Any David Letterman fans out there? Lord have mercy on me…
I think my appreciation for David Letterman started in high school. I started watching him while finishing up late night art projects for school (always procrastinating, true to form!). His humor was well suited for my sophomoric (and “junioric,” and “senioric”) tastes. What high school kid wouldn’t like his wisecracking ways, as he shamelessly makes fun of others (oftentimes unbeknownst to the unassuming target), pulling ridiculous pranks, wearing that mischievous, gapped grin all the while?
By the looks of him, you wouldn’t guess he’d be that funny. I mean, he’s a pretty scrawny guy, sort of your average “Dave” walking down the street. But his wit is cutting, he has the power to turn his celebrity guests into complete morons, as they cower at his relentless and prodding smirk questions. Okay, maybe you haven’t notice this, but I have. The other night, P-Diddy (wow… I NEVER expected P-Diddy--a.k.a. Sean Combs a.k.a. Puff Daddy--to pop up on this blog) was on his show, and he was obviously nervous to be on the show. At first, he tried to dodge any anticipated wisecracks with a straight face, ending all of his remarks with a loud, ornery, “Dave!” i.e. “Yes, Dave. No Dave. I’m on tour right now Dave. I’m through with J. Lo Dave.” Anyways, it was very annoying and he was acting like an obstinent three-year old. I guess I’d do it too, if I was a rapper and didn’t want to look like a loser getting razzed by some skinny white guy on national television. Dave, having a few years experience behind him (just a few) in the talk-show business, sort of tried to soften up on the kiddo by asking him genuine questions, shedding the mocking tone in his voice. Once he did this, P-Diddy started to relax and warm up to Dave, with a half shocked/half cautionary expression on his face that said, “You’re being serious, right?”
Well, by this time (if you’re still reading this), you’re probably wondering why I’m writing about David Letterman. After all, there are plenty of more important topics to discuss. I guess that my fondness for ‘The Tonight Show’ brins out the "inner high school kid" in me (come one, we all have one!). In high school, the coolest, most untouchable kid was the one who could make a fool out of anyone. It didn’t matter if this “untouchable kid” was good-looking or not, athletic or dweeby: they wielded the defense weapon of humor, which cuts sharper than any sword, and could bring anyone down faster than lightning.
As a young adult, I know full well that it is no longer acceptable to make fun of other people, prank call others, or conjure silly tricks. NOT that I have a desire to do this (Lord have mercy! :D). But once in a while if it’s late, and I forget to turn the TV off, Paul Schaeffer and the CBS orchestra usually manage to lure me into the Tonight Show trappings. Plus, now that I’ve got my little brother watching it, it’s been fun to watch it with him (permitting that it’s pretty clean). We laugh at the same things a lot, and we both find a fascinating similiarity between Dave Letterman and our dad. Very strange, don’t ask us why.
So, is The Tonight Show completely horrible? Or is this a spiritual issue that needs some tending to…?
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