Oliver Reed on Letterman, 8/5/87

Reed was an unfunny twat. He already had kidney disease.

Alcoholism isn't a disease. It's just a nasty habit. I bite my nails. Does that mean that I have a nail-biting disease? I was born with the gene that makes me bite my nails? It's ridiculous. Babys aren't born with a heredity of drinking alcohol. It's something learned later in life and alcoholics usually drink to escape a life that is too difficult to endure sober.

Alcoholism is a sick disease, and not something to comment about if you know nothing about it, it is a disease, like Cancer, it is hereditary, and retains in the memories of the cells of the body. Reed had an immensely difficult time with it, and it's shameful that people continuoiusly look down on alcoholics as if they choose their own demise, deserving of the same they endure because they put a bottle to their mouth. You have no clue what you are talking about, sorry to say

First, in Reed's day(according to Christopher Plummer), actor's drank because they enjoyed drinking. In any case, if Christopher Plummer is in denial about his own alcoholism, he at least never embarassed himself in this manner in public. And actually, I am an alcoholic so I know more about the problem than you do, you pontificating, self-righteous bore.

Well, considering your abusive words, I believe you.  Alcohol is a disease, and don't think you own it. I lived around them all my life, lucky me, and didn't understand it until I married one. I forgive him not for his behaviour, but I certainly understand he did not like drinking himself to an oblivion. But thanks for your words of wisdom, chumpsky

Well, I wrote those words sober; though I'm beginning to understand why your husband became an alcoholic. You'd drive anyone to drink. Oh, and I loved the play on the name Chomsky, turning it into chumpsky. You must have been briefly inhabited by the ghost of Oscar Wilde. And you're still a pontificating, self-righteous bore and Reed deserved the sarcasm for acting like a loon. Especially since he was supposedly sober during the interview.

He started drinking at 14, aqnd stopped 4 years ago, but the abuse didn't. You sound likie an overgrown child, angry at the world.... get some therapy! The 12 steps at AA can do you, and everyone around you, some good.

No, I'm not angry at the world; I don't like supercilious people who think everyone should view a situation the same way they do and who repeatedly offers condescending and simple minded advice.(that would be you by the way) And as I said, if Reed had stopped drinking at this point, then there was no excuse for his behaviour and he deserved what he got.

Are you G-d to decide what he deserves? I didn't know you run the world. you are highly judgemental, and people should judge others favorably, but I guess you're not one to follow advice from the Bible. Whatever he's done, does not diminish his suffering, and I just happen to be the kind of person that feels compassion for those. You did not live with him, at least I think not, you don't know what was inside him to makes such judgements... good luck, good bye.

I don't think letterman was dealing with a particular guest, as I watched it, came to the conclusion that he put Oliver Reed on the spot, embarassing him on national television while encouraging laughter from the audience on a sensitive issue, since he clearly had a drinking problem, not something to laugh at. Letterman was nasty