The most influential comedian of the past 35 years - there's not a comedian, talk show host, weatherman, anybody who thinks they're funny that isn't doing 'Letterman' to some degree, he was the master of irony when it didn't exist on television. He mocked show business' phoniness and himself. If you went to college/university in the 80's you were watching Letterman after Johnny Carson. It was like they gave a talk show to an overaged frat boy. He was Carson's boy, Johnny loved him.
I was so sad when he left NBC to go to CBS, watched one show and could see it would never be the same. I felt the same way when Howard Stern left WXRK for satellite radio.
Those are my two comedy gods, Dave and Howard, Stern was unknown outside NYC/Philly until Dave started inviting him on Late Night and exposed him to all of North America. They both used everyday oddball people and turned them into oddball semi celebrities.
Man I feel old.
