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Craptacular!
Jul 9, 2001

Fuck the DH

slartibartfast posted:

Oh man, old school Letterman. The memories come flooding back.

The Magnet Suit, with cameo appearance by young(ish) Biff Henderson.

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ZDar Fan
Oct 15, 2012

My pick for Late Show host: Norm MacDonald. It will only last six months but produce amazing television for a certain very small audience.

Arsonist Daria
Feb 27, 2011

Requiescat in pace.

ZDar Fan posted:

My pick for Late Show host: Norm MacDonald. It will only last six months but produce amazing television for a certain very small audience.

Next year for April Fools: Norm MacDonald hosts every late night show.

Like most April Fools pranks these days, it's not so much a joke as something too beautiful for this world.

Craptacular!
Jul 9, 2001

Fuck the DH
I was watching Leno appear as a guest on Letterman's 5th anniversary show just now, and not only is he the most 90s guy in the world (I suppose that never changed), but most of his act is about porno magazines. Babbling about interviews in Playboy and the letters to Penthouse. It's kind of weird that Leno went so smoothly from a guy telling jokes that really don't connect with much of the crowd (the impression you get after he goes on to the fifth joke is that the guy looks at a LOT of porn) to the most unoffensive, geriatric comedian of our time.

I remember at some point Letterman got a primetime special which was kind of a bust. I know there were some Greatest Hits clip shows on CBS but I'm pretty sure Late Night had one prime-time event.

AsInHowe
Jan 11, 2007

red winged angel
I've watched Dave for as long as I can remember. I even remember when I was really little, watching what might've been Late Night on a family vacation, where I thought the monologue went on for a really long time.

I've watched the Late Show forever. Even when I watched other shows, I always followed Letterman. Some of it might've been how internet-savvy the other shows were, some of it might've been the timing of the thing. (During my first two college years, from the fall of 2006 to the spring of 2008, I could watch the Daily Show, Letterman, Conan, and Colbert, in order, thanks to great scheduling and CC's rerun schedule. It was fantastic, and I hated college anyway so it was a wonderful late-night escape.)

I will deeply miss the Late Show with David Letterman.

Steve Vader
Apr 29, 2005

Everyone's Playing!

I've loved Letterman since I was a kid, as his absurd sardonic humor helped form a lot of what I find funny, and even now, I like watching sometimes just to see that segment when he's first at the desk to see what he's going to crank about tonight.

I don't understand why people keep mentioning Stewart and Colbert - they are absolutely perfect at what they do now and what they do now is absolutely necessary and crucial and I don't want them to ever stop. They should not "move up" to do a gabfest.

I, too, would like a non-White Guy for a replacement, but also wouldn't mind if Craig moves up. The accepted wisdom is that he'd have to Tone Down for 11:30, but given the ever-fracturing niche market of late-night, maybe his weirdness would be a notable difference and its own unique hook for 11:30. I don't know how Craig would adjust to a Budget and Band, though. Not Giving A gently caress when there's less to complain about seems like it might not work as well.

Tina Fey would be interesting, but I'm not sure if it's likely.

Craptacular!
Jul 9, 2001

Fuck the DH

Steve Vader posted:

I don't understand why people keep mentioning Stewart and Colbert - they are absolutely perfect at what they do now and what they do now is absolutely necessary and crucial and I don't want them to ever stop. They should not "move up" to do a gabfest.

Stewart's interviews are often good enough to overrun and have a "See the full interview at..." thing, which kind of kills watching them on TV. He'd benefit from a larger time slot, AND his version of a "monologue" (if you want to call it that) has slowly changed from actual political comedy into making fun of the 24 hour news networks. And most of what he does there is just do a few improv jokes in funny voices in-between clips and montages put together by the show's researchers.

His summer sabbatical should have shown people how much of what they love/hate about The Daily Show is because of Jon or because of the writers. John Oliver more or less read the cue cards like he was Jon Stewart, there was just fewer "New Jersey Mobster" impressions.

You can only take the piss out of CNN so much before either the audience tires of it, or you do.

Craptacular! fucked around with this message at 06:59 on Apr 4, 2014

Jerusalem
May 20, 2004

Would you be my new best friends?

I've watched Letterman for as long as I can remember being able to watch television late at night, and I'm really going to miss him (in a year, at least he isn't going anywhere soon) when he's gone. Sometimes his stuff just died and sometimes he knocked it out of the park, but one of my favorite things was how the next night he'd always cheerfully joke to the audience about how last night's audience stunk :)

Also I can't think of a single Jungle Jack Hanna segment that wasn't pure gold. The long-standing exasperation those two seemed to have for each other was brilliant.

say no to bats
Aug 15, 2001
Rumblee tumblee, climin' a hunny tree

comes along bort posted:

His old Late Night show had this element of anarchic stupidity which he lost when he moved to CBS. Conan and Craig have specific parts of it; the knowing idiocy in Conan's sketches which can only come from overeducated people focusing on the inane, and Craig's effortless improvisation and near disdain for structure or planning. But neither have the entirety of what made Dave so great.

e: one of my favorite old bits:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_D6PVE_N9c&t=1850s

Yeah, NBC Letterman is something to behold. His CBS show has its moments, but the absolutely stupid but still hilarious bits he came up with constantly on NBC were fantastic. I've been a lifelong fan of him because of it and its going to suck when he isn't on the air anymore sometime next year. He's going to be 68 if he does another year before retiring and I guess its time, but I wouldn't have minded if he had stuck around into his 70s. He hasn't lost his passion for it like, oh say Howard Stern, and is still putting out great shows.

Von Sloneker
Jul 6, 2009

as if all this was something more
than another footnote on a postcard from nowhere,
another chapter in the handbook for exercises in futility
I was one of those weird kids (twelve years old, apparently) who bought the Late Night book when it came out. I think I may still have it somewhere -- though I know the last page is damaged, as there was some kind of instruction to "sprinkle lemon juice on it to reveal a special message" or something. I don't think there was a message.


(image from amazon)

I'll definitely miss his show, but as others have said, we've already been missing it since the move to CBS. I wish they'd bring out the Prancing Fluids a final time.

Mr. Funny Pants
Apr 9, 2001

Von Sloneker posted:

I was one of those weird kids (twelve years old, apparently) who bought the Late Night book when it came out. I think I may still have it somewhere -- though I know the last page is damaged, as there was some kind of instruction to "sprinkle lemon juice on it to reveal a special message" or something. I don't think there was a message.


(image from amazon)

I'll definitely miss his show, but as others have said, we've already been missing it since the move to CBS. I wish they'd bring out the Prancing Fluids a final time.

Holy poo poo, the book. I had it too. I remember Letterman even making a big deal out of a printing error, like an entire page or two or something was missing, I can't remember. And I think Letterman crushed the publishing company.

ESPN's Keith Olberman devoted his entire first segment to the announcement and couldn't have given much better a tribute to Letterman, it was amazing.

Also, the whole announcement segment was itself great TV, like literally if you stopped the tape the moment before he explicitly said he was retiring, it would still have been a cool and funny bit.

bobkatt013
Oct 8, 2006

You’re telling me Peter Parker is ...... Spider-man!?
Hope they get Bruce to play his final show again

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3AjfobLpws

ComposerGuy
Jul 28, 2007

Conspicuous Absinthe
As far as replacements go, the thought just popped into my head: it could actually be Neil Patrick Harris.

It seems sort of left-fieldy, but CBS has been using him like crazy to host things like the Emmys, and he's done the Tonys numerous times. He might be just the kind of guy CBS is looking for to match up with Fallon's youthful exuberance.

Irish Joe
Jul 23, 2007

by Lowtax

ComposerGuy posted:

As far as replacements go, the thought just popped into my head: it could actually be Neil Patrick Harris.

It'd be nice if they found someone who wasn't so left coasty, imo.

Edward Mass
Sep 14, 2011

𝅘𝅥𝅮 I wanna go home with the armadillo
Good country music from Amarillo and Abilene
Friendliest people and the prettiest women you've ever seen
𝅘𝅥𝅮

bobkatt013 posted:

Hope they get Bruce to play his final show again

I'm betting it's Foo Fighters. They're Letterman's favorite band.

Vertical Lime
Dec 11, 2004

bobkatt013 posted:

Hope they get Bruce to play his final show again

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3AjfobLpws

The look on Letterman's face as he was about to introduce him is priceless.

I'd bet that the final show includes him, Bill Murray, Regis and Howard Stern just letting loose

Here's the aforementioned Olbermann tribute, including a story about the infamous time he filled in for John McCain:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfkd4i9Hlsc

EasyEW
Mar 8, 2006

I've got my father's great big six-shooter with me 'n' if anybody in this woods wants to start somethin' just let 'em--but they DASSN'T.

slartibartfast posted:

Oh man, old school Letterman. The memories come flooding back.

You say "old school Letterman", all I can say back is "They pelted us with rocks and garbage."

Mr. Funny Pants
Apr 9, 2001

EasyEW posted:

You say "old school Letterman", all I can say back is "They pelted us with rocks and garbage."

Awesome.

Here's the infamous bullhorn interruption of a prime time Today show. They were outside the building and Dave, well, just watch. Olberman referenced this bit. Oh, and it genuinely pissed off Bryant Gumbel, he was apparently infuriated and complained to NBC brass.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrrUeHqjtso

One of my favorite other bits was a video on how the "special effects" for Late Night were done. This was around the time of Return of the Jedi and other blockbusters, and TV specials that showed how the FX were done were really common. Their parody had them explaining how Dave cracked an egg in a cooking segment. They had all these insane explanations for every detail, like the egg hanging on fishing wire in front of a blue screen and squibs used to make it crack. They also did a bit with Chris Elliot's head sticking up out of a table such that they made it out that he was an animatronic head, with cables and poo poo leading to a control box. When the operator hit the buttons, Elliot did the most hilarious exaggerated puppet faces, I still remember some of them. Can't find this one anywhere. I know I've got it on a VHS in my attic, but it would be a bitch to dig it out.

Mister Kingdom
Dec 14, 2005

And the tears that fall
On the city wall
Will fade away
With the rays of morning light
I loved it when Henry Mancini wrote The Viewer Mail Theme. Dave wasn't too thrilled.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogst_L1PI1I

I don't know why there's a Donahaue clip on this video.

Jerusalem
May 20, 2004

Would you be my new best friends?

Vertical Lime posted:

Here's the aforementioned Olbermann tribute, including a story about the infamous time he filled in for John McCain:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfkd4i9Hlsc

Thanks for the link, and I forgot all about the McCain no-show, which was glorious to watch unfold. Letterman goes from talking about how great McCain is to just tearing him a new rear end in a top hat

der juicen
Aug 11, 2005

Fuck haters
My best memory of Letterman was him throwing his blue card out the window and it impaling someone on the street.

Mr. Funny Pants
Apr 9, 2001

For what it's worth given the source...

http://mashable.com/2014/04/04/stephen-colbert-replace-david-letterman-late-night/

quote:

Stephen Colbert is CBS' top choice to replace the retiring David Letterman, and has indicated that he's willing to take over the Late Show when the time comes, people familiar with both sides of the discussions tell Mashable.

If this pans out, I think there will be a vocal campaign, not so much against Colbert as in favor of a non-white guy. I think Colbert would be really good, though losing his character is a much bigger blow to me than Stewart leaving TDS.

Rageaholic
May 31, 2005

Old Town Road to EGOT

If Colbert replaces Letterman while keeping his character, that would be incredible.

Megazver
Jan 13, 2006
I'd rather not waste Colbert on a generic talk show.

Vertical Lime
Dec 11, 2004

Rageaholic Monkey posted:

If Colbert replaces Letterman while keeping his character, that would be incredible.

Why wouldn't they want him for his onscreen persona

And then who (probably on the Daily Show) replaces Colbert?

Mister Kingdom
Dec 14, 2005

And the tears that fall
On the city wall
Will fade away
With the rays of morning light
One of the most insane things ever on Letterman where he talks about the extortion attempt and his indiscretions with female staffers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7f9D4KclJw

Gonz
Dec 22, 2009

"Jesus, did I say that? Or just think it? Was I talking? Did they hear me?"

Vertical Lime posted:

And then who (probably on the Daily Show) replaces Colbert?

Yaphet Kotto.

EugeneJ
Feb 5, 2012

by FactsAreUseless

CaptainYesterday posted:

I'm betting it's Foo Fighters. They're Letterman's favorite band.

That's a funny way of spelling Todd Rundgren

Mister Kingdom
Dec 14, 2005

And the tears that fall
On the city wall
Will fade away
With the rays of morning light

EugeneJ posted:

That's a funny way of spelling Todd Rundgren

I wonder if he'll mention Zevon?

Mr. Funny Pants
Apr 9, 2001

Colbert would not keep the character, the article and common sense say so. It would be a standard late night talk show.

Rageaholic
May 31, 2005

Old Town Road to EGOT

Mr. Funny Pants posted:

Colbert would not keep the character, the article and common sense say so. It would be a standard late night talk show.
Well that wouldn't be nearly as fun then.

JazzFlight
Apr 29, 2006

Oooooooooooh!

Mr. Funny Pants posted:

Colbert would not keep the character, the article and common sense say so. It would be a standard late night talk show.
That would fuckin' suuuuuuuuuuuuck.

Mr. Funny Pants
Apr 9, 2001

JazzFlight posted:

That would fuckin' suuuuuuuuuuuuck.

It would suck to lose the character and his show, it's one of the more unique and consistently great shows on TV. But if you've heard Colbert in normal conversation, he's very likable and unlike on The Report, capable of doing a good interview. He did a long sit down with Neil Degrasse Tyson at a university and it's very entertaining.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXh9RQCvxmg

Rageaholic
May 31, 2005

Old Town Road to EGOT

Mr. Funny Pants posted:

It would suck to lose the character and his show, it's one of the more unique and consistently great shows on TV. But if you've heard Colbert in normal conversation, he's very likable and unlike on The Report, capable of doing a good interview. He did a long sit down with Neil Degrasse Tyson at a university and it's very entertaining.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXh9RQCvxmg
I heard him out of character on a podcast once (after the whole Daft Punk not showing up on his show thing happened last year) and he's very intelligent, but I've never seen him do an interview out of character before. I'll have to check this out because I love him and NDT.

TL
Jan 16, 2006

Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world

Fallen Rib

Gonz posted:

Yaphet Kotto.

Jim Norton account spotted.

And I'd be perfectly happy with Colbert as the replacement. I think he could temper his act for 11:30 and still be very fuuny.

Steve Vader
Apr 29, 2005

Everyone's Playing!

It's worth nothing that he's ALREADY on at 11:30.

As much as I'd hate to see Colbert go, because what he does is so great, I also have to imagine he doesn't want to have to play a blowhard version of himself for the rest of his career.

wa27
Jan 15, 2007

JazzFlight posted:

That would fuckin' suuuuuuuuuuuuck.

Colbert is still a funny person.

Robnoxious
Feb 17, 2004

Welp, here we go...

Seems there's a an out clause in CraigyFerg's contract.
The Late Show is his if he wants it.

http://nypost.com/2014/04/04/craig-ferguson-will-make-a-killing-off-david-lettermans-empty-chair/

I dunno how to feel about this. I mean good for Craig and all but like many of you I feel his show runs because it's mostly unstructured and loose flying. The brass certainly will get in the way in the earlier slot and I fear that will hamper Craig's creativity.

Although if they don't, think of the possibilities Craig could do with a huge budget. :aaa:

MikeJF
Dec 20, 2003




It sounds like the studio can still say no, but if they say no after he indicates he wants to do it he gets 5 million dollars.

I really don't want anything that might impose structure or restrictions on Craig Ferguson, but we'll see what happens.

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Robnoxious
Feb 17, 2004

Craptacular! posted:

The Magnet Suit, with cameo appearance by young(ish) Biff Henderson.

I'll see your magnet suit and raise you Marlon Brando.

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