Hunter S. Thompson is Decadent and Depraved

This is a recording of HST on the Letterman show from 1987. For some reason, the show was recorded in a hotel room somewhere in NYC. Unbelievably, Carly Simon allowed herself to be a part of this.

It's like watching a train wreck to see The Good Doctor mumble barely coherent answers to the leading questions that Letterman was feeding him. Obviously Dave thought he was going to get some keen political analysis from Thompson regarding the upcoming 1988 elections, but Hunter had already spent too much time in the Green Room, or out in the hallway, or wherever Letterman was keeping his guests that night.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Hunter
• Thompson
• gonzo
• Letterman

[ShroomKeppie]

I'm amazed at how the comments keep coming on this clip. My 11-month-old comment about no one getting the reference to "decadent and depraved" was made because the first batch of comments seemed to not get the reference -- which surprised me quite a bit.

Obviously we're all on board with it now, so just enjoy the clip as a bit of Hunter in his prime, and try not to take anything personally.

[shadylurker138]

@ShroomKeppie Just  cause no one acknowledges you doesn't mean no one knows what it refers to. You pretentious cocksucker.

[ducky666]

The 80s got this and we get jimmy fucking fallon.

[collegoflustandfear]

@jemjean I think he couldn't get through the questions because the older the man got, the more crowded he felt. People flocked to him looking for Duke, and they would ask simple questions expecting profound answers. Hunter was under a lot of pressure. He could write like a demon with a head full of chemicals, couldn't give an interview.

[TheOkham]

so fucking wasted

[TheOkham]

Hunter is fucking boss!

[StatelessGnome]

Letterman is a fucking Cock

[jemjean]

I wonder what he was like sober. He's brilliant and he can't even get through one question. What an odd place to do one's show!

[volksrepair]

Great TV. This is just Hunter S. Thompson being Hunter S. Thompson and Dave being Dave. Good stuff.

[joshgearey]

@ducky666 we got conan hes pretty funny

[noreggi]

drug-addled hunter

[JPARKSTX]

SHUT UP IT'S DR. HUNTER S THOMSON. 2 U IDGITS

[diebelt1]

thanks for posting, but dont think you are special or clever with the decadent and depraved. like no one got the fucking reference. poeple care more about what HE is saying not what your fucking title is.