The Gift of Encouragement

Let me tell you a story. A young computer programmer started his own company. They dealt in hardware and software and very quickly established a niche for themselves in Silicon Valley and beyond. Bigger companies offered to buy them out, but the young man stuck to his guns and continued to grow his little business. Soon his reputation was that of a genius and his little company had become a very big deal. When Apple came calling, asking him to become their new CEO, he could not refuse. He was soon the boy wonder of the computing world, adored by many and respected by all.

He was replaced at his little company by a unknown woman, previously a simple programmer at an even smaller company. Immediately there were struggles. Other business leaders did not respect her. Reviews of new products were unmerciful and scathing. After only one month on the job it seemed that both she and the company might not last. Four months later they were on the verge of going under.

At that point she received a very strange phone call. It seemed that the CEO of Apple, the biggest of big shots in their business, wanted to come by and address the employees and shareholders of the little company he had founded. She was stunned, and even thought it might be a prank. But it wasn't. The young man came to the meeting and shared with the crowd that the woman was indeed the right person for the job and that they should have faith in her. He reminded them that he had come from nothing as well. He stood up for her and gave her the boost she needed to carry on. And from that day forward attitudes changed, perceptions changed and the little company once again began to flourish. She had never asked for the kindness she received, but it changed her life and the lives of those who worked for her- forever. Encouragement can do that. It can change the world.

That story is a parable, made up by this writer to make a point. But it has a mirror image that is not fictional, but is in fact very real. The young man in the real story is David Letterman, and the company was Late Night- his show at NBC. After Dave left for CBS he was replaced by another young man named Conan O'Brien, an unknown writer who was in way over his head as a performer. And just like in the parable, under the new leadership the show floundered and nearly failed. But for reasons that Conan still doesn't understand, Letterman (who by then was the hottest name in television) asked to come back on his old show as a guest. And he brought his A game. He told Conan that he was doing great and that he was right where needed to be. When Dave left, his words of encouragement lifted the entire cast and crew to a new level- and gave Conan another 16 years as the host of Late Night. On his current show on the night of May 20th Conan told this story as a tribute to Letterman, and added this: "If you have ever liked any silly or stupid thing I've done on television over the past 22 years, you must know that it probably never would have happened if it weren't for Dave. At one of the lowest points in my life, when I was a national punchline, Dave, for reasons I still don't really understand, rescued me. I still believe that that simple act of kindness turned everything around and made all the difference."

Whether in business, athletics, personal relationships or faith, there is incredible, awesome and amazing power in encouragement. A few kind and supportive words and deeds can change someone's day- or their life. Today I challenge you to seek out someone you know who needs a lift, a boost or a rescue. Reach out to them and give them encouragement and hope. You cannot imagine the impact. And you will be a better person for it. Have a great weekend!

Because of Jesus,

Goodnight, David Letterman

Tonight is David Letterman's last night on late night television after 33 years. So much has been written and said about Dave and his legacy, and it seemed fitting for me to (mostly) let the words of his peers be my tribute to him today. When Dave's dear friend (and kissing buddy) Julia Roberts made her final appearance last week, she summed up in one sentence my deepest feelings about Dave: "I just want to say David Letterman I love you, and I thank you for all of the joy and the laughs and the intelligence you have brought to us for 33 years."

You see, it occurs to me that it is indeed his intelligence that sets Dave apart from his modern peers. I love Jimmy Fallon, I watch his show quite often and he will be my go-to guy in the days to come- but the truth is I don't want to live in a world where Jimmy is the "King of Late Night." Jimmy's Tonight Show does sketches and broad comedy gags better than anything SNL does anymore, but his interviews consist of fawning all over his guests and telling us that their new horrible movie is "just the best." Dave was just the opposite. As Julia Roberts said to him recently, "Stupid people annoy you." And it's true. In just the past few weeks Dave did lengthy and in-depth interviews with former President Clinton, President Obama and Michelle Obama- and we learned things. He inspired us after 9/11; he shared a heart attack and personal scandals with us in very courageous ways. Letterman has often joked over the years that the road to the White House went through the Ed Sullivan Theater- and he was only partially kidding. His interviews could make or break a candidate. But even while being intelligent, Dave always made us laugh. In these past few weeks we saw Tina Fey rip off her dress, announcing that in honor of Dave it was the last dress she would ever wear. We heard Cher tell Dave that she loved him, but that he is "still an a**hole." We witnessed George Clooney handcuff himself to Dave and tell the startled host, "You ain't going anywhere!" The audience gasped as the great American actor Al Pacino made an unannounced appearance just to read the numbers for a Top 10 list. Not the actual list; just the numbers! We watched as the comedian Norm MacDonald wept while telling that Dave that he loved him. Last night we watched Bill Murray jump out of a cake for the final "regular" show. And this same mixture of comedy, intelligence and emotion has been going on for 33 years. So one last time, I want to say #ThanksDave. It's going to be weird knowing you aren't there. And as promised, here are some things others have said as we bid him a fond farewell...

In their own words...
“He was, for me, and I think many comics of my generation, an incredible epiphany of how a talk show or how entertainment or how television could… for God’s sake, the man put a camera on a monkey. There are so few people that can innovate that format. And then…to be an innovator with longevity, I mean, damn. The list is Dave. I think the list is Dave.”  - Jon Stewart on The Daily Show

"As I write this, there are only 10 shows left before the funniest, most inventive and smartest man who ever wore an Alka Seltzer suit goes fishing for good. None of us who discovered Dave on our own and claimed him as our own will ever be able to satisfactorily explain to the younger people who didn’t what he did, what he meant and what he means. I guess it doesn’t matter. It’s only an exhibition, not a competition. Thanks Dave. For whatever it’s worth, you’re my favorite. (And Paul, I love you too.)"  - Jimmy Kimmel in Time Magazine

"Dave was a true revolution- and I believe his innovations are up there with the light-bulb and the Twix Bar." - Conan O'Brien in Entertainment Weekly

“David Letterman gave us 33 years of innovation, fun, and just plain weirdness… but mostly fun, and he opened our eyes to the type of comedy that could be done on television...he taught us that comedy could be both smart and stupid." - Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show

Adam Sandler sang this tribute after telling Dave that long ago he, Spade, Farley, Rock and the rest had realized that Dave was better than they were:

(While speaking to Dave on the show) “When I heard you announce that you were retiring I thought, ‘he’s got to be joking.’ And then I remembered, ‘wait, you’re not funny.’” - Steve Martin

"And as far as I'm concerned, just for me, that's what is happening here now. May 20th will be the day the comedy dies. Yeah." - Ray Romano (referencing the song American Pie on is last appearance).

Jay Leno could not be reached for comment, but if he had said something it would have been something someone else (probably Howard Stern) already said. Because that's what Jay does.

(On The Late Show Monday night) "Like everyone else here, on Thursday I'm just unplugging the boob tube and ripping out the cord. I can watch anything else I need to see in 7 minute clips on YouTube." - Tom Hanks

"Of all the great opportunities and great moments we have had because of this show, our first time on Letterman has to be right at the top."  - Mike Greenberg on Mike & Mike In the Morning

(While speaking to Dave on the show) "Let me just say this. The truth is, what you have meant to all of us- all of us as fans- and I'm going to tell you why I'm going to say it. I've watched you , Dave- I've been at home, I've watched you in my underwear. There are not many men I have watched in underwear. Here's the thing- what you've meant to us- all of us- with so many of the laughs and everything else, but also walking us through the times when we didn't know what to do- like 9/11 and where we weren't sure when we could laugh again. You may be going off the air, but you belong to us for the ages, my friend." - George Clooney

And that's just about all there is to say. I am a big fan of Stephen Colbert, and I hope he will do well. But to be honest, "I wouldn't give his problems to a monkey on a rock!" Following David Letterman is a lot like following Babe Ruth. There is only one Greatest of All-Time. Dave, of course, would say it's Johnny Carson. But it's Dave. Norm MacDonald said it...so it's got to be true! 

Goodnight Dave. 

Farewell, Dave!

Monday night my family sat down together for a rare chance to watch a TV show as it was actually being broadcast. This momentous occasion was created by the airing of 90 minute special honoring the career of the great David Letterman. We all LOVE Dave and are sad to see his 35 year run on television come to a close, and so we gathered to celebrate his genius. In some ways these last 13 shows are like a farewell tour for a family friend. Why do we love Dave? Let me count the ways...

My own relationship with Letterman began sometimes in 1980 when I stumbled across The David Letterman Show, an NBC morning talk show that aired at 10 am. I was immediately mesmerized. There is a very vivid memory of Dave calling someone out of the studio audience and talking about their job with them. He got the phone number of the woman's boss and called him at the office. After some small talk and outing the employee for being at his show instead of work, Dave demanded a raise for the woman, threatening to have her quit if the employer failed to comply. The boss was confused, the woman terrified and the audience on the floor laughing. It was all so wrong- and yet it was amazingly funny. Dave started his career way ahead of his time. The morning show only lasted just over a year, but it won 2 Emmys and set Dave on the path to stardom and Late Night with David Letterman.

It didn't take long for Late Night to turn the talk show world upside down. Nothing Letterman did was normal; from Top 10 Lists to Stupid Pet Tricks. His interviews were neither fawning nor condescending; in fact, Cher called him an "A-hole" on air. There were skits and recurring characters, like Chris Elliot's Man Under the Seats who "lived" in the theater. He destroyed things with great comic effect, like dropping watermelons from the top of 30 Rock or launching bowling balls through TV screens. He also began a career-long tradition of bringing us music and bands we couldn't see anywhere else. The show was edgy and unpredictable, and was a cult smash among college students- which at the time included me.

When it came time for Dave's idol and mentor Johnny Carson to retire in 1993, Letterman was clearly Johnny's choice as his successor. NBC saw things differently and allowed Jay Leno (who has never once done anything original) to snake the show away from Dave, and make no mistake- the "nicest guy in show biz" did indeed steal The Tonight Show. So Dave headed to CBS for The Late Show with David Letterman and we went with him. His first show on CBS was August 30, 1993 and featured Bill Murray (one of my favorite people) and Billy Joel (my wife's favorite musician). The date is stamped in my head, because we stayed up late on our 7th wedding anniversary and watched live. One of the highlights of the night was the late Paul Newman standing up in the studio audience to a great ovation before asking Dave, "Where the hell are the singing cats?" and announcing he was in the wrong theater. Dave had moved, but not much had changed. There were still wacky antics and crazy game shows like Will It Float? and Know Your Cuts of Meat. He gave away canned hams to audience members. The monologue got longer and the interviews got better, but the spirit of Late Night remained intact. For several years we would use the old VCR and record Dave each night and watch him the next evening. That ended as Will became a toddler and our lives changed, but we watched whenever we could and were always comforted knowing Dave was still there to make us laugh and bring us the absolute best in musical acts. Eventually, we began to DVR shows again and Will became a huge fan as well. We were with Dave though 9/11 and his heart attack, through his scandals and his triumphs. In the early 2000s I was n the studio audience at the Ed Sullivan Theater on 3 occasions, and each one is a treasured evening. Dave was part of the family.

If we made Dave a part of our family, he included us in his as well. We got to know Paul, Biff, Tony the Cue Card Boy, Stephanie the Intern, Alan the Announcer and other crew members through the years. He introduced to the neighborhood and such memorable people as Rupert Gee, Mujibar and Sirajul. He took us out the streets of NYC to goof on locals and tourists alike. His friends, like Murray, Steve Martin, Michael Keaton, Don Rickles, Regis Philbin, Julia Roberts, Bruce Willis, Tom Hanks and so many others were always anxious to spend time in the chair next to Dave. He both touted and tortured politicians and leaders. And he never let us forget about "that thing on Donald Trump's head..."

There were so many amazing moments. The 1982 night Andy Kaufman and wrestler Jerry Lawler got into a "fight" on the old show. His ongoing feud with Oprah and his "Oprah Journal." The 1994 Norway Olympics when Dave sent his Mom as a special correspondent and she was truly amazing, The night in 2008 when John McCain lied to Dave about his reasons for backing out of an appearance on the show and Dave proceeded to destroy him over the next three weeks until McCain finally showed up and admitted, "I screwed up." The night Paul McCartney played the marquee of the Ed Sullivan theater in a free concert for the people of NYC. Drew Barrymore dancing on Dave's desk before flashing him. The Christmas traditions of Darlene Love singing Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) and Jay Thomas telling the Greatest Talk Show Story Ever Told before trying to knock a pizza off the the top of the Christmas tree with a football. It would be difficult to pick a favorite moment, but if forced it might be Dave's interview with Rush Limbaugh in 1993. After trying to get Limbaugh to stop his disparaging comments about the Clinton administration and talk about himself, Dave finally looked at Limbaugh with exasperation and said, "Hey Rush- do you ever get up in the morning and think, Geez I'm full of hot air?" Shutting up Rush Limbaugh is no easy task- but Dave did it! Or it might be the night that Sixpence None the Richer performed and Dave called Leigh Nash over to the couch to talk and explain their name. The two of them talked about C.S. Lewis, faith and hope. And then Dave finished by saying, "Well God bless you and what you are doing." It was a magic moment.

The best way to judge David Letterman is through the affection of his peers. Old SNL cast members used to wait outside the stage door at NBC just hoping to met him. He is a hero to all of his contemporary late nights competitors- Fallon, Kimmel, Colbert, Stewart and Conan. They freely admit that without Dave, their lives would be vastly different. Kimmel worships him and Fallon steals from his old shows on a regular basis. In last week's Entertainment Weekly Conan had this to say: "Dave was a true revolution- and I believe his innovations are up there with the light-bulb and the Twix Bar." Musicians adore him as well. Dave Grohl, former Nirvana drummer and lead singer of the Foo Fighters had this to say to EW: "We've done a lot of those shows, but nobody has the heart that he has. Not even close." Presidents and presidential candidates from both sides of the aisle have come on the show because they know the power of Dave. Comedians lobby for a few minutes of air time. After his retirement, Carson made several appearances on The Late Show, even taking time to write jokes for Dave on occasion. The Late Show was seldom the most watched show in late night, but it was ALWAYS the most important.

And now it's about to be over. In this last year I confess we have watched Fallon more often, in part to start the grieving process. We will miss Dave very much. When Ed Sullivan did his last show in the same theater back in 1971, nobody knew it was his last show. It was cancelled after the end of the season- so no one got say, "Thanks Ed,  for all those years of amazing entertainment." That was a shame. And we should not let it happen again. Do not let May 20th pass without saying, "Thanks, Dave- for changing everything." So THANK YOU, David Letterman, for being the most creative and lovable curmudgeon ever. You will be missed.

Ding, Dong the Witch Is Dead! (Maybe)

Tonight at midnight Jimmy Fallon becomes the latest host of the historical and prestigious The Tonight Show as it moves back to its original home, New York City. I am thrilled for Jimmy, and so glad to see a comic of such brilliance get his his opportunity is such a big spot. His stint on The Late Show gave us some truly great moments, and I wish him well as he begins this new adventure. I also pray for his job security...

Those who know me well know that I dearly love David Letterman. I realize that Dave is an acquired taste, and has always been too edgy for lots of people. But many of his shows over the years have made for historic TV moments- such as his first show back after 9/11, his interviews with political figures, and countless bits- the Top 10 lists, Stupid Human Tricks and so many more- that have found their way into the public consciousness. I have been fortunate enough to be in his studio audience on 3 different occasions. I find him to be unique, creative and inventive. Not to mention hysterical. And I am not alone. Many of the world's best comics are huge fan's of Dave, and have not been afraid to say so. Included on that list are Jimmy Kimmel (who pretty much worships Dave), Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert and Conan O'Brien. These current late night hosts all see Dave as a role model- as does Fallon. And it is so exciting to think that beginning tonight they will all be sharing late night together, one big happy family of hosts. Because FINALLY...probably....maybe...Jay Leno is gone. For good. Ding dong the witch is dead!

I am aware there are many people who have watched Leno over the years, and that his ratings have usually been better than those of his competitors. This is something I have never understood. He stole The Tonight Show job some 20 years ago despite the fact that the only true KING of late night, the late Johnny Carson, had handpicked Letterman to be his heir. That was strike one. Strike two was the way he snaked Conan some 5 years ago, giving him the The Tonight Show and then yanking it out from under him when his own ill-conceived 10 PM nightly show crashed and burned, pretty much taking an entire network down with him. NBC has yet to recover from that debacle. But the big strike- the one that has been constant in my opinion- is that Jay Leno was never funny. Actually, my favorite Leno memory is from his voice acting as the Crimson Chin on the great animated series Fairly Odd Parents. His most famous bit from The Tonight Show is "Jay-Walking," which he ripped off from Howard Stern (as Stern is quick to bring up every time he appears on Letterman). He has no memorable characters and very few noteworthy bits. He also has no respect from his peers. Jon Stewart once said that there had been no original material on the show since Johnny left. Kimmel went on Jay's show and skewered him for his treatment of Conan. And when Letterman had Conan on his show shortly after that outrage, thew two of them just sat and smiled at each other for a minute before Dave said, "You know the longer we just sit here the more nervous Jay gets." Many of the world's funniest people have gone on record as saying Leno is not funny. I agree. And now finally, he is gone. Again. Maybe...

So despite my long-standing "relationship" with Dave, tonight I will be up and watching Jimmy Fallon assume the throne of one of the greatest franchises in television history. I truly hope that millions will join me, and that the ratings will be so good that NBC will be asking "Jay who?" in a very short period of time. Because otherwise, I can't help but think that Leno will be hanging around the office of the network looking for another opportunity to to show his his big...chin. So good luck, Jimmy. I've got your back. I think we are entering a new golden age of late night TV. And I'm looking forward to the ride!

And in case you are wondering...of COURSE I'll be recording Letterman tonight. I'm no traitor...

Thank You, David Letterman

Marilyn and Will left early yesterday morning and drove to NC to spend a week with her family. I will miss them, of course, but I am so glad they got to take the trip this year after having missed last Christmas.  Despite the separation of many miles, we were actually able to share in a great family moment last night.  Here is that story.

The presentation of the Kennedy Center Honors was broadcast on CBS last night.  I watched with my Mom here in Tampa while the rest of my family watched in Elkin, NC.  I always enjoy this particular show, which each year honors those who have made lifelong and remarkable contributions to the arts.  In the United Kingdom, artists like Elton John and Paul McCartney are knighted.  In the United States, we award the Kennedy Center Honors medal.  It is a big deal.  And last night one of the recipients was David Letterman.  David had always had a special place in our family.  I first became a fan when watching his hilarious but ill-fated morning show back in the early 1980s.  I loved his late night show and his quirky, often weird humor.  I was totally offended when NBC passed him by when Johnny Carson retired, and thrilled when CBS gave him his own 11:30 pm time slot.  His first show aired on August 30, 1993, which also happened to be our 7th wedding anniversary.  His guests were Bill Murray and Billy Joel, and Marilyn and I watched every minute of it.  We have been watching ever since.

David has always been unique.  You never quite know where he might go next. His interviews are never boring, and as Tina Fey said last night Dave is often at his best when you get the feeling he really doesn't like the person he is talking to. He made the Top 10 list into an art form, and introduced us to countless unknown bands and comics who went on to greatness.  He has hosted world leaders, and skewered pundits and the self-important of Hollywood.  The city of New York has often been a character on the show, introducing us to his neighbors (like Rupert Gee) and to the quirks of the city.  There has never been a talk show host quite like David Letterman.  Dave always wanted to be like Johnny.  As Jimmy Kimmel said last night, this generation all wants to be like Dave.  He truly has been often imitated but never duplicated.

We felt pain and grief when Dave had his heart attack.  We were with him after 9-11, when he was such a huge part of keeping the spirits of New Yorkers afloat.  We have seen him struggle with personal failure and we have seen him in trouble with the press.  I have had the privilege of being part of the studio audience at The Ed Sullivan Theater on 3 different occasions, and I loved every minute of it.  As the years have passed, our son Will has become a huge fan as well.  Our DVR is set to record 4 shows whenever they air in their regular time slot.  We record Modern Family, The Big Bang Theory and How I Met Your Mother each week.  We record The Late Show every night.  And more often than not we watch it together.  Dave is a part of our family.

So congratulations, Dave.  and thank you.  You have brought a lot of laughter to this household over the years, and laughter can never be over-rated.  And last night, even though my family was apart, we were able to celebrate with you.  As Ray Romano shouted from the stage as they honored you last night, "I love you David Letterman!" My whole family does.  We look forward to much more from you, Paul, Biff, Tony and the rest of The Late Show crew.  And as for the guy who did get Carson's job?  Well...I wouldn't give his troubles to a MONKEY ON A ROCK!!!