David Letterman's Last "Top Ten" List Best One Ever

The Late Show with David Letterman aired its final episode last night, and was--I thought--pretty much a perfect ending. CBS has already run a tribute special on Dave's career, so last night mostly veered away from mawkish sentimentality, and instead hewed to its usual self-deprecating style. This was clear in the star-studded, host-skewering, final Top Ten List.
 

Personally, I ceased being a regular Letterman watcher not because of anything against Dave or the show, but because of the Jon Stewart/Stephen Colbert one-two punch, but I very often clicked over afterward to catch the last bit or so. . .until Comedy Central started @Midnight. That said, whenever Jon and Stephen were in reruns, Dave was my backup plan. And I often sought him out via DVR or the internet when he had on great guests, like Rachel Maddow (who did manage a montage shout-out last night, along with Keith Olbermann). Whenever I did catch the show, it was still as good as I remembered. Amazing, really, that they managed to hold the same offbeat vibe from the original Late Night all the way through to the last show. It was a great run.

Rachel Maddow Discusses ISIS and Ferguson on The Late Show with David Letterman

David Letterman's Tribute to Robin Williams

Gotta say, I got a little teary.

 

Blast from the Past Extra: David Letterman's Holiday Film Festival, PMS: Pre-Menstrual Syndrome

This feature is usually presented on Sunday, where I come up with a theme, and present 8 or 10 videos on that theme. But while watching The Late Show with David Letterman, I remembered something. Back in the 80s, on the old Late Night with David Letterman on NBC, there were two "David Letterman's Holiday Film Festivals." They weren't holiday themed, but were short films by famous people, or at least famous people of the 80s. These films were too good for a micro-boxed compilation. They need to be presented singly, appreciated for what they are individually.

Here's one, on the subject of PMS (something that seemingly was discovered in the mid-80s), with two of the funniest women alive, Catherine O'Hara and Andrea Martin. Enjoy, and please be on the lookout for more from this series (or look for them on your own).

 

Craig Ferguson Leaving CBS and The Late, Late Show

Image from source, Salon

On those nights when I'm having trouble sleeping, it's not unusual for me to turn over to The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson. It's an odd show. A very odd show. There's a gay, robot skeleton. A dancing horse. Sometimes, it's nothing but goofing around for the first half of the show, before a guest is brought out. And it's got a great theme song.

I wasn't surprised that CraigyFerg didn't get the plum Late Show slot being vacated by David Letterman, simply because Ferguson's show is so strange. I just can't see it playing at 11:30. So, whether Ferguson is upset by the lack of promotion, or if he simply feels it's time to leave, CBS will be tasked with finding a new host, or scrapping the show altogether. A shame, but hey, ten years is a pretty good run.

[Excerpt]
 
Craig Ferguson to leave CBS, and “Late Late Show”

Another seat in late night is now open, as “Late Late Show” host Craig Ferguson has announced he plans to leave CBS. Ferguson is the longtime host (since 2005) of the show airing immediately after David Letterman’s “Late Show,” and had been perceived as one among the potential successors to Letterman, who will be retiring next year. CBS opted to hire Comedy Central personality Stephen Colbert over their own employee, and Ferguson’s future seemed at once foreclosed. . .

Read more at: Salon

David Letterman Set to Retire

Dave with Betty White, coincidentally, also a Mary
Tyler Moore costar. Image from source, Huffington Post.

Back in the 1970s, America's Sweetheart, Mary Tyler Moore had a critically-acclaimed and massively popular sitcom, called (oddly enough) The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Then she quit, and the show ended while on top. But Mary wasn't tired of TV, she just wanted to do a variety show, and so she did, called (oddly enough) Mary. This show was neither critically-acclaimed, nor massively popular. But it had one very important ingredient: repertory player David Letterman.

A couple years later, somebody realized that Dave was a talented and funny guy. There was a big media campaign to get us to watch the daytime series, The David Letterman Show (where do they get these names?). It tanked, fast. But somehow, the schmucks behind the scenes at NBC realized they had something on their hands, and they created Late Night with David Letterman, to follow The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson. It was a cult hit right off the bat, and became a late night institution.

I am old enough to remember all of the above. Though I don't think I caught much of Mary or Dave's original daytime show, I was enough of a pop culture sponge to have seen both, and was up on the stories behind them. And I watched Late Night from episode one.  I followed Dave to CBS when NBC snubbed him for Jay Leno. And though I long ago became a Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, I still often catch Dave on Fridays, on Daily Show/Colbert Report rerun weeks, and whenever he has Rachel Maddow on! So, congratulations to Dave Letterman on three-plus very successful decades on late night TV. I'll miss him when he goes, even if I don't always watch.

[Excerpt]

David Letterman Retiring After 33 Years As Late Night Host
 
David Letterman is retiring in 2015 after 33 years as a late night host. Letterman announced the news during a taping of Thursday's episode of "Late Show." He called CBS president Leslie Moonves before the program, "And I said ‘Leslie, it’s been great, you’ve been great, and the network has been great, but I’m retiring.'" The late night host explained that "Moonves, he and I have had a relationship for years and years and years, and we have had this conversation in the past, and we agreed that we would work together on this circumstance and the timing of this circumstance. . ."

Read more at: Huffington Post


And here is a video from Mary with the star singing "With a Little Luck" with her cast, including David Letterman, Swoozie Kurtz and David Letterman. It's pretty bad.

 

Rachel Maddow on David Letterman, Re: Sochi Olympics, Chris Christie, More

Rachel Maddow on Late Show with David Letterman, April 3, 2013

Rachel Maddow Discusses the Debates with David Letterman

Can't help it, love Dave, love Rachel. Here you go!

President Obama on The Late Show with David Letterman

Here's one of the biggest differences I notice between President Barack Obama and former Governor Mitt Romney. . . While President Obama is measured and generous in his language, even to his opponent, Romney is more apt to pounce like a dog on a bone. Or, maybe like a robotic dog. Or an alien trying to assume the form of a dog? I don't know, but Obama comes off ten times classier, and much more human.

Keith Olberman "Screwed Up" Going to Current TV

I have enjoyed Keith Olbermann's television show greatly in the past. But because he puts on a good show doesn't mean he's a nice person. It would seem he leaves a trail of disgruntled employers in his wake, and that can't all be their fault. Here, Olbermann takes responsibility. . .for starting his program at Current TV, not for it's ignoble end. I hope he lands another venue, because I enjoy his output. But maybe he needs to try self employment.

[Excerpt]

Keith Olbermann on his stint at Current TV: ‘I screwed up’

During an Tuesday night appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman, liberal political commentator Keith Olbermann addressed his abrupt exit from Current TV. . .

Read more at: Raw Story

Rachel Maddow on Late Show with David Letterman

Rachel Maddow on Late Show with David Letterman, June 9, 2011

I'm a fan of both, so it's always great to see Rachel at Dave's. And a little nugget of info about Keith Olbermann too.

Rachel Maddow and David Letterman Discuss FOX "News"

Couldn't resist.

Tina Fey Reflects on Sarah Palin, Post Election (Late Show with David Letterman)

The political stuff starts about halfway through.

David Letterman's Top 10 Reasons FOX "News" May Be In Trouble

I know the blog is a little video-heavy lately, but I couldn't resist this one.

Letterman's Top 10 Signs You Twitter Too Much

For the life of me, I still can't figure out what to use Twitter for. Facebook? Sure. Twitter? Why?

David Letterman Opines on the Jay Leno/Conan O'Brien Fight

There's quite a kerfuffle going on between Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien and NBC (not to mention Jimmy Fallon and Carson Daly). I almost never watched Jay Leno in any format (I don't like him), and avoided The Jay Leno Show like the plague. I rarely watch The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien, though I do like him. I'm most often watching The Colbert Report if it's new, or Chelsea Lately. If I watch any of the broadcast late night shows, it's always The Late Show with David Letterman. Best of the bunch, in my opinion. So, here's Dave's take on the whole sordid story.

Rachel Maddow on The Late Show With David Letterman

Because I love me some Rachel. But I can't find "part 2." Oh well.

Homer Simpson Gives David Letterman Top 10 List

Top 10 things Homer's learned in 20 years on television



Yes, The Simpsons has been on for 20 years now. But, since it actually started as a series of short clips on The Tracy Ullman Show, it's been on longer than that. Actually, it's easy for me to remember exactly when--April 19, 1987--because it was my 21st birthday. And I was watching.

The last few years, many fans have complained that the show is tired, and needs to go off the air. These are the same sorts of fans that whined endlessly about how bad Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Enterprise, and the last two seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer were. They watch every week, and then complain. I don't get it. I'd agree that somewhere between seasons 10 and 20, The Simpsons wasn't as consistantly funny, and that the number of "classic" episodes were fewer. But the show was still better at its worst than many other shows could ever hope to aspire to. And the transition to HDTV seems to have re-energized the show. Woo-hoo!