David Letterman is not funny
#26
DVD Talk Legend
I think Dave, Jay and Jon Stewart are all funny...perhaps not rolling-on-the-floor in laughter funny - but funny nevertheless.
Dave's good at being spontaneous...none of the written material on the show is particularly humorous - but when something happens out of the blue (like CBS posting Jay's picture on the People's Choice Awards website) - there's nobody better than Dave at picking up something like that and running with it for a few shows. He's also the best interviewer of celebs on late night.
Jay's good at writing jokes...his monologue is entertaining, but he's not very good at interviewing.
Now Conan...I just don't get his appeal. He's seems like a decent enough guy, but he's never really made me laugh.
Dave's good at being spontaneous...none of the written material on the show is particularly humorous - but when something happens out of the blue (like CBS posting Jay's picture on the People's Choice Awards website) - there's nobody better than Dave at picking up something like that and running with it for a few shows. He's also the best interviewer of celebs on late night.
Jay's good at writing jokes...his monologue is entertaining, but he's not very good at interviewing.
Now Conan...I just don't get his appeal. He's seems like a decent enough guy, but he's never really made me laugh.
#27
DVD Talk Godfather
I've never found Conan funny either. I don't know how he has been on as long as he has. The monologue consists of 3 bad jokes. Maybe 4 on a good night. That is it. 3 jokes!
Jay needs to quit trying to be Carson, always having on some animal handler. If I wanted to see animals, I would go to the zoo. Seems like at least once a week.
Jay needs to quit trying to be Carson, always having on some animal handler. If I wanted to see animals, I would go to the zoo. Seems like at least once a week.
#29
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From: A secret rebel stronghold in the Republic of San Marcos
Letterman is god. And his influence on the two best in the business right now (O'Brien and Stewart) is an undeniable fact.
Leno's popularity, on the other hand, is a timeless mystery. He's the Bigfoot of pop culture.
Leno's popularity, on the other hand, is a timeless mystery. He's the Bigfoot of pop culture.
#30
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From: 11.5 Miles from the Strip
NO one will ever replace the man: Johnny Carson.
The best setup was Carson, followed by Letterman.
Those were the days.
For the record, I have always been a Letterman fan, and miss the grand old days.
Don't even get me started on Leno.....
--LVM
The best setup was Carson, followed by Letterman.
Those were the days.
For the record, I have always been a Letterman fan, and miss the grand old days.
Don't even get me started on Leno.....
--LVM
#31
DVD Talk Legend
If I'm up late enough, I'll watch the first part of Letterman instead of the first part of Leno. After that, it depends on the guest.
Kilborne could be the second funniest host on late night tv, but I'll never not watch Conan.
Kilborne could be the second funniest host on late night tv, but I'll never not watch Conan.
#32
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I used to think Leno was funny when he was a standup comic and appeared on Letterman and Carson as a guest. But since he got the Tonight Show gig, he has seriously dumbed down his act ... and has made the Tonight Show a watered-down, lowest-common-denominator version of Letterman's old NBC show, which really was controlled anarchy in its heyday. You never knew what was going to happen on that show. It was brilliant and quite innovative. From what little I've seen of Conan's show, it seems like his is the best imitator.
Last edited by otmetrud; 01-25-04 at 09:15 AM.
#33
Nobody will ever replace Carson. Carson's ability to interact with people and his natural ability to comment on the news with humor will never be replicated by anyone.
I still like Letterman over Leno because nowadays Letterman can often bring out the funniest in his interviewees.
Too bad Richard Simmons won't go on The Late Show with David Letterman nowadays because every time Simmons went on Letterman's show the banter back and forth was always amazingly funny--especially with Letterman's snide remarks.
And Letterman is one of the few interviewers that can do one-on-one interviews with Howard Stern without turning into a disaster.
I still like Letterman over Leno because nowadays Letterman can often bring out the funniest in his interviewees.
Too bad Richard Simmons won't go on The Late Show with David Letterman nowadays because every time Simmons went on Letterman's show the banter back and forth was always amazingly funny--especially with Letterman's snide remarks.
And Letterman is one of the few interviewers that can do one-on-one interviews with Howard Stern without turning into a disaster.
#34
DVD Talk Hero
Originally posted by Grouch094820 & 5/17
Don't like the show? Don't watch it. Problem solved.
Don't like the show? Don't watch it. Problem solved.
#35
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From: Los Angeles
I think Letterman is not funny in the least bit. I cannot understand how people find him amusing. His show's format sucks, he sits around and talks to paul (who i cannot stand at all) about nothing. His sketches (will it float, etc.) are incredibly lame and the top10 just isn't funny at all. I agree and think he should quit and give the job to conan, the funniest man alive.
Also, in a related topic, while I don't really find leno all that humorous, at least his show has a good format and has some funny sketches like jaywalking and headlines....
oh and craig kilborn sucks too (my opinion anyway).
Also, in a related topic, while I don't really find leno all that humorous, at least his show has a good format and has some funny sketches like jaywalking and headlines....
oh and craig kilborn sucks too (my opinion anyway).
#36
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From: Los Angeles
Originally posted by Michael Corvin
I've never found Conan funny either. I don't know how he has been on as long as he has. The monologue consists of 3 bad jokes. Maybe 4 on a good night. That is it. 3 jokes!
I've never found Conan funny either. I don't know how he has been on as long as he has. The monologue consists of 3 bad jokes. Maybe 4 on a good night. That is it. 3 jokes!
did you forget he only has 1 hour instead of 1.5 that leno and letterman have?
#37
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From: Emerson College - Boston, MA
Originally posted by xDareDevilx
did you forget he only has 1 hour instead of 1.5 that leno and letterman have?
did you forget he only has 1 hour instead of 1.5 that leno and letterman have?
Me, I hate Letterman - I just don't find him funny. I honestly enjoy Leno's show; sure, he's no comedic genius, but at least I laugh watching the show. With Letterman, I just stare at the screen wondering why people enjoy this. Conan, though, is the man - my absolute favorite.
#38
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From: Raccoon City, OR
It doesn't seem to matter who the comedian is... I think it's the format of these shows that is getting stale. Why must all late night shows follow the same routine? Monologue; band chat; skit; interviews; musical act.
I can't understand the appeal of any of them... the interviews are particularly embarassing and unwatchable - especially with some flavour of the month teen actor...
I can't understand the appeal of any of them... the interviews are particularly embarassing and unwatchable - especially with some flavour of the month teen actor...
#42
DVD Talk Godfather
Craig Kilborn has got to be the worst offender of all. That is an avoid at all costs kind of show. I mean all he does is fawn over his female guests, is rarely insightful, and never funny.
Jon Stewart is the man. The Daily Show should be on network television.
Jon Stewart is the man. The Daily Show should be on network television.
#44
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Originally posted by Breakfast with Girls
I would rank them:
Conan O'Brien
Jon Stewart
David Letterman
Jay Leno
Craig Kilborn
I would rank them:
Conan O'Brien
Jon Stewart
David Letterman
Jay Leno
Craig Kilborn
sounds like a good ranking to me
#50
DVD Talk Special Edition
I think it's agreed upon that Carson was the king of all time. Well, anyone who believes that and also thinks Letterman sucks, then why did Carson appear on Dave's show after he retired and has never even acknowledged Leno? Of course, part of that was how we was forced out, but he also has always thought Letterman was clearly the best out there. Don't get me wrong, I like Conan and Jon Stewart too, but Dave is the best to me. Sure, his monologues aren't that funny, but he knows that. That's why they only last a couple of minutes. His humor lies in his interactions with guests.



