As David Lettermanenters his final weeksas Late Show host, following a late-night career that has spannedmore thanthree decades, many of hisfavorite guestshave stoppedbythe Ed Sullivan Theater to bid farewell to him. SinceConan OBrien, who took the reins of NBCs Late Night program after Letterman left tohost CBS Late Show in 1993, is likely too busy filming his own show to visit Letterman, he penneda touching tribute forEntertainment Weekly to the man who inspired him to venture into late night.
In his appreciation, OBrien offered a brief history of comedy in the early Eighties before Letterman erupted onto the scene with his subversive brand of comedy and unlikely television looks. (His front teeth had a massive gap that looked almost painted-on as a joke, he wrote.) OBrien says he first learnedof Lettermanfrom the short-lived morning talk show The David Letterman Show before Lettermanmatured into a major comedic influence on Late Night.
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Throughout college, everyone my age watched Dave and discussed his show the next day, OBrien wrote. The late-night talk show had existed at that point for 30 years in more or less one form, but Dave and his writers completely re-invented the format. By 1985, when I graduated from college and was ready to try my hand as a comedy writer, Late Night With David Letterman had been the Holy Grail for several miraculous years.
OBrien, whose own edgy, abstract humor at one point also seemedunpalatablefor The Tonight Show a program both he and Letterman lost toJay Leno further praised Lettermans abilities. Daves show was that rare phenomenon: a big, fat show-business hit that seemingly despised show business, OBrien wrote. Dave didnt belong, and he had no interest in belonging.He amused himself, skewered clueless celebrity guests and did strange, ironic comedic bits that no one had seen on television before. Everything about that show was surreal and off-kilter. Where late-night television had once provided comfort, this man reveled in awkwardness.
OBrien adds that no figure has had Daves seismic impact on comedy in the past 35 years. Every day, I read that a new comic has changed the game, and, admittedly, there is an absurd abundance of talent and creativity out there right now, OBrien wrote. But in todays world of 30 late-night programs, its tempting now to take Dave for granted. Do not.Dave was a true revolution and I believe his innovations are up there with the light bulb and the Twix bar.
Letterman will take his final bow onThe Late Show on May 20th. Stephen Colbert will become the shows host on September 8th.