I'm a huge fan of David Letterman's and think he's the best of the current breed of talk show hosts, even though his monologues often hit and miss. Indeed I sometimes wonder if Dave realizes he's not doing a nightclub act in front of a different audience (nationwide that is) when he often repeats a joke almost word for word three or four days in a row.
But his panel patter -- mostly extemporaneous -- is unmatched by his Late Night Show peers such as The Tonight Show's Conan O'Brien, ABC's Jimmy Kimmel, CBS' Craig Ferguson and NBC's Jimmy Fallon. His sharp wit and well-informed grilling of his guests show that he is well read, very much in the know and incredibly up on current events.
So, how is it that, after having started a humorous rant early in the week relating to his comic obsession with Oprah Winfrey and her industry power, and wondering aloud why he wasn't invited to dinner with the president this coming weekend as she was -- since he was going to be on Martha's Vineyard at the same time -- Letterman continued the joke nightly -- as is his habit -- even after he must have known Teddy Kennedy had died on Cape Cod.
Obviously he hadn't on Tuesday, as his show is taped in the afternoon, but by Wednesday and Thursday he was surely aware. Yet, it seems that he and the other Late Show writers were determined to hang onto what they deemed to be a very amusing running gag, even though it was clear Obama was going to be delivering a eulogy at Kennedy's funeral on Saturday.
Even if Obama was going to keep his date with Oprah while preparing his remarks for the sad occasion, it seemed unseemly and inappropriate for Letterman to keep harping on this presumed "slight" by the president, as if Obama had nothing else on his mind.
Apart from the fact that I'm one of the many millions around the world who mourn Kennedy's death and am confident that Letterman, knowing his politics veer left, probably shares my profound feelings, this not-so-funny running bit seemed tasteless and particularly out of touch.
At first I thought, well, maybe Dave taped these shows, which is uncharacteristic, because when he goes on vacation they repeat episodes that are at least a few weeks old. But giving him the benefit of the doubt, I thought, well, maybe they did so a few days ahead to let him get out of town and to the Cape a few days early.
But his monologues included material that was very up-to-date, including John McCain's ejection of a woman from his town hall, which just happened Wednesday, not to mention Dave's reference to the nomination of Ben Bernanke for a second term as Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank.
So, it's clear this continuing "comic" faux pas about the Obama/Oprah dinner was done with knowledge of Senator Kennedy's loss. To that, I can only suggest Dave Letterman and his writing staff might show a little more consideration and sensitivity rather than being so in love with their material that they won't chuck it no matter how indifferent and oblivious to national and world events it makes them appear.
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That would speak volumes about Dave if he considered such an effective legislator and human rights advocate a "celebrity".
–noun, plural -ties for 1.
1. a famous or well-known person.
2. fame; renown.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME < L celebritÄs multitude, fame, festal celebration, equiv. to celebr- (s. of celeber) often repeated, famous + -itÄs -ity
Synonyms:
2. distinction, note, eminence, stardom.
Believe me. I get it. When someone I loved passed away I felt the same way. How could life go on as if nothing had happened? Why were people laughing at a time like this?
You are grieving, and you want the rest of the world to share your grief. It just doesn't work that way. While governing in America may be the lesser for the loss of Ted Kennedy, we will go on. And comics like Letterman will continue to tell jokes. If you find some of them offensive feel free to turn the channel.
I wouldn't bother too much about it.
Being a comedian does not excuse one for having poor taste or poor judgement. Letterman is no god and the extremes that people here are willing to defend him are absurd.
I don't have a TeeVee so I don't have a nightly relationship with David Letterman... so perhaps I'm more objective. I've got better things to do with my evenings. From the few I've seen all those late night so called comedic shows are just awful. David Letterman is laughing all the way to the bank and could care less about anyone else but himself.
Since you don't have a TV, and obviously don't watch his show, how can you give an informed opinion on it?
Whether or not President Obama is writing or delivery a eulogy the world goes on and so does the show.
Jennifer
Letterman made a joke and continued it daily about a social event he supposedly wanted to be invited to, when the circumstances of the event, due to Kennedy's death and the president's direct involvement in Kennedy's funeral, made Letterman's desire and "hurt" feelings absurd in a no longer funny way.
I said nothing about Letterman stopping all humor during all unfortunate occasions, but in this situation it ceased to be funny and bordered on him being clueless.
I wonder how many of the writers here work on the Letterman show (which I've stated I mostly enjoy) or for CBS?
In all that is sad about Senator Kennedy's death and all that is disgusting about comments being made by right-wingers, Letterman's joke that troubles your sense of event planning is the last thing deserving of an editorial. I think there are far more disturbing jokes being made at the actual expense of Senator Kennedy's memory than a joke that's really about Oprah.
Jennifer
Good humor is based on the truth. It is conceivable that at any other time Dave might be invited to dinner with Oprah and the president. Or not, but it is possible.
In this case, as the circumstances have clearly changed, why would Dave presume that Obama would be having dinner with anyone in preparation for such an occasion? Perhaps the dinner with Oprah has been postponed.
And Dave's joke is not unrelated to Ted Kennedy, in that Obama is writing a eulogy for this weekend (the time of the supposed dinner) and will deliver it in Boston (not Cape Cod).
Had Letterman done such a joke, even during a sad moment in our nation, e.g. the recent Michael Jackson extended coverage, but something with which Obama was not at all involved, then it would have been fine.
So, I'm not saying comedy in and unto itself is off the table when unfortunate things happen, but his comic "wondering" why he wasn't invited no longer made any sense. Good comedy is an exaggerated telling of something possibly true, and with the new events it no longer is.
Senator Kennedy passed away quietly, amongst friends and family, in the place he really called home. It's not like when his brothers were brutally gunned down in the prime of life.
Obama is on vacation, and surely he will take time to write the eulogy. But that doesn't mean he can't enjoy what time he has on the Vineyard. BTW, the Vineyard is not part of Cape Cod.
Hey, I'm not saying it's good humor, it's actually kind of lame. I'm with ya there! But is FAR from being disrespectful. Life goes on.
But this particular "gag" run no longer made any sense inasmuch as it concerned Dave crashing an Obama dinner party in Cape Cod at a time when Obama had much more serious things on his mind.
At any other time his silly Oprah obsession would have been fine, but this continuing daily comic bit made it appear Dave was totally tuned out to what was happening up there.
And yes I noted that Paul paid tribute to his musical friend, but, to my knowledge, Dave made no mention at all about Kennedy, who I would think (though not sure) must have been a guest on his show as have so many other political notables. And he usually does make a comment when someone of import whom he likes and admires died.
BTW, I'm well aware of his taping schedule, but only the Friday show is performed a day earlier.
Anyway, this was my opinion. Perhaps some didn't understand the context and why I thought the joke, considering its setting and current events, went on too long and no longer made sense.
Exactly. This thread and your replies have gone on too long and they make no sense.
but Dave's humor sometimes just skews that way.
If you felt it necessary to say something about the sullying of respect for Sen Kennedy's death, there were the expressions of lunacy said by many on the Rethuglican side that merited greater mentioning. Dave's little dalliance with tastelessness surely pales by comparison. Dave's joke while lame, was not
hurtful nor heartless. The Rethuglicans, on the other hand.........