The "Husky Idler" Incident on Letterman, November 5, 1991

[@qthelost]

Just one of countless magical, spontaneous comedy moments that Dave was famous for, the phrase "husky Idler" coming out of his mouth not knowing it was a staff member. The phrase instantly became part of Letterman lore. Love that last photo of Dave and Madeleine decades later, beautiful way to end it.

[@dongiller]

Someone who gets it. Thanks!

[@johnsjohnson448]

Another "Hal Gurnee Network Time Killer!" with Jerry Foley! EPIC! LOL! Hysterical. Thanks for shaing.

[@Tarkus2040]

Thanks for the upload, Don! As I watched this particular video, it all started coming back to me from memory when I watched it "live" almost 27 years ago! 😲

[@donhailer4994]

I love Dave and I love Don Giller. Thank you for curating and posting all this stuff!!

[@BassByTheBay]

That "rat tango" was pretty damn cool.

[@rlippens4454]

Thanks for posting; this was quite good, getting a glimpse into the last months at NBC before Carson retired and before Dave left.

[@drbobsnightmare2521]

Leno camped out in the closet at NBC with his ear to the door.

[@drumsNstuff79]

Seeing Dave try to explain the comment is one of the funniest Letterman moments ever! "I meant it in an endearing way!" haha..

[@RyanAustinDean]

“She didn’t even look that husky...” He had to include “that.” 😂

[@RedTopProductions]

lol "Tomorrow on the program we have Charles Grodin, he's *Always* here."

[@DaHamburglarGT]

Completely under rated, probably the most obviously stolen bit on late night television, that nobody remembers/ knows about. Kimmel is a hack.

[@Fakename70]

Terri Garr definitely was. Seems like she was always on in the ‘80’s.

[@Symphing12]

​@@DaHamburglarGT Kimmel will be the first to tell you that he's a hack

[@homer2336]

Hard to believe that was 29 years ago. 29 years prior to that Kennedy was president. At that time to me was eons ago. I know what my kids think when they see things from the “1900s”. 🤦‍♂️

[@user-ellievator]

@burteriksson Square - Male-symbol. Does that clear things up?;-)

[@IndiaNumberOneCoubtry]

Wow. Thats crazy.

[@mcsteeley]

Back when late night TV was watchable.

[@PureNRG2]

And funny. Funny left with Letterman and Ferguson.

[@gregorywills2231]

As I was watching that I was thinking the exact same thing.

[@neale.kaufman5168]

Don't know how he lasted so long....Dave BLEW DOG... What a NARCISSIST...!!!

[@joshualoveless20]

Hell Yeah! Conan was a great show too back then! Lets face it between the 80's and the shit we are going through today. The 90's were fucking amazing!

[@joshualoveless20]

@@neale.kaufman5168 Ummmm, have you looked in the mirror lately? Because Letterman is one of the most sincere, selfless People that has graced the stage in the past 25 years. Only a true Narcissist would be so selfish enough to make such an ignorant comment in order to gain more attention to them selves rather than the video itself or the positive comments that typically follow such a video. In short, you're either a loser or a Fucktard either way, shape up or ship out. The world has no use for your bull shit.

[@namelessjedi2242]

I remember watching this when it aired. The psychic bit, the husky idler, all classic moments.

[@adamlombard3771]

It's 3am and I just watched a rat run over someone's balls.

[@laserspaceninja]

Ain't technology great! When this came out, you would be watching this at 1am which is clearly not enough time to have your edibles kick-in.

[@michaelb9537]

The man presented his body in a way for the rat to explore. If you were the rat I’m sure you’d do the same thing.

[@fg6971]

Rat Tango was cool Dave hitting grounders to Cal Jr. was very cool. Dave doing the psychic story? Priceless.

[@johnpelletier7641]

Dave at the height of his powers. It was quite the era.

[@d.aardent9382]

some of the great nostalgia I have for the 80's and early 90's was watching Letterman. When I discovered it as a kid,I just couldn't believe how hilarious a tv show could be with that quirky absurd humor that I really liked. I recall around the same time in the late 80's our local public TV station was showing Monty Python series and it was amazing stuff. I always looked forward to watching as it was always something different going on and ya never knew exactly what they were going to do or what great off the cuff sarcasm they would do. I wonder if ya can get any of the old shows on dvd?

[@tisdue]

Letterman in the 90's was amazing.

[@SuperMarksman33]

80s too.

[@RynaCrash]

It really was.

[@martinlehfeldt6916]

Really, in the 80's

[@mehermusic2154]

80's was better / best

[@GrassValleyGreg]

NBC Dave

[@barrettus]

This just popped up in my recommended. Couldn't help but watch it again.

[@cygnustsp]

Fuck yeah

[@TheOvereasy123]

Husky Idler makes my diaphragm ache with joy. Thanks for being you, Dave.

[@wecontrolthevideo]

Dave is right-handed but bats left-handed.

[@DavidTa2]

I literally had a flashback thought and for real I searched for this, but I searched Hefty Idler 😂😂,,, I knew it wasnt right, but hoped this was here 😂😂

[@ilznidiotic]

As a career husky idler, I don't see the big deal.

[@martind349]

Ilznidiotic We wiill restore agricultural glory to our beloved islands.

[@I_Have_The_Most_Japanese_Music]

Ever have a rent-a-cop at a library ask you if you were waiting for someone? That happened to me last week.

[@hanyou23]

You could see how nervous he was as he kept on spiraling down out of control 😂 .....

[@freeman7296]

What a different world that was - late night host being funny.

[@freeman7296]

@@biffmasterson9786 someone's angry...I'm not old, but not young either. Got more sense and money too - I guess I should enjoy the good things. Looking back isn't helpful except to just laugh.

[@ad8554]

Agree I feel a lot of them pander to guest or script read. At least Letterman improvised and went with the flow

[@sinicalypse]

At least Colbert was quality on the repor. His late show, however, is hot garbage

[@rexwall2000]

Maybe you grew irrelevant

[@freeman7296]

@@rexwall2000 humor has grown irrelevant? You must be a pleasant person....

[@KevyNova]

I think I’m gonna call my next band “Husky Idler”

[@andyh027]

You got multiple bands? My own best band name idea is Munchausen by Proxy. What do you think?

[@heresmokethis]

First record: Rat Tango

[@MsMaureena]

@@heresmokethis tango by proxy

[@MsMaureena]

Hey why not Kevy and the Novas

[@KevyNova]

maureen molitor a.k.a. mo I never thought of that. I had one band called Kevy Nova And The Beernuts.

[@fleetwarrior75]

Back when there were funny people on tv and not just pundits!

[@keithbrookshire]

And before Letternan turned into an angry old man.

[@Packer1290]

More like democratic hacks.

[@leroyproud294]

@@keithbrookshire exactly!!

[@ARealPersonNotABot]

@@Packer1290 Absolutely. Late night show after late night show filled with robotic, Democrat establishment talking points. It's like you're watching one long show with the same unfunny, hack comedian. Some of it has rubbed off on Dave unfortunately. The strange thing is. I always went to David Letterman because Although I respect Carson, I felt his show was a bit stiff, but then I heard his opinion on television hosts/comedians and politics. He was smart enough to know it's a bad idea for men like him to preach to their audience about politics.

[@floatsting20]

@@ARealPersonNotABot The WW2 group had a sense of humor. Oh yeah they fought a world war. Today's society is brainless which makes them non funny

[@sdcofer52]

I miss Dave and the Days before the internet.

[@STAR-RADIANCE]

Not me.

[@bopeep86]

The old Dave...

[@DJRitty]

yup.

[@UnknownUzer]

I watched this the night it aired. Great show.

[@MrMatthias03]

Classic late night. Thanks for the nostalgia!

[@gilwood7530]

"HUSKY IDLER" is my SUPERHERO NAME !

[@carrrexx7190]

I like Lemme Adam, prize fighter.

[@fishfire_2999]

Is that u Good will ?

[@gilwood7530]

@@fishfire_2999 Yes it is MR. PILL

[@carrrexx7190]

Here is something I never thought I would say, Adorable Rat.

[@robadams9523]

Wow, I forgot how fun and funny late night television used to be.

[@paxwallacejazz]

Bought an old analogue color tv with antenna and watched free tv and payed 250 a month for my basement room with a shared bathroom and kitchen.

[@arnoldlee2148]

paxwallacejazz , Winner , winning ! ! !

[@andypage9]

Rose was kinda hot in her orange Hooter's shorts

[@shogunate2022]

She got a quick kiss from her girlfriend.

[@jasmith1867]

I she the assistant that dave was screwing around on?

[@shogunate2022]

@@jasmith1867 she is gay

[@im1who84u]

@@shogunate2022 Yea, I noticed that too.

[@shogunate2022]

@@im1who84u hey how are you? I was responding to Ja Smith on their comment about Letterman having an affair with a staff member, the lady they brought out is the one that gave Rose a kiss, i doubt he was having an affair with her, men like Letterman have a very large ego and a very high opinion of themselves, he would of felt he deserved the most beautiful woman an on his staff.

[@nancylux9593]

Haven’t laughed like that in a long time. When she stood there and was /mortified/....and him rushing over to dig the hole deeper.....Hilarious

[@greenbluemonkey]

That was a nice stroll down memory lane. Dave in his peak.

[@cappsginny699]

At his peak, not in his peak

[@blackjesus804]

Husky Idler went on to co-create The Daily Show.

[@memowilliam9889]

black jesus So.... not only is she fat she’s guilty of propagating shitty liberal policies in the form of shitty comedy.

[@shogunate2022]

Yeah but lets blame her for that, everyone falls from time to time, i am sure she will do better with her next project.

[@blackjesus804]

@@memowilliam9889 Comedy doesn't inform policies unless it's The Apprentice.

[@snap8626]

that show, after stewart took over, did more damage to america than 9/11, pearl harbor, and all the hurricanes combined.

[@shogunate2022]

@@snap8626 they have all lost so much viewership, i read somewhere that all the late night shows together on a good night barely get the views on a bad night for Johnny Carson, the only people watching now are deep intrenched libs. Its such a shame, they were once fun to watch.

[@Bacnow]

David was a beast in his prime

[@Fakename70]

He really was better suited for the 12.30 slot. No one’s been able to equal what he did with it since he graduated to 11.30.

[@Dax893]

See? We managed alright before the internet.

[@gerikrenek303]

Dax Hallman h Why won’t this play

[@JayInDecent]

The internet ruined us

[@DarkMatter-g3u]

Hey my name is Dax, also.

[@jhock9171]

You aren't wrong. There was once a time when an old copy of Playboy magazine would've titillated me. Nowadays I can't even enjoy sex until I'm past the 75-minute mark. Thanks a lot internet.

[@Grimtheorist]

But we had TV, same basic thing

[@solstar4778]

Please explain to me what a Husky Idolier is and means?

[@zackwetzel3443]

Husky means having extra weight and Idler is referring to her not doing any running..just watching.

[@tomitstube]

dave with some pretty good bat control.

[@thorzzz1z]

Thats what his interns thought too

[@KnickKnack07]

Really not hard to hit a ball straight when you are tossing it to yourself.

[@OzarkFats]

He hit a couple of line drives that really impressed me. Anyone else would have knocked out some ceiling lights. So, yeah, not his first time “playing 500.”

[@KnickKnack07]

Ozark...oh please. Anyone who has ever played even 9 year old baseball can toss a ball to themselves without popping up. And it isn't as if he was TRYING to short hop him several times. So let's not act like he had perfect control. Doubtful Ripken would have been given permission to do this by the Orioles if they had known Dave was going to repeatedly short hop him like that. Dave could have singlehandedly killed the Ironman streak before it was even noticed. Break a hand or wrist doing a silly stunt and the next season, it would be a nagging thing all year.

[@angel4animals956]

How did Dave insult Madeline? Somehow I missed it. Is calling her a husky idler some Insult I never heard of? I know “husky” can mean overweight, is that it?

[@margitouma6172]

Yes

[@scottm2828]

I was watching when this happened. So funny. My friends and I called people husky idlers for years after.

[@martinpickard6043]

So in the UK we got some Late Shows just before Dave Retired. Q. Paul the musician/piano player, does he come from a famous band back in the day, or always with late show only?

[@dongiller]

He was part of the SNL band in the '70s, joined Dave's Late Night in 1982 and stayed with him throughout Late Night and Late Show. There's a ton of biographical information a click away.

[@erik_griswold]

And he wrote “It’s Raining Men”

[@erichaynes7502]

Hey Don Giller, I read a comment awhile back that shortly after Dave started losing to Jay in the ratings(circa 1994/95 maybe?) that it looked like Dave had simply "given up", at least for awhile. Did you ever notice Dave being like this?

[@dongiller]

I've never been big on armchair psychoanalysis, especially with zero training in the field. So I'll just day that I don't buy it.

[@jimmiefrancis142]

Y'all have smarter comments than mine. First, I thought the husky idler looked kinda cute and second, I thought runner gal in red shorts looked WOW!!

[@midwest4416]

That rat tango hand stand was so effortless it looked rigged.

[@heyyou9693]

"How many days?" I lost it.😂😂😂

[@AlmostReady504]

"Husky Idler" anything like a Peaky Blinder?

[@djmattplay]

Poor Madeline it was just the angle of the camera, looking at Rose’s legs, then the fact that Madeleine was wearing that big sweater around her waist.

[@moncorp1]

No, Madeline was husky.

[@DJRitty]

@@moncorp1 The sweater/jacket didn't help. That's why he said it. I'd bet money he wouldn't have said that otherwise. It was DEF the sweater.

[@sirierieott5882]

This was my random video of the day and what a peach of a comedy piece. Oddly fascinating and bemusing at the same time.!?...

[@chado3000]

How do you constrain yourself to just one? I'm addicted to this crap and can't seem to stop.

[@jimwaters1562]

What a glorious 15 minutes of television!

[@solothis]

That's disappointing. I went through all that and didn't b see Scheft. Anyone know when he appeared?

[@dongiller]

Mentioned specifically where and when in the description.

[@solothis]

@@dongiller Yes, you did. Sorry about that, Chief. Thank you for responding. I feel like such a dope and for good reason...because I am.

[@dongiller]

Welcome to my world. :)

[@sevadaj]

That guy just had to walk outside the studio to get a rat!!!!!!!!!!! LOL!!!!!!!!!

[@leonardodalongisland]

How often do you see Dave-at a loss for words!!!

[@DavidLLambertmobile]

Dave got Me Tooed in 1991 😲....

[@rickowens989]

Hell I remember when David had a day time show it was great

[@3rn3strom3r]

She did... cool to know

[@hubbelpalmer4418]

What is the song the band plays over the last 30 seconds?

[@dongiller]

Spinners - “Mighty Love.” Here’s their original version: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e6rNpHqml557Y5Y

[@hubbelpalmer4418]

@@dongiller Thanks so much!! It was KILLING me.

[@andyh027]

How can a talk show be this entertaining?

[@teonyi]

andyh027 have you seen Craig Ferguson’s?

[@plaws0]

Classic Dave feud. Love it. Also ... do buildings still have mail slots like that? Always thought those were cool. (see Ripken bit ... also, he eventually got to 2,632 consecutive games blowing away Gehrig's record).

[@KnickKnack07]

NEW buildings might not. But they aren't going to take them out of 80+ year old buildings.

[@Swybryd-Nation]

Husky Idler opened up for Motörhead in 2000, great show Don, why did DL continually mispronounce “Gurnee” as “Gertner”?

[@dongiller]

Explained in the description here - kzbin.info/www/bejne/aqutcq2iZbOirbs

[@themedianman9712]

"You know where I want to see fat women dancing?" Where Super Dave? "In the circus!" It's funny to me that Husky Idler and the Moscow Circus preceded Super Dave.

[@Malconceivance]

I think that's Paul & the band playing Todd R's "Mighty Love" as the go-to-commercial music at around 9:20 ... it was an obscure, but fantastic, selection then and it still is. Go Paul! Go Todd! (and Go Dave! as well, of course) ❤

[@dongiller]

Performed by The Spinners. Composed by Bruce Hawes, Joseph Jefferson, and Charles Simmons.

[@Malconceivance]

@@dongiller OMG! I've been listening to Todd's "A capella" album since 1985 and i just assumed he wrote all the songs (shame on me since i'm a "liner notes" kind of person). Thanks, Don: I just listened to the Spinners' version ... sooooo right on. But if you haven't heard it, check out Mr Rundgren's version too. Thanks again. And thanks for all your fantastic videos here.

[@chriskelleher349]

He's working and relaxed. Photo at end of credits looks recent. DL and Madeleine ?

[@dongiller]

Yes. At the Letterman staffers reunion in May 2015.

[@jimdavis2385]

And in less than 10 years, the unthinkable would happen to NYC and America

[@jimdavis2385]

@@craigjackson6883 that truly made me LOL.

[@TheSelloutCrowd]

Dave going full on there, not exactly grounders, Cal might've taken issue with the line drives at his nuts and wrists

[@I_Have_The_Most_Japanese_Music]

This is New York: if he can make it there, he could probably make it somewhere else.

[@mercurywoodrose]

i love regis lee. so glad he took her last name.

[@egorvongorr5209]

Are there any of Lettermans early shows on KZbin that feature his pet odd balls ? I.e. Larry Bud Melman and that crazy Mexican minister or the woman that cut paper dolls and sang?

[@dongiller]

I've uploaded plenty of Calvert DeForest clips.

[@ruskyhrahsel7723]

This show was aired the day after i was born. I was born on 4th November 1991

[@ajk]

Oh wow, you share a birthday with me....except I was born November 4th, 1987. Nice to meet ya birthday buddy :)

[@ruskyhrahsel7723]

Nice to meet you, from India

[@ajk]

@@ruskyhrahsel7723 Very cool, in US here. How much do you know about Late Night (or the Late Show even later on) from there? Curious.

[@KEVINCELLULAR]

This show aired on my 21st birthday.

[@ruskyhrahsel7723]

@@ajk These shows are not aired in India unti later whenl Jimmy Kimmel, Fallon and Colbert came along. Not many people watch these shows in India

[@TheStuport]

"Leave The Room Please"......Classic Verbal Slap by Dave

[@ratmadness4858]

did anybody get the exact date TV died?

[@kungfew1396]

A lot of Dave's skits were not able to be continued when he moved to CBS because NBC trademarked them.

[@dongiller]

They all continued on CBS. Sometimes the title was altered ("Viewer Mail" to "CBS Mailbag"), sometimes not ("Who Asked For It"). The only restriction of which I know is the name "Larry Bud Melman"; so Calvert's real name was used instead.

[@kungfew1396]

@@dongiller I did not know that, I miss Dave growing up myself from the late night era. He is an original that can't be duplicated.

[@deaterk]

Thank You for posting Don! (Liked 👍🏻 and subscribed)

[@BellefontePerson]

People saying how great it was back then have bad memories. Back then people were saying that talk shows and comedy was better in the 70s. People in the 70s were saying how TV was better in the 50s. The reason people look back on their generation with fondness is because they were young. If I could go back to the 1980s at the age I am now, I would decline. If I could go back to the 80s ad be a teenager again, I'd do it in a heartbeat.

[@CARTOONIVERSE1]

Steve1967- Normally what you say has *always* been true, but from the 90's-on the Entertainment Industry *doubled-down on hiring their own.* This is why today's HACK writers only do *remakes & reboots.* I had a Professional Script Agent tell me once that *The Industries #1 job is to keep regular folks like me, OUT of the industry regardless of talent.*

[@silvereagle2061]

I think she was really pissed.

[@sclamkin]

She was definitely pissed.

[@lonewolf3314]

It was all part of the scenario.

[@carls.1000]

I was fortunate enough to see Dave's show live. What a crazy memory...Piers Morgan and Jack White throwing a piss fit during the commercial break. Classic!

[@Franco1395]

Fun episode. I loved this show.

[@CheckersSpeech]

You buried the lead here -- no mention of Ratango in the description?

[@dongiller]

Expand the description box.

[@nowvoyagerNE]

if David Brenner and Prince Charles had a kid together, it would be Hal Gurnee. whew!

[@hoyvin4099]

nowvoyagerNE I think his name is Hal Gurtner.

[@X1.7]

Hoyvin no it’s gurnee- he’s still alive!

[@hoyvin4099]

Letterman called him Hal Gurtner for a while.

[@geekay1349]

Paul was always slow to cue the drum roll or bring in some music for the bit even after all those years

[@joshbrucks]

so much so its almost a bit

[@craigcorson3036]

Maybe so, but his repertoire was exhaustive. I dont think there's a musical work that he doesn't know.

[@Kedeas]

I do not for a minute believe Paul was anything but the best. There are numerous clips of music legends playing together for various fundraisers and there alongside them is Paul. I don’t think they invited him for his lack of talent.

[@MeltWithU]

Ridiculous anybody even made this comment. This wasn’t the 2000s or now. Most sounds were either somewhat basic or were loaded via a floppy or 3 1/2 inch disc.Not everything was instant. Therefore, switching sounds took time. Yes, they were keyboards like the Kong M1 that had quite a bit of sounds and samples, but they took a tiny bit of time to call up also. You act as if technology could keep up with David Letterman‘s improv. Unfortunately, back then, even now, it doesn’t work like that. Because by the time he is working through whatever joke he is on, by the time you get that sound loaded up he’s probably talking about something else.

[@cuauhtemocroldan8514]

Damn funny stuff...Dave just being Dave.

[@roostersideburns3440]

was that picture at the end the husky idler?

[@dongiller]

All detailed in the description.

[@finnibertlunchiken7792]

12:45 The psycho music played after Dave says "...get a sedative or something!" was really funny and made it seem like they were doing a bit. She did really seem to be taking things a bit far.

[@beakt]

Don't you think it was staged? It seems like that to me. I can't imagine any woman coming out and drawing attention to this apparent insult that he barely mumbled and no one seemed to have heard, especially since no one in the audience realized who it even was, let alone a staff member interrupting the show to do it.

[@finnibertlunchiken7792]

@@beakt Looking at Dave's reaction I dont think it was staged. He was never known to be a very good actor.

[@dongiller]

None of it was staged.

[@notsure6187]

Ulysses432 your right I don't think she would've stuck around if she was that offended but I suppose she was somewhat offended

[@Asjemenou-d3j]

lol are you guys serious? ofc it was staged. How he hugs her ,and she is moping with her fists in her sides. jeez. Pretty obvious.

[@2robdot]

I don’t get the whole husky idler thing. What’s a husky idler?

[@tacogladiator7503]

Remember this episode. Husky Idler was added to my list of subtle gentle insults

[@ricochofsky8293]

Nuts... I stayed w/ this vid to see Super Dave Osborne but you cut him out.

[@dongiller]

A Super Dave compilation will be in the works soon.

[@cygnustsp]

Wow that's the best episode every

[@PaulyinParis619]

Why is Rat Dancing Man not a thing?

[@moretoknowshow]

Ive become a Husky Idler as well..

[@mark83175]

MoreToKnowShow same.

[@BrianHuntley]

The rat guy at 7:30 was a scream to watch.

[@1houroflove186]

Don Giller, you're the expert on Letterman. I failed at trying to Google why Dave stopped his quirky segments that we all love: Stupid Pets, Dave's Records, Rupert Lee & the Bangladeshi Brothers, Bud, Chucking Things Off of Bldgs... WHY did Dave become so boring? I continued to watch his show waiting for the irreverrent wackiness but it never returned.

[@dongiller]

Stupid Pet Tricks continued, though later in the show's history usually only during sweeps; There were 51 in all at Late Show, the last on November 18, 2014. Dave's Record Collection was a semi-regular feature in the '90s, then became frequent later; only five in the show's last 15 years, the last on July 7, 2014. Rupert Jee never stopped appearing; his last bit on March 13, 2015, before his tribute/sendoff on May 19. The store at which Mujibur and Sirajul worked shut down, and the two found work elsewhere in the city. "Bud" (Calvert DeForest) died in 2007. Throwing stuff off the Sullivan roof occurred throughout Late Show's run: around 27 times, the last on March 10, 2015. So, except for Calvert dying, and Mujibur and Sirajul moving out of the neighborhood, none of the segments you mentioned actually "stopped." As to Dave becoming boring, that's always in the eye of the viewer. I suppose it's difficult to be "wacky" in one's sixties and seventies.

[@itsjustrenee1320]

Don Giller It's not difficult to be whacky when they're older but younger people tend to just think they're nuts if they act silly. They have to oppress their own personalities the older they get because our society has very little respect for older people in general.

[@blackbird5634]

back in the day Dave might have done anything and we were dying for him to do it! we RAN to the kitchen to refill glasses and get chips we missed parties and probably other more important things to watch. But he was original.

[@wardharrah55]

Don Gellir's reply made me go through and old box of pictures looking for something I hadn't thought of in years.... My only Letterman claim to fame was that I got my picture taken with Mujibur and Sirijul when they were still next door to the Ed Sullivan Theater...and with the guy from Hello Deli, which is Rupert I think...hahahahaha I wish late night TV was still funny and not so damn political and polarizing

[@1houroflove186]

Happy Shitkicker, Letterman slowed down a lot before the heart attack and lawsuits.

[@Tobbetejj]

The rat-thing. An early "is this anything"?👍

[@HUBBABUBBADOOPYDOOP]

"Stupid Pet Tricks"

[@mr7wi]

Grinder Girl ftw!

[@MrSpankee02]

That’s something.

[@MisterGuitarItalia]

Back when people had a sense of humor refined (and flexible) enough to appreciate the unpredictability that Letterman was offering.

[@KnickKnack07]

Well..that was around the last time Dave OFFERED that unpredictability. It sure as hell didn't exist on the Late Show.

[@MisterGuitarItalia]

@@KnickKnack07 Yeah, Einstein that's probably why I wrote "back when"...

[@KnickKnack07]

Ummm, little boy...your sentence is NOT saying what you think it says. Maybe when you get back to school after the pandemic, and actually pay attention you will understand grammar. But your comment, the way it was written was knocking VIEWERS for supposedly not being smart enough (like you apparently think you are) to APPRECIATE his humor. Which is always a hilarious comment for anything. I loved Late Night...but there was nothing HIGH BROW about the humor. Nothing that needed a "refined" sense of humor. You embarrassed your family a bit here. And I'm going to make a guess based on your screen name that you are a conspiracy wacko. Maybe even a flat earther. IT seems that anyone with TRUTH in their name are always the dumbest mother fuckers who believe in the silliest of non-truths. And then, like your "refined sense of humor" bit, use that fact that you are all alone in your beliefs (just like in your life) to feel SUPERIOR to those who actually have an education and intelligent...and worth to society.

[@MisterGuitarItalia]

@@KnickKnack07 you're just a putz who tried to be snotty and got reprimanded... Look how hurt you got, lol!!

[@varsitycamplife]

That is the glancing observation of a comedian who says funny things as he encounters routine things. Sometimes the things aren’t funny at all, like Madeline in that clip. There was nothing funny about that unnamed character until he pinned the name “husky idler”. That was the whole joke, the use of the term “husky idler”. It was a split second of funny that was meant to be forgotten immediately. Dave was the best.

[@Blink_____]

co-creator of the daily show... after seeing her it all makes sense

[@flowerpt]

My God, Dave was a master of his craft back when he was a chattel slave of his NBC owners.

[@mikewolf3686]

Well ha did get paid a few hundred Million so not totally a slave.

[@SciFiArtman]

Dave and Co. were ALWAYS great! Sure, a little more vibrant in the early and middle days, as are we all. I never understood why Sid was relegated to second fiddle to Felecia!? Sid was a MUCH better guitarist, an amazing player! And seeing him drop to the back for Felicia (who did a fine job!) just didn't make any sense to me! I miss Dave so much! The wackiness of the show was just the best !!! But this tone wasn't particularly "original", and it was also seen on the Steve Allen Tonight Show era. But Dave did it so much better!!!

[@dongiller]

Sid was never second fiddle. He was the band's lead guitarist. Felicia got in some licks on her own, but it was still Sid's position.

[@SciFiArtman]

Well, I disagree. Sid was not the front line guitarist, say, a year or so after Felecia came on. And very rarely did I hear him get to solo like he used to, and I was a regular viewer throughout. Sid may have technically held Lead Guitarist title, but way too often his position in the performances were in deference to Felecia, even in much of the lead work, who in my opinion was good, but no Sid McGinnis.

[@dongiller]

I can play you hundreds of closing credit theme music where Sid is the sole lead guitarist. It was only late into the show's run when he and Felicia would trade off leads every 8 bars. But Sid's position and playing was pretty clear. I can even play you (but won't until it's cleared) a seven-minute music break, where the only guitarist playing lead throughout is Sid.

[@dongiller]

Looking at this more generally, an 8-piece band requires far more ensemble playing than a 4-piece band, where Sid had to carry a lot more weight. Not so much when there's a second guitarist, a trumpet player, a saxophonist, and a guy who had command of upteen instruments (Tom). So, yes, Sid's lead wasn't as prominent in the 8-piece band, but he was still the ensemble's main guitarist.

[@SciFiArtman]

OK, there's no winning with you. I guess we saw it all quite differently. (and I have hundreds of episodes on tape too.) I'm still mystified by Sid's role as guitarist with Felicia (who I thought of as a singer who also played), regardless of the band size or end credit rolls. I wish I'd never mentioned it now!

[@ThatJohnStanley]

Woah, he channeled the spirit of Ernie at 2:19 😉

[@dovegrey1]

It's not like he called her "fat" or "grossly overweight"...some tall women have that look of extra pounds even though they don't have any. Madeline was having none of that "I'm sorry I acted like a buffoon" hug....;) Good for you, girl. The network time killer reminded me of something Dave did years later called (I think) "Is This Anything?" Fun watching the old show, this is why I never missed it!

[@paulfaulkner5786]

I'm 39. And its super sad we have noone this good anymore. I don't even watch the late night programs anymore. I watch KZbins/DVDs of Carson/Letterman back before he became a pundit/and Ferguson. Even Leno had greater bits (like Headlines) than the guys these days. I wish I'd been born earlier so I would have had more than just a decade of hearing, "Hereeeeeed's Johnny" every night.

[@DanJackson1977]

We still have Conan.. maybe the best improviser of all of em. Yeah he does a podcast but hes still funny as hell.

[@earthvessel952]

what's with all the dislikes?

[@mickeyray3793]

Learned a new word today: "ratango"😊

[@MegaHellrasier]

David Letterman was being a jerk but he still cares about his staff.......that is all

[@DavidLLambertmobile]

He got Me Tooed a few times with staff... he was on network tv 📺, 1982 to 2010 or so...

[@johnnymnemonic69]

Im pretty sure he was mortified 😆

[@DJRitty]

@@johnnymnemonic69 He might not even have said that had she been wearing her coat anywhere else but around her waist ;P He only called her 'husky' which actually is a nice word when you think about it. It's not like he called her the n word or something lol... I been called worse...and the same ;P