After I graduated high school in 1980, I spent a semester just hanging out and working at the library. (It was my little rebellion – not marching directly into college. My 52 year old self is appalled and ashamed.) One day I found this odd daytime TV talk show. I distinctly remember the talk show host looking at the camera sardonically while it “snowed” in the studio. I liked it. I was not surprised when it was canceled.
When I eventually trudged to Indiana University, that same peculiar host did a night of stand up at IU for $20 a ticket, which was out of my price range or I would have gone.
I only stayed at IU one semester. I was back at home when I went from watching Nightline – which at the time was Ted Koppel giving a twenty minute nightly update on the Iran hostages – and a commercial came on. I switched channels, left the room, and shot back in when some strange foreign woman started talking about sex. I hadn’t had sex yet, so I need to hear what this Dr. Ruth woman had to say. Then I saw she was talking to that same guy.
“Hey, it’s that guy!’ I said, then I became a fan and drank the KoolAid and bought the sweatshirt.
(That thing must have been huge on me when I got it over 20 years and 100 pounds ago. I’ve just assumed it didn’t fit.)
I watched Late Night devotedly, Late Show a little less devotedly, and eventually I switched to Mom’s favorite show, The Daily Show with Craig Kilborn, when Dave went through his regrettable Grimacing Period.
Since then I’ve watched devotedly in spurts, usually after he shows up in the news … after 9/11, heart surgery, blackmail, the Oscars. “Pah!” I say to Jay Leno and other nice guys. “Find me some clinically depressed weirdo, that’s what speaks to me.”
I think Colbert will do fine. Hopefully retirement doesn’t kill David Letterman, fellow old depressed weird person.
4 responses to “Letterman”
I have also had an on again, off again relationship with Dave since the crazy daytime show. Watching the final show last night made me regret the times it was off again. I always assumed that if I ever went to NYC, I would attend a taping of Dave’s show. Guess THAT’s not happening now. I have a Late Night tshirt that is almost falling apart all around the logo, which I guess shouldn’t surprise me since it’s over 20 years old-I rescued it from the give away pile a few days ago, don’t even know how it got there! I will miss Dave, and really hope retirement doesn’t kill him.
1980 was before my time, because I was living in Switzerland and didn’t get back until 1985. There is a hole in my pop culture tee vee experience, from 1971-1985.
Never liked the man. Too mean.
Kristie – I think at times I crushed on Dave a little too hard – and then there was that woman who thought he was sending her secret messages when he waggled his eyebrows. Man.Hattie – So, no Moary Tyler Moore show for you, then. So sad!Becs – But at least he was genuinely mean. Everyone touted how nice Leno was and then Leno went mean. I say that’s worse.