Norm Almost Builds a Picnic Table on The David Letterman Show

On May 16th, 1989 David Letterman invited Norm Abram on his show to build a Picnic Table. David fools around with Norm’s tools and talks a little to much and they run out of time and Norm doesn’t have enough time to finish the Picnic Table. At least Norm doesn’t have to put up with Bob Vila like he has to in this video: • Norm Abram and Bob Vil...

[@calevel]

Letterman so petulant when he should be humbled with such awesome guest.

[@leehodge2415]

30 years later bet he would still get that welcome.

[@dwhitt567]

I agree 100%. Norm is still the man!

[@RedwoodRider]

The difference in quality between these two men are amazing and clearly shows in this piece.

[@Bvnbg0]

Nobody will fill Norms shoes when he leaves us. A national treasure who has inspired millions through his craftsmanship

[@stevejensen3471]

Completely agree. Here's a tidbit you might enjoy - when the show first aired, they were paying Vila $200/episode and often Norm didn't get paid or was paid very little. Vila left and pursued other more lucrative ventures and is now worth 70M while Norm's net worth is 2.5M. Not at all discounting personal integrity over net worth, you really have to give it to ole Norm to have stayed with PBS for over 43 years at an annual average salary of about 58K/year. He's not only a national treasure but about as darn fine and honorable a person as one could ever find!

[@specfever2]

His integrity; friendly, calm nature; and humor are inspiring as well.

[@sambiscits6711]

@@specfever2 Norm is not a Showboat like some of the new personalities on HDTV.

[@KlineDeere]

Norm Abrams the Bob Ross of woodworking

[@OntarioBearHunter]

Only 2 Norms got that kind of reception from an audience.

[@briantaylor9266]

Lots of comments casting shade on Letterman, and I agree 100%. Pissed me off when right off the bat he tossed away the safety glasses. No respect whatsoever for his guest.

[@davidwright5757]

This man is the Bob Ross of carpentry!

[@lengthmuldoon]

Thumbs up for Norm please - the humblest and the best

[@kuehnel16]

Love this guy , NORM THAT IS. Daves just a pain in Asa

[@specfever2]

That's incredible. That might be the best reception of a guest by an audience ever! Go Norm!

[@billstevens3796]

Dave was not wearing the most important thing, safety glasses!

[@MarshallLoveday]

Long ago, I had heard that Norm was REALLY PISSED OFF when Dave surprised him with the request to build the picnic table. He just wanted to sit with Dave and talk.

[@theglowcloud2215]

Dave is a petulant asshole, so it makes sense that he's threatened by someone with more skill than he'll ever possess.

[@specfever2]

Dave: "We're out of time.." Norm be like: I don't stop.

[@XoarmanX]

Norm Abram. Thank you.

[@jahblessin3996]

Norm is the man

[@67marlins]

Dave has always had one skill......marketing his unpleasant personality.

[@4DModding]

Norm is Awesome!

[@PUBHEAD1]

I would have nailed Dave to the table. Sometimes he's funny, other times he seems rude

[@jimwiskus8862]

Yeah, he never knew when to quit or put a sock in it.

[@skitboyz7418]

He's one of the reasons I wanna become a carpenter in the us arny

[@kuehnel16]

So this was the inspiration for home improvement

[@timregan1005]

id be DOUBLE honored to go on letterman for something AND sit at norm abrams picnic table.

[@roseymalino9855]

Letterman, whose only ability is mocking, ridiculing, and running his mouth, has little appreciation for actual talent and the brainpower required to produce, what to him, is a commonplace item.

[@NickRoquet]

I hope Dave still has this table in his backyard

[@thejoshthat]

The "eyesore" 😂

[@thejoshthat]

When world collide. Lol he did that little laugh when he nailed the board to early like "f*cker!" Hahaha The best

[@bobbg9041]

Morel to this Story, Don't hand David Letterman Power tools!

[@Ian16545]

And have Dave brush up on his shop safety, too.

[@ottomatic7823]

I really believe that Letterman is really that stupid.

[@jeffreylarson8533]

love This!

[@Likeaudio]

This is TV magic!

[@briansensebe4221]

norm killed it

[@robertdestefano4619]

Letterman WTF no respect for Norm

[@jerrinpothen2351]

Norm is too good for this clown letterman and his show. Waste of Norms time.

[@daviddavid-ud9bt]

Norm was so much better than Bob Vila who sold out to Craftsman

[@RISKStudioProduction]

Sold out to craftsman which is now the worst tool brand around. I remember my dad breaking a cats paw and a crescent wrench and bringing them in to Sears no questions asked without a receipt and getting a new one. No tool brand does that now.

[@stevejensen3471]

Well Bob hosted the show for 10 years and PBS was paying him $200/episode for half of that time. They later raised it to $800/episode. So can ya blame him?

[@MinifigNewsguy]

This Old House got sold out to The Home Depot.. the reason why Bob Villa left was the chairman of THD threatened PBS to take away all underwriting for all their shows because Bob wanted to do an advertising campaign for a small Southern New England hardware chain that THD wanted to take out of business. WGBH got blindsided because they found out about demanding letter after Villa did the advertising spot, the two parties disagreed and the ad was clear to run while he was out of a job. And that company was squeezed out by The Home Depot and did shutter a few years later. You tell me whose the real sellout...

[@TGC32]

My dad always said to me when I was a wee lad and we watched This Old House together "Son, never be like Bob Vila, nobody likes a guy who always just gets in the way. Be like Norm!"

[@vespermk]

When the KZbin Algorithm gets it right. Been life long fans both of these guys but I have never seen this clip. Probably because I was 7 when this originally aired.

[@ThomasSmith-fz6wq]

That's why alot of carpenter's are mean to there greenhorn entry level workers! Norm showed tremendous restraint! I would have fired him!

[@jenkinsljenkinssquire9137]

Vila got fired because the show wanted him to stop advertising and promoting a Home Depot competitor

[@chalemi]

Can Dave be more obnoxious? Anything for a laugh. Even at the expense of a guest. What a fool. Johnny would NEVER have done that.

[@faizanahmedkiyani1016]

Men is so nice mastercarpenter

[@Thewalkoffaith7]

David was being very rude. I can’t believe he just made jokes tho whole time, so disrespectful.

[@PatrickWagz]

you're missin' a thumb! how did that happen?

[@HelloooThere]

Norm Abrams = Al (Home Improvement)

[@meatball51]

Ok

[@HelloooThere]

@@meatball51 ok meaning what?? What kind of answer is that??

[@2KCamaroZ28SS]

😂

[@HelloooThere]

@@2KCamaroZ28SS ok

[@NabeelValli]

What's up with the guy with the tie. Is it safe for him to be operating tools?

[@cragway]

Gee dave.......first time with a power tool?

[@GP-mj8ne]

Norm and Jerry Hall together...

[@1999camry]

Hi mr kuhn

[@darnellsprmla47]

I bought plans from Stodoys and did it very quickly.

[@debandmike3380]

TOH came to life when Bob left. He was so selfish. Steve was my favorite host. Kevin is OK, but his bright red boyish face annoys me.

[@carpenterguy9719]

👍

[@stevejensen3471]

Rodga that! Steve was light years ahead of em all! Don't know what it is - but O'Connor bugs me and always has! He just doesn't fit!

[@eljohndoe6109]

sad to see a so called man not being able to use a nail gun

[@1999camry]

Hi mr kuhn