/Chris,
 
I  agree with almost all of what you assert; however, since Letterman
himself calls them "Stupid Pet/Human Tricks," don't you agree that he
knows his humor is "stupid?" Great humorist, like Letterman do "stupid"
things; bad humorists are just stupid. Perhaps someone would like to
define good "stupid" humor and bad stupid humor?
 
Patrick [log in to unmask]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
On Wed, 18 May 1994, Chris White wrote:
 
> In response to my friend Gloria Monti's posting regarding
> The Late Show Starring David Letterman , and the humor (or
> lack thereof) contained within, I'd like to make a few points
> in defense of Mr. Letterman.
>
> Letterman's humor is predominantly based on sarcasm, and is
> often self-deprecating as well.  He loves knocking big stars
> down to the size of the "common" person.  Witness his recent
> comment to Jeff Goldblum, "You know, Jeff, we're just a couple
> of stooges up here."  Or his joking about how badly his recent
> interviews with Madonna and James Caan went.
>
> He skewers just about every cultural icon imaginable, with a
> distinct emphasis on pop culture icons.  The obvious extrapolation
> here is that those with a strong background in pop culture would
> have an advantage in "getting" the humor.  On the other hand, those
> whose pop culture knowledge is, shall we say, limited, could very
> well end up staring at the television screen with blank expressions
> on their faces, thinking, "This is stupid".
>
> Additionally, Letterman has consistantly altered the boundaries of
> the talk show format, much as Steve Allen did during his term as
> host of "The Tonight Show" years ago.  Whether through taking his
> camera unannounced into retail businesses, maintaining ongoing
> on-camera relationships with workers in nearby businesses,
> addressing sidewalk crowds with a public address system, or
> bringing passersby onto the stage from the street, Letterman
> involves the public in a manner never before seen in talk shows.
> His "Stupid Pet Tricks" and "Stupid Human Tricks" bits show us that
> Warhol was indeed correct with his well-known observation
> regarding fame.
>
> Who else would brazenly interrupt the taping of a segment for "The
> Today Show" by leaning out of a window and shouting through a bullhorn
> to the crew and crowd below, "I'm not wearing any pants!", thereby
> incurring the wrath of the obnoxiously egotistical Bryant Gumbel?
> This alone qualifies Dave as a hero in my eyes.  Not to mention a
> ground-breaking force in television humor.
>
> Is Letterman's humor occasionally stupid?  Of course.  That's part of
> his charm.  Is it always stupid?  Only if you don't "get" it, or don't
> want to.  But then, that's what the channel changer is for, isn't it?
>
> - Chris White
>