Path: nntp-server.caltech.edu!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!usc!howland.reston.ans.net!darwin.sura.net!haven.umd.edu!uunet!utcsri!relay.cs.toronto.edu!neat.cs.toronto.edu!cs.toronto.edu!veatch Newsgroups: alt.fan.letterman From: veatch@cs.toronto.edu (Tim Veatch) Subject: Twas a Late Night in April ... Message-ID: <93May18.033151edt.41309@neat.cs.toronto.edu> Sender: Timothy R Veatch Organization: Toronto Fake-Sender: "Tim Veatch" Distribution: na Date: 18 May 93 07:32:17 GMT Lines: 219 Inspired by Todd's post, I decided to relay my Late Night experience. My girlfriend and I got tickets in the mail to the April 27th show and this is how things went. The guests that night were Tony Randall, Lenix Lewis (WBC heavy-weight boxer), and the commedian Alan Havey (who was once considered to replace Dave). This was also the night that Dave announced that the `new guy' would be Conan O'Brien. First, some quotes from the big show itself (that would be show #1782) ... "Thank God we have Buttafuoco now, because you would just tell a little Dan Quayle story and people would go crazy." "People are goofy." - remark Paul made (he should know) "One morning I get up to ... to go do my charity work." "And I'll be leaving the show - it's not like were're co-hosting it!" - Dave announcing the new host of `Late Night' "We ought to get a flow chart, because there's so much activity in the talk show world and ... oooo, isn't it fascinating?" Tony Randall, talking about Eagle Snacks' potato chips: "They've got sea-salt and vinegar in them." Dave: "And, oh, let's see here ... what's this? ... fiberglass?" "Strickly speaking, Bob Wright is Conan O'Brien's boss." - Dave reminding Tony Randall that he's going to CBS On Tuesday we arrived at 30 Rockefeller outside the NBC store at about 2:30 - plenty of time for the 5:35 taping. The page had to start the line for us; we were the first ones there and he guaranteed the first 12 people in line the best seats in the studio (they put 12 people in the first elevator). Instead of waiting I took a tour of Radio City Music Hall while my girlfriend waited in line. However, my girlfriend did see Tony Randall walk by and take the elevators up. When I got back to NBC at about 4:30, both lines (one for those with tickets and the other for standby) were extremely long. Waiting in line we saw someone giving autographs and figured it to be Lenix Lewis, the boxer that would be on the show. At about 5pm they started us upstairs. Unfortunately, since we were the firsts in line, we were the firsts in the elevator and subsequently the last ones out of the elevator on the 6th floor. Fortunately, we got past a few others and made it to third and fourth. This ended up being extremely important later. We then waited outside the door to the studio while they filed the rest the audience past us and into line. Then all 200 of us waited in the hallway (it's a long hallway) for a few minutes while we listened to the music coming out of the studio. When they did let us in, they escorted us to the center front row seats. There were 6 chairs in the row, so my girlfriend and I were dead center. I particularly noticed how colorful and nice the skyscrapers looked - well, probably since we watch `Late Night' on a black-and-white. Paul and the `World's Most Dangerous Band' were already playing when we walked in and they continued to play for a while - each member getting a chance to solo. We immediately noticed that Will Lee took advantage of the week's vacation and got his hair cut short, short. Suddenly Will jumped and skipped over the tops of the two chairs next to Dave's desk and onto the desk for his solo. I noticed I could read the papers attached to one of the cameras in front of me. It listed Dave's agenda for the day. Some of them looked like they were segments to be taped and shown later during the week. I could tell that Walter Cronkite would be playing `Tell us about your lunch' that evening. Soon one of the `Late Night' writers came out (I don't remember his name) to say a few words and tell some jokes. During the show he would stand at the foot of the stairs and signal the applause, etc. I was very disappointed to hear him say that we could be as loud as possible, but we could not stand at all. I had vowed that when I made it into the audience I would start Dave's standing ovation. For years I watched the audience stand up and then sit down far too soon. All those "two-men standing O's", those "phoney standing ovations" that Dave mentioned were actually repressed. If you look closely you will see them making everyone sit down. After his jokes, Bill Wendel came out to say hello and go over the ground rules - basically they wouldn't tolerate hollering out. (This actually happened early during the taping and Bill turned around immediately to give whoever it was a very dirty look.) Bill told us we should buy him some drinks down at Hurley's and then the writer announced Paul, Sid, Will, and Anton as they reappeared from the stage doors and finally Dave. At first glance Dave looked like he was wearing a rather odd tie. It appeared to be a red "power" tie, but with white hearts all over it. (Yes, my glasses do need correcting.) I didn't say anything to my girlfriend, but obviously (as you shall see) she too thought it looked strange. Dave also appeared quite different than he does on TV; he looked thinner, his hair actually looked fine, and the make-up was very noticable. NOW the best part is that Dave came right up to where we were sitting - front, center (who would have known) and reached his arm to shake ours! At first we didn't realize it and didn't offer ours. My girlfriend was nudging me to offer mine, but he moved on to shake hands with the couple on my right. After a few more nudges I stuck my hand out for a shake. I found myself saying "Hi Dave." The look he gave me seemed eerie to me - as if he looked right through me. It was nice that he looked right at us instead of scanning the audience. Then Dave looked at Bill Wendell and Bill said he had 1:51 and Dave said something like "Oh, my." He then asked the audience if they had any questions, but was more specific: "Do you have any questions about what we're gonna do here tonight?" I think this sort of confused people, because no one shot up their arm. There was a long pause. "No questions?" Perhaps they had questions, but none that specifically about tonight's show. I wanted to ask him "You've mentioned that everything in the studio is `priced to move'. So how much for your chair?" Eventually someone did raise his hand and Dave asked for his name and where he was from. He asked Dave "Are you gonna miss NBC?". "Yeah, right." is all Dave answered and everyone laughed. Dave asked what he did for a living. "Mailman." Then Dave said something surprising like "I have nothing but the highest regard for people working in the mail business ... ". If there was a joke there, I missed it. Meanwhile I could see my girlfriend's hand go up. He didn't appear to want to call on her, but eventually he did. Dave pointing to her "What's your name?" "What's that on your tie?" "What? Oh, you mean these ah ... little design ... -like things? Oh, I see. You're making fun of the way I'm dressed." < laughter > "No, no." "Stand up." She stands up. "Turn around." She turns around revealing a dark blue sweatshirt with greek characters "kappa mu alpha". Dave places his arm around her, hand on her shoulder. "Look here. She's criticizing the way I'm dressed and look what she's wearing!" < laughter > She turns to him and asks "Guess what this means (on her sweatshirt)?", but he doesn't hear her over the laughter. "Thank you." as he motions her to sit down. "What's your name?" "Where're you from?" "Toronto." "Oh, look, Paul. She's from Canada." Paul looks up and shakes his head. By that time, time was up and he needed to get in his spot for the show, so he hands *her* the microphone and putting it as she puts it "He looked deep into my eyes and smiled." [Writer's embelishment: I get up and punch his lights out and tell him to find his own woman. They delay the taping for 2 hours.] Later someone comes by to take the microphone from her. Then they did the taping of the show ......... At the end of the show Dave quickly says thanks and leaves the studio. The house lights came up and I remembered my plan to get myself on TV - stand up and turn around immediately. Sure enough. It's the only time I can see myself on the tape clearly. Unfortunately I don't stand up all the way and not very long. Next time. Downstairs just outside of the NBC lobby I noticed Biff Henderson walking down the hallway. I motioned to my girlfriend that he was coming towards her. She looks and smiles and says matter-of-factly, "Biff Henderson." "Hi. How are you doing?" "Fine." "And you?" "Great." So here's my top 6 suggestions for those about to make the journey to Late Night ... 6. Get there early (2pm) to guarantee being in the first elevator up and most importantly be the first ones in line outside the studio (studio is to left from the sixth floor hallway). 5. Bring a tape recorder to tape what goes on during the show (everything here is from memory). It would be nice to hear Dave and my girlfriend's conversation and the audience's reaction. 4. Bring a camera. Even though it is not allowed, the disposables would be nice, because they don't make any noise and don't have a flash. The panoramic view cameras could get the entire studio - from Paul to Dave. 3. Bring a magazine with Dave's picture on the front and a good marker. Perhaps if you're in the first row Dave will sign it. Bring a piece of paper and a pen. (We could have had Biff's autograph.) 2. To get yourself on TV, at the end when the houselights come up, stand up completely and turn around. ... and the number 1 suggestion to those journeying to Late Night is ... 1. Bring a backpack to carry the tape recorder, camera, markers and magazine.