LETTERMAN LEADS THROUGH SANDY
It was the sort of thing you may see only once in a lifetime. David Letterman filling an empty Ed Sullivan Theatre, and an untold number of American homes with his unique humor and personality as nature did its worst to the East coast.
Only a skeleton crew made it through the hurricane, and there was obviously no audience so the rhythm was pure Dave with input from Paul Shaffer and live reports from outside by "I'm no weatherman" Biff Henderson.
Production lacked all the niceties and slickness of graphics, bumps, voice overs and the usual stuff, but the spareness of it and Dave's demeanor demonstrated a kind of resilience and toughness in the face of the super storm.
Denzel Washington appeared as a guest, and entered wearing a yellow slicker and walking as though through a gale as Shaffer and the band played "Hurricane"- Bob Dylan's tune.
There was something classic in the unusual show. Maybe a bit like Fiorello La Guardia, the mayor of New York, reading the funny pages on the radio in the midst of a 1939 newspaper strike. In those dark days, the funnies lifted people's spirits.
David makes people laugh as well and on a night when an unprecedented storm took aim at millions of Americans, he took up his place, and did what he does so well, made us laugh and lifted spirits.
I've known Dave since our college days. Those memories and his video tribute at my retirement, along with Biff's "Hey Tom _ _ _ _ you!" are treasures. But his personal and sparse performance last night is a moment that is exceedingly powerful and memorable. It was also courageous and encouraging.
Dave-as our old pals Bob and Don would say-"Here's a boy howdy for you!" Well done!!!
SHOOTING ANGLES
day file
Morning Drama
Lots of Angles and Lines
A Spider's Patch
See you down the trail.
