Two entertainers have influenced my view of New York far more than any other: David Letterman and Woody Allen. I’ll save my view of the controversial Allen for another time, but Letterman is particularly worth noting.
Letterman has charted my own sense of humor ever since I started watching him on NBC back in high school. For a complete career summary (his, not mine) see here.
Leno rules the Neilson’s, but Letterman has made an impact on culture, helping to define the New Yorker attitude and using cynicism to puncture pretension and unctuousness wherever he may find it. Who else has equally offended both Madonna and Bill O’Reilly? These two polar opposites share nothing in common other than arrogant condescension. (Letterman’s interviews with them both are available on Youtube, but Madonna’s is filled with far too much bleeping for this family blog). Letterman wields his scalpel with tremendous skill.
He can also be thought provoking and downright appropriate when the situation calls for it. For example, he had a powerful interview with Dan Rather a week after 9/11. On one occasion he was graciously disarming to a Christian artist who appeared on his show.
He also had the best commercial at the SuperBowl last month.
The hallmark of Letterman’s humor is its self-effacing nature. Humor at your own expense is one of the best (and safest) forms. As one example, shortly after Letterman had a quadruple bypass surgery in 2000, he retuned to the show a few months later and said: “My career flashed before my eyes. I'm telling you something. It was mostly awkward silences.”
Tomorrow, the long awaited (by both of you still reading this blog) final installation of the NYC trip…including a trip to the Late Show with David Letterman.
Letterman has charted my own sense of humor ever since I started watching him on NBC back in high school. For a complete career summary (his, not mine) see here.
Leno rules the Neilson’s, but Letterman has made an impact on culture, helping to define the New Yorker attitude and using cynicism to puncture pretension and unctuousness wherever he may find it. Who else has equally offended both Madonna and Bill O’Reilly? These two polar opposites share nothing in common other than arrogant condescension. (Letterman’s interviews with them both are available on Youtube, but Madonna’s is filled with far too much bleeping for this family blog). Letterman wields his scalpel with tremendous skill.
He can also be thought provoking and downright appropriate when the situation calls for it. For example, he had a powerful interview with Dan Rather a week after 9/11. On one occasion he was graciously disarming to a Christian artist who appeared on his show.
He also had the best commercial at the SuperBowl last month.
The hallmark of Letterman’s humor is its self-effacing nature. Humor at your own expense is one of the best (and safest) forms. As one example, shortly after Letterman had a quadruple bypass surgery in 2000, he retuned to the show a few months later and said: “My career flashed before my eyes. I'm telling you something. It was mostly awkward silences.”
Tomorrow, the long awaited (by both of you still reading this blog) final installation of the NYC trip…including a trip to the Late Show with David Letterman.
