Staff Favorite Moments: Head Writer James Downey | Letterman

The "Late Night" head writer remembers camping with Barry White, the pirates skit that bombed, the world's largest vase and more.
#JamesDowney #Pirates #Letterman
Subscribe to Letterman: bit.ly/3GeOIAg
Follow Letterman on Social:
Facebook: / davidletterman
Instagram: / letterman
Twitter: / letterman
Welcome to the Letterman KZbin Channel, home to all your favorite clips from Late Night and Late Show - as well as conversations with the writers, producers and performers who helped make it all happen. These highlights have been artisanly-produced, carefully-curated, and chosen completely at random by an old computer that used to pick numbers for the New York Lotto back in the 90’s.

[@GideonWeissman]

Internet is extremely lacking in James Downy content.

[@bcmcinnis]

Here here!

[@BedrockLeadership]

Y E S ! ! !

[@MTVCOPS]

Or Jim Downey!

[@tenebrae23]

He is interviewed by Dana Carvey and David Spade on the Fly on the Wall podcast.

[@BomChickyBowWow]

I know! I’ve googled my ass off and there’s nothing. I’m dying to see an interview of him from the 80s or something but I don’t think they exist. I guess he just wasn’t known then.

[@Paulafan5]

Barry White: I don't wanna die, Dave... That never stops being funny.

[@229BlackHat]

David, my leg, I think it’s broken

[@angelacooper5682]

@@229BlackHat 🤣

[@gregbear123]

😂

[@penguinjammer8522]

The please after Dave advises to get Barry White to a doctor kills me every time

[@eromacque]

Jim Downey. Holy hell. Genius beyond genius in the world of comedy. The Harvard Lampoon alum who blazed the trail from Cambridge to Hollywood. FUN TRIVIA: He provided the voice for Hercules in the fantastic IL RETURNO DE HERCULES sketch on SNL and provided that very same voice for James Hong in WAYNE'S WORLD 2. He was also the news vendor telling White Guy Eddie Murphy to "Go on...take it!" with the newspaper because white people give things to each other. Oh, and he was Norm Macdonald's other brain in writing Weekend Update.

[@joadbreslin5819]

You left off a couple of his most notable contributions: the "everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it" speech from Billy Madison (kzbin.info/www/bejne/goKmhmZspdB7bcU), and playing Andy Samberg's dad, who was having an affair with Jonah Hill (kzbin.info/www/bejne/jae4eZSqft5-iJY).

[@michaelmcdonald8452]

And his bits as the wistful homeless guy in Dirty Work were great as well. And yeah, his role in Billy Madison... "if there are any attempts to cheat.... especially with my wife..."

[@danwroy]

I had no idea he was the dubbed voice of Wayne's father-in-law, that's amazing

[@VillemarMxO]

Glad you mentioned Norm Macdonald. I just finished his brilliantly absurdist autobiography, wherein he praises Jim Downey as an absolute comedy writing genius.

[@SidelerMN]

Downey is not only an all time comedy writer but also a great story teller.

[@bobwalton4630]

Mostly a writer but James had some great on screen moments in Dirty Work and Billy Madison. Just a straight up legend.

[@PatrickKeating]

He's great in There Will Be Blood too.

[@SidelerMN]

‘The plank is NOT going to break.” I loved this line by Steve ODonnell. Tough crowd that night.

[@Ellierua]

Makers of this channel need to get the word out.. Because snippets from James Downey and his ilk are priceless.. So amazing to see and enjoyable!

[@johnisaacdavey]

It cracked me when Barry White said "I don't want to die, David."

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

Please!

[@MegaPrincefox]

This man is pure comic genius. Thanks for this!

[@Ellierua]

He's absolutely one of the best. I don't use the word Legend lightly.. But he's up there, if not there already!

[@namj8145]

I did a gut-busting laugh when he mentioned the late Calvert DeForest, then paused and asked if he was actually dead. And not wanting to be wrong about it said " I believe...I hope." LMFAO.

[@rockturtleneck]

"Barry White has just been bitten by a Northern Copperhead." Another great segment on this brilliant channel.

[@thelettermanpodcast]

On our show we refer to the first couple years of Late Night as the lower levels of the Letterman pyramid that would be built. It’s clear the foundation built during the point in time was not only solid, but unbreakable; the fact that 40 years later this content holds up is a remarkable testament.

[@wyskass861]

Jim has been at the forefront of comedy writing for 50 years. Legend.

[@illygah]

Not only is he top dog, every single one of the lesser-thans got there by having had worked with Jim.

[@603ER]

The world needs the World's Largest Vase and its message of unity now more than ever.

[@VillemarMxO]

Can we avoid the hard linoleum of doom?

[@JackSilbert]

Mr. Downey's delight, even at the bits that other staffers wrote, really made me happy.

[@thelettermanpodcast]

For sure. The pride in being a part of this show is evident.

[@paulocuaresma9480]

The best thing in these video is the classic bits and Jim Downey laughing as he remembers it 😊

[@michaelmcdonald8452]

Barry adding "please" after "get Barry White to the hospital" is comedy gold.

[@jaybestnz]

The deep line from Barry "I don't want to die Dave" was amazing.

[@hanzzarkov7690]

I laughed my face off. So good.

[@ineedausernamenow999]

just relistened to Jim's Conan podcast and I haven't laughed at a podcast that many times and that hard ever. Jim's a jem

[@ineedausernamenow999]

the financer?

[@Subo23]

The Great James Downey

[@chiefscheider]

That whole bit with Barry White is like something that would've been on SCTV 😄

[@eromacque]

"David. My leg. I think it's broken."

[@catholicdad]

The Fishin' Musician!

[@RobLives4Love]

this pirates bit may be one of my favorite sketches of all time

[@ross302ci]

If you listen to Conan's podcast, he'll gush about Jim Downey at any chance he can get. It's clear he's a legend in the world of TV comedy writers.

[@Rob_Kates]

He wrote some of the best SNL skits.

[@leonardstilwell1894]

@@Rob_Kates Change Bank. Might be my favorite all-time SNL remote.

[@michaelparks6120]

These are so funny !

[@debschaefer7820]

@@leonardstilwell1894 "We can do that".

[@jozz2248]

@@debschaefer7820 Always made me feel more empowered to ask the bank for a dollar in nickels.

[@LetsBeHonestImAPrat]

Can I go back to being a child staying up every night to watch Letterman? That’d be a dream come true

[@andybaldman]

Yes, you can.

[@marcelhaik8035]

That is exactly how I feel! 💛

[@greenatom]

All of this stuff has been stored in my brain for decades, forgotten until now!

[@ronniechilds2002]

Dave was the BEST. He took his obvious adoration for Carson and ran with it and eventually exceeded him by a mile Fortunately he had a talent for finding and hiring great writers, like Downey here, and taking the brilliant stuff they came up with and making it HILARIOUS, night after night. Man, I don't think I ever missed a Dave show.

[@stephenpeters8404]

I love subtle and unintended touches, and the scene in "They Took My Show Away" where the kid accidentally rips the TV Guide in a way that leaves the cover visible and flapping in the wind (1:45 mark) cracks me up.

[@thelettermanpodcast]

Yes! Genius!

[@VillemarMxO]

Here's one...Manimal! Later when that show got cancelled they had a memoriam to Manimal which was hilarious.

[@kit2770]

I hope that we as a civilization can all come together in the way that giant vase said. That's a smart vase. And his owner is a good wrestling coach.

[@tbx59]

That was great - the folks involved have been doing a good job with the channel.

[@ontologicallysteve7765]

Tell the folks at home how the folks involved have been doing a good job...

[@DouglasRichardson-er4ky]

Lee Majors transition from 6 million dollar man to the fall guy as a metaphor for life 🤔

[@FloraWest]

"They Took My Show Away" and "Camping with Barry White" are of my (many) favorite pieces from this show. And "a nightmarish carnival of mayhem" in my everyday vocabulary.

[@RobLives4Love]

"I don't wanna die, Dave" always takes me right out.

[@bernlin2000]

Good lord was Letterman driven early on to push comedy to a new level 🙂"Camping with Barry White" is phenomenal, surprised I've never heard of it until now, been a fan forever (but born in the middle of the first late night show).

[@mikesternmike]

By the time he got to CBS all the good years were behind him unfortunately many of the writers that made gold already left

[@Brian-uy2tj]

It is pretty obvious that Barry White had a really good sense of humor. Whenever he was on the show it was great and a lot of fun.

[@VillemarMxO]

Loved Barry's top ten list. "Big Assss Ham."

[@jimmyguitar2933]

Great to see the young Conan O'Brien in that sketch with Dave.

[@savage751]

I love how calmly Barry white says "I don't wanna die David" after the snake bite

[@markybgoode]

Long time Late Nite fan. Never thought too much about who wrote his funny skits and bits of business. I love 💕 this former writer. I’d like to have coffee with him sometime.

[@sepitheroth]

I remember these. Good times. I miss Dave.

[@TheEkatz]

Just listened to your Fly On The Wall appearance with Carvey/Spade.. Really fantastic stories.. Nice to see this as well. You've done a lot!

[@PopeLando]

Me too, just this morning!

[@Jiv_Ing57819]

The pirates are very matter of fact, what are you doing? Oh sorry we’re just going to take this ship to x marks and then send Charles to a watery grave. ,:-0

[@Jiv_Ing57819]

It is going to be an agonising death for him, once we take him to the spot after some sailing and he is sinking it will be unpleasant yet pleasant for us pirates to know thy mission is accomplished. ,:-0

[@kmac1766]

Dave admonishing the youngster’s threat to “Never watch TV again!”😂😂😂😂😂”Jimmy!!! Don’t ever say that!”

[@allendracabal0819]

"Not even as a joke."

[@kmac1766]

@@allendracabal0819 😂😂😂

[@debbiebankscell]

I felt the same way as Little Jimmy about Voyagers. 😥

[@danathanaurelius4685]

With his philosophy on bombing, it makes a lot of sense why he vibes so well with Norm McDonald

[@Football__Junkie]

“Here’s a chimp that lives in Washington. Hah. You know that will be a good one.” 😂😂

[@cs5845]

This was a good one! Also, I loved having the whole outro at the end.

[@MichaelMurphy-kj3xf]

Agree 100%!

[@hankochai]

That pirate torture & death bit was hilarious. Ahead of its time, perhaps.

[@bgheadjack]

Downey is on the late night writer Mount Rushmore. What a legend

[@hamsandwichson]

"We will give you the change equal to the money you needed change for"

[@loopy7057]

The World's Largest Vase thing is absolutely fucking hilarious 😂

[@thomassalyers1391]

“ the hard linoleum of doom”

[@thelettermanpodcast]

Beware!

[@JonBlondell]

Great, thank you!

[@teresaf991]

I feel they need to just show all of these on late night t.v. So many people would quickly tune in. They could just play these made for you tube videos. Not Any extra work. The could call it THE GENUIS OF THE DAVID LETTERMAN SHOW. THE FIRST ONE. WOW! These were all my favorites.

[@martyblair7221]

Jim Downey will always be my 2nd favorite world's largest vase.

[@richorichards4655]

If only we’d listened to the worlds largest vase

[@schtum1]

Good to see a young Conan in the first sketch

[@robatsea2009]

As echoed by others great to see a true legend here. Interesting to see the fate of the Paul Zimmerman episode repeated here, which also featured actor Klaus Kinski. Mr. Zimmerman wrote a number of the early "Sesame Street" shows before "The King of Comedy" was produced (about a decade after he had written it). Sadly he passed away quite young, about ten years after his appearance on the show.

[@dongiller]

I believe the Paul Zimmermam appearance is available on another YT channel.

[@jarrodf_]

Sublime

[@TheTougie]

is good to see vase was very big

[@g-pa-Rok-n-Tok]

Dave will always be the King!

[@AsherGrace7]

That vase would be about 120 years old now if it is still around. I can't seem to find it anywhere.

[@Squidbillies1000]

I miss Late Night ❤

[@ChickensIsPracticallyPenguins]

Barry White attacked by a snake? That's like the opposite of what you should post on Whacking Day.

[@mackymintle7806]

So funny that the writers were laughing about that book, letters to E.T. 😜🤓

[@tonyguitarro]

Hey do you fine people have any reruns of the original Late Late Show with Tom Snyder, being a Worldwide Pants production? I loved that show.

[@ronsandlin9618]

MANIMAL!!!

[@BrianCryptonixBradley]

David, my leg

[@mre_physvids]

I always watch watch these to very end hoping to hear Hiram Bullock playing. What a monster.

[@kellyneese5216]

GREAT WRITER.

[@jamesdowney6578]

Should have snatched his Late Night paycheck while I had a chance…

[@kolst8406]

AT the time, 1983, F Lee Bailey was the host of a short-live, syndicated TV show called Lie Detector.

[@kolst8406]

"lived" for God's sakes.

[@jeffkyler5660]

Nobody is ever REALLY gone. -Star Wars

[@markjones952]

I'd go camping with Barry White.

[@chiefscheider]

Imagine him reading you a bedtime story...

[@janisthompson9801]

Alright, alright,alright , says someone!!❤️🇨🇦❤️

[@thelettermanpodcast]

Well, I suppose it would be quiet.

[@asynchronicity]

I always get a kick out of people who have the first name “F.”😅

[@stephengiese7549]

The sillier the better😅

[@illygah]

17:58 Go Cyclones! God Bless Coach Nichols.

[@DrTimWhatleyDDS]

Fun fact: the red head boy who plays Jimmy was Conan O’Brien

[@johnnytransam5894]

Why is his video in black and white?

[@GPSjammer]

DAVID MY LEGGG

[@NoellaScott]

Dave avoided anything that verged on acting?! That's crazy because all of Dave's best bits back then seemed to be when he was killing it as an actor. I'm sure all the writers saw this, too, and it must have driven them insane apart from making their jobs easier.

[@zorantaylor3190]

I wonder if this is why Barry White is also in the snake-whacking episode of The Simpsons....

[@TDB.AO.]

GOAT

[@fbomb7184]

Manimal was a real show and my 9 year old self loved it! He could turn into all sorts of animals. And it was real dramatic when he would morph. They’d play this funky 80’s synth music and do all this make up. I wish I was watching it right now! That ape show was a joke tho.

[@mlc4050]

Jim awards us no points, and may God have mercy on our souls.

[@justinhicks306]

His greatest performance

[@dimitrikorsakov2570]

You guys should do one with Bill Scheft, too.

[@joadbreslin5819]

No doubt that will be forthcoming.

[@goliath8922]

2:40 young Dave and young Conan

[@davidroel3047]

I liked Voyagers, too.

[@thelettermanpodcast]

Who didn’t?

[@scottzema3103]

Problem is, nobody kept faith with the idea that Dave's a simple guy; doesn't need complex or involved so-called 'gags!'

[@samanthab1923]

That kid looks like Conan! 😂

[@thelettermanpodcast]

For the gods sakes, please, Don’t blame Conan!

[@djr3386]

The "Camping with Barry White" gag resembles the "We have no time for Matt Damon" by Letterman fan Jimmy Kimmel. 🤔

[@1972glm]

26:08 Daniel Stern?

[@qthelost]

Yeah, he was a guest that night and became involved in the skit.

[@yasirayala]

conan was so young when he played jimmy...

[@Worthywalker]

May God have mercy on your soul, Jim Downey.

[@mccallosone4903]

as i recall, they stopped voyagers because the lead guy killed himself playing russian roulette. i was sad too kid, i liked that show

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

No, Hexum died on the set of a different show a year later. He was clowning with a prop gun that fired powerful blanks.

[@ThePeej]

Are James & Jim Downey related??

[@touche2584]

I just found out Jim Downey passed away last month. RIP Legend.

[@JohnLee-ue6gy]

Odd, he was just on Conan Needs a Friend.

[@rjonzun5828]

He's not dead

[@roccoand2612]

Bermuda!

[@michaelgreer8659]

Touch your screen and go to settings, change speed to 1.75, hilarious.

[@thelettermanpodcast]

Fantastic. Now, I need to break out my Alvin and the Chipmunks records!

[@quiet451]

I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

[@tvviewer4500]

He worked at the late show/letterman longer than that... right?

[@YourTVFriend]

No, he didn’t. He still had a decent influence on the early years of the show however

[@fbomb7184]

Voyagers was great. Surprised they haven’t tried a reboot. Actually the premise was ensuring history happened the way it was supposed to. Nowadays they just rewrite history.

[@catholicdad]

This is the Principal of Knibb High School?

[@ConradSpoke]

It's weird, James Downey looked a lot younger forty years ago.

[@rumayar5]

Why did he leave?