Letterman Mark Twain Prize, Combined Versions, Nov. 20, 2017

Two broadcast versions had been prepared for the October 22, 2017, Mark Twain Prize event honoring David Letterman. The first was put together for air but then scrapped for a second with Al Franken's participation edited out, necessitating expanded segments to fill out the gaps caused by Franken's cuts. (At least one PBS station ended up airing the earlier version.)
This upload combines both versions, plus my phone capture of the group portrait after the show had ended.

[@kaypee1972]

Oh Norm, how I wished you would be sitting one day up there and receiving this well deserved price.

[@roycopeland9560]

I can’t think of any comedian that would be more deserving of this award. Adam Sandler really???they should award him posthumously.

[@b-meaker99]

This absolutely could not have been a proper Letterman moment without Biff coming out

[@Maya-ms4em]

Steve Martin and Martin Short - 1:00 Stupid Pet Tricks - 5:53 Jimmy Kimmel - 10:16 Letterman's First Tonight Show Set - 14:28 Amy Schumer - 18:32 Bus Station Sketch - 23:27 John Mulaney - 25:59 Alka Seltzer Water Tank - 30:40 Letterman's Psychiatrist - 32:16 Jimmy Walker - 33:25 They Took my Show Away - 35:57 Norm Macdonald - 40:15 Bill Hader and Fred Armisen - 42:43 Martin Short - 47:21 Senator Al Franken - 50:04 Funny or Die Clip - 54:18 Bill Murray - 56:00 Taco Bell - 1:01:13 Michelle Obama - 1:04:05 Montage of Past Mark Twain Recipients - 1:05:25 Paul Shaffer - 1:08:57 Eddie Vetter Performance - 1:10:53 Top Ten List - 1:15:55 Award Presentation - 1:18:36 David Letterman - 1:20:07 Group Photo - 1:30:40

[@dongiller]

Shaffer; Paul Shaffer.

[@elilogemann3399]

A true hero, thank you sir.

[@aquilegia9734]

* Eddie Vedder

[@endokrin7897]

Thanks. This made it easy to skip the people who aren't funny.

[@anotherperson1597]

Thanks, you're a gentleman and a scholar.

[@thedriszen8350]

I was born for this kind of humor... can remember back to grade school years, sneaking out of bed to go watch Steve Allen on TV... then later the long reign of Johnny Carson. After that was a period of uncertainty, until for me it was David Letterman. It was almost Conan after them, but TV got too 'hipster' until I couldn't watch late night anymore. Today is all canned crap that I won't watch... none of the edge to it that the earlier greats had. We miss you, Dave.

[@coldwinter5710]

Such a great song by Warren Zevon. What a fantastic performance by Veddor. Warren's last visit with Dave was beyond heartbreaking. He gifted Dave one of his guitars. I read the famously stoic Dave, after the taping was complete & Warren had left, hugged that guitar and wept.

[@admobeer9551]

I don't know how long I've been watching your videos, 30yrs? Just wanted to say thanks for all of the memories you've managed to store.

[@joshm2690]

Bill Murry could have just walked up on the stage and walked off because that entrance was Awesome , So funny . He did not need to say a word and so funny . Love it . That outfit is great .

[@DalleDayul]

"Yeah yeah, Steve Allen did some of that stuff, but if Steve Allen is so great how come he's dead?" Easily the joke of the night. Mulaney's segment was fantastic.

[@PepsiFuture]

HAH I LOOK LIKE MOSES?

[@tukiluka]

This is so much correct

[@langdonalger9219]

Very funny even if he did steal that joke from the Simpsons.

[@jerryjohnson8485]

Same reason as Ernie Kovaks,he died

[@ucntcit]

yeah, some guy no one knows talking about death. that was hilarious.

[@thwiftlythwept7023]

This is as good a place as any for a hearty thanks to Don Giller for all the videos. It's a great thing to have them available whether we watch for basic entertainment or as a salve after a hard day. Thanks, dude.

[@dongiller]

Thank you!!

[@doomkarloff]

Thank you don - footage adviser, nice. Hope people recognize how happy you make the letterman community with your work, by maintaining your archive and posting here on youtube.

[@dongiller]

This is paying my way through Podiatry School. :)

[@jamesmarshall1905]

Donz, every Dave fan owes you for making these segments available.

[@dongiller]

I do accept PayPal. :)

[@gayliengirl]

Really enjoyed that - thanks so much for uploading

[@christinabrekke9514]

David Letterman was the most funny, entertaining talk show host on the planet. At least I can watch reruns of his show.

[@janiceweltman5474]

Call me later

[@user-ky5dy6iz5i]

This man was the only American talk show host who went all the way to India to interview Shah Rukh Khan , spend time with Khan in his home to give us a good idea about the King of romance . Simply brilliant.

[@ineedausernamenow999]

I think it’s one of my favorite interviews and I don’t know who Shah Rukh Khan is

[@teresaf991]

Thanks for your work putting together this like you did. I know this is from 3 years ago but its been long enough since I watched that its new to me again.

[@James-bm9dn]

Thanks Don - great job!

[@bobrk]

Amazing, just seeing this. So good.

[@MrSteelermania]

Thank Don for sharing

[@CertainSparksRecording]

Again I say thanks, Don! The world is a better place due to your commitment, obsession, & hard work in sharing this content with those of us who had our sensibilities so shaped by late night and the characters therein. Bless!

[@dongiller]

Thanks!

[@danielpoitras1858]

Beautiful job Thanks!

[@ralphus44]

Thank you so much for the unedited version...and shame on PBS for editing out Al Franken's appeance.

[@endokrin7897]

"shame on PBS for editing out Al Franken's appeance." Yeah, he has a way of really grabbing your attention, even if you're asleep.

[@torero3]

@@endokrin7897 oh goodie, the boogaloo bois are here.

[@tonirose6776]

Thank you so much, Don!

[@oneeyedfatman5491]

So glad I got to see this, Dave was a true original!!! Eddie Vetter singing that amazing Warren Zevon song tore me up!!!! I don't know how a person that knew he was near death could write such a beautiful song!!!

[@craigjgomez]

Eddie Vedder. Not Vetter.

[@lenhummel5614]

Dave truly had an amazing run. Carson and Robin Williams should have won this award in the 90's. Seinfeld MUST be next❗

[@brucehanson6427]

Thanks Don Giller, as always, you da Man!

[@jakes3935]

Hell yeah I'd watch a reality show of Norm McDonald going on road trips

[@TWOhype23]

3 years later and I agree, that would be wonderful

[@jakes3935]

@@TWOhype23 Appreciate the 3 year delayed response! Still sad it hasn't happened yet.

[@MisssKayy]

There aren't enough people with your specific sense of humor.

[@jakes3935]

@@MisssKayy Or taste in music, food, personality preference. I know good ol' Normy Mac has enough fans to make a show work. He just probably would never do that type of show. Willing to bet he'd find the idea absurd.

[@b-meaker99]

May he rest in peace

[@brandonmcdaddy]

Thanks for sharing

[@hasanabdul9085]

How humble is Letterman! At the end, instead of barging about his career, he kept talking about other comedians. As a non-native speaker, I always like the inelegance and wit of Letterman in his show. He's incomparable.

[@walkingf00l]

Thanks for the "bonus feature" at the end!

[@dongiller]

Thanks! I had uploaded it last month. It had also included the band warm-up -- kzbin.info/www/bejne/bqHNiIl8ns6Ipac

[@peterjamesfoote3964]

What a great show! What a great career!

[@bernlin2000]

"They Took Away My Show" (35:58) is an incredible Letterman bit, so influential to comics like Conan and Kimmel.

[@thejwproject7593]

I can’t believe I’m just now seeing this!!

[@katherinehunter9526]

Wow I can't believe I haven't already seen this! Miss you on the Late night hour David! Yes after Dave left the World really has been falling apart! He really did make it okay after 9/11! Stupid pet tricks!? Nothing else needs be said about that! Bwahahah! I loved the Velcro suit and wall, oh and the chips suit he wore to be dipped him into the dip bit too! Hahaha! He complained about the crotch being too tight! lol Oh heck David Letterman was the Best! 🥳💕🙏

[@dongiller]

Here are all of his “Suits of…” - kzbin.info/www/bejne/q3vInoSKnr-jnpY

[@katherinehunter9526]

@@dongiller OMG thank you! That really made my Spring Equinox Sunday! I missed several of those Suit episodes like the Suet Suit, because I heard him say that who was going to be there Monday. I had a video gig on Friday nights filming the band's who came to play at our local bar. I made these videos for our Awards Night in February. So sadly I missed Fridays for most of the 80's! Thanks again for saving and sharing these collections! No one can replace Dave! I watch all the new late night boy's these day's, but they never really get out on the Edge like David did! Financial or Network limitations, possibly play into it, but no one ever really pushes the limits anymore! Playing it safe I guess? Bless you and thanks for sharing this link!💕🙏🥳

[@DKDexter999]

That bus driver at 24:25 is the most 80's looking cop I've ever seen!

[@mdhcccc]

Ikr lol

[@airport862]

Don't you hate it when people try to change history? Thanks for uploading the event in its entirety.

[@dongiller]

Thanks, but this was hardly in its entirety; the live event went 40 minutes over, so nearly every presentation was shortened, and clips were deleted to make the 87-minute window.

[@RichardHandal301]

These shows always look like they were edited with a lawnmower. Frustrating.

[@johnkuipers7829]

What's with Letterman's beard? What is he trying to say?

[@Vingul]

@@johnkuipers7829 what do beards usually "say"? Don't they just grow out of dudes' faces?

[@choosecarefully408]

@@dongiller No kiddin'. I _remember_ Dave's first appearance on Carson. The version here is missing all the biggest laughs. Okay, maybe Jimmy's people edited it that way. But the stuff Dave said before coming over to the chair wasn't anything terribly special.

[@JSYBen]

A 'Don Giller' credit on a Letterman show, appearing on-screen the same time as Dave himself was on it. Must have been a thrill Don?

[@chrisdalton5646]

Am I the only one who rewound the horse because I couldn't take my eyes off dancing cop number three?

[@TomRocheEditorial]

When it aired in New Orleans Monday on, oh yes, WYES, it included a long Al Franken segment which I was not expecting. So I guess we got the unedited Al. The next day, when there was a sudden scramble to fill the Charlie Rose slot, they aired it again, same version. But wow, Norm McDonald's contribution was noticeably, brutally edited.

[@dongiller]

Yeah, Norm was not pleased. I wrote a 4-part tweet to him, explaining that the live event had gone 40 minutes over, that everyone's acts were cut to fit the 87 minutes the editors had to adhere to. That he should blame the format (the 87 minutes), not the editors. But I didn't say is that he and everyone else could/should have tried to adhere to the time limitations they had before them and edit their acts accordingly. Instead, he's pissed they ruined his flow. Which they did, but, again, 87 minutes.

[@Lotikwahu]

Thanks so much for posting this. I hit the 'subscribe' button thanks to this. I'm hoping one day to find the "Twirling Bowl of Chili" clip someday!

[@dongiller]

Refresh my memory -- Late Night? Late Show?

[@Lotikwahu]

Yes, it was "Late Night", circa 1987. Dave placed a bowl of chili onto some kind of turntable (possibly a pottery spinner) and flipped the switch. I believe there was even a slo-mo instant replay! I don't remember who the guests were - my 12 year old brain just remembered that as being the most hilarious thing I'd seen. Thanks for the reply Don! Keep up the great work :)

[@dongiller]

Ah -- the "slo-mo" was the clue, thanks! July 22, 1986. Part of Super-Slo-Motion Experiments. There were a five of these experiments in 1986, one in 1988, and a last one on June 7, 1990. I'm three months away from the 1990 show (currently up to March), so after I digitize June 7, I'll probably put up the complete collection in one video.

[@jrt9]

all I could think of was having how overwhelmed Harry must have been. To think your dad is such a big deal.

[@badad0166]

I hope he stakes his own claim, or sits back and enjoys the ride, but at least doesn't flame out in some grim TMZ post. Be strange to start so far up the mountain.

[@paulthepainter2366]

Not even halfway through and ive gone to click thumbs up at least 5 times.

[@paulthepainter2366]

Now Norm!?! Still not halfway through

[@langdonalger9219]

I am one taco supreme away from being named employee of the month.

[@williamhealy2473]

This tribute was as great as I expected. Thank you so much for posting! There were three unexpected things that were big highlights for me. His psychiatrist being asked to present was brilliant and reminded me of the early odd bits on NBC. The second was the very moving Eddie Vedder performance. I am sure Paul picked the song, but Vedder embraced it with all his heart and it was just beautiful. The third was the fantastic part where Bill Murry has Harry throw food into the audience - just delightful. The best line of the the night was delivered by John Mulaney who was great: "that's what Letterman did for comedy, he painted grapes." The most disappointing (and sad) part of the night was poor Norm. Norm so wonderfully kicked ass in his last stand up on the Late Show and then broke into tears. He loves Dave so much. It was sad to see what happened to his bit. The only surprising omission on the show was no reference to Dave's mom.

[@dongiller]

Dave's mom was another cut. At the event was a full appreciation of her via her remotes at Lillehammer, Winter 1994.

[@williamhealy2473]

Thanks for info. I wish they would come out with an unedited full length version of the show. I know that's easier said then done. Would love to see the full Norm bit.

[@ihavefallenandicantreachmy2113]

Mark Twain's "Dave Paints The Grapes Of Wrath."

[@joshualebowitz]

How did you find the original Franken version? Amazing upload. Appreciate all of your work.

[@dongiller]

Seems that a number of PBS affiliates around the country had aired the earlier Franken version.

[@joshualebowitz]

+Don Giller Sure, but how the heck did you find them? You do such an excellent job archiving all of this content. Thank you.

[@dongiller]

Let's just leave it at that. :)

[@shelleynobleart]

John Mulaney really made a brilliant point re Dave painting grapes.

[@clownnookie]

Merrill Markoe deserves alotta' credit, too.

[@paulkevinkoehler9490]

Stupid Pet Tricks was her idea (I believe).

[@shawnuel]

Damn right!

[@jaywilley955]

Hear hear!!! Certainly more than Markle does.

[@hokahey7236]

It's a shame that Chris Elliott only appears for a few seconds in the top ten bit. He should have been given a spot earlier in the show that was at least as long as the other comedians. He played a huge role in making 'Late Night' the great show that it was.

[@dongiller]

In a more perfect world, yes indeed. But one major criteria was star-power to draw in more viewers. (Yeah, I know -- John Mulaney?) I had suggested to the producers that they give some time to other writers in addition to Chris -- Steve O'Donnell, Jeff Martin, Rob Burnett (Merrill would have likely been a bad idea) -- but I was told about the worst ratings the show got in the past when the honorees were Neil Simon and Lorne Michaels. While we may see them as giants, the general public really doesn't know who these people are. And they only had 90 minutes.

[@Scramble187]

Don Giller we could have done without Schumer and Mulaney. A little more LN/LS stagehand participation would have been perfect!

[@davidrobinson6495]

Would you like to buy a monkey?

[@georgesowers9113]

Chris Elliot- The guy under the seats. I had'nt thought of that in a long time. I was in college from 79-83 and the roommates and I didn't miss too many of the early shows. We had all grown up with Carson but Carson's guests were past their prime and the show had no music acts. Letterman and his gruff, eccentric ways, the weird guests, remember the lady who made clothes for her parrotts?, was something we had never seen before. I mean where else can you watch 15 minutes of a guy throwing watermelons and bowling balls off a building or striking up a relationship with a woman in a office window in the building across the street? Haven't a lot of us wanted to do that at least once? Thanks Dave, It was fun.

[@Unkle685]

David Letterman 💖

[@shamimanaznin8370]

Its sad that they didn't call conan

[@Eggmanontheair]

probably they didn't because they only wanted people who were funny.

[@danielw2712]

@@Eggmanontheair so clearly you would never get an invitation

[@LMR72]

Or Craig

[@WolverinePete]

The honor is a little tarnished when they go through the last twenty years of recipients & Will Ferrell & Jay Leno were past award winners.

[@jennywong2769]

I died laughing when Bill Murray was on😂🤣

[@iansg75]

Good job Don, spotted @ 1:29:54

[@kennycab3374]

When Martin sang, felt like a Rat Pack show. I miss what Dave brought us.

[@pillettadoinswartsh4974]

How I wish they would have had a compilation of all the weird guests he had, including Andy Kaufman, Brother Theodore, Harvey Pekar, Crispin Glover, Howard Stern (preferably not in drag), and a clip from the Tom Waits/George Clooney thing with the handcuffs.

[@aprilosborn1886]

Letterman great, he took care of his friends, good guy

[@dt-vn5tk]

Bonnie Hunt should have been roasting Dave , that's too bad . 🌟

[@shelleyking8450]

LOVE the beagle playing dead. THAT is quality TV.

[@reynoldsmathey]

In the space of 19 years, Rudy Guiliani went from 'the personification of courage' to 'the personification of sleeze'. Good times.

[@jrt9]

so Conan's name used to be Jimmy.

[@jeffreyphillips7312]

nice one

[@DaleMaraugha]

I miss him, so fucking much.

[@williamthomas1]

Me Too

[@undertakerpitt]

Honestly surprised that Letterman didn't try to get the Foo Fighters to perform "Everlong" for this.

[@peterjohn85]

39:34 It's nice to see David and Conan together again.

[@MakeSomeNoiseAgencyPlaylists]

Hader & Armisen ! Pure gold 42:43

[@airmackeeee6792]

40:15 Norm fucking with the audience yet again! 🤣

[@lauraindira8421]

Al franken 🙌💫

[@elektrosoundwave]

Amazing content as always. What is that song that Paul and the band are playing at the end. I have not been able to find it.

[@dongiller]

“Central Park N’ West” - Ian Hunter.

[@elektrosoundwave]

@@dongiller thank you so much

[@PepsiFuture]

Norm MacDonald, John Mulaney, Steve Martin, Bill Murray!!! but man oh man am I glad they came through and booked Amy Schumer too?!

[@townsquare_chess]

She's so bad it's impossible not to fast-forward

[@anmoonage]

Bill and Fred looked like they could do the Oh, Hello with John and Nick

[@checkmatekingtwothisiswhit7685]

Saw The Donz’s name in the credits!

[@jrt9]

can't help but wonder what went through Harry's head during this. His dad is David Letterman not just dad

[@ga_s6]

I love so much the relation between Jimmy and Dave ♡

[@James-bm9dn]

It's too bad they never aired Norm's whole segment. He just mentioned it on twitter: "Today, my buddy sent me the tape. Awful. cut to bits. The bit had no chance from the start because a fellow presenter made a comment that was the spine of my bit." Do you know what the missing "comment" was?

[@dongiller]

I think it was Jimmy Kimmel earlier hoping that Dave would win tonight. Norm went on and on and on with his comparisons. It was great, it was funny, but it was long. The live event went 40 minutes over, so a lot had to be cut to meet the 87-minute window. Nearly every presenter's speech was shortened for air, and a number of video clips shown in the theater were deleted entirely (like The Strong Guy, the Fat Guy, and the Genius, and a Chris Elliott comparison test; I remember those two specifically, though there were probably others, as every presenter ended their act introducing a clip). So while Norm's beef is legitimate, his act (as well as everyone else's) simply went too long. Had PBS scheduled a 2-hour broadcast, I'm certain everyone's act would have been seen in their entirety. Then again, if everyone knew there'd be 2 hours to kill, they'd have probably gone over by another hour.

[@James-bm9dn]

Oh thanks :) I guess Norm was saying they should have cut Kimmel's reference at 14:00 about '"other nominees" because it spoiled his joke.

[@davidrobinson6495]

Wonder what Norm and Jimmy were talking about… 1:31:34.

[@jharvable]

Ugh Jimmy Kimmel had to go there.....

[@IVWOR]

👏

[@khenpaulw311]

Why did they edit out Al Franken?

[@dongiller]

One of many links -- deadline.com/2017/11/pbs-al-franken-david-letterman-mark-twain-award-broadcast-1202212014/

[@jaywilley955]

Coward goof losers is my guess. Good day.

[@larryfitzgerald9384]

Do you know what segments were padded to make up for Franken? Cutting him left a hole of several minutes.

[@dongiller]

1. Stupid Pet Trick, pigs: added slow-motion replay 2. Stupid Pet Tricks, cops & horse: added slow-motion replay 3. Dave's first TS standup: added some of his panel with Johnny 4. "They Took My Show Away": they aired the entire segment; it had been edited in the earlier version 5. in between Martins Short's song and Bill Murray: Al Franken on stage plus video of Al and Dave in Al's CD office: all cut 6. Michelle Obama's video: extended at end by around 10 seconds 7. Paul Shaffer's stage speech: full; it had been edited in the earlier version 8. Eddie Vedder's performance: full; it had been edited in the earlier version 9. Dave's remarks: all references to Franken cut; some pauses added

[@catcrow9577]

They royally fucked up Norm's part by editing it out. I have looked so much for the full version but can't find it anywhere. Anyone has a clue?

[@jaywilley955]

To edit Norm is a grave sin. Shame on those whom would do so.

[@Luchador138]

Any chance you could upload the Eddie Murphy Mark Twain Prize video @DonGiller?

[@dongiller]

Don’t have it, sorry.

[@Luchador138]

@@dongiller no worries thank you for the very quick reply

[@mruffino4180]

the mark of a mature man is one who can laugh at himself

[@jrt9]

why didn't Carson and Robin Williams win this?

[@jedinxf7]

holy crap Bill Murray is hilarious

[@cottoncoffin]

SUCH A SMART BEAGLE

[@preesi1403]

I wonder if when a young Don Giller bought his first VCR, if he ever thought it would lead to this? LOL

[@dongiller]

I wasn’t that young. :)

[@jedinxf7]

hah that's awesome that senator al walked on to Frankenstein

[@gregorypatricksmith8611]

Norm is sooooo funny

[@mpdalyful1]

mark twain was childhood friends with an American President Theodore Roosevelt. but they both had a spectacular falling out. and it became very nasty and bitter. twain hated the way Roosevelt was using the press as weapon and set up his own newsletter to vent his opinions. very few of Samuel Clements other work beyond the adventures of huckleberry finn exists. when he died he asked everything bar the books to be destroyed. none of the newsletters, none of his correspondece to Theodore Roosevelt. I saw a documentary about all that. some time ago

[@4plus4equalsmoo]

how did Jay Leno get this before Dave??

[@dongiller]

Because Dave turned it down that year.

[@4plus4equalsmoo]

@@dongiller ohhhhhhhh. thankings you

[@didsomebodysaydmt8193]

Can't believe Tom Waits wasn't there.

[@somerset8088]

thank you for this! would you happen to have Chappelle’s Mark Twain Prize show from last night?

[@dongiller]

I don’t, but it should be available soon on PBS’s site.

[@Scramble187]

Footage advisor! Tell us more!

[@dongiller]

Help with ingrown toenails, fungus, those sorts of things. :)

[@ihavefallenandicantreachmy2113]

Sock it to me!

[@Malouco]

Ah coo it’s David “PELUCA” Letterman 🤗

[@jomac841]

Yes I would have loved to have gone on a road trip with Norm Macdonald. Insightful conversation and laughing like an idiot? Yes please :) A comedy legend who more than deserved a Mark Twain award. RIP Norm

[@MrHtowntrucker]

The NBC show was so much funnier than the CBS version.

[@preesi1403]

Don I tried Shazaam and it came up blank. What is the song at the end?

[@dongiller]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/gp6ph3WNd9qUfbs

[@preesi1403]

@@dongiller TY Its great driving music

[@patriciastewart2239]

And if you help someone big or small.... 💜💗🖖🧝

[@6249review]

Not to take away anything from Dave, but yes my generation remembers Steve Allen and he was , I think, a great influencer of the comedic side of late night TV, as was Jack Paar in a totally different way..

[@dongiller]

No one would disagree with you, especially Dave.

[@broaddusmarines]

Bill Murray was the best performer. Absolutely killed it.

[@joshgibson9732]

I really enjoyed the"vegetable rights activist" line.

[@craigjgomez]

Someone help me with this. Martin Short said, "and Dave when you finally do retire..." but, Dave appears on this program with his full beard which he didn't grow until AFTER he retired. Am I missing something?

[@dongiller]

It was a joke. Dave stopped shaving immediately after Late Show ended on May 20, 2015. The Mark Twain Prize event occurred two years, five months later.

[@dmann1115]

How sad that they edited out Al Franken. His alleged transgressions against women may have merited an apology, but certainly not a resignation from the Senate. He is missed.

[@vcl-randoms4709]

I wonder what Mark Twain would have done in this situation

[@lauraindira8421]

Agree

[@mruffino4180]

jimmy is like dave down to earth but jimmy is the most emotional (in a good way) host ive ever seen