First Stupid Pet Tricks on The David Letterman Show, June 26, 1980

[@jgboys1]

I had to watch this today, 6/26/2023 on the 43 year anniversary of this airing. I remember watching this episode when it first aired. Man how time flies.

[@marcochimio]

It's amazing that they did this bit again after that first time.

[@tad1980]

1:20 - "history is being made here today...." - he said it sarcastically, but it was ever so true

[@mikephillips8538]

tad1980 it really was very true, what a great piece of television history

[@tonysnark1530]

I was just about to say that 4 years later. Hope you're still alive, past person.

[@len452000]

This was like a slow motion disaster that you can’t stop watching. 😂 I loved it.

[@erepsekahs]

This was like a slow motion disaster that was incredibly annoying.

[@chillywillie6283]

I remember watching The Dave Letterman Show in the morning when the show first started.

[@thealee3065]

It was truly a moment in history!!!🎉❤

[@TheGuyMullins]

When I was a kid we had three networks and PBS... it was nice having something good on for a change...

[@airport862]

It's surprising that they let this segment continue after such a rough start. But good thing they did as it became popular and successful later on.

[@nrrork]

Nah, because Letterman has such a dry, sarcastic sense of humor that tricks NOT working just gave him more to work with. A good talk-show host will make the moments when something goes wrong some of the funniest and most memorable.

[@leftylou6070]

What are you talkin' 'bout! This is typical Letterman schtick. That's what makes it so good!

[@makeadifference4all]

First-ever stupid pet trick: The dog Sean closing a door (replayed in slo-mo) LOL

[@thesongbird2383]

Letterman even has the ability to keep an audience interested in watching paint dry! He's that great! 👍💜

[@RagtimeAnnie]

That set - My Goodness ! It has all the charm of public access. How TV has changed in 40 some years ... gosh.

[@CarlScripter]

12:00 "At least weener asked for the chewing gum..." That is a sentence I believe has never been uttered until this glorious moment in history.

[@matthm4137]

LOL it's hilarious.. that was the denouement of the show right there

[@joshuazerubbabel5951]

Great info, thanks!! Surpising that The Letterman Show endured after having watched this clip! LOL

[@toupac3195]

This is the birth of real comedy. My stupid grandkids will hopefully appreciate this some day.

[@kymberleedellaluce]

I am here to show this bit to my kids. It is a bit like visiting a museum!

[@harrodsongs]

Letterman had a sense of wonder about him back then.

[@finnibertlunchiken7792]

Jason Harrod True. He became much more cynical and impatient through the years. We should all watch out for that I guess.

[@gyorgybessenyei72]

I think it's called growing old.

[@KiddBloo86]

Daytime Letterman, definitely better than the Kardashians.

[@RevengeAvenger]

They're not even on the same atmosphere

[@chandrikakumari5060]

I loved it. Beautiful show.

[@davanmani556]

That's why TV is so fascinating. It can make and break humans as well as animals.

[@mikephillips8538]

This is great at 5am with coffee in July 2018

[@damienocallaghan2648]

TOP 3 Moments in U.S. TV History 3 Moon Landing 2 JFK Assasination 1 Stupid Pet Tricks

[@jamesmarshall1905]

A piece of TV - and Dave - history!!

[@markmnorcal]

That was tough to get through.

[@Babbage3]

"This is not actually a competition, more of a demonstration, I guess."

[@jamesmarshall1905]

Please no wagering!

[@seaoftranquility7228]

@@jamesmarshall1905 Beat me to it.

[@jimijackson]

That Elizabeth has the most calming voice..

[@darincox6202]

I like the first trick with John Oates

[@theaddictedprepper902]

Just Shamus.

[@FREDOGISFUUN]

Love it. True late night tv how it should be. What happened to the fun? Dave is a legend!

[@straycatttt2766]

Actually, this was not on late night TV yet. This was on his morning show.

[@tomitstube]

wow, kind of rare, this show only lasting 4 months. and doing stupid pet tricks on the 4th show. amazing.

[@metmike100]

"Are you talking to me or the dog?" LOL

[@mudchair16]

9:09 "Let's try the fish again..."

[@petercipriani3307]

"Not actually a competition, more of a demonstration"." The immortal "no wagering" yet to be born.

[@jettaca88]

Stupid pet/ human tricks is so original! Haha

[@mikephillips8538]

Great great upload

[@yvonnemurray5537]

If this really was the very first segment of stupid dog tricks, I am actually surprised that the segment continued on like it did, and became the greatest segment ever on a talk show. 😂oI know it was one of my favorites and still is that’s why I’m watching all the old ones now.

[@HavianEla]

The crowd was wrong - history WAS made that day. Stupid Pet Tricks is legendary

[@darthhulka-burger3187]

I think that the Smithsonian would actually want a copy of that tape.

[@len452000]

I didn’t know Letterman started out as a morning show.

[@craigjillson6050]

I remember watching Dave's daytime show. Yes I'm old.

[@delawarepearl8489]

Me too. Loved it

[@SacredFire777]

Me three!

[@heathernewman5272]

He had a character on the morning show called Mrs. Marv Mendenhall. She had "lived just outside of every major city in the U.S." so funny!

[@royalsfan]

0:28 I'm glad you were able to finagle something with the Smithsonian, Donz.

[@hankkingsley9300]

This was two days after my 16th birthday I watched him all summer and was sad when it was over and then it came back at night and it's like oh hell yeah and this show proved that Newman wasn't uptight he actually was pretty funny

[@davidmeichner8346]

Letterman is great.

[@mayitriggeryou]

I loved Letterman's morning show. I'll never forget the segment he had about this guy teaching you how to piss off drivers in NYC. The part where you stay at the green light and then gun it at the yellow leaving everyone stuck at the red was priceless! Do you have that clip by chance, Don?

[@dongiller]

Probably but have no idea which show.

[@mayitriggeryou]

Wow, you must have a house full of tape. I know it was a summer show, but other than that...

[@thejenr8tr922]

I loved the one where Dave did the show from some random family's living room.

[@ss_whole]

The set was like half talk show half sitcom

[@clancykobane9102]

Dave and his fake tv apartments..i love them.

[@TifosoTurk]

enjoyed the description below.

[@martiemc8398]

Spit, Empress! 🐠🐠🐠🐠🐠

[@KiddBloo86]

"Something she learned from you???" I about lost it!

[@nuschlerclark895]

Irish Setters are so dumb yet so cuddly!

[@kstepko]

“Next on Stupid Pets … I mean, Stupid Pet Tricks.” You weren’t wrong the first time, Dave.

[@c.rutherford]

3:43 guy is clearly trying to look like John Oates (Hall and Oates) lol

[@c.rutherford]

2:49 When was the last time anyone heard a phone ring with an actual real bell in it?

[@spoonman01]

Bennington brought me here!

[@Sarakate601]

Did the girl get offended when he said the fish learned to spot from her? Lol did I see an eye roll?

[@gmf121266]

Dear David. I have a fish whose trick is.....he mimics a fish.

[@jeffclement2468]

Damn this is ancient! Almost looks like a parody of early Letterman! 😝

[@keithwilson6060]

Awww, the 80s styles.

[@FoxRivers778]

Thanks Don. You can tell Dave is just starting out. This is the first time I've seen anything from the morning show and I never knew Stupid Pet Tricks started on that. However, I guess the "no wagering" rule didn't start until the late night show? What time was the morning show on. Was it after the Today show?

[@dongiller]

The shows aired live at 10 am for 90 minutes for the first 6 weeks, then reduced to 60 for the remaining 12.

[@joeschmo2693]

For my own stupid human trick, I turned 14 that day.

[@roostersideburns3440]

the dog has passed away sadly

[@thesmokingburrito9097]

Weiner want some guinea pig.😂

[@billbillings913]

Hey Don you probably get asked this question a lot... how much of the 1980 morning show exists in the hands of the collectors?

[@dongiller]

There are around nine that circulated around 20 years ago. Much more have since come to light, such as the rest of this show, and I hope to share them in here when I'm able.

[@straycatttt2766]

I remember Edie McClurg as part of the ensemble. She later had a small role as a school office lady in “Ferris Bueller.” Rich Hall also was a likable ensemble player. I think he later was a member of SNL briefly.

[@halleck3]

I realize it's tame today, but in its time this was actually more on the revolutionary side. And that's kind of scary because, shit, I'm old!

[@gastonave]

Did anyone else Google The Empress of Blandings?

[@JiveDadson]

Letterman did not recognize an allusion from P.G.Woodhouse.

[@jonathanross149]

Wow!, the morning show?

[@iamkarlwithak]

There is no off position on the genius switch. 💪🙏🌏🌍🌎❤️🇺🇸🖖

[@tomchrisfield7348]

Dave Letterman was the "King"of the night time world.

[@SafariPlum]

Shamus and Sean, clearly Irish names (plus he said he was a lazy Irishman), and his dog Sean looks to be an Irish Setter. The only thing that could round this off, would be him being from NYC or New Jersey.

[@Tobbetejj]

No urinproof carpet back then? =)

[@ronvavra]

I used to have a goldfish that I could make fart when I squeezed it.

[@Pea_Sniddle]

😂

[@heyscuba]

what show is this,..???

[@dongiller]

Note the title of the video.

[@sideswiped6874]

LOL too funny. just being a boom is enough LOL

[@blueconversechucks]

This was when you could still wager on stupid pet tricks.

[@kdwaynec]

Noticed that he's wearing fancy dress shoes.

[@YouTube-tied]

Fuck me if the first contestant isn't Michael Stuhlbarg from Fargo Season 3 and Boardwalk Empire. I think it's him.

[@hotlov72]

That's a good boy

[@earthlingjohn]

Wagering must have been allowed for this one

[@yophiosantiago]

Sad to think that most of these animals are dead now because twenty years has passed.

[@SacredFire777]

Forty years.

[@nickinportland]

This is such a fail but still funny somehow

[@catherinegigliotti1368]

❤

[@bonek350]

I think Dave wss a little irritated with the 2 ladies in the middle.

[@1Clearwords]

The Boatman sisters and their pets certainly overestayed their 15 minutes of fame, yet they're still more interesting than the Kardashians.

[@debbieflaherty1975]

Please tell me that’s Joey!!!!

[@petermaxwell2965]

Good morning ?

[@dongiller]

The show aired live at 10 am.

[@evvignes]

I was wagering.

[@yvonnemurray5537]

Anybody else think Sean looks exactly like Jim Croce?!?!? Doppelgänger for sure!

[@ysgdhio]

Please. No wagering.

[@mikemahoney6840]

I would've asked weiner if he wanted some fish.

[@FoxRivers778]

The fish and the guinea pig, I don't get it, and why was that lady sitting on the floor like that? Kinda hot actually. Hell, no dog wants their teeth brushed. I seem to remember learning that vets anesthetize them for that.

[@SafariPlum]

The two sisters and their pets had too much gunja before the show.

[@russell2952]

I can't believe Freddie Mercury's dog did the very first dumb pet trick

[@opieutt9038]

Jim Croce brought in his Irish Setter.

[@karenharris3183]

should of used some lettice

[@tlnn6598]

This show has NO future!

[@emello4you]

The host has no future