David Letterman signs off as late-night host

Something about him...bored me.

33 years and 6,028 broadcasts! Holy moley. otsukaresamadesu.

Something about him...bored me.

Letterman's humour was not for those who prefer the more obvious, folksy brand of someone like jay Leno.

Letterman was funny because he had the genius to let other people be themselves and be funny and to position himself in the background. As a fellow Midwesterner, I appreciated that. In the mid 80s his show was to me like sitting by the evening fireside. Otsukaresamadeshita indeed.

Man, I grew up on David Letterman and the Tonight Show. I watched both of them though they were on at the same time. I usually decided which to watch by the guests and the pre-interview schedule. I love Tonight Show's Headlines and interviewing people on the street. David's Top 10 list, stupid animal tricks and talking with the deli owner downstairs was classic.

I did hear that David Letterman wasn't as personable with the guests as Jay was because he didn't socialize with them before the show. He is actually really introverted outside of the studio. His interviews were always funny though because he was spontaneous. That's a true comedian for you.

I was 22 when Letterman started his NBC show. I'm 55 now. I've watched him for all of my adult life. As much as I like Stephen Colbert (or the "Stephen Colbert" persona from the Colbert Report), I have to wonder if his version of the show will click with me and others my age the way Letterman did all those years ago.

A few items that should go to the Smithsonian: Letterman's desk, chair and microphone, Paul Shafer's organ, Biff Henderson's headset, and the velcro suit.

The entire show was a joke about late night talk shows