David Letterman recently celebrated 30 years in late night television. I had the good fortune of working nights for a while back in his early days, back when he was still at NBC and following Johnny Carson. I got home at just the right time to watch his show. Here was this guy who was a bit of a nerdy oddball with a gap toothed smile, a deadpan delivery and a show that was twisted off center just enough to make it interesting. Of course, band leader Paul Shafer was an old friend from his days on Saturday Night Live and the Blues Brothers band. Not to knock Doc and the Tonight Show band, but it was nice to hear a rock band for a change. After all, it was the 80s and that big band sound had been passé for years. Paul and Dave had that wonderful banter thing they did after the opening monologue that was always fun. Aside from the usual celebrity interviews, that occasionally went off in odd directions completely by themselves, there were also the original bits that really made the show a bit different. The show made a star out of Larry Bud Melman, a man who was well past his prime and never had any aspirations of being a star who was stuck in front of the camera to do different bits that he always seemed to mess up. He didn't seem to mind being the butt of the joke and it was some of the best entertainment you will ever see. It was sad to hear of his passing a few years back. I was also a big fan of Chris Eliot and his man under the stairs. He was another one of those not expecting to be a star. He was a little more suited to it with his slightly twisted humor. He went on to his own delightfully demented series on FOX that just didn't last nearly long enough and a miner movie career. Who knows what he's up to these days? (Thats a rhetorical question. You don't have to answer it.) If only I were young and working nights again. But things are much better now; I'm sure for both of us. Despite the huge bank account and years of success, Dave seems to still be the same nerdy oddball with the gap toothed grin. That's probably why he is still in business. I've always wanted to appear on his show just so I could ask Dave if it is true that he once shot a man just to watch him die. If you saw some of the early shows you will understand that question. Thanks for the memories, Dave, and here's to another 30 years.

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