Letterman, the Early Years

After thirty-one years as a successful late night talk show host, last night David Letterman announced his retirement. The 67 year old entertainer began his career as a weatherman in Indianapolis before moving into comedy writing. In his early appearances on “The Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson, I found Letterman’s humor to be intelligent and witty.  When “The Late Show with David Letterman” premiered I must admit I was a big fan, despite its 1:00AM start time (or was it 12:30?). I used to tell people, “you’ve got to watch this guy, he’s funnier than Carson”. But as the years moved on my bedtime became earlier and earlier as my age grew older and older and I was fast asleep long before the Letterman show came on. On those very rare occasions I was awake late enough to watch the “modern day David Letterman show” I was disappointed. I’m not sure if my sense of humor had changed, or if Letterman had change, or if it was a combination of both, but I just didn’t find him funny anymore.  So for “old times” sake, I say thanks Dave for the “early years” as I post a clip from David Letterman’s very first show in 1982…Wait until to you see how funny he was in those days: