I used to love Letterman when he was at NBC and his first few years on CBS. Then his show started to go downhill. And by the time the 2008 election came along and he openly campaigned for Obama while disparaging the true American hero John McCain as a befuddled old man I had enough. So it's not a huge surprise that a new book portrays Letterman as a tormented miserable man that tortured virtually everyone that worked on his show in an orgy of self loathing destruction.


http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/david-letterman-ugly-personality-no-laughing-matter-colleagues-article-1.2995387

Late-night legend David Letterman's ugly personality no laughing matter, former colleagues say

Late-night funnyman David Letterman was hardly a barrel of laughs off the air.

A new biography of the now-retired talk show host portrays Letterman as more self-loathing than self-critical — and an often miserable man who inflicted his pain on his staff.

“He was never truly comfortable unless he was seething with unhappiness at something,” one longtime writer told author Jason Zinoman in “Letterman: The Last Giant of Late Night.”

In fact, few of the acerbic Letterman’s close colleagues sang his praises to Zinoman.

Jay Leno is much better than David Letterman.

Surprised about Letterman. Didn't think he was that bad. I think Letterman 10 times funnier than Leno.

I used to love Letterman when he was at NBC and his first few years on CBS. Then his show started to go downhill. And by the time the 2008 election came along and he openly campaigned for Obama while disparaging the true American hero John McCain as a befuddled old man I had enough. So it's not a huge surprise that a new book portrays Letterman as a tormented miserable man that tortured virtually everyone that worked on his show in an orgy of self loathing destruction.


http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/david-letterman-ugly-personality-no-laughing-matter-colleagues-article-1.2995387

Late-night legend David Letterman's ugly personality no laughing matter, former colleagues say

Late-night funnyman David Letterman was hardly a barrel of laughs off the air.

A new biography of the now-retired talk show host portrays Letterman as more self-loathing than self-critical — and an often miserable man who inflicted his pain on his staff.

“He was never truly comfortable unless he was seething with unhappiness at something,” one longtime writer told author Jason Zinoman in “Letterman: The Last Giant of Late Night.”

In fact, few of the acerbic Letterman’s close colleagues sang his praises to Zinoman.

I was a fan of Letterman but his on air grouchiness and political bias could drive me up the wall sometimes. I can't stand smug Stephen Colbert and his divisiveness. I like Kimmel who is snarky but not as polarizing.

Dave's relationships with his female underlings was very questionable but didn't merit him being blackmailed.

I like the way he fessed up on the air the way he did and faced the music.

Jay Leno is much better than David Letterman.

No. Way.

I haven't technically bought the book yet, but it's in my Amazon cart.

I was a fan of Letterman but his on air grouchiness and political bias could drive me up the wall sometimes. I can't stand smug Stephen Colbert and his divisiveness. I like Kimmel who is snarky but not as polarizing.

Dave's relationships with his female underlings was very questionable but didn't merit him being blackmailed.

I like the way he fessed up on the air the way he did and faced the music.

Dave's my all time favorite.

I like Colbert, but my current late night go to is Seth Meyers.

I used to love Letterman when he was at NBC and his first few years on CBS. Then his show started to go downhill. And by the time the 2008 election came along and he openly campaigned for Obama while disparaging the true American hero John McCain as a befuddled old man I had enough. So it's not a huge surprise that a new book portrays Letterman as a tormented miserable man that tortured virtually everyone that worked on his show in an orgy of self loathing destruction.


http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/david-letterman-ugly-personality-no-laughing-matter-colleagues-article-1.2995387

Late-night legend David Letterman's ugly personality no laughing matter, former colleagues say

Late-night funnyman David Letterman was hardly a barrel of laughs off the air.

A new biography of the now-retired talk show host portrays Letterman as more self-loathing than self-critical — and an often miserable man who inflicted his pain on his staff.

“He was never truly comfortable unless he was seething with unhappiness at something,” one longtime writer told author Jason Zinoman in “Letterman: The Last Giant of Late Night.”

In fact, few of the acerbic Letterman’s close colleagues sang his praises to Zinoman.

There was the usual comings and goings as is normal in TV, but many staff members stayed around a long time. And the stories of a self hating Letterman are old news.

Dave's my all time favorite.

I like Colbert, but my current late night go to is Seth Meyers.

Dave used to be my all time favorite back in his sillier younger days.

Something happened along the way and he became harder and harder to take.

I think he shined on 9/11 though and showed he had a big heart underneath all of that grouchiness.

My favorite moments on the show involved skits with Chris Elliott, the book cart lady, the earlier Top Ten lists (Jim Bakker's Top Ten Pickup Lines) and so forth.

When he went to CBS he changed a lot and became less amusing to me.

I did like it when he unleashed his anger on Madonna who acted like a vulgar idiot.

Did you see VB's appearance on there? In her own words she "bombed" on there and was never asked back.

Letterman could be a real ***** apparently. It was easy to get on his bad side. :(

There was the usual comings and goings as is normal in TV, but many staff members stayed around a long time. And the stories of a self hating Letterman are old news.

Yes, they stayed for the work most likely but probably felt like they were walking on eggshells because of his explosive temper.

He even pissed off Shaffer apparently.

It seems like he didn't treat Merrill Markoe very well. He sounded like he was mentally abusive to her. :(

But I remember Chris Elliott and Norm MacDonald choking up on the show in the last days seeming very loyal and respectful to him.

And Kimmel did the Kennedy Center Honors tribute for him so he certainly had his share of admirers.

Dave used to be my all time favorite back in his sillier younger days.

Something happened along the way and he became harder and harder to take.

I think he shined on 9/11 though and showed he had a big heart underneath all of that grouchiness.

My favorite moments on the show involved skits with Chris Elliott, the book cart lady, the earlier Top Ten lists (Jim Bakker's Top Ten Pickup Lines) and so forth.

When he went to CBS he changed a lot and became less amusing to me.

I did like it when he unleashed his anger on Madonna who acted like a vulgar idiot.

Did you see VB's appearance on there? In her own words she "bombed" on there and was never asked back.

Letterman could be a real ***** apparently. It was easy to get on his bad side. :(

I mostly agree with you. But of course (like everyone) he's going to be different in his 60s then he was in his 30s. The 12:30 NBC show will always be an indelible part of my life.

As for the VB interview, are you kidding? I watch it on YouTube a few times a year. It's uncomfortably awesome :wave:

Yes, they stayed for the work most likely but probably felt like they were walking on eggshells because of his explosive temper.

He even pissed off Shaffer apparently.

It seems like he didn't treat Merrill Markoe very well. He sounded like he was mentally abusive to her. :(

But I remember Chris Elliott and Norm MacDonald choking up on the show in the last days seeming very loyal and respectful to him.

And Kimmel did the Kennedy Center Honors tribute for him so he certainly had his share of admirers.

At another site, we were talking about a recent Dave interview where he said he and Paul still meet up semi regularly.

I don't know his current relationship with Merrill. It's probably not as good. That stuff was more personal.

And yes, Dave is Jimmy Kimmels idol :wave:

I mostly agree with you. But of course (like everyone) he's going to be different in his 60s then he was in his 30s. The 12:30 NBC show will always be an indelible part of my life.

As for the VB interview, are you kidding? I watch it on YouTube a few times a year. It's uncomfortably awesome :wave:

I say this with love and respect. Don't shoot me. ;) :wave: :wave:

It seemed like she was on something. She overreacted about the Penthouse thing and sounded very stuck up. Also her voice seemed kind of "cokey".

Of course he didn't try to save the situation and just let her hang herself. Paul as usual was very nice to her considering he probably or improbably slept with her if I remember correctly. :confused:

I think he should have given her another chance to appear on the show like he did with the egregious Madonna.

Again, he was a *****.

Again, he was a *****.

My phone must be broken. I don't see a word, just stars :wave:

At another site, we were talking about a recent Dave interview where he said he and Paul still meet up semi regularly.

I don't know his current relationship with Merrill. It's probably not as good. That stuff was more personal.

And yes, Dave is Jimmy Kimmels idol :wave:

Yes, Paul owes Dave everything and of course will be forever loyal.

Dave often referred to him as "money in the bank" and was able to calm him down, no doubt.

Dave was an ass to his first wife too. And his Baby Mama/future wife by cheating on her with the staff.

And yes I will say it. I have issues with Leno and his horrible treatment of Conan but Dave acted like a big baby for years regarding Jay Leno and not getting the Tonight Show.

My phone must be broken. I don't see a word, just stars :wave:

Rick with a P in front. :wave:

Rick with a P in front. :wave:

Nicer than I expected :wave:

Nicer than I expected :wave:

I am a lady. ;) :wave:

I will be back later, I have to pick up my mother's medicine. :wave:

I will leave you now from a song from the show.

"It's a Late Night World. A World that's full of Love. So turn on your TV and spend time with me. It's a Late Night World of Love." :wave:

Jay Leno is much better than David Letterman.


Leno SUCKED. I mean SUCKED!

And he was also a ***** that pretended to be a nice guy.

Letterman was hilarious for a long time but never pretended to be a nice guy. But I am slightly surprised he was as bad as this book seems to indicate.

Johnny Carson was without a doubt the all-time best but Letterman was the best of his time.

I've seen Jimmy Kimmel a few times (not recently) but have no interest in Jimmy Fallon and wouldn't watch Colbert if you paid me.

Leno SUCKED. I mean SUCKED!

And he was also a ***** that pretended to be a nice guy.

Letterman was hilarious for a long time but never pretended to be a nice guy. But I am slightly surprised he was as bad as this book seems to indicate.

Johnny Carson was without a doubt the all-time best but Letterman was the best of his time.

I've seen Jimmy Kimmel a few times (not recently) but have no interest in Jimmy Fallon and wouldn't watch Colbert if you paid me.

I had a check all written and everything.:(

I had a check all written and everything.:(


Most appreciated but I'm reasonably well off. It would take a lot to compromise my principles. Of course it's not impossible.... :D

I have issues with Leno and his horrible treatment of ConanConan the barbarian never should have stolen the Tonight Show from Jay in the first place.

And yes I will say it. I have issues with Leno and his horrible treatment of Conan

The good thing that came out of that whole experience is that we got to see what a class act Conan really is. Conan has been my favorite late night host ever since the early days of "Late Night... with Conan O'Brien." Letterman is my second favorite host. I've never cared for Leno. In my opinion, he's one of the worst but he apparently has a quality that gets people to tune in every night.

As for the new late night hosts, I like Colbert and Meyers, but I only watch clips of their shows on YouTube. And I really don't care at all (whether positive or negative) about the other hosts.

Don't really watch any of the American talk shows. I find Graham Norton to be far more entertaining than all of them combined.

I might as well toss in I also liked Craig Ferguson's late night show.

I might as well toss in I also liked Craig Ferguson's late night show.

His I did like.

I never found Letterman's stale humor all that funny, I don't know maybe as others said the older he got the more grumpier he got, even when interviewing other celebs especially the younger ones he was clearly not hip to all the tweens out there.

I might as well toss in I also liked Craig Ferguson's late night show.


I tried to Ferguson because he was affiliated with Letterman while I still liked Letterman but to me Ferguson was unwatchable.

Conan the barbarian never should have stolen the Tonight Show from Jay in the first place.


Wow! I bet there's no Kool-Aid left in America after you're done.