David Letterman Show Delivered
Unfortunately I couldn’t get any photos inside (because they don’t allow it) but I just had to do it on my last visit to Manhattan… Go to The David Letterman Show, and I’m glad I did. The entire process of just getting in is a process though. I had to sign up online. Then they call you a few days later and if you can answer a trivia question you can qualify for 2 tickets, which I did. (btw, the image below was from the show episode online).
We had to stand in front of the Ed Sullivan Theater for 1-1/2 hours (we were first in line), they usher you through the lobby to get another ticket, then they release you, just to meet back across the street an hour later. They go over the show, how it works, what’s going to happen, etc., then you go back in and wait another 30 minutes. Once let in, they seat you they have a warm up comedian (who was funny as hell), then Dave comes out for about 3-4 minutes to talk to everyone, then disappears.
Hard to see, but that’s me on the bottom left of this pic (look for yellow arrow).
10 minutes later they introduce the band, etc., then you hear Alan Kalter belt it out… “From the greatest city in the world, it’s the David Letterman show”! and it starts. It was hilarious! We were at the December 17th show (with Jude Law and Matisyahu).
What amazed me most was how small the studio was, how many people were running around making things work, and the fact that the guy sitting next to me (after the show while we were leaving) was on stage talking with the producer, the comedian, and actually getting HIS picture taken while sitting at Letterman’s desk! WHAT? Who the hell was this guy, and why were they taking pictures of HIM? I know he liked playing hockey, was from Montreal, and this was his 5th time seeing the show… Guess I should have asked more questions while talking to him for over 3 hours while standing in line. Oh well, next trip.
The Paul Schaffer Orchestra Band was so tight, so amazing, and so talented. It was like getting a private concert between commercial breaks. And ya, it’s weird after watching the show for so many years to now know that it tapes from 3:30-5:30 p.m. Really never thought about it I guess.
Even though we waited outside in lines for about 2 hours total (at 29 degrees) once we got into the theater I had to leave my coat on, it’s fricken freezing in that place! If you haven’t seen that show, you might want to go to CBS online and checkout the Dec 17, 2009 episode, he drives an electric cupcake into his Christmas tree and the toy segment is really funny.
Next trip… Saturday Night Live!
