David Letterman Gets Personal, Hits Jay Leno Where It Hurts

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by Steve Krakauer | 9:07 am, January 20th, 2010

» 7 comments

While the NBC infighting continues, the jokes are still coming in from around the late night spectrum – and specifically from the most vocal late night host so far, David Letterman.

Letterman previewed a promo of the “new” old Tonight Show, and knocked Jay Leno‘s “State of the Network” speech from Monday.

“They’re already promoting the new Tonight Show with Jay Leno again,” said Letterman during his monologue. As you can imagine, the fake promo took some direct shots at Leno, echoing what other comedians have come out and said publicly during the past couple weeks.

“All your favorite elements of Jay’s Tonight Show will be back,” said an announcer. “The phony handshakes, the guy with the guitar who laughs at everything, the bit he stole from Letterman’s late night show, the bit he stole from Howard Stern, the announcer he stole from Howard Stern.”

“Phony” and “stole” are two words that are some of the worst to be associated with a comedian, but it’s a storyline we’ve seen. Rosie O’Donnell made many of these points, and Howard Stern replayed them, on her satellite radio show. It is a devastating takedown. And even if, after this week, the story dies down until after the Olympics when Leno slides back to 11:30, don’t think Letterman will let this go very easily.

The Late Show host continued his NBC focus the next segment, and described why Leno’s Tuesday night explanation was “Vintage Jay.”

“He said we should not blame Conan for what’s going on,” said Letterman. “And I said to myself, ‘No one is blaming Conan.’”

Later: “You get fired, get another gig! Don’t hang around waiting for somebody to drop dead.”

Ouch.

Here’s the fake promo, and below, the explanation of “Vintage Jay”:

Here’s Letterman’s “Vintage Jay” explanation:

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http://lnsmitheeblog.blogspot.com LNSmithee

The “genius switch” has been in the “off” position since October 14, 2005 when it was slammed down so hard, the handle broke off.
dhg

I don’t watch Letterman anymore.Why?Because he has done three things no late night host should not do and that the mentor of all late night hosts would NEVER have done.He has allowed his own personal anger to show in his performance,he has allowed his personal political opinions into his performances,and he has attacked his contemporaries.Carson would never have done any of these things,he had way too much class.Letterman’s own actions have shown he was not the right choice for the Tonight Show regardless of his own opinion of his rights and ownership of it.I’m no Jay Leno or Conan fanatic but frankly Letterman and to a lesser degree Kimmel have shown their asses over this and have jumped the shark as far as I’m concerned.None of us actually knows all the story nor do we know Leno or Conan or NBC’s inner workings and that includes other late night hosts,they need to STFU.
m

I love Letterman. He will always be my second grandfather.
mcf1757

David Letterman is real King of Late Night, no matter the ratings!
J Baustian

It doesn’t matter who NBC puts on at 1135 each weeknight — I’ll find something to watch. One thing is certain, however, it won’t be Letterman. His phony smile cannot disguise a truly nasty personality. Leno, at least, seems to laugh only at stuff that’s actually amusing.

I still remember Letterman’s show in 2000 when George W Bush was the guest. First question out of the blocks was about the death penalty, and the hostility just got worst from there. Also, during the 2008 campaign, every third joke in the monologues was about “Old” John McCain.

If Letterman wants love, he can reach out to his leftie friends.
Jelperman

PWNED!
nwjw

Didn’t Letterman screw the hired help too? And not just once!