Dave's Mad Monkey Tea Party | Letterman

[@dongiller]

Fun Fact: Rena and her monkeys were originally scheduled to perform on one of Late Night’s Las Vegas shows the previous May but was bumped. Then rescheduled to come to NY in August. Also one of the very few times Paul’s “shit” got past the censors for air.

[@kstepko]

It got past me! I didn’t notice it until you brought it up!

[@SHANECatLovinActivistHistorian]

and what was the name of the monkey that killed her

[@mcdarwin]

I love her comment at the end of the bit, "I don't believe this ." Still funny over 36 years later.

[@painin2teeth]

I kind of feel bad for her

[@FUGP72]

@@painin2teeth Why? It was exactly what she wanted. She was doing a bit. Unbeknownst to Dave and the producers. Pretty obviously too. Everything was pretty well choreographed. Or did you think she REALLY almost hit the one monkey with the table wen she carelessly swung it toward her and the monkey just ducked on its own? That was all pat of the training. The only real botched part of this was the male monkey not eating the banana candle at the right time and some other minor stuff.

[@elizabethlarson9655]

I don't think I ever realized how fed up Rena was by the end, which really makes it funnier.

[@keefriff99]

Lol, she swore on live TV. That was priceless...total trainwreck.

[@Driven2Beers]

​@@keefriff99 All of shows were videotaped before airing.

[@FUGP72]

It was an act. She was doing a bit without telling Dave or the producers.

[@_PrimetimePranks]

Saw this the night it originally aired. One of the greatest comedic moments ever in late night television!

[@justayoutuber1906]

I will forever remember "Maybe you'll get some, maybe you wont!" OH GEEZE!!!

[@kinsmed]

EXACTLY how my tea parties go.

[@KungEMuller]

Wow! This was truly a late night classic. Way to go, Dave!

[@_PrimetimePranks]

5:47 Paul cursing 😂

[@trekkiejunk]

Wow, you're right. I had to replay that to catch it. I guess the censors missed that one in the edit. They edited out the monkey woman swearing at the end, too.

[@_Tanasis_]

Dave is genuinely utterly scared and it is wonderful

[@jgarofalo8813]

I feel bad for the monkeys.

[@leonardstilwell1894]

This comment made my day

[@Piggy-Oink-Oink]

Dave was right to be scared as one of these monkey's ripped the face off her owner in CT. That little monkey hated him lol

[@johnb1150]

Dave was scared of all the animals though if it wasn't just a dog he'd shift away.

[@privatepenguin3137]

CLASSIC moment for the show. I remember for the anniversary show from this year (I think it was the 6th anniversary special)...they double-edited in the facial expression here at 5:50 when she knocked the glass away (so it was in the segment twice)....but it was oh so entertaining! 🤣🐒

[@jordanbrower2598]

This episode was a month after Crispin Glover’s freak out, which made this one even more entertaining at the time. If I recall, Dave went on a vacation after this.

[@Piggy-Oink-Oink]

After Crispun Glover, CHer, and these monkeys one has to wonder Was it Dave or was the rest of the world just nuts lol

[@sagatuppercut2960]

Rena just takes over the show like it's nothing.

[@infowarriorone]

I just laughed as hard as I did when this first aired on TV.

[@75midge]

this clip has stayed with me for almost 36 years...Dave's never looked happier

[@Checkmate1954]

This has to be one of the funnest things on TV ever❗️

[@pigeonhed13]

This segment is etched into my memory for life!!

[@NLBTUBE]

I watched this the night it first aired and it's been a favourite moment ever since. I certainly didn't know that I'd be able to watch it whenever I wanted to on a computer back then. I use the famous line about ripping a vein out of my neck whenever I see a spider, as an arachnophobiac.

[@matawhite2287]

I swear - Sandy was doing it on purpose 😂😂😂 I still can’t stop laughing 🤩

[@UberNeuman]

lol. It's crazy the way Sandy took an instant dislike to Dave. It reminds me a few first dates I've had.

[@WEPDRabbitEarsTV]

This is my favorite thing I've seen on the show!

[@thatoneguy2813]

She was trying so hard to make this bit work but David’s reactions made it work better.

[@tomfeister]

I was watching the first night this aired. It was riveting. You just knew bloody chaos was a split second away. Funniest thing I've ver seen.

[@auntpamwa]

If you listen carefully, at time 8.22 you can hear Paul say "shit" and it did not get bleeped off the air. I remember when this aired in 1987 and I laughed my head off. Unfortunately, I did not record it on my VCR and I could not replay it as many times as I would like, like I can now:)

[@ubwcolt]

@JeyJJeyJ It's right after 5:46

[@mibeatleman6767]

One of David's funniest moments from his "Late Night" Era.

[@iMacDSL]

Sandy took full advantage of that nervous energy. 🤣

[@makenzieedwards9725]

i just wanna hug them oh my goodnesssss

[@redskins5926]

Yes, this got posted! Definitely among my top 5 Letterman moments

[@Pidxr]

Dave is certainly the Letter, as in letting it all happen.

[@lizzyrumpler3128]

This is my absolutely favorite David Letterman episode.

[@EdKazO-Vision]

This is THE funniest Letterman bit EVER.

[@BigTunaTim76]

I feel bad for those monkeys. That woman isn't in tune with them at all.

[@FUGP72]

She was perfectly in tune with them and aside from the male not eating the banana candle at the right time, this is EXACTLY how se wanted it to go. Did you really think she almost hit the female monkey with the table? Obviously not. That was a well choreographed bit.

[@Nunya_Bidness_53]

I thought I'd seen every Letterman bit but even I've never seen this! Perfectly insane! 🙉🙈🙊

[@MichelleUS66]

The title of this clip wins the internet for the day! 😂

[@maynardsmoreland]

Man, 1987 may be the most memorable Letterman year ever.

[@bicivelo]

3:38 crazy lady is thinking: “I’ll tell the jokes around here!”

[@johnseroff7434]

Legendary!

[@richardyoon4209]

I've always saw clips of this whenever Dave did an anniversary special. Before today, I never saw the full segment. Thank you!

[@trevorschleusner1525]

I love how the coolest 'person' in the room is the baboon.

[@christ5783]

My favourite bit is when you can hear Paul Shaffer say 'Holy shit!' in the background.

[@cambennet8843]

I’m at home sick today. Letterman reruns are a 1000 times better than The Price is Right.

[@greggseager4632]

Paul with the "....oh Shit!" Listen for it.

[@MichaelMurphy-kj3xf]

At around 5:48!!!!

[@kstepko]

Classic Letterman!

[@ginaheller333]

Thank you for the belly laughs!

[@jenniferrueger1694]

Miss ya David Letterman!

[@Wishbone4evr]

He must've gotten monkey phobia or something LOL

[@Roy-G-Biv]

i watched this live and it creeped me out sooooo much at a young age.

[@trekkiejunk]

Live? Did you attend the taping in NY? That's really cool. I wish i had gone to see him back in the 90's.

[@Roy-G-Biv]

@@trekkiejunk I meant when it aired on tv that night….

[@hinthegroove9740]

Freaking hilarious 😂

[@blindriv3r]

Too bad Norm wasn't there to say something like "Man, that Sandy really does not care for you, Dave"

[@CMUBrent]

"And who's responsible for that monkey not caring for Dave? You guessed it, Frank Stallone."

[@Driven2Beers]

Yeah, Sandy and Putin... they're kinda jerks.

[@GingerCC-he8be]

Sandy wasn't attacking she was begining David to save her from the nightmare!

[@bicivelo]

This lady was like Moe from the 3 Stooges 😅😅

[@ForbinColossus]

Dave's been scaring monkeys his entire career

[@2_thumbs_up_baby]

That monkey was scary...freaked me out 😮. Knew letterman was trouble

[@twlightzone2065]

I remember watching this when this originally aired.

[@rocketRobScott]

Did I hear Paul say “oh shit”?

[@kstepko]

I just realized that Sandy’s dress kept on getting caught on her chair! Crisis narrowly averted!

[@plaws0]

5:46 made it past Standards & Practices.

[@plaws0]

I think it's Paul ...

[@bettymarchesi2800]

Johnny Carson would have handled this much better than Letterman I think, because he seemed to have a real love for animals.

[@zjdarrah]

Finally I've been waiting for this one for a while! Lmao!

[@michaelderenne9838]

Maybe youll get some maybe you wont lol

[@nibbin1963]

I am trying to let David Letterman know that a gentleman named Bill from Muncie Indiana would love to hear from him. He use to feed David many Pixie Burgers while he was at Ball State. Bill is now 106 and I would love to connect him to his friend from years ago.

[@bicivelo]

How many times did she say “let’s go on” after they didn’t do what she wanted?! 😅😅

[@martin_mue]

Dave clearly prefers Dogs. 🙂

[@willneubauer21]

Cable is out in my hotel, who cares with this?!

[@johnschlaefflin2100]

Did everyone hear Paul say “oh shit” in the background?

[@joycejohnson7164]

Hope they're treated well...

[@yuenr1]

That’s your comment? 4:28 Cmon, they have tea parties. That’s a better life than most humans.

[@FaRtBoMb42]

There's no way she didn't go back and not hit those monkey's. There's no way.

[@vxy357]

She probably gave them extra treats.

[@Drew_D]

I think Dave would have been better off if it was just Max. 😁

[@bicivelo]

Imagine being married to her?!! 😅😅😅

[@marmichaux7520]

He was probably wearing too much Brut 33. It makes me react that way since my big brother abused it in our house.

[@CthulhuInc]

i only hope dave fired the talent personnel who hired this lady. 😂

[@daisytheunicornTV]

Can you post Cotton Candy Toupee. Chris & Ken ?

[@musicalmagpie741]

I hate to be that person but I have to. I hope those animals weren’t “punished” after the show by that woman for embarrassing her on television. Still, I laughed and will always remember it as a golden moment on Letterman.

[@trekkiejunk]

"Punishing them" 10 minutes later would not be part of any training logic, even if they were using negative reinforcement. That would just be someone taking out their anger. That said, Sandy's "freakouts" were all part of the act. The same monkey act was done on Carson a few years earlier with almost the exact same results.

[@bedeliadumaurier444]

Yeah, she can barely contain her annoyance. I don’t really care for how she treats these animals. 😟

[@kstepko]

She nearly whacked Sandy in the head with the table. Who knows what would have happened if she had?

[@bedeliadumaurier444]

@@kstepko yeah….and Sandy seemed kinda used to it. 😖

[@asymmetry9988]

Looks like Paul Schaefer

[@dinallesi]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@go-godollie2335]

Sandy flirts like I do

[@catherinegigliotti1368]

The shoes David, them shoes

[@kaspinet]

That was uncomfortable on soooooo many levels. Different times. Different times.

[@vxy357]

But it was still a hoot!

[@sonnyceeplaylist6337]

💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯

[@mehome-ty4yi]

The current crop of late show hosts should just quit.

[@dashobie]

David what's with the Beard it takes more then that to look like a Real Man.

[@movieman1556]

Letterman is such a WIMP

[@dashobie]

Is that Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert on the table or Joe Biden and Kamala Harris ?

[@elbisnopserton9052]

How does a lady end up with monkeys. Monkeys start at Cluster F. and it doesn’t get better.

[@roberttemple2521]

I can't watch this. I tried, but it is so sad. Animals who are made to perform live horrible lives. I am a former circus performer, I saw a lot and I can tell you it is animal abuse any way you slice it.

[@UncleBernhard]

Please invite monkeys again to your videos!

[@bambufan3636]

Those poor defanged animals must have led terrible lives.

[@kstepko]

@@patreekotime4578 Or Sandy’s! She is obviously not enjoying being dressed up and told to perform for and interact with strangers, and is defending herself.

[@Tesoro598]

Anyone else find this disturbing? I couldn’t watch it till the end

[@vxy357]

Uh...NOPE!

[@duermedespierto]

I don't like the woman...I hope she didn't beat her monkeys