Garrison Keillor on Letterman, November 27, 1985

[@Gods2ndFavoriteBassPlyr]

Keillor is SO smart.. Always just one step ahead. Saw him live this past Saturday at the The Kravis Center in Palm Beach - Packed House... A Perfect Show. At 81 he's still operating at 100%.

[@andredarin8966]

He’s the 21st-Century Mark Twain. He left “smart” behind in the third grade.

[@sabrinagore2010]

Oh how I miss the Prairie Home Companion. My Saturday evenings just haven't been the same since.

[@r.j.wheels6755]

Same here Sabrina

[@milart12]

Chris Thile just didn't cut it.

[@Gods2ndFavoriteBassPlyr]

@@milart12 Chris is an Amazing talent in his own right. But he/they took a show that millions of people loved... and turned it into another show.

[@richardmorganwrites]

@@milart12 Chris Thile was good, he just wasn't Garrison

[@BVIAS]

Garrison’s distinctive voice. So comforting. Like rhubarb pie.

[@andredarin8966]

Great comment. He’s the Dean Martin of the spoken word.

[@susiebell8496]

Thank you for sharing this gem!!!

[@kberken]

This is the best interview I've ever seen of Garrison. He was fun and engaging. Wonder if somebody got to him. He lives about a mile from me and I see him on the bike path. Such a great storyteller. Will miss his shows big time.

[@bobmitchell4532]

Tell him I said hello.

[@vikkinicholson5880]

Lucky you.

[@t1too]

somebody got to him alright.

[@SupertzarMetal]

He tapped a woman on the shoulder, and she cried METOO!

[@dontaylor7315]

"America's tallest radio humorist." Perfect intro.

[@readmelancholystrumpetmaster]

Damn, Keillor was the only person who could match wits with Letterman.

[@rockk9753]

Or is it letterman the only one who could match Garrison Keillor

[@XavierKatzone]

Garrison at the top of his game! I sure miss those old PHC shows!

[@thunderwood]

This is great, thanks for uploading.

[@jakemarsing2615]

Just two supremely gifted midwestern kids.

[@trishbirchard1270]

What a perfect guest !

[@eleanorsendeavors29]

I just finished reading "Lake Wobegon Days " after having found a copy in the "free books " box at my local library. This was right before the allegations against him were made public. I have to say, the book is a treasure! I have enjoyed listening to a Prairie Home Companion, but this was the first one of Garrison Keillor's books that I've read. He is a man of great talent and insight - I really hope his name is cleared. I believe what we used to call "making a pass " is now regarded as sexual harassment - now only women (and super sexy suave men) are free to make sexual advances without having been given implicit permission prior... It doesn't feel like progress in the right direction... I think we need to re-visit Lake Wobegon - modern American culture has become something no longer enviable...

[@pnk878251]

i just wanna cry.....i cannot imagine what i will do on sunday mornings and cold winter evenings with out him. ...i am feeling a bit emotional. thank God i have you tube so i can watch the old ones.

[@pnk878251]

sad, huh? luckily there are tons of "re-runs" but it sure will never be the same....

[@jadatoav]

+Donald Bonds .. same here, I've got to start digging into some of his books!

[@henryoverzet414]

same, I'm only 13, and I cant listen to live broadcasts any more :(

[@pnk878251]

well! a thirteen year old with a love for garrison keillor...there is hope after all! luckily we have lots and lots of old stuff we can cherish and watch whenever we want, but for me, it sure wont ever be the same...

[@LoveFlatfootin1]

I know how you feel. To deal with the grief, I've ordered a bunch of his CDs online. They are great company. I wish I had a friend to hang out with as smart and funny as he is.

[@Rearmostbean]

"Things are going well, and it makes me uncomfortable" is a pretty great line

[@vikkinicholson5880]

He had reason to worry about his back.

[@Stationary76]

I think Dave was genuinely entertained here. He's a dry, witty person much like GK so they work well off of each other.

[@3581tossit]

And Dave, being the itelligent guy tgat he is, was able to teach Garrison a new word. It was probably the only time this happened.

[@colleenmcdermott5492]

Yes indeedy. he is so right. Books you want to read to the end. His are good

[@markkeating9830]

Such a treat to see this again. Saw (and met) GK twice hosting PHC at Town Hall, NYC in April 2016. Was a complete gentleman. Miss him from the show so much!

[@vikkinicholson5880]

my experience with him as well. ever heard the term railroaded? We lost a lot when we lost him. He cleaned up the airways but apparently that's not a good idea. Shame on NPR

[@googoo-gjoob]

where the all women are strong... all the men are good looking... and all the children...are above average.

[@vikkinicholson5880]

...and the men best be careful being "too" friendly.

[@Silentt29]

...are pink-cheeked and robust.

[@jamesdavis3851]

the punchline is that the children are *all* above average. It's not funny without the explicit statistical impossibility. I don't mean to imply that it is funny with the correct punchline.

[@googoo-gjoob]

@@jamesdavis3851 , disappointed i missed that. thanks. no implication taken.

[@TroubleToby3040]

@@jamesdavis3851 I suppose you are right that that is the intended joke. It certainly sounds dry and smart. But couldn't ALL of the children be "all above average" if they were being compared to children on a larger scale? Like the whole state? Or country? Or world? I still bet you're right about the joke, though.🤷‍♂️

[@stev1ez]

The level of discourse was far more sophisticated back then

[@smadaf]

That's some nice camera humor there. "Please, welcome America's tallest radio humorist, Garrison Keillor"-cut to camera that will show Keillor-camera tilts up a little more, just in case he's too tall.

[@alanoneill3065]

Garrison Kellor is a one-off...unique

[@yixnorb5971]

A subtle master of comedic word association.

[@vikkinicholson5880]

Garrison and his short red socks. This is him in younger days when he looked a bit geeky. I like his look better as he has aged. Miss PHC so much. Garrison is so underrated by the general public. Love to hear him on the radio.

[@MattHelmSA]

2 years later I'm here to tell you I am the opposite way. I hate to see people age. He's so Swift and on top of it as a Young Man

[@ct0760]

wow, he sounds a little different because he's younger...I'm gonna miss his shows :_(

[@briteness]

Two giants of broadcasting. It seems like they were about the same age, and both retired around the same time. Dave's departure felt like it was maybe a decade overdue, but I can still feel the loss from Keillor's retirement.

[@evansgate]

I grew up in the same area as Garrison, I'm pretty impressed with his sense of humor

[@praisegod3768]

two good guys! I miss them both.

[@blainj5687]

I've been looking for this for years! It was deleted off KZbin a few years ago. I love the line, 'No you would find it on my bed, thats exactly where I'd put it" hahaha

[@XavierKatzone]

Bed-STAND!

[@vikkinicholson5880]

He's always on U Tube if you look for it.

[@RichardHandal301]

Boy, he was MUCH more himself here than in the other visits.

[@rcnelson]

All of Keillor's stories are above average.

[@thomasromano9321]

Yes, and the women are strong!

[@patsysmothermon7861]

😂😂😂😂

[@theysaiditwasok]

Loved Prairie Home Companion...can't believe the allegations, devastated. I've loved his comforting voice for so long.

[@CSifjrixhrj]

Agreed, tough to process

[@vikkinicholson5880]

@@CSifjrixhrj Tougher to believe it was true at any level. Garrison is a sweetie and very happy family man.

[@FigaroHey]

@@vikkinicholson5880 As he said himself once, he has had THREE successful marriages and two successful families.' Some men get to the age when they realize that they can't keep dumping women/children/families because they are past their best-before date.

[@PaulCarroll-nb5ly]

Check out "Garrison Keillor and Friends" newsletter. At 80 He's still great! I've seen Him live 4 times in Dallas over the years. I think He was caught up in the early Me Too movement dragnet, like Al Franken was, over some pretty inconsequential actions. You tube has a lot of good Prairie Home content. Check it out.

[@dangnabbit2]

The first time I saw Garrison in person was at a radio show in Dallas at a giant bowling alley. Crashing pins and the typical sounds of a bowling alley we’re the backdrop of a typical radio hour. Garrison made a number of jokes about the location being the ideal spot for his show in Dallas. I’ll never forget it. That evening I also got to experience a country western bar and learned how to two-step from a native Texan girl.

[@Gr8Layks]

For all you youngsters, what you see at 7:10 is caused by issues with what used be called a “tracking” adjustment dial on old analog magnetic tape players.

[@djlawney]

thank you

[@TAGMedia7]

Garrison is so young!

[@jakepinkphloid]

Damn I saw a copy of that book in a grocery store in Glasgow Montana and almost bought it but didn't regrettably.

[@grapefruitm00n]

I might be moving to Montana...

[@dontaylor7315]

I read it when it was new. I'd been listening to PHC occasionally for a few years but after reading the book I started tuning in regularly.

[@sidtone1]

Thankful that Garrison Keillor introduced Greg Brown to many. In a Steven King alternate universe Greg is there instead of Bob Dylan

[@SuperDavi5]

7:10 creeped me out, wasn't expecting it

[@RichardKoepsel]

How prophetic, he was looking for trouble to feel comfortable, I wonder if he is.

[@thekaerichtexas]

Dang this was 2 weeks after I was born.....

[@TAGMedia7]

Oh my goodness, was that Paul at the beginning of this video?

[@rosesingh339]

I miss David Letterman :-(

[@yixnorb5971]

Nowadays for people to gather 'round a book display it would be an internet image from Amazon

[@creepshowcrate]

That was hilarious.

[@CarolineJoyAmico]

I’ve never realized til now: He has an Elton John face when he smiles!

[@NoHomerS]

I can't believe that Old Man Keillor was ever on mainstream TV 😱

[@colleenmcdermott5492]

Yeah, he's right. they do resemble each other. (Mid-westerners).. I saw a handsome couple behind me @ the store recently. (talking in Swede I think) and when I looked around they were like GIANTS. not heavy, just LARGE. pretty impressive.

[@J.B24]

Carl Sagan is a has a PhD, and was a leading scientist, and science communicator. In fact he may be considered the father of the current science populism movement. I bet Sagan threw the TV threw the window when he heard this.

[@BDUBZ49]

I bet he was smart enough to get the joke.

[@dontaylor7315]

I doubt it bothered Sagan but I bet he knows how to spell "through."

[@RustyShackleford-eq8ie]

"There's a problem of pleasure--" [Hell noises]"---I don't, really."

[@StevenTorrey]

Letterman & Keillor have the same sort of irreverent comedy. Believe it or not, to be a Best Seller only requires a sale of 5,000 to 10,000 books, that's all.

[@IRGhost0]

Stupid KZbin... be more funny!!

[@ripelivejam]

you have my last initial and i got spooked for a sec.

[@vikkinicholson5880]

Thanks to You Tube we still can see Garrison and PHC.

[@BDUBZ49]

Well done! (I got your Simpsons reference) =D

[@erichanke]

I miss GK.

[@margaretsch.3609]

Cream rises to the top.

[@NoHomerS]

So does excrement.

[@beakittelscherz5419]

wow...als Turnschuhe noch was neues waren im TV...haha

[@EPSTomcat11]

Wonder why he makes such a difficult talk show guest. All the hosts struggle painfully with him. And this one was the least painful.

[@TT-rz5td]

He's an introvert and painfully shy.

[@BDUBZ49]

I think it's the tempo. Guests only get about 5-10 minutes, usually interrupted by a commercial break, so the host hopes to squeeze as much into that brief time as possible to keep the audience entertained. Garrison, as we know, doesn't shift out of 2nd gear so there's a pacing conflict. I think Dave and Garrison both made the effort here to meet each other in the middle.

[@thomasromano9321]

Letterman doesn't always seem to know what to do with some of his guests. For example, his interview of the great voice animator Mel Blanc seemed very uncertain on his part. Surprisingly, with a quirky personality like Keillor's he seemed very comfortable and at ease, laughing heartily at Keillor's comments.

[@stenoch]

Does GK remind anybody besides me of Mr Bean's big brother?

[@TroubleToby3040]

Rainn Wilson.

[@jackpavlik563]

@@TroubleToby3040 yeah. All three are sibs…

[@expatveteran7815]

Homer Simpson doesn’t get

[@stephenkunst7550]

I just saw Garrison on a youtube clip, which was a retrospective of Prairie. The camera did not give Garrison the best view. Sad he could not keep his hands to himself. I miss his show, and HATE mandolin music.

[@vikkinicholson5880]

Careful what you read and believe.

[@thomasromano9321]

To each their own favorite. I wouldn't compare Chris Thile's "Live From Here" with a "Prairie Home Companion." That's what a lot of people make the mistake of doing. They're expecting "Live From Here" to be like Keillor's show? And then they're disappointed. What did they expect? Of course not. Chris Thile, knows that best, he doesn't make any excuses, and knows that storytelling is not his forte, but music. And I happen to like mandolin music a lot. Thile's show is not going to be like "Prairie Home Companion," a show I listened to for thirty years. It's just fine with me that Thile has fashioned his own show. That, to me, is the way it should be.

[@dontaylor7315]

​@@thomasromano9321 I agree. Thile never seemed to know just why Keillor invited him to take over and I wonder why as well. The show was about Minnesota, Thile's not from that milieu, and he's a musician not a comedian. At the same time I was following Live From Here I was also hearing Thile's Bach transcriptions on the local classical station.

[@easyaspi1177]

gawd! When he had thick black hair. Now MPR just beat the shit out of him. He is still a great writer.

[@tastethejace]

Guy looks like he could be Dave's cousin

[@blackbird5634]

that is a weird lookin dude!

[@FigaroHey]

In old age he's positively terrifying. I'm pretty sure that if I looked up and saw him standing near me, I'd let out an involuntary yelp of horror.