letterman DIDN'T call it "Jaywalking", he did use the camera on the street more than any other talk show host during his time (especially during the NBC era) and would ask many people questions to stump them.
evertonrecords 2 years ago 10
Wow, that intro brings back memories!
unicronrocks 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
juliet97, Letterman didn't do headlines first and he did bring over all of his stuff from NBC like the Top Ten List, Stupid Human/Pet Tricks, and even his theme song. I suppose you think Letterman came up with Jay walking too and Leno stole that. Yeah, and Conan ripped off Triumph and the Masterbating bear.
asdf7474 2 years ago
Jay Leno has stated he ripped off 'Jaywalking'. He gave it the title, but the idea was never his.
vituperative23 2 years ago 3
Is that the WTC at 0:03?
abc1537 2 years ago
@abc1537
What WTC LOL
gsp1175 2 years ago
That's the original opening sequence of the show.
jermsolo 2 years ago 2
@abc1537
Yes it is.
LeAnnftw 2 years ago
This aired on June 25, 1993.
LetThatChildAlone 2 years ago
1993
satertek 2 years ago
What year was this?
txa1995 2 years ago
Letterman brought hip to tv before any of these other guys thought about having a tv show. ALl those acts like leno's headlines were already done by Letterman. But as we all know, those were the property of NBC. A lot of stuff Letterman couldn't do at cbs because of all the lawsuits.
juliet97 2 years ago 2
Conan used the employee of the month line last night! classy drop to Letterman Conan.
arizonacardinals2007 2 years ago 3
Conan is leaving the show and getting tons of money
FOX is his obvious next step
Joeki11a 2 years ago 3
Dave is smart. His humor is smart. People who prefer Dave over Jay have actually read a book...One has to have a certain intellect to appreciate Dave's humor. Jay appeals to a broader (read: Mostly Uneducated People) audience.
gswoop40 2 years ago 56
I don't know, man. Harvey Pekar is a literary critic and he went on Dave's show and always said he thought Letterman was an intellectual lightweight.
teak43 2 years ago
If Letterman's an intellectual lightweight, I'm pretty sure Leno's more along the lines of an intellectual flyweight.
maikutx 2 years ago 5
@teak43 Harvey Pekar was a file clerk who wrote an indie comic book.
goddamnit345 2 years ago
@goddamnit345 Pekar published literary and jazz criticism throughout his life. Just because he was working class doesn't mean he's not brilliant and scholarly.
teak43 2 years ago
@gswoop40 I've actually thought about what you have said before and I agree. Letterman definitely is an intelligent person and has an incredibly original sense of humor.
dmh091 2 years ago
@gswoop40 Agreed sometimes it takes a genius to know a genius....Nobody has the comedic wit of Letterman when it comes to throwing in a funny unexpected remark or joke....people rea words but Dave reads the entire convo
hgates101 1 year ago
@gswoop40 ...Amen to that my friend
Lennon4life1968 1 year ago
@gswoop40 Boy, what a smarmy, self-serving opinion. Could you really be that much of a dick? I see nothing 'extra-intellectual' about Letterman. He's just dry, that's all. He's actually more awkward of an interviewer than Jay, but I guess somehow that makes him more hip. Letterman's sense of humor is what is known as 'twee'. So what you're saying is that only stupid people prefer to hear a monologue filled with well-written jokes delivered by one of the country's best stand-ups ever?
jumpoutatree 1 year ago
@jumpoutatree Jay Leno used to be one of the best stand ups. He isn't now, and all the top comedians of today agree with that. And I respect their opinion a hell of a lot more than some youtube commenter who probably hasn't even seen Leno's stand up and is just going by what he's heard. Leno does simple jokes, about simple things, and that's all his show is. It isn't comedy. It's lame stand up that you can hear at your local bar on comedy night.
theodorelaurence 11 months ago
@theodorelaurence Notice I said 'one of the best stand-ups ever'... and any comedian who disagrees is a comedian who hasn't been around long enough to remember when Jay Leno used to be one of the biggest names in the business. I never said anything about how I personally rank Leno today. It would be very far down on the list, but it would be higher than Letterman, that's for sure. I don't like being in the position where I feel I have to defend Leno, but the irrational hate for him is crazy.
jumpoutatree 11 months ago
@gswoop40 It is true what you say! The most uneducated tend to prefer Jay
themooddisorders 8 months ago
@gswoop40
lol
SmalltimR 8 months ago
Comment removed
firmitas68 6 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@gswoop40 What class-conscious nonsense. So Dave viewers have read a book? What a high standards you have. I hope for the sake of Dave's ratings his educated viewers do not decide to read another book.
firmitas68 6 months ago
Leno said a few months ago that he thought he was a better comedian, but that Letterman was a better broadcaster. I think that's a fair statement. I still far perfer Letterman, but the ratings told the story of who most people prefered.
somewhatlongdong 2 years ago 6
Leno is more scripted funny Dave is more off the top of his head funny....Leno beat Dave in ratings because Dave was an asshole when he hosted the awards and he is kind of harsh....Dave didnt get the celebs Leno got because dave did what he wanted to do with celebs but still both in prime I would have to say Dave comes out on top would you agree? I mean Daves ratings in 93/94 Leno has never ever seen.
hgates101 2 years ago 6
leno and letterman always got the same guest just about.
pm1101991 2 years ago
@somewhatlongdong that's because Jay appeals to a broader audience. And that broader audience is far less sophisticated than Jay's audience. I don't think Jay has had Tom Waits on as a guest very often. I also don't think he would ever devote an entire show to Warren Zevon. Jay's audience are similar to people who actually care about American Idol...
Mozzer232 2 years ago
Hey you know what I miss? the anniversary shows. How come nobody does them anymore?
smldfw 2 years ago
R.I.P. Larry 'Bud' Melman
cynicofthesystem 2 years ago 3
What year was this?
jjoudrie 2 years ago
1993
titusL 2 years ago
Paul with hair!! haha
cubman238 2 years ago
There was a certain chemistry that NBC had "back then". Dave's show was funny, and most of what the network put up was quality. Something happened when GE took control of the network. Too much control and regulation - who knows. I think Dave hit it on the head when he said "If GE had a sense of humor". They apparently didn't... and the network suffers to this very day with blandness. The only exception I can see is "The Office", which is totally off-the-hook funny.
BBCater 2 years ago 3
Agreed. In my book, is surprising [The] Seinfeld [Chronicles] got picked up buy them.
WookieeBlaylock 2 years ago
You don't have to worry about it anymore David Letterman fans. The Late show with david letterman on cbs had just beaten the tonight show with conan o'brien for 4 weeks in a row. I just heard that he's going for his 5th week beaten conan o'brien in the ratings.
eliemuller 2 years ago
its such a shame to see whats happened to late night today. Jimmy Fallon is the absolute worst late night talk show host ever. Seriously, how could NBC pick him to host, following in the footsteps of legends like Letterman and Conan. Fallon is an immature giddy giggly little tool, is not funny, and blows dick at interviewing. When hes not busy giggling annoyingly, hes helping to make his guests feel awkward.
Bravo NBC.
Millahtime 2 years ago 9
Jimmy Fallon is off to a weak start, but I remember Conan and Letterman were weak when they first started out. Maybe Fallon needs some time to develop. Worst host ever? I think that title belongs to Magic Johnson, now that was a real bad show.
mwmaki1 2 years ago
Fallons had plenty of time to develop, he was on SNL for a while and even did a movie. Conan on the other hand had ZERO experience doing TV so he obviously needed time to develop, plus you could see the potential in him even when he first started. Fallon on the other hand is already pretty set in his TV personality, he's not going to change much and frankly I don't see any potential at all. Hes just not funny or witty or any good at talking to people, and hes insanely giggly and annoying.
Millahtime 2 years ago 2
Chevy Chase is up there in bad shows. Fallon probably reads a lot of you tube comments and will try to adjust...Letterman didn't have that advantage.
mjbab73 2 years ago
Letterman didn't need that "advantage".
WookieeBlaylock 2 years ago
Damn straight! Other then taking a few cues from Carson and Steve Allen, he was so inventive. He created segments that even Carson would steal. He may be far from his prime, but Letterman is still by far the best interviewer on late night. I like some of Jay's comedy, but he's still terrible at interviews after all these years...Fallon is HORRIBLE!!!
mjbab73 2 years ago 5
I agree with you...Letterman is not as funny as Carson but nobody and I mean nobody has the personality and skill to host a talk show better then David Letterman.....people forget the old Dave and judge him on what he is like today...but I always ask if Michael Jordan was still in the NBA today would he be the same?
hgates101 2 years ago 7
That's a perfect analogy about Jordan. He's now not the innovative Dave of "Late Night", but he's still funny, a great interviewer, and a much nicer person then people beleive. People have been calling him things like "pedophile" and "scumbag" since the scandal...Just don't get it because, though (not defending what he did) he was with Regina for many years, they wern't married yet. Letteman handled the situation with a hell of a lot more integrity then a lot of show-biz people would have.
mjbab73 2 years ago
Carson Daly is pretty horrible too.
tickitytak 2 years ago
Loved his NBC show. Hate his CBS Show
VIDEOTIMEMACHINE 2 years ago
how old are you
djbattman 2 years ago
46 . And many of his old fans don't watch his CBS Show. That's why Leno killed him in the ratings.
VIDEOTIMEMACHINE 2 years ago
im 36 and the only reason i stopped is because i graduated high school had to work and didnt have time to watch or tape his show anymore...
djbattman 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
I stopped watching Letterman because he's not funny anymore. He takes himself way too seriously
VIDEOTIMEMACHINE 2 years ago
this was 16 years ago today
lumpyloks 2 years ago
the skating part was pretty fucking clever..xD
CamiloSanchez1979 2 years ago
best ever thing for dave was leaving for cbs
theedge76 2 years ago 2
This comment has received too many negative votes show
lettermans just old he lost his mojo
No1pearljamfan 2 years ago
is that where conan's studio was?
yotaxi 2 years ago
yes it was...studio is called 30 rock
hgates101 2 years ago
no, the building is 30 rock, conan's studio was 6A
maroonoasis 2 years ago 4
u got him maroonoasis!!
emanwonder 2 years ago 2
Wow, 2 min of Paul Shaffer band, barf.
gah964 2 years ago
this is histarical...
can someone pleaseeee tell me what that song is while there ice skating
huntersoSEXY 2 years ago
"Orphée aux Enfers" by Jacques Offenbach-referred to as 'Can Can'.
ocgiii 2 years ago
Wow...I really like Dave's old blue set. I wish it was kept the same,, but oh well, the new set was good.
I think Dave was good on CBS till about the last 5 or 6 years. Dave just gets so relaxed in this job, and that's one thing I do really admire about Jay, in that he has more of a duty to Stand up as he still performs it outside of the Tonight Show. Dave used to be so off-the-wall that we just don't see anymore.
I think Craig Ferguson is Dave's true successor.
Lava589 2 years ago
I find the Dave from 1980s to late 2000 funny, just dave isnt that fnny now, i dont know why? i guess age
spacegeek 2 years ago
Say what?...you are crazy, he is very funny.
CamiloSanchez1979 2 years ago
i miss dave on late night. late show is great but it's not the same.
dignan1000 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Dave Letterman must've stopped being funny before I was born, cause I certainly have never seen him it.
jvick87 2 years ago
you have to know dry humor, obviously you don't.
NotTooObvious 2 years ago
Comment removed
duskandsummer3 2 years ago
dave wa smuch funnier on the old network pity he did not stay with Nbc ah well!
eleventhdr 2 years ago
na, you're just stupid
NotTooObvious 2 years ago
Where do you suppose they got the idea for "Blades of Glory"?
godboy50 2 years ago
This show was the death of a dynasty
djbattman 3 years ago
I wonder what David would have thought if he new then that the "young man who will take over this show" would get the Tonight Show after Jay Leno.
MalubaySyecado 3 years ago 5
Probably, "Good show, Conan!"
Conan wrote for Dave and they remained friends long after Dave split from NBC.
leftnotracks 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
No, don't think so. Remember, Dave and Jay were good friends too at one time. Though I don't think Dave would be upset at Conan personally, he's upset by hearing any new host in general. He has never gotten over the fact he lost that show and you can see it in his overall bitterness ever since. He's a grumpy old man driven by what he perceives to be that missed goal. He's swims in negativity.
MalubaySyecado 2 years ago
Conan was never a writer for Dave.
AdamNedeff 2 years ago 9
I loved Larry Bud and he is missed. His real name was Forrest, I think.
OjaiRoy 3 years ago
He IS missed. His real name was Calvert DeForest. :)
jermsolo 3 years ago
I Love Him......H.
Herbuliss 3 years ago
I'm in the rare camp of liking both guys for diff. reasons. Like Jay's monologue, but like Dave's comedy pieces more. And Dave isn't edgy?? He's turned into a bulldog interviewer, never afraid to razz guests about tabloid stuff. Conan ebbs and flows, can't imagine what his 11:35 show will be like.
Kimmell is ok, Ferguson's affable but rambles too much, Daly has good bits now and then...but does NOT have the timing or delivery of a comedian.
RetroBoyisBack 3 years ago
he deserved the tonight show he is way more funnier
Alirezajazayeri 3 years ago 12
I agree....I've been waiting for that Dave Edge since he started at CBS. I figure in his last year he'll just let loose. Here's hoping.
SweedChef 3 years ago
No, it's bad compared to the NBC days. Dave lost his edge as soon as The Late Show started. No longer edgy, no longer dangerous, no longer smart ass. He gained acceptance by the masses and lost acceptance by the college crowd, by the smart ass audience who idolized him, by the quirky crowd who idolized him. The dull masses now accept him. Ho hum. I miss the old Dave. I was a huge fan of Dave's who could not imagine ever not being a huge fan.
Fnortner01 3 years ago 3
He wore the tie that he wore on his last interview on Jonny Carson's show...
jao02557 3 years ago
Carson will always be the king, but Letterman is my guy. I was in college when the show debuted, which was the perfect age for what they were going for. I taped it every night to watch it the next day, in those early days of VCRs. Letterman's smartass humour and journalistic interview style had a huge pop culture impact. The same can't be said for Leno, or Conan, or any other host you care to name.
daryl060761 3 years ago 10
Conan is the same for college-aged kids in about 2002-2003.
essquared24 3 years ago
Sad but true essquared.
daryl060761 3 years ago
i'm a college student but i don't relate to conan's humor at all. Letterman's smartass humor, as daryl said, puts him in a class by himself. I wish i could have seen his earlier shows live.
Sirwastealot 3 years ago 2
yeaa, drunk toilet humor grab your crotch type stuff (which I was a part of).
at1212b 2 years ago
You're right, "bad" is a subjective term - I don't think fans, or critics for that matter, can determine if something is "bad" or "good." Life isn't black or white, neither are our likes & dislikes. I think what he means is it was an edgier show, more similar to the path Conan has taken on his show. He can get away with more and censors are much more lax with a post midnight start time. I mean, could you imagine a masturbating bear on primetime?
jasisrad 3 years ago
yeah,it wasnt johnny. Johnny was so pissed off that he didn't even come back to the tonight show, but did appear on Dave's show on cbs.
juliet97 4 years ago 6
Doesn't matter where Letterman is. He's still the best talkshow host around.
kirjapan 4 years ago 6
When did this air? Anyone know?
casanoc 4 years ago
June 25, 1993
skmatthew 4 years ago
Thanks a lot, I was actually able to figure it out when I got to the Tom Hanks - Sleepless in Seattle part when Dave said the movie was opening that day and then I looked up the movie's official opening date.
casanoc 4 years ago
thanks for posting this!
Dagarvs 4 years ago
yeah haha that was fricking funny
monkeywrench890 4 years ago
That skating bit was hillarious.............
Mowac 4 years ago
thank you so much for posting this!
SayreObrien 4 years ago
Funny, but a pervert-same old joke
thejoad 4 years ago
ehi, @ 1:52 did he just say "fuck off"?
skmatthew 4 years ago
wow. i think you're right. good catch. i'm glad he's stopped with most of those dumb hand gestures for the most part.
whitedevil2 4 years ago
There's no denying he did that.
Jimi Hendrix did something similar on the 'LuLu Show' when he mouthed 'm----- f-----' to the camera as they were going to commercial.
Mowac 4 years ago
There's no denying it??
Are you fucking blind? He said "thank you", not "fuck off".
Gregamania69 4 years ago
I'm nowhere near blind pal.....Watch again. He mouthed it BEFORE he said thank you.
Mowac 4 years ago
I agree, it seemed like he said "fuck off -thank you!" ..I mean NBC and Johnny Carson did screw him over with giving Leno the top show forcing Dave to switch to CBS. He's still pissed at Leno and NBC for that.
DeejayLarz2006 4 years ago
Time out. Johnny Carson had nothing to do with Dave not getting The Tonight Show. It was NBC's decision and there's alone. NBC was pretty much trying to push Carson out the door to give Leno the show. Read the book "The Late Shift" to get the real story. In fact in was Carson that told Dave to go to CBS because NBC was just jerking Dave's chain about giving Dave The Tonight Show in 1994. Johnny's advice has made Dave richer and more successful than he ever would have been if he stayed at NBC.
MrKing21 4 years ago 9
Thanks Mr. King. Wasn't sure about Johnny Carson's role in the whole affair. I'll have to check out that book!
daryl060761 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
But Letterman made a mistake going to CBS. His CBS show is bad. And the ratings show that. I loved the NBC Show. It had a lower budget but that's what made it so much fun to watch. Letterman takes himself too seriously today.
newenglandvideo 3 years ago
Well you thinking his show is bad is your opinion and not a fact. Many critcs don't think it's bad and The Late Show has won numerous Emmy Awards. The Late Show won the Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series Emmy from 1999-2002 plus one in 1994 after the first year at CBS. Leno's show only won one and that was back in 1995.
It would have been stupid for Letterman to stay at NBC, Johnny knew that and so did Dave. Dave wanted an 11:30 show and CBS gave him that.
MrKing21 3 years ago 3
I really hope Conan is able to keep his show the way it is when he moves to the 1105 or 1135 time slot... I just can't see the censors or network giving him the room he has now at that time slot. I think Dave's done all he can do at CBS. I don't think it's the network. Were he on NBC still it would be no different. I think it's the timeslot, not the network.
jasisrad 3 years ago
Wow, It looks like he did mouth "F*** Off" then he said Thank You and laughed at it. Interesting enough, there is another clip on YouTube of Lettermans last show on NBC and this 'moment' does not exist at all like it had been cut. This couple be nothing, but you never know!
clschilling84 3 years ago
nbc made a mistake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
bodenga 4 years ago 3
in the hoffbrau spindrifting hel of fame, gawd to onl pause, omy . slinkslot / wht
ePhilosopher 4 years ago
hey becker, can i date your future receptionist, not that one, the most dangerous fleshback, Really
ePhilosopher 4 years ago
good one:)
WDZTony 4 years ago