|
The Lateshow has only had three hosts in its close to 50 year history. It started with Groucho Marx, then Johnny Carson (an avid amateur astronomer too who due to his work in promoting amateur astronomy has an asteroid named after him!), and now David Letterman.
Letterman whether you like him or not, and The Lateshow, has become an institution. Maybe he was there for too long, maybe not. I went through a phase of watching his program for a time. I also remember as a little boy, Carson hosting the show, and me stealing minutes from my bedtime to watch a little of it to see what famous guests he would have on his show.
Groucho's orgininal layout of the show really hasn't changed much over the years. Technology has increased the capacity to gain information and share it, but the ideas are the same. And it works. It is not totally brainless, far from it. And it gives relief from the maddening 'info ads' that are a substitute for real TV.
Letterman has not been free from scandal. And I'm glad he hasn't been! Makes him more human this way. He had to eat to serious humble pie for his indiscretions. And in a time when falling from grace as a public figure is instant and fatal, Letterman is still standing.
That's my take on Letterman and The Lateshow. I wonder if the baton is to be passed on and to whom?
Alex.
|