WEBVTT 1 00:00:03.200 --> 00:00:12.160 Callaroga Shark Media. I'm Johnny Mack with your daily comedy news. Today is 2 00:00:12.199 --> 00:00:16.199 part two of my interview with Mike Chisholm. He hosts The Letterman Podcast, 3 00:00:16.199 --> 00:00:21.280 which celebrates the incredible body of work done by broadcast legend David Letterman and company. 4 00:00:21.679 --> 00:00:24.800 On The Letterman Podcast, Mike highlights folks who work with Dave or were 5 00:00:24.839 --> 00:00:29.239 part of the show's productions. Today is a little more nerdier than yesterday. 6 00:00:29.280 --> 00:00:33.640 We start to geek out about some specific subjects, including Chris Elliott, who 7 00:00:33.640 --> 00:00:37.679 I adore, But we'll pick up the conversation here with me talking about Steve 8 00:00:37.679 --> 00:00:43.439 Allen. I think another influence that maybe for younger people goes unrecognized is Steve 9 00:00:43.479 --> 00:00:47.000 Allen. I think there's a tendency to go work backwards and go Letterman, 10 00:00:47.079 --> 00:00:50.280 Carson, Jack Parr, and you have a version of the Tonight's Show in 11 00:00:50.320 --> 00:00:54.520 your head that starts with Parr and goes through Johnny and Jay. But the 12 00:00:54.560 --> 00:00:59.359 Steve Allen Tonight's Show, if you watch clips of that, you'd swear you're 13 00:00:59.399 --> 00:01:03.920 watching nineteen sixty two Late Night with David Letterman. I think he even did 14 00:01:04.000 --> 00:01:08.920 a version of the Alka Seltzer suit unless I'm totally hallucinating. Yeah, No, 15 00:01:10.079 --> 00:01:12.040 Dave in the Serial Bowl, Dave in the Alka Seltzer suit and some 16 00:01:12.079 --> 00:01:15.680 of these things. But Dave has never shied away from the idea of saying 17 00:01:15.719 --> 00:01:19.840 that he was influenced by some of the antics of Steve Allen. The man 18 00:01:19.879 --> 00:01:23.040 on the street again, the razor sharp wit of talking to people in the 19 00:01:23.040 --> 00:01:25.920 audience and the coming up with these responses, that kind of thing. There's 20 00:01:25.959 --> 00:01:29.799 no doubt that there's a Steve Allen influence there. This is where we bring 21 00:01:29.879 --> 00:01:34.439 up Don Giller and his might of what he has done with this insane collection 22 00:01:34.560 --> 00:01:38.159 that he has, what he has done. If you go onto Don Giller's 23 00:01:38.239 --> 00:01:42.200 channel on YouTube, he's got a seven part in. Every single part is 24 00:01:42.200 --> 00:01:45.480 like an hour and a half. It's called the Talk I think it's called 25 00:01:45.480 --> 00:01:49.159 the Talk Show Guest Series, and it's in chronological order every single late night 26 00:01:49.280 --> 00:01:53.280 host or talk show host and every appearance that they made on any of David 27 00:01:53.319 --> 00:01:57.120 Letterman shows. So Parr is there, Steve Allen, is there, Dick 28 00:01:57.200 --> 00:02:00.239 Cavott, who've had on our show, he was there, and it goes 29 00:02:00.280 --> 00:02:04.879 through every single time he interviewed or had these people on the show. And 30 00:02:04.920 --> 00:02:08.199 the cool thing about it because he does it in chronological order of each guest 31 00:02:08.520 --> 00:02:12.280 or each host, I should say it's both their yes and a host in 32 00:02:12.280 --> 00:02:15.159 this case anyway, because he does it in that order, you see the 33 00:02:15.159 --> 00:02:22.039 evolution of Dave, and you see the evolution of Dave's interviewing skills and his 34 00:02:22.159 --> 00:02:24.879 courage is his self esteem. Early on, when he's interviewing some of these 35 00:02:24.879 --> 00:02:29.719 people, he is really you can tell he's in awe of some of these 36 00:02:29.719 --> 00:02:35.159 folks. And then as his experience and skill level increased over the years, 37 00:02:35.719 --> 00:02:38.479 you just see how formid old David Letterman has become. And it's a fascinating 38 00:02:38.800 --> 00:02:43.080 That's comfort food for me, Johnny. Honestly, if I'm having a bad 39 00:02:43.159 --> 00:02:45.879 day of some sort and i need to vege on, I need to take 40 00:02:45.879 --> 00:02:49.919 some time and just recharge, I'll go and I'll watch those Those are absolutely 41 00:02:50.680 --> 00:02:54.639 astounding in their insight, but of course their entertainment value as well. Highly 42 00:02:54.639 --> 00:02:59.639 recommend them. But yes, Steve Allen huge influence, as was Tom Snyder, 43 00:02:59.680 --> 00:03:02.039 as Johnny Carson you could throw, as was Dick Cavot for that matter. 44 00:03:02.159 --> 00:03:07.280 You can see influence in Dave from a lot of these folks. Jack 45 00:03:07.319 --> 00:03:09.080 Parr of course as well. I shouldn't, but you see it today too, 46 00:03:09.159 --> 00:03:15.159 younger people influencing Dave as well in my next guest. And I just 47 00:03:15.240 --> 00:03:17.159 love this evolution that he has had. If you look at it that way, 48 00:03:17.680 --> 00:03:21.199 it makes it a lot easier. That change is a lot easier to 49 00:03:21.240 --> 00:03:23.919 stomach if you look at it as an evolution. And where Dave is at 50 00:03:23.000 --> 00:03:25.479 right now, as far as I'm concerned, he's top of his game. 51 00:03:25.479 --> 00:03:28.680 I saw him a couple of weeks ago in La too. I saw two 52 00:03:28.759 --> 00:03:32.159 nights during his three night run in LA I saw him interview Nate Bergazi and 53 00:03:32.319 --> 00:03:37.719 Tim Robinson from I Think You Should Leave on Netflix, and watching him talk 54 00:03:37.759 --> 00:03:43.599 to these amazing comedians that are hot as all ghetto right now and not just 55 00:03:43.680 --> 00:03:47.639 hang with them, but they're hanging off his every word. It's quite astounding 56 00:03:47.639 --> 00:03:52.000 to see that, to see him become our Johnny Carson right now. But 57 00:03:52.039 --> 00:03:54.080 the thing is, Johnny Carson left, Dave didn't, and I'm so grateful 58 00:03:54.120 --> 00:03:59.080 for that. Did you watch Malini's show the first couple nights, especially the 59 00:03:59.159 --> 00:04:01.599 first twenty month, and it's of Malini's show I was like, twelve thirty 60 00:04:01.680 --> 00:04:04.400 days back, this is chaotic, this is crazy. I love it. 61 00:04:05.199 --> 00:04:08.719 That's exactly what I thought it was too. I was down in La while 62 00:04:08.719 --> 00:04:11.400 that was happening, and I was trying my very best to try and figure 63 00:04:11.400 --> 00:04:14.319 out a way to get to the episode where Dave was on it. And 64 00:04:14.360 --> 00:04:17.079 I think I'm glad that Dave wasn't on the first episode because I think that 65 00:04:17.160 --> 00:04:19.800 there was You're right, there was some chaos there, but there was also 66 00:04:19.839 --> 00:04:23.160 some of that chaos that was like, Okay, is this working? Is 67 00:04:23.160 --> 00:04:25.439 it not working? But by day three or four you're like, okay, 68 00:04:25.480 --> 00:04:29.319 this is crazy. And it was very much like Late Night. But then 69 00:04:29.360 --> 00:04:31.759 you throw in the idea of having a group of people out there unscripted. 70 00:04:31.879 --> 00:04:35.839 No real it doesn't feel like that. A segment producer came out and said, 71 00:04:35.839 --> 00:04:39.519 Okay, we're gonna go from here to hear other than the special guest 72 00:04:39.519 --> 00:04:42.920 who was the expert topic on, Let's make sure we give them some time. 73 00:04:42.920 --> 00:04:46.160 But other than that, it seemed to be pretty free form. Yeah, 74 00:04:46.360 --> 00:04:49.160 it was. I loved it. I thought it was fantastic. I 75 00:04:49.199 --> 00:04:53.800 know that there's a lot of people who are scratching their heads because they're used 76 00:04:53.839 --> 00:04:58.800 to seeing no offense to Falon's Tonight Show. But Falens Tonight Show is pretty 77 00:04:58.800 --> 00:05:02.360 buttoned up, is pretty A to B two C A to B two C 78 00:05:02.560 --> 00:05:08.040 formulaic, and mullaney show was anything but that. Putting Richard Kind as the 79 00:05:08.279 --> 00:05:12.319 as the sidekick, Holy, that was funny. Richard Kind is always He's 80 00:05:12.360 --> 00:05:15.720 always just made me laugh. That guy is just a He's like a cartoon 81 00:05:15.759 --> 00:05:18.800 character come to life. What a genius move throwing Richard Kind on that in 82 00:05:18.800 --> 00:05:23.759 those suits on as that and I thought it was very funny. And the 83 00:05:23.800 --> 00:05:27.680 cool thing about it is the response to it. At the beginning, I'm 84 00:05:27.680 --> 00:05:30.360 down in La as it's happening, and I'm watching, I'm going online and 85 00:05:30.439 --> 00:05:32.240 reading these responses while I'm down there, like right before. I think one 86 00:05:32.279 --> 00:05:35.000 morning I actually talked about when we had breakfast down there and it was just 87 00:05:35.199 --> 00:05:38.720 watching the responses and people were like, what the hell is this show? 88 00:05:38.759 --> 00:05:40.720 And they didn't like it at all, a lot of people, a lot 89 00:05:40.720 --> 00:05:44.680 of people were like really against it. But since then, you've seen, 90 00:05:44.759 --> 00:05:46.800 like Mulaney just had an interview again the other day talking about are you gonna 91 00:05:46.839 --> 00:05:50.000 be doing more of these? Are you gonna do more talk shows because there's 92 00:05:50.040 --> 00:05:56.480 this audience that's clearly there, that clearly enjoyed the strangeness of it, and 93 00:05:57.000 --> 00:06:00.079 I believe one hundred percent you're exactly right. It can be directly compared in 94 00:06:00.120 --> 00:06:03.480 many respects to Late Night with David Letterman. I've seen a lot of people 95 00:06:03.560 --> 00:06:06.879 with the take, and I agree with it. The move from Malaney is 96 00:06:06.959 --> 00:06:11.439 to do that four six times a year, maybe take it on the road 97 00:06:11.480 --> 00:06:15.519 like Conan. If he were to start doing that on Netflix at ten pm 98 00:06:15.560 --> 00:06:18.199 Eastern every night, I think I'd wind up with the same place I wind 99 00:06:18.279 --> 00:06:21.079 up with eleven thirty day of like you know what, I'm gonna watch something 100 00:06:21.120 --> 00:06:25.040 else to night. I don't really need to see m'laney, but I love 101 00:06:25.079 --> 00:06:28.199 the potential there. I want to spend a couple of minutes just nerding out 102 00:06:28.240 --> 00:06:31.959 about Chris Elliott and I Another thing, you realize the influence on Late Night 103 00:06:32.000 --> 00:06:34.560 on me. I won't get into it here. My audience knows. I 104 00:06:34.600 --> 00:06:40.279 have a recurring joke about Joe Coy and Taylor Swift that I have beaten to 105 00:06:40.360 --> 00:06:43.839 death to the point where it went from funny to not funny at all, 106 00:06:43.879 --> 00:06:46.040 and it's now back to funny because you know I'm going to do it, 107 00:06:46.360 --> 00:06:50.360 and that I'm thinking of the Chris Elliott bits of Guy under the seats. 108 00:06:50.399 --> 00:06:54.279 We all know where this is going to go, and we're all laughing and 109 00:06:54.279 --> 00:06:58.040 we're all in on the jokes. But let's do it the Fugitive Guy over 110 00:06:58.120 --> 00:07:00.319 and over. It's the same setup, it's the same payoff, but I 111 00:07:00.360 --> 00:07:04.800 couldn't get enough of it. Let's just start about Chris Elliott. Chris Elliott 112 00:07:04.839 --> 00:07:09.399 is as far as I'm concerned, he's an international treasure. He's just and 113 00:07:09.439 --> 00:07:12.720 I say that because Shit's Creek up here in Canada. Of course, we're 114 00:07:12.800 --> 00:07:16.160 very proud of Schitz Creek being a Canadian production. And I was so happy 115 00:07:16.199 --> 00:07:19.759 to see him in Shit's Creek. I was so happy to see Chris Elliot 116 00:07:19.800 --> 00:07:24.839 back. Chris Elliott is just He is incredible and one of the most humble 117 00:07:24.839 --> 00:07:29.040 people that you'll ever ever talk to. He and I have had conversations. 118 00:07:28.439 --> 00:07:31.399 He's reluctant to come on the Letterman podcast. Doesn't want to talk about some 119 00:07:31.439 --> 00:07:35.480 of the stuff he did back then because out of just Again, it's so 120 00:07:35.680 --> 00:07:40.759 interesting how these people can be so self deprecating and not understand the influence that 121 00:07:40.759 --> 00:07:43.680 they make. But again, a few weeks ago, watching David Letterman and 122 00:07:43.680 --> 00:07:46.199 Tim Robinson on stage, Tim Robbins Dave asked him, do you have any 123 00:07:46.279 --> 00:07:49.399 questions for me? And one of his first questions to Dave was can we 124 00:07:49.399 --> 00:07:53.040 talk about Chris Elliott for a second. And one of the things Dave said 125 00:07:53.079 --> 00:07:57.279 on stage was, at one time was probably the funniest human walking the planet, 126 00:07:57.279 --> 00:08:00.480 I think was what he said. And it's true Chris was Oh was 127 00:08:00.519 --> 00:08:03.639 he good? One of the things that I love about Chris Elliott. And 128 00:08:03.720 --> 00:08:07.639 it seems to be this way behind the scenes as well, from everybody that 129 00:08:07.680 --> 00:08:09.439 I've talked to. And I don't think I'm telling tales out of school when 130 00:08:09.439 --> 00:08:13.040 we talk about Larry Sanders and how people say nobody was afraid of Larry. 131 00:08:13.439 --> 00:08:18.519 If there was one guy on the staff that was directly interacting with Dave and 132 00:08:18.560 --> 00:08:20.519 performing with Dave that wasn't afraid of Dave, it was Chris. At least 133 00:08:20.519 --> 00:08:22.800 I don't know if he was or not, but at least he came across 134 00:08:22.839 --> 00:08:26.240 like he wasn't he was, He wasn't afraid. To give it back to 135 00:08:26.319 --> 00:08:28.560 Dave, and really play with him. And if they're hockey players, I'm 136 00:08:28.560 --> 00:08:31.639 not afraid to hit each other, They're not afraid to throw an elbow here 137 00:08:31.639 --> 00:08:35.240 and there. It was edgy and dangerous and unpredictable. It had that unpredictable 138 00:08:35.320 --> 00:08:39.639 nature to it, even in some of these canned things that were gonna happen 139 00:08:39.679 --> 00:08:43.000 that were quote unquote predictable. They weren't like the guy under the seats, 140 00:08:43.360 --> 00:08:46.799 But what's he gonna do next? Is there something that's gonna be different or 141 00:08:46.799 --> 00:08:48.919 is it going to be just the same. And you didn't know that. 142 00:08:48.919 --> 00:08:52.480 That was the unpredictable part of it. And you think about the family, 143 00:08:52.639 --> 00:08:56.000 the draft. I the name escapes me right now. I can't believe the 144 00:08:56.080 --> 00:09:00.840 name escapes me. But Chris acting with this acting troupe and the little sketches 145 00:09:00.840 --> 00:09:03.639 and skits that they would put on night Light. Oh my god, do 146 00:09:03.679 --> 00:09:07.960 you remember night Light? Yes? Oh, when Chris would have his own 147 00:09:07.000 --> 00:09:11.080 show, that night Light with Chris show, the middle of Dave Show, 148 00:09:11.159 --> 00:09:13.559 his own show. Yeah, he knew late night show. This is night 149 00:09:13.600 --> 00:09:16.120 Light with Chris Elliott right in the middle of Late Night with David Letterman, 150 00:09:16.480 --> 00:09:22.159 And it seems like a new show. Is beginning and Chris completely lampooning day, 151 00:09:22.440 --> 00:09:26.279 doing almost a caricature of the types of jokes he would do, and 152 00:09:26.360 --> 00:09:30.399 some of the things, Oh boy, was that good. Chris Elliott is 153 00:09:30.759 --> 00:09:33.399 a genius. He is amazing and I don't even know if he knows how 154 00:09:33.480 --> 00:09:37.440 much of an impact he has made on people. Yeah, he is absolutely 155 00:09:37.440 --> 00:09:41.879 incredible. There's a great clip on YouTube. I'll encourage everyone to seek out. 156 00:09:41.080 --> 00:09:45.080 They don't even explain it, which is why it's great. It's Chris 157 00:09:45.080 --> 00:09:50.240 Elliott is in Paul Shaffer's place doing a Paul Schaeffer impression, exaggerated, jumping 158 00:09:50.320 --> 00:09:54.399 up and down, saying things Paul would say, not even like trying to 159 00:09:54.440 --> 00:09:58.720 be funny. He's just doing a dead on ish Paul. And they don't 160 00:09:58.720 --> 00:10:01.919 even knowledge that really that it's Chris Elliott. They just go with it, 161 00:10:03.159 --> 00:10:07.240 and it's amazing. That was the thing. When Norm MacDonald was on SNL. 162 00:10:07.320 --> 00:10:11.240 People remember him mostly for his Weekend Update, and but one of the 163 00:10:11.240 --> 00:10:15.399 things that Norm MacDonald did on SNL was he imitated Dave. And it was 164 00:10:15.440 --> 00:10:18.240 funny watching Norm do that because one of the things that he did, if 165 00:10:18.279 --> 00:10:22.639 you really look at it and deconstruct it, all he was doing was just 166 00:10:22.679 --> 00:10:26.799 trying to imitate exactly what Dave was doing, and it was really interesting. 167 00:10:26.840 --> 00:10:30.480 It wasn't like where you look at when Dana Carvey would imitate Johnny Carson. 168 00:10:31.320 --> 00:10:35.200 He would put in some surrealistic things, not just Carcinio, but some of 169 00:10:35.240 --> 00:10:37.679 the other things he would put in. He would throw in some things there 170 00:10:37.759 --> 00:10:41.799 that made Johnny a little bit more cartoonish or whatever. Norm didn't do that 171 00:10:41.840 --> 00:10:46.360 with Dave. Norm didn't do that with Dave. Norm basically just acted the 172 00:10:46.360 --> 00:10:50.720 way that Dave did. But it was so ridiculous because only Dave can act 173 00:10:50.759 --> 00:10:52.440 the way that Dave doesn't get away with it, and it was just very 174 00:10:52.519 --> 00:10:54.840 very interesting to see the takes on that. And I think Chris doing that 175 00:10:54.919 --> 00:10:58.759 with Paul is something very similar. Paul Shaffer has the most amazing, you 176 00:10:58.799 --> 00:11:03.960 know, unique presence, personality, delivery, wit character, because part of 177 00:11:03.960 --> 00:11:09.159 that is character of course for the show, and when somebody else just imitates 178 00:11:09.200 --> 00:11:11.960 it but dead on, I think that there's something that's funny about that. 179 00:11:13.600 --> 00:11:16.159 Doing this every day, sometimes I'll go and I call them half ass impressions. 180 00:11:16.159 --> 00:11:18.679 They're not meant to be impressions. But if I'll read a quote from 181 00:11:18.679 --> 00:11:22.279 somebody, I'll try and to approximate their cadence, if that makes sense. 182 00:11:22.840 --> 00:11:28.200 And both Norm and Dave have an if you're going to do a really lazy 183 00:11:28.320 --> 00:11:33.120 letterman impression my next guest, and just it's that little uh. And Norm 184 00:11:33.200 --> 00:11:37.200 has that as well. Yes, there's no question about that. Someone once 185 00:11:37.240 --> 00:11:43.440 told the like, it's funny when I do these things. Someone once told 186 00:11:43.480 --> 00:11:48.399 the it's funny when I do these things. I just did one right there. 187 00:11:48.120 --> 00:11:50.799 I don't have a lot of us and OZ many times when you and 188 00:11:50.879 --> 00:11:54.080 I are communicating back and forth, it's not like that. But when I'm 189 00:11:54.159 --> 00:12:00.120 hosting the show, I have some of these little noises that I make and 190 00:12:00.159 --> 00:12:03.600 I want I watch Dave. I swear to god it's because Dave has them 191 00:12:03.639 --> 00:12:07.200 too. And it's something that I think there's a lot of people out there 192 00:12:07.200 --> 00:12:09.240 that are trying to be you know, there's a lot of stand ups out 193 00:12:09.279 --> 00:12:11.120 there who tried to be Hicks for a long time, and I think that 194 00:12:13.000 --> 00:12:16.519 I think there are broadcasters out there that try and be Dave in their delivery 195 00:12:16.600 --> 00:12:20.919 somehow, because he's got that Auschuck's Midwestern not perfect, even though it is 196 00:12:20.039 --> 00:12:26.759 absolutely perfect. Delivery and like I just said it there that sometimes I'll do 197 00:12:26.879 --> 00:12:28.799 that. But it's funny. When I do these shows here, I don't, 198 00:12:28.799 --> 00:12:33.200 but when I'm hosting, I do them. And Norm I could not 199 00:12:33.279 --> 00:12:37.519 agree more. Norm had this relaxed style. There's a little bit of Canadian 200 00:12:37.519 --> 00:12:39.919 in it for sure. Every once in a while I hear the Canadian in 201 00:12:41.000 --> 00:12:43.080 him come out. But I guess say this to you, Okay, So 202 00:12:43.159 --> 00:12:46.600 we're talking Late Night Late Show Norm MacDonald. Nor McDonald is one of the 203 00:12:46.639 --> 00:12:52.240 highlights of Late Show with David Letterman. For me, anytime that he was 204 00:12:52.279 --> 00:12:56.440 on it was an incredible thing, including when he lost Weekend Update. He 205 00:12:56.519 --> 00:13:00.840 was fired from Weekend Update in the season NBC pulls in and fires him. 206 00:13:00.960 --> 00:13:03.799 The very next day or the day that it happened. He is on Paddel 207 00:13:05.039 --> 00:13:07.840 at Late Show with David Letterman and they're talking about it, and Letterman's calling, 208 00:13:07.919 --> 00:13:11.279 oh, which exec was, it doesn't matter one of the NBC executives 209 00:13:11.279 --> 00:13:15.360 that he knew, you know, calling him a quizzling and doing all these 210 00:13:15.360 --> 00:13:18.000 things, and it's just it's this, it's beautiful exchange. Watching that to 211 00:13:18.080 --> 00:13:20.519 me is a little bit of Late Night that was in Late show and Norm 212 00:13:20.559 --> 00:13:26.080 McDonald always provided that. And then you know, after when Johnny Carson retired, 213 00:13:26.120 --> 00:13:28.039 he had this moment with Bette Middler. Middler sang the song to him 214 00:13:28.480 --> 00:13:33.480 Dave when he retired from Late Show. I think there were two moments that 215 00:13:33.559 --> 00:13:35.240 to me was like Dave's Bette Midler moment. They were combined. One of 216 00:13:35.279 --> 00:13:37.360 them was a song that Adam Sandler hit. The other one, though, 217 00:13:37.799 --> 00:13:43.600 was Norm MacDonald's last stand up set on Late Show with David Letterman. Can 218 00:13:43.639 --> 00:13:45.639 you recall that? Do you remember that set? Have you seen that? 219 00:13:45.720 --> 00:13:50.879 Johnny? Yes, incredible might be the greatest stand up set on a talk 220 00:13:50.919 --> 00:13:56.679 show ever. And you look at those two guys, the mutual admiration from 221 00:13:56.840 --> 00:14:01.039 two very interesting personalities. Dave had gone on record many times saying that Norm 222 00:14:01.120 --> 00:14:09.120 was his favorite comedian walking the planet at that time, and Norm absolutely worshiped 223 00:14:09.200 --> 00:14:11.519 Dave. And when he came in to do that set, was completely nervous. 224 00:14:11.679 --> 00:14:13.840 The scuttle but is the night before, whether it was at the Cellar, 225 00:14:13.879 --> 00:14:16.519 he he bombed a lot of it. He was walking around the theater 226 00:14:16.600 --> 00:14:18.759 all day trying to figure out what was going to go in that set, 227 00:14:18.799 --> 00:14:22.720 what wasn't going to go in that set, and it was just for anybody 228 00:14:22.759 --> 00:14:24.759 out there who likes Norm MacDonald And maybe you haven't seen that set in a 229 00:14:24.759 --> 00:14:28.039 while, go look at the last Norm McDonald's set on Late Show with David 230 00:14:28.120 --> 00:14:33.240 Letterman. It is absolutely picture perfect. Norm's one of those guys that in 231 00:14:33.360 --> 00:14:39.000 death I feel like has been elevated in class that we all rediscovered him instead 232 00:14:39.039 --> 00:14:43.120 of taking him for granted. Another great rabbit hole to go down on YouTube 233 00:14:43.639 --> 00:14:48.080 is the insane amount of OJ jokes, which is what got him fired. 234 00:14:48.519 --> 00:14:52.159 But there are these thirty five minute compilations of just one liner is like Prince 235 00:14:52.240 --> 00:14:56.200 Charles has a new book. It's called of Course OJ did it like just 236 00:14:56.799 --> 00:15:00.600 but like that for thirty five minutes. Oh I know, and it is 237 00:15:00.720 --> 00:15:03.039 that same guy who ran NBC. I just, oh, I keep forgetting 238 00:15:03.279 --> 00:15:07.679 I don't know why normally I can pull out these NBC executives like out of 239 00:15:07.679 --> 00:15:11.879 the back of my no problem. For some reason, it's just eluding me 240 00:15:11.960 --> 00:15:13.799 right now. But yeah, he was apparently friends with OJ, and so 241 00:15:13.919 --> 00:15:18.519 the OJ jokes were just. But it's so interesting though, because okay, 242 00:15:18.559 --> 00:15:22.519 that's the case. Here's the thing that I was wondering about though Norm MacDonald 243 00:15:22.879 --> 00:15:26.320 targeted at SNL. But yet at the same time, Jay Leno on The 244 00:15:26.320 --> 00:15:30.120 Tonight Show, you know, has the dancing ETOs, and they're making fun 245 00:15:30.159 --> 00:15:31.879 of OJ and the trial and the circus. They're making fun of that stuff 246 00:15:31.960 --> 00:15:37.639 all the time. In fact, Late Show with David Letterman didn't do that. 247 00:15:37.799 --> 00:15:39.879 Dave went on record as to say, I don't find double homicide that 248 00:15:39.960 --> 00:15:43.159 funny. They called me crazy, but I don't find double homicide that funny, 249 00:15:43.200 --> 00:15:46.759 and they didn't do what the finan should. And part of that is 250 00:15:46.759 --> 00:15:52.000 is one of the reasons why some folks believe that Leno surged ahead again in 251 00:15:52.039 --> 00:15:54.799 the ratings was part of that. So there's a lot of irony there because 252 00:15:54.799 --> 00:16:00.240 he's on NBC. Norm McDonald's getting fired from a weekend Update, but Jay 253 00:16:00.279 --> 00:16:03.440 Leno, no problem. That's the entertainment industry. It's easy to fire the 254 00:16:03.480 --> 00:16:07.519 part time or the producer, the host. Can we replace the weekend Update 255 00:16:07.559 --> 00:16:11.159 guy who's one of a twelve person ensemble. Yes, can we mess with 256 00:16:11.200 --> 00:16:15.440 the host of the Tonight Show. That's front page of Variety and probably the 257 00:16:15.480 --> 00:16:19.120 New York Times for six months. It just the rules are never equal. 258 00:16:19.320 --> 00:16:22.759 The entertainment business is not fair, Oh that's for sure. And it's funny 259 00:16:22.759 --> 00:16:26.320 how Dave can certainly point to that and how he was passed over for the 260 00:16:26.320 --> 00:16:29.720 Tonight Show. I maintain, of course it was the greatest thing that ever 261 00:16:29.759 --> 00:16:33.519 could have happened to him, because the industry was changing and he had such 262 00:16:33.559 --> 00:16:37.440 a reverence for that franchise that it was going to it was inevitable that the 263 00:16:37.480 --> 00:16:41.679 Tonight Show. Like people don't understand that today, they don't understand the dominance. 264 00:16:41.159 --> 00:16:45.679 I don't know if there is a show in any form of entertainment right 265 00:16:45.720 --> 00:16:52.200 now that the Olympics might be the one of the only like certain big sporting 266 00:16:52.279 --> 00:16:56.919 events might be one of the only comparisons that might be apt. The Tonight 267 00:16:56.960 --> 00:17:03.120 Show owned late night television. They owned it for thirty years. They owned 268 00:17:03.159 --> 00:17:06.400 it. They were dominant. There was no counter programming. As good of 269 00:17:06.440 --> 00:17:10.319 a guy as Dick Cavot was and is to this day, love him. 270 00:17:10.359 --> 00:17:14.160 He's one of my favorite broadcasters of all time. He could not crack The 271 00:17:14.160 --> 00:17:18.079 Tonight Show when it came to the dominance in the ratings, our Sineo flash 272 00:17:18.160 --> 00:17:22.960 in the pan in broad history, but was changing television. He started to 273 00:17:22.200 --> 00:17:26.839 for a little bit. But other than that, the Tonight Show was dominant. 274 00:17:27.359 --> 00:17:32.480 Nobody had ever touched it. But at the time when Johnny retired, 275 00:17:32.559 --> 00:17:34.240 things were starting to dilute. There were more networks that were showing up. 276 00:17:34.279 --> 00:17:38.440 There was more things that were coming on to distract people or to put people's 277 00:17:38.440 --> 00:17:42.160 attention elsewhere. And I just think about if David Letiman would have got that 278 00:17:42.160 --> 00:17:45.839 franchise that he loved so much, and it would have been on his watch 279 00:17:45.359 --> 00:17:48.599 that the industry would have changed and the Tonight Show would have lost its dominance, 280 00:17:49.359 --> 00:17:52.359 that would have been so sad. But instead he got to be the 281 00:17:52.359 --> 00:17:56.359 guy that walks across the street to CBS, and he got to be the 282 00:17:56.400 --> 00:18:00.240 guy that started shelling this thing, lamparding this thing from across the street. 283 00:18:00.759 --> 00:18:04.119 And the fact that there was even a show that could even compete with The 284 00:18:04.119 --> 00:18:08.799 Tonight Show was astounding. It was unprecedented. Never mind the fact that they 285 00:18:08.880 --> 00:18:12.240 beat them in the ratings for eighteen months, when you could probably go really 286 00:18:12.240 --> 00:18:15.240 far down this rabbit hole when it came to the fact that CBS had a 287 00:18:15.240 --> 00:18:19.960 massive disadvantage from affiliates from they on paper should not have been able to beat 288 00:18:21.000 --> 00:18:22.240 the Night Show in the ratings, But yet they did it for eighteen months, 289 00:18:22.559 --> 00:18:26.079 and then the fact that they would go back and forth and be even 290 00:18:26.079 --> 00:18:30.039 competitive with them for thirty years. That was unprecedented. It had never happened 291 00:18:30.079 --> 00:18:32.920 before. And I think if Dave was the guy in the Tonight Show chair 292 00:18:32.960 --> 00:18:34.200 where that happened, I think that would have really been a sad thing for 293 00:18:34.279 --> 00:18:37.279 him. But to be the guy that actually walked across the street with Johnny 294 00:18:37.279 --> 00:18:41.799 Carson's blessing to do that, man, it was so much better that he 295 00:18:41.880 --> 00:18:45.480 got that show more worth Mike in a second, don't forget. If you'd 296 00:18:45.480 --> 00:18:48.559 like this podcast, add free link in the show notes four ninety nine a 297 00:18:48.559 --> 00:18:52.680 month. Go to Calaruga dot com slash plus you can get this program and 298 00:18:52.720 --> 00:18:55.799 a bunch of others on the network commercial free just four nine nine nine a 299 00:18:55.839 --> 00:18:59.000 month. If you'd like a National Donus chain T shirt, those are for 300 00:18:59.200 --> 00:19:03.720 sale in the show notes and subscribe. Please into my substack. It's where 301 00:19:03.720 --> 00:19:07.599 I pontificate about the media in the written form. Mcteepod dot substack dot com. 302 00:19:07.680 --> 00:19:14.599 Link in the show notes. Are you affectionate for Conan? I feel 303 00:19:14.599 --> 00:19:17.680 like I missed the boat on Conan, just because I was doing other things 304 00:19:17.680 --> 00:19:21.519 in the nineties. But I feel like once he found his fastball, Conan 305 00:19:21.799 --> 00:19:26.480 spiritually picked up the it's twelve thirty, let's just try stuff vib Oh gosh. 306 00:19:26.559 --> 00:19:29.559 Yeah. I love Conan O'Brien, I love Robert Smigel. I would 307 00:19:29.599 --> 00:19:33.279 watch Conan at first again a little bit with with the John mulaney thing you 308 00:19:33.279 --> 00:19:37.839 were talking about earlier. Okay, what is this Because my mind, of 309 00:19:37.880 --> 00:19:41.480 the four hosts that have hosted Late Night, You've got Letterman, You've got 310 00:19:41.480 --> 00:19:45.359 Conan, You've got Fallon, and you got Seth. I think Conan's really 311 00:19:45.400 --> 00:19:48.759 the only one who wanted to take the spirit of Late Night but make it 312 00:19:48.799 --> 00:19:52.039 their own. Whereas Late Night may have had a little bit more of a 313 00:19:52.079 --> 00:19:57.119 sarcastic edge to it, Conan turned that dial down and turned up zany. 314 00:19:57.279 --> 00:20:00.039 But the creative stuff that they did, I did like him right at the 315 00:20:00.079 --> 00:20:04.039 beginning, even during the shaky times, the times where he's getting week to 316 00:20:04.119 --> 00:20:08.119 week commitments for a show he's about to be canceled, about to be canceled. 317 00:20:08.640 --> 00:20:11.759 I liked a lot of the stuff that they were doing. I liked 318 00:20:11.759 --> 00:20:17.000 Andy. I loved the stuff that Robert Smigel came up with for them, 319 00:20:17.119 --> 00:20:22.000 and I thought that they were really inventive. It was certainly worthy of the 320 00:20:22.000 --> 00:20:26.960 title of Late Night in my mind. But the idea that he was making 321 00:20:26.960 --> 00:20:30.920 it completely his own to me was completely evident as well, which I respect 322 00:20:30.359 --> 00:20:33.960 the heck out of, especially now with the benefit of hindsight. But at 323 00:20:33.960 --> 00:20:37.480 the time, I just really liked it. And I'll tell you this because 324 00:20:37.519 --> 00:20:40.799 I really liked it. A couple of years into it, or maybe eighteen 325 00:20:40.839 --> 00:20:45.559 months into it, when Dave came back and Dave was a guest on that 326 00:20:45.640 --> 00:20:49.319 show, I was electric, Like that was as a fan. I was 327 00:20:49.480 --> 00:20:53.400 so happy the night that Dave came back on. He didn't go on the 328 00:20:53.440 --> 00:20:56.440 Tonight Show on NBC No, but he did go back to Late Night, 329 00:20:57.079 --> 00:21:02.319 and then when Conan would start coming on Late Show, and then they would 330 00:21:02.359 --> 00:21:04.079 do things. Do you remember the bit You weren't watching Late Show, so 331 00:21:04.119 --> 00:21:07.559 you might not have remembered this. There's a really cool moment where Dave took 332 00:21:07.559 --> 00:21:11.680 his stand by audience and sent them to the Conan O'Brien show. Oh now, 333 00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:14.240 they said a camera. They sent a camera. Oh it's worth watching. 334 00:21:14.279 --> 00:21:15.960 It is so funny and so he sends a camera with them, so 335 00:21:17.000 --> 00:21:18.480 there's a stand by audience. You're going to see Conan tonight. They bring 336 00:21:18.559 --> 00:21:21.799 them, brings them on the stage of the Insulimon Theater and says, hey, 337 00:21:21.799 --> 00:21:23.960 good news, we're setting you to see Conan. Camera there and then 338 00:21:25.000 --> 00:21:27.400 you watch Conan, of course at eleven at twelve thirty, I should say, 339 00:21:27.720 --> 00:21:33.039 and you get to see the mirrored response Letterman show showing up. And 340 00:21:33.119 --> 00:21:34.920 it was just a beautiful little piece. I wish. I can't believe I've 341 00:21:34.920 --> 00:21:38.200 actually even said to a couple of writers, former writers for Letterman who now 342 00:21:38.200 --> 00:21:41.960 worked for Fallon, I'm like, why the heck don't Seth and Jimmy do 343 00:21:42.039 --> 00:21:45.279 stuff like that? Like why don't they call up Dave ask him if they 344 00:21:45.319 --> 00:21:48.839 can do elevator races they're in the same building and bring back some of these 345 00:21:48.839 --> 00:21:52.160 old late night things in thirty rock. What if and you have team team 346 00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:56.599 Seth and team Jimmy and you do stuff like that. I love stuff like 347 00:21:56.640 --> 00:21:59.480 that, And Dave and Conan used to do that every once in a while 348 00:21:59.480 --> 00:22:02.279 and it was a really cool thing. Yeah, I really liked Conan. 349 00:22:02.440 --> 00:22:06.319 During Late Shift two, when Conan went through his trouble Tonight. That's my 350 00:22:06.400 --> 00:22:08.400 favorite run of Letterman of all time other than the last six weeks. The 351 00:22:08.440 --> 00:22:11.599 last six weeks was magic and perfect with his run up. But my favorite 352 00:22:11.640 --> 00:22:15.400 Letterman period in history. I'm the host of the show. I love Late 353 00:22:15.480 --> 00:22:18.559 Night. I understand the people who love Late Night so much, But my 354 00:22:18.680 --> 00:22:23.119 favorite period in Letterman history was the time where Conan and Leno were going through 355 00:22:23.160 --> 00:22:26.880 their stuff at the Tonight Show, and every single night Dave on Late Show 356 00:22:27.000 --> 00:22:30.519 was just, oh, it was so great. And then he would have 357 00:22:30.559 --> 00:22:33.079 Kimmel on and they would talk about it and all of that stuff. That's 358 00:22:33.119 --> 00:22:37.319 my favorite Letterman run in history is in twenty ten. Yeah, Dave unleashed. 359 00:22:37.640 --> 00:22:41.119 Maybe you could get a reunite the cast from the Late Shift movie, 360 00:22:41.240 --> 00:22:47.000 which if people haven't seen, is probably somewhere on HBO Max. I love 361 00:22:47.079 --> 00:22:49.960 that film. I know they made fun of some of is it Daniel Roebucks 362 00:22:51.079 --> 00:22:55.640 prosthetics, But I thought that movie was fantastic. It was really The Late 363 00:22:55.640 --> 00:22:59.240 Shift as a book is, in my opinion, one of the greatest. 364 00:23:00.160 --> 00:23:02.839 Even know Bill Carter when he talks about writing The Late Shift and the War 365 00:23:02.880 --> 00:23:04.839 for Late Night for that matter, The warf for Late Night is incredible and 366 00:23:06.160 --> 00:23:08.319 I highly recommend that one as well. But he wrote it like a thriller. 367 00:23:08.960 --> 00:23:12.319 He literally wrote it. Wrote this book that is the behind the scenes 368 00:23:12.799 --> 00:23:17.839 of late night talk shows and a lot of executive talk and contracts and stuff 369 00:23:17.880 --> 00:23:21.319 that would be considered boring by many. He wrote it like it was a 370 00:23:21.319 --> 00:23:23.799 thriller, and it is a thriller. And so when the movie came out, 371 00:23:25.039 --> 00:23:27.599 if you watch Bill Carter's first time he appeared on The Letterman podcast, 372 00:23:27.839 --> 00:23:33.920 he actually goes through the entire process of the movie being made, and it's 373 00:23:33.960 --> 00:23:37.960 incredible because they had a writer and the writer totally didn't you know. He 374 00:23:38.039 --> 00:23:44.000 wrote this fictitious scene of Dave and Jay drinking together. I think they're having 375 00:23:44.039 --> 00:23:48.079 a beer together. Famously, Leno doesn't drink and Letterman stop drinking. And 376 00:23:48.119 --> 00:23:51.599 so the producers of the of the HBO guys come back to Bill and they're 377 00:23:51.599 --> 00:23:53.200 like, what do you think of this? And Bill's this is not my 378 00:23:53.319 --> 00:23:57.240 book. And so Bill ends up going and writing the screenplay and it gets 379 00:23:57.319 --> 00:24:00.079 made. So he tells that whole story when he he's on the Letterman podcast. 380 00:24:00.119 --> 00:24:03.839 His first time that he was on the Letterman podcast, and we definitely 381 00:24:03.839 --> 00:24:06.839 talk about some of the things. But you look at the portrayal of Helen 382 00:24:06.920 --> 00:24:11.559 Kushnik, incredible. She got nominated. Oh, Kathy Bates got nominated for 383 00:24:11.559 --> 00:24:15.359 an Emmy for that, And yeah, the prosthetics were interesting, a rich 384 00:24:15.400 --> 00:24:18.480 little being Johnny Carson now looking back at it, Okay, that might be 385 00:24:18.519 --> 00:24:23.319 a little campy. Yeah, but it was a really fun movie and I 386 00:24:23.440 --> 00:24:26.559 watch it. I'll watch it every eighteen months still. It is on up 387 00:24:26.559 --> 00:24:30.559 here in Canada. It's on the HBO. We've got a thing called Crave 388 00:24:30.599 --> 00:24:33.680 that has HBO and Showtime and everything mixed into one. It's in the archives 389 00:24:33.680 --> 00:24:36.240 there, and I'll watch it every eighteen months or so. It's a really 390 00:24:36.279 --> 00:24:38.720 fun movie. There are some elements though that I'm not gonna say which writer, 391 00:24:38.920 --> 00:24:44.720 but there's a couple of places where they truncate the culture of a behind 392 00:24:44.720 --> 00:24:47.960 the scenes of a late night television show where's yeah, not even close happening 393 00:24:48.039 --> 00:24:49.079 like that, and things like that. But there are a lot of elements 394 00:24:49.119 --> 00:24:52.680 of it that are really fun and it does a good overview of the story. 395 00:24:53.319 --> 00:24:56.400 But it does not compare to reading Bill's book. You can get a 396 00:24:56.400 --> 00:25:02.359 digital copy of the Late Shift now and Bill's actually added some extra material semi 397 00:25:02.359 --> 00:25:04.319 currently, like within the last five years, I think, and it's very 398 00:25:04.319 --> 00:25:08.720 good. I highly recommend it. Yeah, both books are great opera plugs 399 00:25:08.720 --> 00:25:12.559 in for your podcast. Hopefully we turn some new people onto it today. 400 00:25:12.680 --> 00:25:15.599 One hundred and thirty episodes in, that's a lot. We don't have one 401 00:25:15.640 --> 00:25:18.960 hundred and thirty hours to kill. So if we were going to pick five, 402 00:25:19.960 --> 00:25:23.599 who do you want to point people towards? Oh gosh, that's hard, 403 00:25:23.599 --> 00:25:27.160 because Johnny seriously, Like last summer, for example, I had what 404 00:25:27.200 --> 00:25:30.079 we call the Summer Intern Series on and I had I think five interns, 405 00:25:30.680 --> 00:25:33.440 folks who literally interned for the show, and some of them went on to 406 00:25:33.759 --> 00:25:38.000 do some big things in entertainment and whatnot. I love them just as much 407 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:42.160 as I love interviewing Robert Morton. You know. That's the enthusiasm that I 408 00:25:42.200 --> 00:25:45.240 take to the show, This puppy dog type love and enthusiasm. So I 409 00:25:45.319 --> 00:25:51.119 really have a hard time choosing because I love them all, whether it's the 410 00:25:51.160 --> 00:25:55.119 Obscure, whether it's a guy who performed on stupid Human Tricks and he talks 411 00:25:55.160 --> 00:26:00.640 about his entire letterment experience all the way to somebody like Steve O'Donnell, legendary 412 00:26:00.680 --> 00:26:03.480 comedy writer. But that being said, if I was to pick five episodes, 413 00:26:03.519 --> 00:26:07.359 I would probably pick Paul Shaeffer. I would probably pick Dick Cabott. 414 00:26:07.359 --> 00:26:11.440 I would probably pick Robert Morton. Early on, we had Steve O'Donnell on 415 00:26:11.640 --> 00:26:15.319 and I certainly hadn't hit my stride, or if I have a stride now, 416 00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:18.079 I hadn't hit whatever it is that I have now, but at that 417 00:26:18.119 --> 00:26:19.039 point. But I still I love Steve to this day. He's a good 418 00:26:19.079 --> 00:26:23.119 friend. And then another writer as well, Steve Young. He's been on 419 00:26:23.200 --> 00:26:26.920 multiple times. Steve and I are are friends now. He did the documentary 420 00:26:26.920 --> 00:26:30.599 Bathtubs over Broadway, and so I've had him on and we've talked about all 421 00:26:30.599 --> 00:26:33.440 sorts of stuff. We're you gotta actually have him on. He just released 422 00:26:33.480 --> 00:26:34.880 a comedy album, and we're gonna have him back on with a listening party 423 00:26:36.079 --> 00:26:40.160 with a few Letterman alum on there as well, and we're trying to make 424 00:26:40.160 --> 00:26:41.480 the show to do some fun stuff with the show as well. But those 425 00:26:41.519 --> 00:26:47.359 five episodes, probably Cabots is a talking to Dick Cavott, and I'm talking 426 00:26:47.400 --> 00:26:49.960 to a broadcaster here. So I don't think it takes much to imagine the 427 00:26:51.000 --> 00:26:55.160 honor that was having him on the show. That was an incredible moment. 428 00:26:55.599 --> 00:26:57.000 When check he passed away, we did a tribute episode to him, and 429 00:26:57.000 --> 00:27:00.759 then the very next week, which is just me talking to camera for ninety 430 00:27:00.799 --> 00:27:03.559 minutes. Imagine that. I don't recommend that, but it was a special 431 00:27:03.599 --> 00:27:06.839 moment. And then the next week Alex Bennett came on and we talked about 432 00:27:07.240 --> 00:27:10.359 his connections to Letterman and of course to Sheky as well. We've had some 433 00:27:10.400 --> 00:27:14.200 great moments on the show. It's I'm really proud, and as somebody who 434 00:27:14.240 --> 00:27:18.680 suffered with imposter syndrome of a financial planner by trade when I was a little 435 00:27:18.759 --> 00:27:21.200 kid, if you had asked me what my dream John was, it didn't 436 00:27:21.200 --> 00:27:23.599 exist. I wanted to be a ghostbuster. The job didn't exist. And 437 00:27:23.640 --> 00:27:26.480 if you would have said to me even five years ago, Mike, one 438 00:27:26.519 --> 00:27:29.799 day, you're going to host the Letterman podcast, I would have said, 439 00:27:30.000 --> 00:27:32.759 I would have looked at you like you had three eyes. Like when Rupert 440 00:27:32.880 --> 00:27:36.000 g the owner of the Hello Deli, retired, I went up to New 441 00:27:36.079 --> 00:27:38.920 York and I spoke in the Ed Sullivant Theater in the Ed Sullvant Theater, 442 00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:42.079 the Worldwide Pants Thru in a party for him, and I got to speak 443 00:27:42.079 --> 00:27:45.960 at that party, and it's are you kidding me? And I got to 444 00:27:45.039 --> 00:27:49.880 actually say some things that actually elicited an emotional response from an audience of about 445 00:27:49.920 --> 00:27:55.279 one hundred folks who worked for Letterman over the years. I'm so grateful and 446 00:27:55.359 --> 00:27:57.359 I can't believe that this has happened. So I don't know if people think 447 00:27:57.400 --> 00:28:00.279 the show is good or not good. I just know that it is one 448 00:28:00.319 --> 00:28:03.839 of the greatest honors of my life, and it brings so much joy to 449 00:28:03.920 --> 00:28:07.240 host that show, and the experiences I've gotten from it is just it's unparalleled. 450 00:28:07.559 --> 00:28:11.480 Are the bookings getting easier because they have a track record now, so 451 00:28:11.559 --> 00:28:14.960 you're not some rando who's going to do five of these and quit with one 452 00:28:15.000 --> 00:28:18.319 hundred and thirty and some people that the others have heard of? Is it 453 00:28:18.400 --> 00:28:21.440 the cool party to be at a little easier to get people a little bit 454 00:28:21.480 --> 00:28:22.920 of Colum, a little bit of columb It's funny. There are some folks 455 00:28:22.920 --> 00:28:27.559 who gave me the absolute green light yes early on, and now they're getting 456 00:28:27.559 --> 00:28:30.960 sheepish about it because it's so funny because I just say, no, just 457 00:28:30.960 --> 00:28:33.880 come on, we just have a conversation, just would be you. But 458 00:28:33.880 --> 00:28:37.240 they're sheepish about it because of a variety of different reasons. But part of 459 00:28:37.279 --> 00:28:40.599 it is the fact that, oh, you had Steve young on all these 460 00:28:40.599 --> 00:28:42.440 times, you had Steve O'Donnell on, you had more toy on. What 461 00:28:42.480 --> 00:28:45.720 could I bring to this? You get some of that. Some of the 462 00:28:45.720 --> 00:28:49.119 heavy hitters were reluctant before and they're still reluctant now, but there are a 463 00:28:49.119 --> 00:28:52.279 few who are coming around because of exactly what you said as well. So 464 00:28:52.279 --> 00:28:56.960 there's a little bit of both. If you get Dave, is that good 465 00:28:56.000 --> 00:29:00.720 or bad? No, that's a great question. It's good, absolutely good, 466 00:29:00.319 --> 00:29:03.640 There's no doubt about that. But the show is not over because again, 467 00:29:03.720 --> 00:29:08.200 the Letterman Podcast is a celebration of the greatest body of broadcasting work in 468 00:29:08.319 --> 00:29:12.599 history, that of David Letterman and Company, and the company is equal, 469 00:29:12.640 --> 00:29:15.839 if not greater, to Dave. A Dave is a part of it, 470 00:29:17.599 --> 00:29:21.079 and that's how we view this and Checky and I talked about that was one 471 00:29:21.079 --> 00:29:23.000 of the things about the show that we talked about. The guy who was 472 00:29:23.000 --> 00:29:26.480 on Stupid Human Tricks and at a life changing moment because of it, and 473 00:29:26.519 --> 00:29:30.160 got all these extra bookings and things because of it, and his life was 474 00:29:30.240 --> 00:29:33.599 changed because of that moment. Is equally as important as if David Letterman comes 475 00:29:33.640 --> 00:29:38.079 on in how I present it now. Obviously having him on would be an 476 00:29:38.079 --> 00:29:41.680 incredible moment. It wouldn't be the end of the show, though, because 477 00:29:41.960 --> 00:29:45.559 the show focuses on his body of work, and so I would love I 478 00:29:45.599 --> 00:29:49.200 hope to have him on. So far, I've had a polite no. 479 00:29:49.480 --> 00:29:52.440 I don't think the door has closed forever. The polite no is not what 480 00:29:52.480 --> 00:29:56.720 we do. I think if we get to a certain place, that might 481 00:29:56.839 --> 00:30:03.759 change. I also think if the beauty of serendipity comes into things and something 482 00:30:03.799 --> 00:30:08.119 happens where though just the right combination of events or doors open, it could 483 00:30:08.119 --> 00:30:11.279 happen as well. But it would be definitely be a good thing. You've 484 00:30:11.279 --> 00:30:15.240 been very generous with your time. This has been awesome. We're let me 485 00:30:15.279 --> 00:30:18.519 see, we are like twenty percent over what I even asked you for. 486 00:30:18.640 --> 00:30:22.640 So I will let you go and hopefully we can connect again somewhere down the 487 00:30:22.720 --> 00:30:26.400 road. But this was really fantastic. Anytime. I will do this anytime 488 00:30:26.440 --> 00:30:30.200 and talk about this stuff for sure. I love it. You're a fantast. 489 00:30:30.200 --> 00:30:33.480 Obviously you're a pro. You're a seasoned pro, and I appreciate this 490 00:30:33.599 --> 00:30:37.480 so very much. It's guys like you I wish I would have had a 491 00:30:37.519 --> 00:30:40.640 moment where I could have been given the permission to chase my dreams. I 492 00:30:40.640 --> 00:30:44.359 would have gone into broadcasting. I appreciate where you guys. I appreciate the 493 00:30:44.359 --> 00:30:47.720 skill set that you have. I really do, and I'm glad that you're 494 00:30:47.759 --> 00:30:52.079 still doing it after all this time and not too jaded from watching this industry 495 00:30:52.079 --> 00:30:56.359 that you have been a part of that has changed in so many ways to 496 00:30:56.359 --> 00:30:59.039 where it is now. I'm so grateful that you're doing what you're doing. 497 00:30:59.160 --> 00:31:00.599 It inspires me to do what I'm doing. Thank you so much, shawnny 498 00:31:00.640 --> 00:31:03.960 Oh, you are too kind. I hope you enjoyed that one. I 499 00:31:03.000 --> 00:31:07.279 love geeking out about Letterman. I wish I had known about Mike when Late 500 00:31:07.359 --> 00:31:11.400 Night turned forty em back in twenty twenty two and we were kind of still 501 00:31:11.440 --> 00:31:14.960 in the pandemic and doing major filler some weekends. I think I did a 502 00:31:14.960 --> 00:31:17.720 month of Letterman back then. If you want to scroll back through the archives, 503 00:31:17.759 --> 00:31:21.039 maybe I'll resurface those. I'll put those in the feed as bonus episodes 504 00:31:21.119 --> 00:31:23.119 or something. Not today, maybe next weekend. Let me think about that, 505 00:31:23.160 --> 00:31:26.799 all right. The Letterman podcast wherever you get your podcasts, and in 506 00:31:26.880 --> 00:31:30.480 the Facebook group Today Daily Comedy News podcast group. I have scheduled a few 507 00:31:30.480 --> 00:31:33.000 things, a couple of Chris Elliot things and some other stuff to check out. 508 00:31:33.000 --> 00:31:34.799 All right, hope you enjoyed that. I'll see tomorrow.