I finally got around to watching David Letterman's show on Netflix, "My Next Guest Needs No Introduction."
I watched three episodes that included Howard Stern, Jerry Seinfeld, and Tina Fey. All of the celebrities were funny and interesting and in some instances surprising in the personal stories they told.
Howard Stern revealed some fascinating things about his childhood, hilariously describing how his father talked, and sharing how he and his mother discussed sex. No wonder the man has no barriers. When she asked what he wanted on his 13th birthday he said a copy of Playboy. Their conversation after that was shoulder shaking funny. His mom said okay, but she told him the women in that magazine were not real. She said she and Howard’s sister were real. Not everyone is a sexy model, she told him. He said he has toned down over the years ever since going to Sirius XM Radio in 2006. Now that he can say whatever he wants he decided he didn’t want to say the crude and offensive stuff he used to say that got him in trouble with radio executives. He also openly talked about the rage he felt for years, his endless fears, and his OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), which he was finally able to get under control through psychotherapy. He mentioned his three daughters and his love for them. Plus he went on and on about his current wife and how she has changed his life.
I found Jerry Seinfeld a bit bothersome. Dave was opening up about how he should have left his previous show 10 years earlier. How he could have spent more time with his son and wife. How he felt it was all pretty meaningless. Seinfeld kept strenuously disagreeing telling Dave how remarkable he had been and how he had helped millions of people be happy. Which is probably true, but Dave was trying to say he wanted to contribute more to life. I don’t think Seinfeld ever really heard what Dave was saying. When asked where he and his family travel, Seinfeld said, “Where do you think? All over the world. We can go anywhere we want.” It came across arrogant to me and entitled. He also apparently has no relationship with his parents. He refused to speak about them. He did though say he enjoyed going out in public in New York City and chatting with fans. Dave said he just stays at home.
Tina Fey was charming and funny. She explained how she loved being a mother to her two daughters. She was very close to her father who fully supported her career and who died recently. She and her mother are still close. She asked Dave why he didn’t have more women writers on his previous show and David agreed, saying he should have and feels bad that he didn’t. He said it has changed now for the better. She also talked about her famous Sarah Palin routine on SNL and how she and Amy Poehler, who played Hilary in the sketch, worked hard to create what she called “fair hits” and not make some political critique out of it. When she was asked to accept the Mark Twain Prize in 2010 she said she hesitated thinking she didn’t deserve it. She said SNL creator Lorne Michaels told her, “Take it while your parents are alive.” Tearing up she said what good advice that had been.
What struck me the most in watching these episodes, especially the one with Seinfeld, was how much Letterman has aged. His face seems carved in deep wrinkles, almost anguish, and his immense white scruffy beard makes him appear frail and odd. I get the feeling it’s an unconscious disguise, as though the real Dave needs to hide. Maybe in shame. Maybe in futility.
The usual dynamic spark and energy are missing. His humor is quiet and restrained. He appears reflective, somber, even somewhat sad. His eyes are tired. When he tried to talk to Seinfeld about how he wanted to do something to help people now, it came across to me as genuinely sincere. Seinfeld totally ignored that and just kept telling him how great he was. But Letterman has heard that for years. He doesn’t want praise, he wants authenticity, substance. He made millions of dollars. He seemed to be saying, So what? He was a big TV star. And? Trivial.
Now that Letterman is much older, he longs for some experience that says his life wasn’t wasted. It seems the point for him now is not to find out what life means, but to find out how to give life meaning.
That is what is behind Dave’s questions to his guests about their parents, their children, where they travel, what they do. He’s looking for signposts to meaning. He wants to know how to get there.
The enormous wealth and stardom have become an empty reward. What Letterman wants is something that transcends that. He wants to contribute something worthy of himself.
A person like that would need no introduction, ever. They would be welcomed, even honored, as nameless.
© 2018 Timothy Moody
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