For this weeks Friday Link, I want to pull up a beauty: the time David Letterman went on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson AFTER he had found out Jay Leno had wormed his way into the Tonight Show gig, a gig Dave desperately wanted.
What's amazing about this clip is realizing this is only nine months before Carson himself bowed out. Dave is clearly extremely angry at the whole situation, and Carson was sympathetic, taking his side about as much as he could. Carson understood Letterman's comedy and style, and he knew Dave would be the template of the late night comedy's future. Leno was number one, but that's only because so many people didn't change their channels for decades.
Eventually, before his tenure ended, Carson endorsed Leno for the gig and things went happy at NBC, for awhile.
Also tonight, here's the video of the time Dave, on his CBS show, absolutely brutalized Leno for pulling his "I'm un-retiring" stunt. A refresher: after Letterman left NBC, Conan O'Brien took over the Late Show with the understanding he'd eventually inherit the Tonight Show. He did indeed, in 2009, until Leno's post Tonight Show plans blew up and he stabbed Conan in the back.
NBC SCREWED over Conan. He took over in June, and they were looking to dump him by October. Conan was by far the best non-Daily Show option they had, but they decided to play it safe with Leno. Leno, being an incredible weasel, tried to take the high road with the blood still visible on his hands. Letterman, knowing Leno/NBC's treachery, was having nothing of it. This was about as vocal as Dave ever got in addressing his true feelings about Jay and NBC.
Have a great weekend everyone!
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