Jun 16, 2009 7:15 pm US/Eastern
'Nervous' Letterman Brushes Off Protesters
Host Jokes About Flap With Palin, Unveils 'Top Ten Things Overheard At Fire Dave Rally'
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
-
-
A writer for the Late Show with David Letterman carries a "Fire Letterman" sign onto the stage on June 16, 2009 as dozens of people gathered outside the studio demanding the host be fired.
CBS
While angry protesters called for CBS to fire longtime Late Show host David Letterman after his flap with Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the comic brushed off the hate with a slew of jokes and a Top Ten List aimed at those calling for his head.
In fact, the very first thing he said to his audience was a rib for those rallying:
"Now when I call your name, please come forward and pick up your apology. [Laughter, applause] I wanna get through this as quickly as possibly so you folks can get to the 'Fire Dave Rally.' [Cheering] It's nice that people hate me who are no longer just part of my immediate family. My son, he's telling everybody at school that his father is Conan!"
He later touched on his apology to Palin for making a distasteful joke about her daughter Bristol having sex with Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez. Many believed the joke was actually aimed at her 14-year-old daughter Willow and were appalled. Palin eventually accepted an apology from Letterman.
"The good news is Sarah Palin has accepted my apology. She also accepted a $500 gift certificate from Lens Crafters. I thought that was a nice touch," he said. "I tell you, I was quite nervous about this whole thing, and I was really nervous about an apology to Sarah Palin, so when I did get my confidence up and my nerves to settle down, I rehearsed by apologizing to Tina Fey. That helped. That was a big help. [Applause]"
At one point it appeared as though Letterman might actually show live video of the protesters marching outside the Ed Sullivan Theater.
"The big news here today in New York City is the 'Fire Dave Protest Rally' and it's going on right now. You folks are missing the real show, I'm sorry. Do we have a camera out there? Let's check in on the Fire Dave Rally, it's at 54th and Broadway!" he said. Directors then cut to footage of various looting rallies from around the world, with a graphic reading "Midtown Paralyzed By Anti-Letterman Protest" underneath.
In actuality, only about 50 protesters gathered outside the building, holding numerous signs including, "Fire The Pervert David Letterman."
During one segment, a faux-protester carrying a "Fire Letterman" sign, walked onto the set behind Letterman, who quickly pointed out that it was just one of his writers, "Joe," who gave his boss a smug look as he said he had to go so he wasn't late to the rally.
Letterman's famous "Top Ten" list was also written to poke fun at the protest, appropriately titled "Top Ten Things Overheard at the Fire David Letterman Rally." It included such quips as
"David who?" and
"When does Cheney get here with the waterboarding gear?"
Letterman's guests on Monday included actress Michelle Pfeiffer and comedian Judah Friedlander.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
