The best there ever was (David Letterman) celebrates 30 year anniversary tonight.

Search

New member
Joined
Jun 2, 2006
Messages
29,253
Tokens
David Letterman will celebrate 30 years as a late-night television host on Wednesday, though without much fanfare.

There has been little media attention paid to the anniversary, and no prime-time special, or even a special celebration, planned by CBS.


The reason is Mr. Letterman, who has never really liked anniversary specials. He declined interviews about the anniversary, even from CBS News, and will probably include few or no clips of his career’s high points on his show, “Late Show With David Letterman,” on Wednesday.

“It will most likely be the subject of the Top 10 list and probably represent a chunk of the monologue,” said Rob Burnett, Mr. Letterman’s longtime executive producer. “But right now we’re not assembling giant clip packages.”

Howard Stern, a favorite of Mr. Letterman’s, will appear as a guest. Bill Murray, who has been the guest for previous landmark events, like Mr. Letterman’s first shows on NBC and CBS, was to appear on Tuesday night.

Otherwise, the anniversary will probably be noted the same way others have in recent years: Mr. Letterman will exchange some memories with his bandleader, Paul Shaffer.

Previously, only Mr. Letterman’s idol, Johnny Carson, had had a late-night run of 30 years, though with some differences: Mr. Letterman accomplished the feat on two shows (one in the backup late-night hour of 12:35 a.m. and one at 11:35 p.m.) and at two networks.


But television usually can’t resist celebrating big, round anniversary dates. Despite Mr. Letterman’s reluctance, CBS has been mentioning the anniversary in promotional spots in recent days, and “CBS This Morning” plans a segment on it for Wednesday. Mr. Burnett said he knew of little else that any media outlets had planned.

Mr. Letterman is being low-key. “He’s not someone who likes to draw attention to himself,” Mr. Burnett said. “It is why people accurately perceive him as being anti-show business.”

Mr. Letterman’s ratings, like those of “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno,” have fallen steadily over the past year. But Mr. Letterman, who long trailed Mr. Leno in the ratings, surpassed him in the important category of 18-to-49-year-old viewers in the fourth quarter of 2011, the first time he had done that in 17 years.

Mr. Letterman famously satirized the late-night talk show even as he was performing on one, a move that stamped him as an original comic mind for a generation of viewers — and comedians. Most of the hosts who now lead the armada of late-night shows crowding television cite Mr. Letterman as a role model.

A major difference between Carson’s 30-year celebration — a yearlong lead-up to his departure featured big-name guests and lots of video clips — and the muted affair planned for Wednesday is that Mr. Letterman isn’t going anywhere. A deal to extend his tenure for two more years at CBS is expected to close soon.

Mr. Letterman’s future may affect Craig Ferguson of “The Late Late Show” on CBS. He has been told his show can move to 11:35 p.m. when Mr. Letterman leaves. Mr. Ferguson has not decided if he will continue in the follow-up show to Mr. Letterman at 12:35 a.m., assuming that Mr. Letterman stays on.

Some of Mr. Letterman’s equanimity about the anniversary may be related to the bifurcation of his career. He did not get his dream job as the successor to Carson on the “Tonight” show. NBC chose Mr. Leno instead. Mr. Letterman, then in the 12:35 a.m. slot, packed up his act in 1993 and took it to CBS, where he established his own franchise.

In comments on air, Mr. Letterman has often referred, jokingly, to being “passed over” at NBC. Does the regret linger?

“It’s certainly not anything Dave expresses,” Mr. Burnett said. “There was a period in his life where he has said he felt that way, but I think he’s moved on.” He added, “I find it impossible to believe with all he’s achieved at CBS that he spends even a moment of time regretting that he’s not hosting the ‘Tonight’ show.”
 

New member
Joined
Jun 2, 2006
Messages
29,253
Tokens
I can do without his political remarks, but he is the best there ever was, from the Top Ten list, to the Stupid Pet Tricks, and everything else, he revolutionized the late night talk scene.

Experts call him "the quickest wit since Groucho Marx."
 

Member
Joined
Sep 20, 2006
Messages
12,469
Tokens
[video]http://www.johnnycarson.com/[/video]


Respectfully Disagree
 

New member
Joined
Jun 2, 2006
Messages
29,253
Tokens
^
Letterman's idol.
He studied Carson, check out his monologues, many Carson traits in there.

Here's the thing, Carson (co-best there ever was) was adult orientated, Letterman changed that with his goofy style, went (and succeeded) for the college and 20's audience.
 

Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2008
Messages
24,536
Tokens
dont like lettermen, never really found him funny outside of an out segment or 2. since he had his heart attacks 5-7 years ago he has sucked even more.
 

Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2004
Messages
28,799
Tokens
Lettermen is the best interviewer in the business. But he isn't so great at standup comedy, which seperates him from the greats like Carson.
 

New member
Joined
Jun 2, 2006
Messages
29,253
Tokens
Lettermen is the best interviewer in the business. But he isn't so great at standup comedy, which seperates him from the greats like Carson.
Craig Ferguson's (Letterman's heir apparent) stand up is killer.
 

New member
Joined
Jan 30, 2009
Messages
4,271
Tokens
Ferguson is hysterical some nights. Letterman has provided me with plenty of chuckles throughout the years. The Stupid Human Trick with the guy who ate the Hersey Chocolate Milk Powder and then drank the white milk and shot chocolate milk out through his nose with a straw and into a glass was tops.
 

USERNAME OFFICIALLY RETIRED
Joined
Nov 29, 2004
Messages
5,150
Tokens
I remember back in the 80"s when he was with NBC and they had this bit something about the NBC Bookmobile. They would have this little ol' lady on a cart driving in and she had all these books and Dave always pick some out and had something to say about it. One that sticks out the most for me was when he pulled out this book and it showed some of the muppets in fire flames and Dave read the title 'All the Muppets Die and go to Hell'.
 

Self appointed RX World Champion Handicapper
Joined
Nov 20, 2001
Messages
15,052
Tokens
i dvr a lot of late night talk shows.. letterman is clearly the best around today. he is the quickest to come up with funny lines during an interview. kimmel is 2nd best at that. he also conducts the best interviews, the guests seem to have the more fun with him compared to leno.

carson is the best of all time and by a wide margin. letterman should have gotten johnny's job when he stepped down.
 

Member
Joined
Sep 21, 2004
Messages
34,770
Tokens
Who should replace David Letterman? Here's the Daily News' Top Ten list
David Letterman is irreplaceable, but someone has to do it. Here are 10 candidates for the job.
BY DON KAPLAN NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Thursday, April 3, 2014, 6:32 PM A A A







Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/entertai...vid-letterman-article-1.1744939#ixzz2xv6pKarD
David Letterman is irreplaceable, but someone must step into his shoes in 2015 to take the reigns. In the spirit of CBS’ long-running late night talk show, here’s our own Top Ten list of people who should replace Letterman:
10. Jon Stewart — The host of Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” has long been considered a favorite to take over Letterman’s gig.
9. Chris Rock — Arguably one of the funniest comedians on the planet, and he’s already hosted his own HBO show in the past.
8. Conan O’Brien — He’s got the chops. He’s got the talent. He needs to get off cable so people can find him again.

7. Larry David — One of the funniest comedy writers of all time. Although he might yank out what little hair he has left the first time a stupid pet trick goes awry.
6. Louis C.K. — Another top comic, with serious talent. And he’s one heck of a talker.
5. Craig Ferguson — As CBS’ longtime late late guy, he’s made no secret that he’s long coveted his boss’ job.
4. Chelsea Handler — She’s funny, smart, acerbic and soon to be unemployed. Handler will be wrapping up her current E! late night talk show, “Chelsea Lately,” at the end of the year.
3. Tina Fey & Amy Pohler — They host the Golden Globes, and they cut their teeth doing late night comedy on “Saturday Night Live,” so the pair would obviously make incredible late night TV hosts, if only CBS could pry them away from NBC. You know, like the network did with Letterman.
2. Jerry Seinfeld — He’s a smooth talker, a funny guy and he knows how to work clean. And Jerry already has a hit talk show on the Web, “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.”
And the number one person to replace David Letterman is...
1. Jay Leno — He’s unemployed, and we know he gets ratings.





Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/entertai...vid-letterman-article-1.1744939#ixzz2xv6gamsd
 

Member
Joined
May 22, 2005
Messages
31,627
Tokens
4. Chelsea Handler — She’s funny, smart, acerbic and soon to be unemployed. Handler will be wrapping up her current E! late night talk show, “Chelsea Lately,” at the end of the year
 

Member
Joined
Sep 21, 2004
Messages
34,770
Tokens
4. Chelsea Handler — She’s funny, smart, acerbic and soon to be unemployed. Handler will be wrapping up her current E! late night talk show, “Chelsea Lately,” at the end of the year


Id hope-- would be a smart move--
 

Member
Joined
Sep 21, 2004
Messages
5,108
Tokens
There is Johnny Carson and then there is everone else. Noone is close.

Amen, Nick "Am I right, or am I right" Pappagiogio

All the cable networks must have thrown a hell of a blowout to celebrate when Conan was put in charge on the other show. What a half-ass! Gives all the late night crap cable shows a leg up to get more audience.
 

Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2004
Messages
28,799
Tokens
Louis C.K is funnier than fuk. He should at least be considered. He killed it on Saturday Night Live the other night. I'm just not sure if he is the kind of person who has the gift of gab night after night. What was great about Carson is unlike Fallon he had equal star power to anybody who walked on his stage. And he could hold a conversation and tell as many funny stories from his time in the business as his guests. It takes somebody pretty special to be able to wing it every night. Ferguson is a genius at improvisation, much like Robin Williams. John Stewart is another good one. But the humorless conservatives on this board would be ripping him right and left for his jokes.
 

Member
Joined
May 22, 2005
Messages
31,627
Tokens
4. Chelsea Handler — She’s funny, smart, acerbic and soon to be unemployed. Handler will be wrapping up her current E! late night talk show, “Chelsea Lately,” at the end of the year
chelsea now favored at paddy power, must be monitoring this thread
 

Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2004
Messages
28,799
Tokens
chelsea now favored at paddy power, must be monitoring this thread
I heard that she's ending her talk show on the E Network. I wonder if she knows something, or something is in the works already for her. I know that it seems like she made a hell of a lot of TV appearances on Jay Leno in the last year before he retired. It makes me think they might be grooming her for a late night talk show. Plus it makes sense that CBS would try to do something a little different and go for a woman as a host to shake things up.
 

rock n' roll king
Joined
May 20, 2001
Messages
2,957
Tokens
I used to really like Letterman in his early talk show days. Now I can't really stand him as he comes across as as this really creepy old guy.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
1,106,767
Messages
13,438,827
Members
99,337
Latest member
hbs_solutions
The RX is the sports betting industry's leading information portal for bonuses, picks, and sportsbook reviews. Find the best deals offered by a sportsbook in your state and browse our free picks section.FacebookTwitterInstagramContact Usforum@therx.com