Dave and Paul argue whether tonight's show is new or a rerun, and Al Franken and Tom Davis are inadvertently drawn into the battle. Al and Tom then appear as guests for two segments.
I had the pleasure of being in the audience in the 80's I remember Sam Kinison was the act. Letterman himself came out and warmed up the audience, fishing for a funny story, and being delightful to the crowd. When Paul Schaffer quietly walked over to his piano, the lights were dim, stage getting ready for the opening, the audience went crazy. Just to see Paul Shaffer. Such an icon! The whole show was the fastest hour, and fun in & of itself. No applause signs, no prompting to laugh or clap.
This was the beginning of the peak of my life. The next 3 years, until September 1986. A golden time of Rock concerts, parachute pants, girls, cheesy 80s movies, and drugs, lots of drugs!
I've loved Al's humor since I first became acquainted with his style of humor. Sadly Tom Davis died a very young man. They were both brilliant. I recall a routine they once did about giving people the best way to drive home drunk and something dealing with that and as well Al doing a stand up about having the viewer to send him money. It went something "Call and see what you can do for me Al Franken." They were simply hilarious routines. I'm certain they both took inspiration from Bob & Ray who did the same kind of back and forth man in the street kinds of interviews or people such as this restaurant owner. The subtlety and farcical nature of the bits without the need of injecting foul language was wonderful. I don't necessarily object to harsh language or pornographic material in a comedy routine, but if the comedian seems to be using it for shock value it lessens the quality of the routine. Only people like the late great Richard Pryor and or George Carlin could pull it off. Franken's daughter turned out fine is now a teacher if memory serves me. Al is a very compelling politician as well, one of the finest senators in the Congress and I more and more am convinced he would make for a great president. Celebrity status propelled the current lunatic who occupies the White House, Ronald Reagan was nothing but a B-Movie actor. Reagan was a very liberal celebrity a great supporter of FDR until he married Navy Davis whose adopted father was a rich right winger who became intent to make him a conservative politician recognizing Reagan's talent at demagoguery. Here's hoping he will challenge for the office next time, imagine a ticket with him and Elizabeth Warren on it.
Letterman refers to Franken & Davis as "the comedy team that weighs the same." Is that a reference to a previous Letterman appearance, and if so, can you please post it? I can't find it anywhere.
