Viewer Mail on Letterman, January 15, 1987

[@gregwyard9526]

My brother Nick had his letter read out - the third one. Just discovered the date of this episode in an old diary and was pleased to find this long lost clip.

[@bertmccoy2892]

My letter is #5 and is actually written by Me - Bert McCoy and I now live in Long Beach California.

[@wowmachineradio]

I was listening to Skulljuice last week, (Skulljuice is a podcast with Dino Stamatopoulos and Andy Dick) and Dino said that when he was watching Late Night in his living room back in the 80s, he was always laughing his ass off (just like me)..... but then when he worked as a writer for the Late Show, he found out that Dave had a lot of negative feelings towards a lot of the 80s show bits because a lot of those bits didn't land with the audience. So, Dino said, he went back and watched all of the old of the shows from the 80s and was amazed at how often the audience really was quiet and didn't get the ahead-of-its-time "anti-comedy" that the Late Night writers were doing back then. Watching your compilations of running bits, ongoing gags, and multiple appearances by guests I realize that I was the same as Dino... I was always laughing my ass off by myself and not paying as much attention to the studio audience...now I realize its because Dave's reactions to the audiences' non-reactions was the funniest part about a bit not connecting with--or surprising the audience. The audience NOT laughing became the REAL ongoing gag.

[@dongiller]

That's a fantastic evaluation. I (and I'm sure many many others) felt the same way. Perhaps similar to when Carson's monologues or skits would bomb -- it wasn't the material, it was Johnny's reaction that was hilarious.

[@75midge]

"Late Night.....87!" I've been wanting to see that again for years

[@joemorrow7691]

Its 2021 had to take a break from the Stupidity,,,,,,1987 was heaven Thanks Dave,,,,like you'll be reading this,,🤣

[@celticbastardson2599]

Late Night 87!!! Hella yeah!

[@RatPfink66]

1:47 Guy smoking a cigarette...another reading a paper...2 things people don't do much anymore.

[@jeffkoehncomedy2370]

Nice shout out to the underrated Danitra Vance!!

[@royalsfan]

Hey, a Danitra Vance reference!

[@RatPfink66]

And...this was the 100,000th time Paul used the word "nutty" on the air. I think he got a lifetime supply of Planters.

[@Mild_Mannered_Pete]

How often was the late night 87 promo used?

[@dongiller]

I haven’t run the stats.

[@ChrisMayek]

Would you mind uploading those Meat Loaf and Ellen Foley interviews? Also, I think a lot of people would be interested in Debbie Harry's 82 appearance

[@dongiller]

She appeared on the show in 1983 -- February 2. In time.

[@PanzerBuyer]

Back when Late Nite was funny.

[@ChrisMayek]

Since you did Karla, would you mind uploading Ellen Foley's appearance? She was the other Meatloaf girl

[@dongiller]

But not Meat Loaf himself?

[@ChrisMayek]

Don Giller oh, that too, if he made any retro appearance. I've only seen more newer Letterman interviews with him. But never any retro interview with Ellen, and I love her and Karla

[@dongiller]

He appeared on Late Night once - August 12, 1982. Ellen Foley once as well, on February 5, 1985 (promoting "Night Court," then sang "Come and Get These Memories").

[@ChrisMayek]

Don Giller oh, interesting. Would you mind uploading those two? Those would be the last requests I'd have. I'd appreciate it!

[@throwingsparks]

Perfectly bizarre and offbeat!

[@SailorCallie]

The audience looked like it's opening night for (insert name of a very bad movie.)

[@royalsfan]

"Cabin Boy" :P