Comments on: Leno Versus Letterman

By: Marlowecan

Marlowecan — Fri, 29 May 2009 17:30:56 +0000

Heh-heh...Leno vs. Letterman inspires the same vehemence as Windows vs. Mac...or Bush vs. Obama.

I would disagree with murder (re: OJ) as a comic touchstone.
Some of the most interesting comedy pushes envelopes...dealing with murder, genocide.

I thought Leno's "Dancing Itos" on the Tonight Show captured the whole surreality of the OJ trial media spectacle brilliantly.

What would you make of Mel Brooks' "Springtime for Hitler" from "The Producers"?

If OJ is off limits for comedy...what of genocidical Nazi dictators?

Personally, I think Letterman is the more watchable of the two...but Leno is the harder working comedian.

Letterman is undeniably more liberal...but in his most recent encounter with Bill O'Reilly it was interesting to see Letterman conceding, almost to his surprise, when O'Reilly scored a valid point in comeback.

Leno certainly seems far more anxious to please people...his insecurities are front and center, while Letterman's are more veiled, I think.

By: jokerlola

jokerlola — Fri, 29 May 2009 16:17:14 +0000

Patrick, you are way way off base. Letterman started out as a broadcaster like Carson. Letterman then came out to California and became a comedy writer AND a stand up. He then went on to become a writer like Carson who used to write for Jack Benny and Red Skelton. It was his stand up that broke him nationally and he became a frequent stand up guest and guest host for Carson. Letterman is the one with respect for Carson who was his idol. Leno pushed Carson off the Tonight Show and stabbed him in the back. By the time Carson was ending his run and Leno was readying taking over, Leno's people were treating the Carson camp so bad that they weren't even talking. To find out what really happened, read “The Late Shift” by Bill Carter. You will also find out how Leno stabbed his”friend” Letterman in the back to win the Tonight Show over him. This is after Letterman jumpstarted Leno's then dead career by regularly putting him on his Late Night show. As far as their partisan leanings. Did you not see how Letterman savaged Clinton in the 90's? The real difference between Letterman and Leno is that Dave goes after those that deserve to be gone after regardles of party and Leno tries to constantly play it down the middle even when there is no middle. He will try to hit each party equally even when one party is clearly the more at wrong which makes him a phony. As far as getting too personal with Jokes., when Leno was having a great ol time making fun of the whole OJ case over the bodies of 2 dead people. Letterman refused to do OJ jokes because he said; “Double homocide just doesn't crack me up like it used to!”. That's all you need to know.

Elliot Gainway

By: Marlowecan

Marlowecan — Fri, 29 May 2009 15:33:02 +0000

I think Patrick makes an interesting point re: stand-up comedy being the crucial difference.

Leno is, first and foremost, a stand-up comic. (I would disagree with Patrick in that Letterman is more truly Carson's heir...and certainly Letterman felt he was).

Leno works an incredibly punishing schedule. He also more obviously exhibits the odd character quirks and anxieties of those who were dependent on audiences for survivial in their careers.

In the Seinfeld movie "The Comedian" (great film) we see a backstage encounter between Seinfeld and Leno, when Seinfeld learns that Leno has never spent a cent of the money he makes from the "Tonight Show" (he banks it all...and lives off his stand-up work).

Seinfeld cracks up, and says to Leno: "You still think it is all going to be taken away...and you'll end up a janitor."
Leno gives a sheepish look.

Comedians are all nutters!

QED:

"A talent agent is sitting in his office. A family walks in...."

By: Don Quijote

Don Quijote — Fri, 29 May 2009 12:30:46 +0000

While neither man has officially stated his political affiliation I think it is safe to assume both are fairly liberal in their viewpoints.

Bullshit!

I stopped watching Leno when he turned he decided to pimp the Terminator for Governor.