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Staff Favorite Moments: Head Writer James Downey | Letterman

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The "Late Night" head writer remembers camping with Barry White, the pirates skit that bombed, the world's largest vase and more.
#JamesDowney #Pirates #Letterman
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Welcome to the Letterman RU-vid Channel, home to all your favorite clips from Late Night and Late Show - as well as conversations with the writers, producers and performers who helped make it all happen. These highlights have been artisanly-produced, carefully-curated, and chosen completely at random by an old computer that used to pick numbers for the New York Lotto back in the 90’s.

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27 авг 2024

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Комментарии : 190

@GideonWeissman 2 года назад

Internet is extremely lacking in James Downy content.

@bcmcinnis 2 года назад

Here here!

@BedrockLeadership 2 года назад

Y E S ! ! !

@MTVCOPS 2 года назад

Or Jim Downey!

@tenebrae23 2 года назад

He is interviewed by Dana Carvey and David Spade on the Fly on the Wall podcast.

@BomChickyBowWow 2 года назад

I know! I’ve googled my ass off and there’s nothing. I’m dying to see an interview of him from the 80s or something but I don’t think they exist. I guess he just wasn’t known then.

@Paulafan5 2 года назад

Barry White: I don't wanna die, Dave... That never stops being funny.

@229BlackHat 2 года назад

David, my leg, I think it’s broken

@angelacooper5682 2 года назад

@@229BlackHat 🤣

@gregbear123 11 месяцев назад

😂

@penguinjammer8522 5 месяцев назад

The please after Dave advises to get Barry White to a doctor kills me every time

@eromacque 2 года назад

Jim Downey. Holy hell. Genius beyond genius in the world of comedy. The Harvard Lampoon alum who blazed the trail from Cambridge to Hollywood. FUN TRIVIA: He provided the voice for Hercules in the fantastic IL RETURNO DE HERCULES sketch on SNL and provided that very same voice for James Hong in WAYNE'S WORLD 2. He was also the news vendor telling White Guy Eddie Murphy to "Go on...take it!" with the newspaper because white people give things to each other. Oh, and he was Norm Macdonald's other brain in writing Weekend Update.

@joadbreslin5819 2 года назад

You left off a couple of his most notable contributions: the "everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it" speech from Billy Madison (ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-LQCU36pkH7c.html), and playing Andy Samberg's dad, who was having an affair with Jonah Hill (ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-WvUHatIyKR4.html).

@michaelmcdonald8452 2 года назад

And his bits as the wistful homeless guy in Dirty Work were great as well. And yeah, his role in Billy Madison... "if there are any attempts to cheat.... especially with my wife..."

@danwroy Год назад

I had no idea he was the dubbed voice of Wayne's father-in-law, that's amazing

@VillemarMxO 11 месяцев назад

Glad you mentioned Norm Macdonald. I just finished his brilliantly absurdist autobiography, wherein he praises Jim Downey as an absolute comedy writing genius.

@SidelerMN Год назад

Downey is not only an all time comedy writer but also a great story teller.

@603ER Год назад

The world needs the World's Largest Vase and its message of unity now more than ever.

@VillemarMxO 11 месяцев назад

Can we avoid the hard linoleum of doom?

@Ellierua 2 года назад

Makers of this channel need to get the word out.. Because snippets from James Downey and his ilk are priceless.. So amazing to see and enjoyable!

@michaelmcdonald8452 2 года назад

Barry adding "please" after "get Barry White to the hospital" is comedy gold.

@jaybestnz 10 месяцев назад

The deep line from Barry "I don't want to die Dave" was amazing.

@hanzzarkov7690 10 месяцев назад

I laughed my face off. So good.

@SidelerMN Год назад

‘The plank is NOT going to break.” I loved this line by Steve ODonnell. Tough crowd that night.

@JackSilbert 2 года назад

Mr. Downey's delight, even at the bits that other staffers wrote, really made me happy.

@thelettermanpodcast Год назад

For sure. The pride in being a part of this show is evident.

@bobwalton4630 11 месяцев назад

Mostly a writer but James had some great on screen moments in Dirty Work and Billy Madison. Just a straight up legend.

@PatrickKeating 5 месяцев назад

He's great in There Will Be Blood too.

@MegaPrincefox 2 года назад

This man is pure comic genius. Thanks for this!

@Ellierua 2 года назад

He's absolutely one of the best. I don't use the word Legend lightly.. But he's up there, if not there already!

@chiefscheider 2 года назад

That whole bit with Barry White is like something that would've been on SCTV 😄

@eromacque 2 года назад

"David. My leg. I think it's broken."

@catholicdad 2 года назад

The Fishin' Musician!

@rockturtleneck 2 года назад

"Barry White has just been bitten by a Northern Copperhead." Another great segment on this brilliant channel.

@wyskass861 Год назад

Jim has been at the forefront of comedy writing for 50 years. Legend.

@illygah 10 месяцев назад

Not only is he top dog, every single one of the lesser-thans got there by having had worked with Jim.

@LetsBeHonestImAPrat Год назад

Can I go back to being a child staying up every night to watch Letterman? That’d be a dream come true

@andybaldman 10 месяцев назад

Yes, you can.

@namj8145 Год назад

I did a gut-busting laugh when he mentioned the late Calvert DeForest, then paused and asked if he was actually dead. And not wanting to be wrong about it said " I believe...I hope." LMFAO.

@ross302ci 2 года назад

If you listen to Conan's podcast, he'll gush about Jim Downey at any chance he can get. It's clear he's a legend in the world of TV comedy writers.

@Rob_Kates 2 года назад

He wrote some of the best SNL skits.

@leonardstilwell1894 2 года назад

@@Rob_Kates Change Bank. Might be my favorite all-time SNL remote.

@michaelparks6120 2 года назад

These are so funny !

@debschaefer7820 2 года назад

@@leonardstilwell1894 "We can do that".

@jozz2248 2 года назад

@@debschaefer7820 Always made me feel more empowered to ask the bank for a dollar in nickels.

@DouglasRichardson-er4ky 11 месяцев назад

Lee Majors transition from 6 million dollar man to the fall guy as a metaphor for life 🤔

@thelettermanpodcast Год назад

On our show we refer to the first couple years of Late Night as the lower levels of the Letterman pyramid that would be built. It’s clear the foundation built during the point in time was not only solid, but unbreakable; the fact that 40 years later this content holds up is a remarkable testament.

@paulocuaresma9480 11 месяцев назад

The best thing in these video is the classic bits and Jim Downey laughing as he remembers it 😊

@ronniechilds2002 2 года назад

Dave was the BEST. He took his obvious adoration for Carson and ran with it and eventually exceeded him by a mile Fortunately he had a talent for finding and hiring great writers, like Downey here, and taking the brilliant stuff they came up with and making it HILARIOUS, night after night. Man, I don't think I ever missed a Dave show.

@RobLives4Love 2 года назад

this pirates bit may be one of my favorite sketches of all time

@Subo23 2 года назад

The Great James Downey

@kit2770 Год назад

I hope that we as a civilization can all come together in the way that giant vase said. That's a smart vase. And his owner is a good wrestling coach.

@tbx59 2 года назад

That was great - the folks involved have been doing a good job with the channel.

@ontologicallysteve7765 2 года назад

Tell the folks at home how the folks involved have been doing a good job...

@Brian-uy2tj 11 месяцев назад

It is pretty obvious that Barry White had a really good sense of humor. Whenever he was on the show it was great and a lot of fun.

@VillemarMxO 11 месяцев назад

Loved Barry's top ten list. "Big Assss Ham."

@stephenpeters8404 2 года назад

I love subtle and unintended touches, and the scene in "They Took My Show Away" where the kid accidentally rips the TV Guide in a way that leaves the cover visible and flapping in the wind (1:45 mark) cracks me up.

@thelettermanpodcast Год назад

Yes! Genius!

@VillemarMxO 11 месяцев назад

Here's one...Manimal! Later when that show got cancelled they had a memoriam to Manimal which was hilarious.

@kmac1766 11 месяцев назад

Dave admonishing the youngster’s threat to “Never watch TV again!”😂😂😂😂😂”Jimmy!!! Don’t ever say that!”

@allendracabal0819 7 месяцев назад

"Not even as a joke."

@kmac1766 7 месяцев назад

@@allendracabal0819 😂😂😂

@greenatom 11 месяцев назад

All of this stuff has been stored in my brain for decades, forgotten until now!

@bernlin2000 2 года назад

Good lord was Letterman driven early on to push comedy to a new level 🙂"Camping with Barry White" is phenomenal, surprised I've never heard of it until now, been a fan forever (but born in the middle of the first late night show).

@mikesternmike 2 года назад

By the time he got to CBS all the good years were behind him unfortunately many of the writers that made gold already left

@FloraWest 2 года назад

"They Took My Show Away" and "Camping with Barry White" are of my (many) favorite pieces from this show. And "a nightmarish carnival of mayhem" in my everyday vocabulary.

@RobLives4Love 2 года назад

"I don't wanna die, Dave" always takes me right out.

@thomassalyers1391 2 года назад

“ the hard linoleum of doom”

@thelettermanpodcast Год назад

Beware!

@hamsandwichson 2 года назад

"We will give you the change equal to the money you needed change for"

@Football__Junkie Год назад

“Here’s a chimp that lives in Washington. Hah. You know that will be a good one.” 😂😂

@debbiebankscell 2 года назад

I felt the same way as Little Jimmy about Voyagers. 😥

@loopy7057 2 года назад

The World's Largest Vase thing is absolutely fucking hilarious 😂

@danathanaurelius4685 Год назад

With his philosophy on bombing, it makes a lot of sense why he vibes so well with Norm McDonald

@markybgoode 10 месяцев назад

Long time Late Nite fan. Never thought too much about who wrote his funny skits and bits of business. I love 💕 this former writer. I’d like to have coffee with him sometime.

@richorichards4655 2 года назад

If only we’d listened to the worlds largest vase

@schtum1 2 года назад

Good to see a young Conan in the first sketch

@sepitheroth Год назад

I remember these. Good times. I miss Dave.

@gersonkphone 2 года назад

Barry White attacked by a snake? That's like the opposite of what you should post on Whacking Day.

@bgheadjack Год назад

Downey is on the late night writer Mount Rushmore. What a legend

@jimmyguitar2933 Месяц назад

Great to see the young Conan O'Brien in that sketch with Dave.

@g-pa-Rok-n-Tok 2 года назад

Dave will always be the King!

@TheEkatz 2 года назад

Just listened to your Fly On The Wall appearance with Carvey/Spade.. Really fantastic stories.. Nice to see this as well. You've done a lot!

@PopeLando 2 года назад

Me too, just this morning!

@Jiv_Ing57819 2 года назад

The pirates are very matter of fact, what are you doing? Oh sorry we’re just going to take this ship to x marks and then send Charles to a watery grave. ,:-0

@Jiv_Ing57819 2 года назад

It is going to be an agonising death for him, once we take him to the spot after some sailing and he is sinking it will be unpleasant yet pleasant for us pirates to know thy mission is accomplished. ,:-0

@martyblair7221 7 месяцев назад

Jim Downey will always be my 2nd favorite world's largest vase.

@ineedausernamenow999 2 месяца назад

just relistened to Jim's Conan podcast and I haven't laughed at a podcast that many times and that hard ever. Jim's a jem

@ineedausernamenow999 2 месяца назад

the financer?

@hankochai 10 месяцев назад

That pirate torture & death bit was hilarious. Ahead of its time, perhaps.

@KennethWrites Год назад

That vase would be about 120 years old now if it is still around. I can't seem to find it anywhere.

@teresaf991 2 года назад

I feel they need to just show all of these on late night t.v. So many people would quickly tune in. They could just play these made for you tube videos. Not Any extra work. The could call it THE GENUIS OF THE DAVID LETTERMAN SHOW. THE FIRST ONE. WOW! These were all my favorites.

@markjones952 2 года назад

I'd go camping with Barry White.

@chiefscheider 2 года назад

Imagine him reading you a bedtime story...

@janisthompson9801 2 года назад

Alright, alright,alright , says someone!!❤️🇨🇦❤️

@thelettermanpodcast Год назад

Well, I suppose it would be quiet.

@cs5845 2 года назад

This was a good one! Also, I loved having the whole outro at the end.

@MichaelMurphy-kj3xf Год назад

Agree 100%!

@robatsea2009 2 года назад

As echoed by others great to see a true legend here. Interesting to see the fate of the Paul Zimmerman episode repeated here, which also featured actor Klaus Kinski. Mr. Zimmerman wrote a number of the early "Sesame Street" shows before "The King of Comedy" was produced (about a decade after he had written it). Sadly he passed away quite young, about ten years after his appearance on the show.

@dongiller 2 года назад

I believe the Paul Zimmermam appearance is available on another YT channel.

@jarrodf_ Год назад

Sublime

@jamesdowney6578 10 месяцев назад

Should have snatched his Late Night paycheck while I had a chance…

@kolst8406 Год назад

AT the time, 1983, F Lee Bailey was the host of a short-live, syndicated TV show called Lie Detector.

@kolst8406 Год назад

"lived" for God's sakes.

@mackymintle7806 Год назад

So funny that the writers were laughing about that book, letters to E.T. 😜🤓

@JonBlondell Год назад

Great, thank you!

@ronsandlin9618 Год назад

MANIMAL!!!

@mre_physvids Год назад

I always watch watch these to very end hoping to hear Hiram Bullock playing. What a monster.

@mlc4050 2 года назад

Jim awards us no points, and may God have mercy on our souls.

@justinhicks306 2 года назад

His greatest performance

@DrTimWhatleyDDS 5 месяцев назад

Fun fact: the red head boy who plays Jimmy was Conan O’Brien

@GPSjammer 2 года назад

DAVID MY LEGGG

@kellyneese5216 2 года назад

GREAT WRITER.

@asynchronicity 10 месяцев назад

I always get a kick out of people who have the first name “F.”😅

@stephengiese7549 11 месяцев назад

The sillier the better😅

@NoellaScott Год назад

Dave avoided anything that verged on acting?! That's crazy because all of Dave's best bits back then seemed to be when he was killing it as an actor. I'm sure all the writers saw this, too, and it must have driven them insane apart from making their jobs easier.

@BrianCryptonixBradley 2 месяца назад

David, my leg

@zorantaylor3190 10 месяцев назад

I wonder if this is why Barry White is also in the snake-whacking episode of The Simpsons....

@tonyguitarro 2 года назад

Hey do you fine people have any reruns of the original Late Late Show with Tom Snyder, being a Worldwide Pants production? I loved that show.

@dimitrikorsakov2570 2 года назад

You guys should do one with Bill Scheft, too.

@joadbreslin5819 2 года назад

No doubt that will be forthcoming.

@yasirayala 2 года назад

conan was so young when he played jimmy...

@djr3386 12 дней назад

The "Camping with Barry White" gag resembles the "We have no time for Matt Damon" by Letterman fan Jimmy Kimmel. 🤔

@TDB.AO. Год назад

GOAT

@Worthywalker 2 года назад

May God have mercy on your soul, Jim Downey.

@davidroel3047 2 года назад

I liked Voyagers, too.

@thelettermanpodcast Год назад

Who didn’t?

@illygah 10 месяцев назад

17:58 Go Cyclones! God Bless Coach Nichols.

@fbomb7184 10 месяцев назад

Manimal was a real show and my 9 year old self loved it! He could turn into all sorts of animals. And it was real dramatic when he would morph. They’d play this funky 80’s synth music and do all this make up. I wish I was watching it right now! That ape show was a joke tho.

@johnnytransam5894 Год назад

Why is his video in black and white?

@samanthab1923 2 года назад

That kid looks like Conan! 😂

@thelettermanpodcast Год назад

For the gods sakes, please, Don’t blame Conan!

@michaelgreer8659 2 года назад

Touch your screen and go to settings, change speed to 1.75, hilarious.

@thelettermanpodcast Год назад

Fantastic. Now, I need to break out my Alvin and the Chipmunks records!

@mccallosone4903 2 года назад

as i recall, they stopped voyagers because the lead guy killed himself playing russian roulette. i was sad too kid, i liked that show

@RideAcrossTheRiver Год назад

No, Hexum died on the set of a different show a year later. He was clowning with a prop gun that fired powerful blanks.

@quiet451 2 года назад

I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

@ConradSpoke 10 месяцев назад

It's weird, James Downey looked a lot younger forty years ago.

@touche2584 Год назад

I just found out Jim Downey passed away last month. RIP Legend.

@JohnLee-ue6gy 10 месяцев назад

Odd, he was just on Conan Needs a Friend.

@rjonzun5828 10 месяцев назад

He's not dead

@fbomb7184 10 месяцев назад

Voyagers was great. Surprised they haven’t tried a reboot. Actually the premise was ensuring history happened the way it was supposed to. Nowadays they just rewrite history.

@ThePeej 10 месяцев назад

Are James & Jim Downey related??

@GR8FLMD3AD 3 месяца назад

BUT WHO WILL CLOSE THE DOORKNOB GAP?!

@bmla88 2 года назад

Fun fact: Jimmy was played by a young Conan Obrien.

@dongiller 2 года назад

Conan was 20 the year this aired.

@RideAcrossTheRiver Год назад

It was Chris Elliott.

@VillemarMxO 11 месяцев назад

That was me. I am writing this from prison. Shortly after this afterschool special I turned to a life of crime, subsequently convicted of multiple homicides with 17 consecutive life sentences. That fame really went to my head. 😢

@roccoand2612 2 года назад

Bermuda!

@lawrenceflail3164 9 месяцев назад

I never knew the World's Largest Vase married common street trash.

@hebber1961 10 месяцев назад

If I went camping with Barry White and he was bitten by a snake.... he's not gonna make it.

@lynnturman8157 2 года назад

At the end, they shoulda had somebody accidentally knock over the vase.

@justinhicks306 2 года назад

When the hell did Jim Downey become an old guy?

@samanthab1923 2 года назад

Right? Makes me feel old

@mackymintle7806 Год назад

I remember that hilariously awful pirate bit.

@tvviewer4500 10 месяцев назад

He worked at the late show/letterman longer than that... right?

@YourTVFriend 10 месяцев назад

No, he didn’t. He still had a decent influence on the early years of the show however

@1972glm Год назад

26:08 Daniel Stern?

@qthelost Год назад

Yeah, he was a guest that night and became involved in the skit.

@actualturtle2421 Год назад

Jim Downey is one of the funniest writers in the history of television, but it's kind of mind blowing that he isn't all that funny in real life. Like I'm sure the guy can crack a joke, but for someone who's such a genius at putting pen to paper, I'm just surprised that he doesn't really have the "comedian" kind of humor about him. That's fascinating to me.