First, opening remarks, as Paul and the band are a little loose, and Dave has a synapse moment. Then Viewer Mail tests the censors as Dave makes an obscure morning show reference. With Sandy Frank, plus Jeff Martin as Flunky.
This is really good! This video not only shows that David Letterman was one of the kings of late night TV, but he was also able to reinvent the late night talk show format, despite the fact that Johnny Carson wouldn't allow him to have a large band, to tell a long monologue, or to do anything that Johnny Carson did at 11:30. Man! This also shows that you can do anything you want at 12:30 in the morning on TV.
Well, yes, he was in charge of NBC, but Johnny Carson's production company controlled The Tonight Show and anything that comes afterwards. When NBC & Carson Productions gave David Letterman the "Late Night" show about a year after his daytime talk show was cancelled, Carson gave him a set of rules. He couldn't tell a monologue, he couldn't have a large band, he couldn't do Carson's sketches, he couldn't have a sidekick, and he couldn't have the same guests who were fixtures on Carson's show, either. So, he had to do a different kind of late night talk show. There will never be a late night talk show exactly like that ever again.
What Kung-E said, but also this: Johnny Carson's Tonight Show was the single most profitable hour on NBC's schedule at the time. www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/how-johnny-carson-quit-tonight-644508
A Frank Owens reference...classic! (Maybe it was because I'm a fan of the morning show, but part of me wondered/hoped if he'd ever play with the band for a night in the run to the finale)
+norelco pc Dave was limited to three prepared jokes. And no sidekick, like Ed. But Dave and Paul managed to skirt that without calling Paul his "sidekick.." In fact, there was a brief period in the early years (I'd give you exact dates but I'm not near my database now) when, immediately after Dave's o.r., there was Paul at home base, for all purposes, a "sidekick." I suspect they were deliberately testing their contractual agreement with Carson Prod. It lasted only for a few shows.
Maybe I’m wrong but I always pictured Johnny as Fully supporting Dave … and Dave said as much. I always felt Johnny put those measures in place to separate the 2 show’s identities and any subsequent show that popped up later on NBC. Carson (if I’m correct) Only ever appeared on Dave’s show prior to and after retirement. It widely know Carson could be bitter if he fell out of favor with you but Dave never was one of those people.
