Staff Favorite Moments: Writer Spike Feresten | Letterman

[@dongiller]

Fun fact - the show following the “O Canada” performance began with a Cold Open, with a snippet of the previous night’s drone rendering. Then Dave suddenly wakes up screaming. Paul is with him, asking if everything’s all right. Dave tells them he had this horrible nightmare, where everyone in the audience is singing, “and it’s going on, and on, and on.” Paul tells him it was just a dream, and Dave says, “Oh, thank god.”

[@plaws0]

Replying here because, well, it's the right place ... 1) When was the "O Canada" ep? 2) Is Mr Feresten *actually* Canadian. Because if not, there are some Mounties here that need to have a word with him.

[@dongiller]

@@plaws0 1) July 14, 1986. 2) No.

[@plaws0]

Oh, and I've notified the Mounties. Apparently there is no statute of limitations on Impersonating A Canadian.

[@birderjohn3396]

Hi Don

[@illygah]

Fun fact - everything on KZbin from Don. Thanks Don!

[@last808]

I will never get tired of that Carson walk on bit. The man deserved every bit of that applause as a talk show host. The happiness in that studio beams right out of the TV! I also like how happy Paul looks at the end of O Canada.

[@mibeatleman6767]

Johnny Carson's appearance was one of my favorites of David's.

[@HardRockMiner]

I saw it live, and I've seen it many times since, but when Johnny walks out to his intro and the crowd erupts, I get covered in goosebumps. Just amazing the impact that man had on me and so many others.

[@gannibootis]

The Carson appearance is my favorite to this day. As I recall, Dave had spent the whole week proclaiming "ladies and gentlemen with todays top 10 list Johny Carson". Every day prior it had been L.B. Melman or some other person who wasnt Mr Carson. Finally, Daves last day in California we got this. It seemed the ovation lasted forever. The way it went down was magical but I have often wondered if the applause had dropped off if we would have got to hear Carson speak.

[@ElonsDiamondMine]

The way it plays Johnny definitely sat in Dave's seat ready to at least play act the host-guest dynamic for a bit. I have to agree! I think he was ready to play along but either the long applause seems to have given him pause enough to opt out. Curious what he would have said!

[@galahadkoa1]

@@ElonsDiamondMine I always had the impression Johnny really wanted to be behind the desk again, but it was like an addiction he needed to get away from so when the crowd didnt stop applauding he was able to finally convince himself to walk away. I really think he would have stayed a bit if the audience had quieted down fairly quickly. I would have loved to see him play the part one last time.

[@TheLadsBandLive]

This is one of the best compilations yet. Also, I love how high Paul starts the key for O Canada. There’s really nowhere to go but down. Lol.

[@samanthab1923]

That Johnny appearance was the best 🥲

[@Targemq8]

Terrific segments! Weird call to film this at Leno's house, though.

[@ronsandlin9618]

That would be hilarious but I think he’s a big car buff as well.

[@NP-ip3nj]

That Arnold Top 10 is legitmately one of my favourite Top 10s ever. You are a genius for thinking it up! In fact, I formally request post the Arnold Top 10 for posterity.

[@lawrence142002]

Dave working the Drive thru is my favorite gag of all time.

[@milk-it]

Spike: we need more anecdotes like this from Letterman, Seinfeld and the likes on SCR or on a video series. These clips are gold. Love your work in conjunction with Dave and Jerry!

[@dinosaursr]

Got choked up during the Oh 🇨🇦 segment.

[@Chris.from.1950]

Hahahahaha! 😂😂😂 What a fantastic collection of clips! Well done, sir! 🎉❤😊

[@rootman28]

Great stuff. I totally remember seeing the O Canada bit back in the day.

[@bernlin2000]

"Bathtub with pudding" still holds up 😂 never saw that one until now (grew up in the 90s but maybe too young for Letterman then), but I'm glad it was showcased here 👏👏

[@petterw5318]

I love it's Barbara conducting these interviews!

[@kstepko]

It gives a whole new meaning to Dave constantly thanking Barbara for having him as a guest on her show.

[@TheJuniorMints]

Awesome Spike, thank you! 🤓

[@krazeykriss]

Barbara 's distinctive cackle always makes me smile! 😃

[@robatsea2009]

I used to watch Spike's own late-night talk show!

[@Redmenace96]

So great! I was there for the O' Canada bit. Laughed, laughed, laughed....... It seems simple, but it was funny!

[@brucelee4996]

This was AWESOME.

[@thelettermanpodcast]

Spike is a legend in comedy writing and has been a part of so many iconic, groundbreaking moments. Legends also say He was named after the bruiser K-9 from Looney Toons.

[@harrypenn611]

Bmw fan I see

[@dongiller]

Fact, not legend: “Got the nickname Spike from fellow SNL staffer Mike Shoemaker [SNL Production Assistant 1986-88; Spike , née Michael, worked there as a receptionist]. While at Night Music [1988-90] I decided I’d go with it.” (Email, April 9, 1996)

[@dongiller]

From Spike’s Wikipedia entry: Feresten began his career writing for Saturday Night Live, where he first got the nickname "Spike" while working there as a receptionist. "It came from 'Saturday Night Live'. I was a receptionist, and I had hair licks. And one of the PAs at the time gave me the nickname. And I said, "No problem as long as you don't fire me. Call me whatever you want."

[@thelettermanpodcast]

@@dongiller the legends were wrong?! That’s disappointing.

[@Brian-uy2tj]

I loved the bath tub full of pudding, especially the first shot where it kind of missed and took a hunk out of the side of the tub. It drove home just how badly this could go wrong and put me on edge for the rest of the bit.

[@stormbringercoming8105]

This video makes me remember why I loved the NBC so much. The CBS show was funny for a while.

[@lynnturman8157]

I remember Spike liked one of my tweets once. Most definitely the highlight of my life.

[@petehatzakos]

See this??? @17:17 This is what needs to be on the "Second Channel," everything that was shot, all these stories, or at least most of it.... Think Beatles BOX set revolver, Sgt Pepper, White Album, etc... Thank you Spike and the entire team at "Letterman".

[@beths4934]

The Sensible Dinner had me out of my chair.

[@terryb.1938]

Great video, but sad to see he's now working at a car dealership after his initial success. All the best , Spike!

[@brianmiller3110]

He's a producer, podcast host and car collector, he's very successful now

[@sedawk]

@@brianmiller3110 Whoosh!

[@winonafrog]

Give him 5 minutes he’ll get you into a nice Pontiac

[@bgheadjack]

Fun fact: Brother of SNL and Late Night with Seth Meyers cue card legend Wally. Wally is on Seth often and is just a delight

[@rocketreindeer]

Since Covid, I've found Seth and crew the closest to Dave in humor, when they dropped the canned format and just started being relaxed and weird.

[@rocketreindeer]

@@taxesdeathandtrouble.1886 They can still be a bit hit and miss at times, but can also be way hilarious. Seth couldn't stand trying to be slick any more and is way funnier. He criticizes his writers for bad joke writing and stuff and you can hear them laughing at him in the background. He refused to wear a suit any more, the one time he did was when Dave was his guest.

[@dianewinters8628]

We sing "O Canada" along with "America the Beautiful" before the hockey games at the Civic Center. I almost got it down now.

[@BobbySacamano]

Super cool. What a great time to be alive

[@BobbySacamano]

This is great and all, but why is he doing this interview from Jay Leno's garage? Isn't that somehow a conflict of interest? ;)

[@brianmiller3110]

That's the garage of one of his car podcast co-hosts named Zuckerman

[@ForbinColossus]

@2:15 *"The corporate handshake"* (you missed the funniest line!)

[@CLaFong]

Chris Elliott as Marlon Brando was the funniest thing on TV. The banana dance was genius.

[@ronsandlin9618]

Spike’s brother is Wally from Late Night With Seth Meyers.

[@FanboyFilms]

And from decades of SNL before that!

[@Tmrfe0962]

Spike…I see your in Zuckermans garage, well, at least your shared garage. I see his BMW’s and his caddy….great job.

[@Johnnynbk]

Glad to see dave's old hair piece is being put to good use.

[@lorip.1110]

Nothing else captures the indomitable spirit of American patriotism quite like a dancing hot dog.

[@dongiller]

What helped make that work is that the giant hot dog’s previous appearances would be met with bewilderment, Paul or others asking why was this giant hot dog on the set. The hot dog (writer Matt Wickline) would then run away, out of the studio, down the hall, only to have a couple cops gun him down.

[@lorip.1110]

@@dongiller I totally forgot about that. So funny. Thanks, Don!

[@dongiller]

@@bussiereforever If you’re referring to this channel, all credit to Sir Walter. If you’re referring to mine, thanks!

[@markstevens1729]

Damn! That Oh Canada finished quite strongly.

[@kowalski5599]

The Tonight Show was only what was because of those involved, especially its host, Johnny Carson. It would mean more to anyone, especially Dave, to have Johnny's support, than it did to inherit the franchise.

[@stan00ca]

Fast food remotes were amazing.

[@thefunshow2024]

5:10 - Hans Zimmer's Joker theme 20 years before The Dark Knight came out. Insane.

[@TotinosPizzaRollz]

It's very telling that Carson appeared several times on Letterman's show, but never appeared once on Leno's show.

[@junkboxxxxxx]

He was nearly dead for the last ten years he was alive.

[@MCW1955]

God I miss Carson, Dave, and even Jay.

[@spockboy]

5:01 Lmao XD

[@hellboypi]

My, what a lovely lace doily! (Me - every time I see one...)

[@lynnturman8157]

That Swarzenegger top 10 was funny. I wanted to hear the whole thing.

[@thtithilrunagate4577]

In all seriousness I still think about "man oh man do I love fudge" and always wondered who wrote that

[@scribblesthejuggalodenver3009]

Dave, I hear you are an aficionado of classic old Hollywood films, I would like to start watching, any suggestions? Old films.

[@scottgunvaldsonmusic4116]

Spike Feresten wrote some great Seinfeld episodes.

[@ellisfourthirty]

I wonder if that E24 is the same one from the clip where Dave and Paul go surfing.

[@garywidom]

Another fun fact, a car battery won’t electrocute a human.

[@TheKarlos]

We need more Chris Elliott on this channel

[@walkingbassline]

Made a mistake with those O Canada lyrics. Paul should have known!

[@kstepko]

God keep our land, glorious and free! 🇨🇦

[@lynnturman8157]

Is he a used car salesman now? What's he got in a Chrysler Le Baron?

[@jerzeyguy71]

when Johnny came on Daves show when he was retiring from the Tonight Show, couple things I saw I never thought of.. Dave offered his seat to Johnny, which Johnny did not offer to him... when Dave sat in the "guest" seat, he was taller than Johnny... usually the host is taller.. was this Dave's way of giving it to Johnny?

[@delvictor7570]

The battery thing wouldn’t hurt you. That’s not how it works.

[@MedalionDS9]

Good ol' Spike from Seinfeld

[@davidbentley145]

Shocking! Ha,ha,ha

[@WKRPinCINN]

This guy sells cars now?

[@Popcorncedar]

Car battery won’t kill you. Not enough voltage to overcome your resistance.

[@PIXPromosMore]

I always thought Spike's talk show on FOX (aptly named "Talk Show with Spike Feresten") deserved better...Too bad you can barely find it anywhere.

[@douglasjohnson4382]

I could have liked this video, but he chose to record this in front of a lot of expensive toys. What is he trying to prove?

[@winonafrog]

Yea, gives off a big “punchable” vibe

[@ktjankabar]

Ruled by rats - sounds about right

[@nsny25]

Dude reminds me of the screen rant guy.

[@Youngstown529]

This old dude has great teeth.

[@kit2770]

Lol. Man, they butchered _O Canada_ 😄

[@AllanAdamson]

if the hotdog would have had ketchup on it... maybe I'd of complained... but seeing as they had enough sense to keep the ketchup off of it... ha..

[@senselessbabbledotcom]

I only know the Canadian national anthem because of that episode!

[@ImSonnyBurnett]

"What life would be like without the Constitution": See Biden Administration

[@johnbauby6612]

Amazing how obscenely rich anyone associated with this show ended up while normal people work their asses off at real jobs for slave wages.

[@zackerycooper7602]

Slaves do not exactly have wages. Also, people like Spike Feresten and Robert Borden worked their way up from mainly menial jobs like mailroom boys, so it wasn't like they simply wrote their entire career.

[@americanmade4484]

The singing sailor girls all had nice legs🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@TheJuniorMints]

Awesome Spike, thank you! 🤓