The First Stupid Human Tricks On "Late Night" | Letterman

Hair dryer magic, a nose-blowing quarter flip and more in the first ever edition of an enduring Letterman segment. (Air date: 10/3/1983)
#StupidHumanTricks #Letterman
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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.

[@marcdudley7521]

My friends and I have long been waiting for some kind of official release of the Letterman collection. This is close. Pure magic! There'll never be another like you, Dave!

[@JCO2002]

Yeah, it's cool, but Don has done a great job for a long time. Glad to see they haven't gone after him yet.

[@JCO2002]

@@PatTheBatmanFan I must have spent at least a hundred hours on his channel. The guy's a champion.

[@LetsBeHonestImAPrat]

@@JCO2002they actually paid him for the collection

[@xTheOxx]

I love that the "no wagering" thing was part of it from the very beginning.

[@allendracabal0819]

Actually, that line was used earlier during Stupid Pet Tricks, as well.

[@xtheunknown4662]

Shows like this are long gone. Thanks to KZbin I'm in my 20s again.

[@mikeroullier6875]

The coat hanger-penny thing was incredible!!

[@footofjuniper8212]

I saw this when it first aired, and taught myself that coat hanger trick. I was 13. I did it a few times, but stopped for whatever reason (probably got in trouble). I forgot all about it until just now.

[@foppawah7564]

Same here. I stayed up most of the night, that night, until I got it. I still do it, occasionally.

[@Leadfoot_P71]

Yeah me too Wasn't too difficult as I recall.

[@brunobruno1152]

Wtf 😂 really seems like it shouldn't work at all

[@dankline7091]

I remember the dual-writing lady! I don't think I've thought about her in decades. Sure miss Dave, and it was such a bummer that NBC locked up so many of those great routines when Dave moved to CBS.

[@grasshopperfiddler]

That ball switch was a real nail biter

[@normanhowe4938]

The lady with the amidextris writing skills was pretty amazing.. her brain should be studied.

[@hotlov72]

Her nuns have thought she was possessed!

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

There was talk of a sainthood.

[@MattTee1975]

Hm, I can do that. I didn't think it was anything special.

[@amrogers4]

@@MattTee1975 Haha. I can do it, too. Just like the lady, I went up to the chalkboard and started doing it one day (out of curiosity and boredom). No one thought I was possessed, though, thank God! 😋

[@sachiperez]

If you say you can't do it, you won't be able to. But everyone should try this; I think you might surprise yourself.

[@RoadCone411]

Let’s be honest, that coat hangar penny trick is a pretty good one. Seems hard to believe!

[@lmcgregoruk]

I like how when Dave picks up the penny to check it's not got anything sticky on it or some kind of indent, Bruce holds up the hangar to him in case he wants to check that too.

[@johncritch6812]

Did he remove something from penny when he put it in his mouth ?

[@mediakhalil]

Hair dryer guy was pretty great

[@caseyinmi1315]

Dave is pure genius . . . thanks dave

[@wanderinggypsy3203]

Neil is so serious!!❤ I remember when this aired. Good tv

[@chiefscheider]

1:35 classic Dave reaction

[@kennelexplicit]

Looking at this it's just clear as daylight.. There is no-one who can entertain like David Letterman! Anything he does is just hilarious..

[@justincoleman3805]

Well, he made himself laugh. And isn’t that what really counts?

[@wannabe4668]

Conair hairdryers. Brings back child hood memories

[@amrogers4]

Yup! With the curly cords, lol.

[@rockturtleneck]

My friends and I used to replay Dave's "Shutter Shack" expression endlessly.

[@GardenGirlD76]

People were so much more talented before the internet! Thank you for capturing this epic truth! Fun Facts.

[@khestehave]

It used to be that people got on TV because they were special, now people are special because they are on TV…..I think that’s a Truman Show quote….nonetheless still true….

[@MM-rr1kp]

Neil, that was clutch!

[@bobbydigital3407]

Late night TV in 2023 doesn't even come close to what Lettermen did. I wish Dave would come back... He's truly missed. Love you Dave!

[@leonardm887]

“History-making television” Letterman was prescient

[@mhmrules]

I think the first trick turned into a T-ball stand replacement of some sort.

[@BillyRamirez]

7:08 Shutter Shack is still going strong in 2023.

[@LetsBeHonestImAPrat]

If this was now that guy would have plugged his restaurant 20 times lol like the shutters guy 😂

[@rha101]

If I had been on the first stupid human tricks I would bring it up at every social gathering.

[@notsure1277]

Great job by all participants -- they carried themselves well.

[@samdavis6250]

Started watching dave when i was 12 during summer 1983 so stay up late loved him ever since 33 yrs i saw it all best funniest ever😎🤚

[@Blortoblorto]

I see Tim and Eric influences all over the late show, but Cinco is what sealed it for me. No way we’d have awesome show etc without letterman

[@justincoleman3805]

He made both the dime and the shotglass dissapear right after!

[@r.edward5701]

Television history here ladies and gentlemen.

[@TDB.AO.]

thank you so much for posting these clips.

[@lornaharris8831]

I always loved David Letterman! He should have one more special!

[@johnpatmos1722]

And Shutter Shack is still advertising on Letterman to this day.

[@johndavis3921]

I could have watched this, BUT my parents made me go to school. Well, at least I got Viewer Mail once a week.

[@jimpigato2149]

When Dan came out, I just assumed his trick would involve his chest hair

[@dk3062]

My favorite part is when he said, "I think I'm ooawll set."

[@vicmaralmonte5909]

Dave was definitely the best in the business. Naturally funny

[@wolverineiscool7161]

Neil will go down in history for his amazing feat

[@danielfox3003]

To the lady writing on the chalkboard… the power of Christ compels you!

[@peggybuetow1026]

Gilda Radner! This must be from the 70’s!

[@FUGP72]

They'd probably allow wagering these days. In fact, they would have a sponsorship deal with one of the online betting sties, and encourage you to bet on every little part of the stupid trick.

[@schmodedo]

Swingin' Dave.

[@Mighty_Memer]

And the rest is history...

[@markbirchette8740]

Classic!😂

[@dave1484]

Hope they upload the Manny the Street Hippy segments.

[@cbus]

That’d be diggity dank!

[@mickeyscott7479]

The good ol' days.

[@mariannenguyenf2433]

Hairdryer and balls or compressor and balls..check..done it. Writing backwards right and left hand .. together with other hand doung opposite..check..done it but could never write two different words with each hand.. the mind just could not do it..there was always a slight pause with one hand when writing two different words. i gotta try the hanger trick now. :)

[@mariannenguyenf2433]

and dime trick as well need to learn.

[@pvanb]

Sounds like a challenge to learn all the stupid human tricks.

[@therewasacrookedman5892]

His jokey comments aside, Dave seems genuinely interested in the people.

[@daddynitro199]

My pre calculus teacher in high school could write a sentence, beginning at each end, meeting in the middle. He’s kind of an odd guy.

[@johnbaier797]

Comedy GOLD

[@donaldgraham6414]

Guy No 1 asked Dave to pray for him but he didn’t. He’s lucky he wasn’t killed by lightning. Or a dragon.

[@KentAJDK]

Great Wonderfull Amazing Awesome Funny. 😁

[@michaelletterman2172]

That was one of the best episodes ever. I think I was 16. I'd be late to school in the morning because I had stayed up late watching.

[@danjwalker]

Bruce Saltzman almost looked like an Andy Kaufman character.

[@ruthecker399]

love dave always funny

[@TheEleatic]

I knew then the future of American society was bright.

[@tailwaggindragon]

Now THAT'S - entertainment

[@wanderinggypsy3203]

Best way to get your 15 mins

[@ArtificialBanana]

We’re having some fun now!

[@u.s.militia7682]

I guarantee 100% that he didn’t keep a penny on that coat hanger.

[@AndyMorris_BAP]

Looked like it was on there to me, are you suggesting CGI in 1983 was used?

[@markevan1]

It's actually not difficult to do.

[@notsure1277]

The cut edge of the hanger wire is flat, has irregular sharp edges, and its cross-sectional area is a significant fraction of the surface area of the penny. The guy did a good job by taking advantage of people's presumptions.

[@jamesgekas9904]

First guy looks like Sam from Ltr

[@odiousmortem9896]

Neil looks like Sean Ashton in the replay

[@danielfox3003]

Ah yes, back when Dave still wore a helmet.

[@jb888888888]

But Dan didn't "not touch" the dime! I lost 20 bucks on that, I demand a judge's opinion.

[@Saldivinorum]

Well, Dave told you not to make and wagers, so..

[@jb888888888]

@@Saldivinorum That was just a request. It had no force of law.

[@greatwave1]

Some people have too much time on their hands!

[@laraine8857]

And just where are Neil and his balls today?

[@plaws0]

First guy was perfect. Real chef? And why only people from Long Island??? Real question: Did participants in either Tricks version get, like, union scale or something?

[@MikeChimeri]

Strong Island!

[@Sarakate601]

Dang everyone’s from Long Island! My mom lives in Mastic Beach and I lived there for many years. I wonder if I ever met Anne. Though she’d be super old

[@jamesm.3967]

How this show ever made it on the air is a mystery. Kind of like Ed Sullivan being on tv. They were so uncomfortable that it was interesting.

[@povertyspec9651]

Johnny Carson loved Dave and had a big part of it, as Johnny was the King of TV back then.

[@nancyf7919]

It sounds crazy but I can write like that too.

[@GraemeGunn]

a "keen" program it's weird how language changes like that

[@blackiefitzpatrick6611]

lmfao!!!

[@markjohns2516]

Where is that guy neil now?

[@MartinGorski]

Is Dan Sexton really Tom Savini?

[@jesperjohannesen6785]

And Bruce Saltzman is really Andy Kaufman :O

[@zoozercattacrezooz4646]

I can do the writing backwards thing....Is it easy? can anybody do it?

[@pvanb]

I had a cousin who could do it and I was duly impressed so I practiced doing it myself. I don't recall it being that hard to learn, so maybe it looks more impressive than it actually is?

[@zoozercattacrezooz4646]

@@pvanb yeah cause I tried and did it first try...I am ambidextrous though.

[@realityjunky]

Having survived Catholic school, I can understand her reluctance to display her writing skill to the principal and her parents. Those nuns could make anyone feel like they were possessed by a demon.

[@sensimania]

At least catholic school for you was temporary. I was raised by a very Christian mother who thought almost everyone were demons and witches. And people wonder why I now have absolutely no interest in religion as an adult 🙄

[@realityjunky]

@@sensimania I am very interested and supportive of your new frame of mind. The damage done by deists and their gaslighting is permanent and all we can do is overlay it with new critical thinking. I applaud your survival and hope that you find peace in the world around you. Seek out support groups, if possible. You are definitely not alone.

[@sensimania]

@@realityjunky Thank you kind person 💜. And likewise for you, I hope you've found a balance and peace in your life X

[@-FALKOR]

🇺🇸🇺🇦❤🤍💙💛🌹🇮🇱🤍💙‬

[@philjones45]

Ann seemed a lovely woman, but he backwards writing was all wrong.

[@mensaconservative7887]

We all loved Dave until he turned into a psycho lefty. Too bad.

[@RangerVickyJohnson]

First comment. How jealous are you? 😜

[@edfulginiti8798]

When Dave didn't do politics he was fine. Then he went political...Carson NEVER did...and he was no longer welcome in many a household.

[@jamesm.3967]

Political? Someone is a little too sensitive.

[@CleverAccountName303]

Stop crying snowflake

[@Mark-sj3xb]

Carson did go political in most of his monologues. However it was all in fun as he was not partisan poking fun at both parties.

[@freddyfurrah3789]

They put professional LAUGHERS in studio audiences. I can here the same womans laughter.

[@8307c4]

That or it's pre-recorded playback.

[@necrophiliacin_lace628]

Dan Sexman is the most 70s name I've ever heard in my life

[@TheLadsBandLive]

The very first Stupid Human Tricks, plus, Michael Caine and Gilda Radner. Good god. What a show.

[@YnotNomis]

Please...no wagering.

[@chiefscheider]

Did you mean swaggering or wagering? 😄

[@jyhertz]

Outstanding!