On viewer mail night, the people who write in try to make their letters outrageous enough to get included on the show. I'm sure the writer of the letter was ecstatic to have his letter read. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the show's writers, who love to get stuff by the censors, to have Dave obviously flip someone off on national TV and get away with it. It's not allowed on network TV in the US to flip someone off with the finger pointed upward - it's always fuzzed out.
Alright, I wasn't sure if he was being funny or if that was actually fueled by anger. I was envisioning a scenario where that letter was mocking him for some weird, hanging upside down incident that Letterman experienced. :P
One of the guys who stole my video said Dave was pissed off at the viewer, but it was NOT an ad lib. It was a "Viewer Mail" segment, written by his writers, rehearsed earlier, run by the censors, then broadcast. He was obviously embarrassed by the response, but you have to assume it's a true "finger" only if it's pointed upward. After a few more letters, he "walked" his fingers across his desk again, bending the index finger up on every step, and said it was his little puppet friend, Jerome!
Funny how this didn't need to be censored.
brottarnacke 6 months ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Letterman is a d-bag
blacknewfie 2 years ago
Huh? What? Someone is going to have to explain this to me. Why does that letter warrant the flipping off? O_o
BlackstarSirius 3 years ago
On viewer mail night, the people who write in try to make their letters outrageous enough to get included on the show. I'm sure the writer of the letter was ecstatic to have his letter read. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the show's writers, who love to get stuff by the censors, to have Dave obviously flip someone off on national TV and get away with it. It's not allowed on network TV in the US to flip someone off with the finger pointed upward - it's always fuzzed out.
Rossley 3 years ago
Alright, I wasn't sure if he was being funny or if that was actually fueled by anger. I was envisioning a scenario where that letter was mocking him for some weird, hanging upside down incident that Letterman experienced. :P
BlackstarSirius 3 years ago
You realize it's a comedy show, right?
eday2010 2 years ago
lmmfao you know he got in trouble for it but it was worth it
will79601 4 years ago 3
lol, god his funny.
aandSabs 4 years ago 4
Good 1 Dave!!!
bjpov235 5 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
DAVID U SUCK
GANGSTAELPASO 5 years ago
JAjaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa .. .funny!! I love it .. great clip!
gansitoblue 5 years ago
Just after, he actually realizes that he shouldn't have done it :-)
kezze8 5 years ago
Was it breach of broadcasting code back then to give the middle finger? Still is?
Midex 5 years ago
One of the guys who stole my video said Dave was pissed off at the viewer, but it was NOT an ad lib. It was a "Viewer Mail" segment, written by his writers, rehearsed earlier, run by the censors, then broadcast. He was obviously embarrassed by the response, but you have to assume it's a true "finger" only if it's pointed upward. After a few more letters, he "walked" his fingers across his desk again, bending the index finger up on every step, and said it was his little puppet friend, Jerome!
Rossley 4 years ago
Hey! You know what they say, "Comdey is NOT pretty".
crumblycake 5 years ago
Nice I was at that show! do you have any more? Id like to see letter #5 from feb 28 1984 or 1985 episode featuring Willard Scott yelling at me.
B.B King was a guest that night. If anyone has is please upload.
KMocker 5 years ago