I grew up enjoying David Letterman’s special brand of irreverent humor. Considering how provocative and outrageous comedy has become, Dave’s mild-mannered grumblings and observations seem ultra tame in the looking back.
Odd, though…my dad disliked Dave, sharing often that he was no competition for his beloved Johnny Carson. Loyal to a fault, dad thought Letterman was an imposter, but I don’t think his disdain impacted the late-night talk show ratings.
In the 80’s, Letterman’s brand was radical and goofy. Less stodgy, I’d say to my dad. He’d harrumph a little and remind me that Carson’s comedy sketches were far more original that Dave’s goofball bits. Maybe so, I’d say…but do we really need to see Loni Anderson from WKRP in Cincinnati fame on the sofa with Johnny – again and again?
But I digress…I’m talking turkey. Or trying. Let me be clear. I’m not anti-Loni OR the show. As a girl who hailed, for a time, from Cincinnati, I’m a fan. I just thought Carson’s guest lists were predictable and boring. But I also wasn’t a middle-aged man then…or now. So, there’s that. 😉Uninformed about who I’m talking about? See the pic above. Loni and Johnny in the B&W photo from one of her appearances on “The Tonight Show”.
And I should remind you, dear readers, that if you’re a fan of funny and you’re unaware of another WKRP iconic reference, you really should learn about Les Nessman and his live broadcast involving turkeys. Just saying. Nessman is also in the collage above – looking like the journalist and reporter he aspired to be. If you’re up for some vintage 1978 television fun, click the link to view a three-minute YouTube clip. Heck. Even if you’ve seen it a zillion times, you should watch it again. Silly and stupid go together. Always.
But back to Letterman…If you remember him in his heyday, his ‘top 10 lists’ spawned so many riffs and rip-offs that I think he deserved a medal of honor for helping we, the often-uninspired leaders. Struggling to come up with witty openers for boring speeches and presentations, a top ten list often saved the day to hook an audience.
Dave’s quintessential lists, driving the anticipation about what, oh what might sit in the #1 spot were fun. Satisfying late-night schtick because it was predictable, and light, just the thing for an audience ready to snuggle under the covers at bedtime with Dave (well, you know what I mean). Give me knowing chuckles and delight me with one-liners as I prepare to drift off. Thank you, Dave.
And this news just in… a late-breaking development. I just read that Dave will be back on late night tv on Monday, November 20, joining Stephen Colbert in the Ed Sullivan Theatre in New York…Dave’s old stomping grounds. Wow.
I wonder if he’ll bring back his iconic brand of Thanksgiving fun? My all-time favorite quip about turkey day came from Letterman’s “Top 10 Signs You Had a Bad Thanksgiving”. I don’t remember the year, but #9 was a winner for plausibility alone…especially when my mom, Sue, was alive:
Sue loved a big turkey feast…so much so that I should’ve mentioned her beloved turkeys in the acknowledgments of “Surviving Sue”: “Thank you to the many turkeys over the years who gave their lives in order to prompt hilarity of all sorts, and eventually, provide nourishment to those assembled.” Here’s what I mean:
“Surviving Sue”, p. 84
During yet another Thanksgiving run amok, turkey legs were airborne during dinner – being thrown from one end of the table to the other. It became too laborious to pass food like grown-ups, so Sue (after several hours of pre-feast drinking) started a food fight with the launch of the first drumstick – just like a missile. Everyone was laughing; stunned at first to see her lob a leg in the air, but it only took a second for more food to fly. First dinner rolls, and then more turkey, and before it was all over, there were sweet potatoes on the wall, mashed potatoes in everyone’s hair, and big globs of congealed gravy everywhere.
Lisa’s friend Michael was with us that year. He was one of the “extras” who became a regular during those odd years without the aunts and Uncle Keith. We had no idea at the time, but Michael was slowly dying and would be gone in two years. Wherever Michael’s soul and spirit are today, I’m certain the Thanksgiving food fight was his most epic and fantastic adventure. He talked about it endlessly afterward. A definite peak experience and as we learned more about him, we understood why the insanity of it all and the laughter – mountains of giggles and the monstrous mess – created a best-ever holiday memory for him.
No Heimlich maneuvers were needed that day, or thankfully, any other day. Sue’s brand of mischief always bordered on danger, but the only real harm came in the form of deep belly laughs and tourniquet-like waistbands.
Vicki 🥰
P.S. You need a side dish for this post. Really you do…and I’ve got one for you. A story about mashed potatoes…waiting for you on Heart of the Matter. A little reminder to preserve sanity however you can during this busy time of year.
Victoria Ponders 
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