Tag Archives: comedians

Day 140: David Letterman

“There’s not a man, woman or child in these United States of America who doesn’t enjoy a nice cold, refreshing beverage.” – David Letterman

They wouldn't let me in to meet Dave this morning or even leave this letter for him, so I took a moment, paid my respects to the legend and dropped the letter in a mailbox in front of Times Square.

They wouldn’t let me in to meet Dave this morning or even leave this letter for him, so I took a moment, paid my respects to the legend and dropped the letter in a mailbox in front of Times Square.

I’ve been saying that quote for 25 years – and it’s just as true today as it was the first time I heard Dave say it.

I’m in New York City today and it’s Dave’s last show so I thought I would go by the Ed Sullivan Theater to say farewell and good luck to my friend. With my bags in tow, I hiked up from Times Square to 54th Street and Broadway – it will be sad not see the iconic blue and gold Late Show with David Letterman marquee lighting up the block. It’s been there since my first visit to the Big Apple.

Dave and I started hanging out when I was about 13 or 14 – he spent a lot of time in my living room during the summers when I could stay up late. We don’t spend as much time together any more – I feel he changed, or maybe I changed. Who knows. And frankly who cares? None of that changes the feeling of sadness that I have today as an era comes to an end.

And what about Paul Shaffer? Maybe I should have written him, I guess he’s out of a job now too. He’s been there, donning his bizarre outfits, right next to Dave since the very beginning. I should have added a postscript to my note to Dave, “Please share my regards and best wishes with Paul.”

Day 140

Dear Dave,

Day 140-4I came all the way from Washington, D.C. to personally say thank you for entertaining us for the past 30 years. You changed the landscape of late night television. Best of luck in all of your personal and professional future endeavors.

Thanks for the laughs and the memories,
Reed Sandridge

By the way, if you want a to see a vulnerable side of Dave that you rarely see, check out this interview with New York Times’s Dave Itzkoff.

Day 29: Lazlo

An exchange between Lazlo Toth and TIMEX from The Lazlo Letters

An exchange between Lazlo Toth and TIMEX from The Lazlo Letters

Years ago my dad bought me a book called The Lazlo Letters. It’s a collection of real letters sent by an overzealous and awkwardly patriotic crusader named Lazlo Toth. The man behind this persona was Don Novello, a comedic genius who wrote for Saturday Night Live for several years and later returned to the show as Father Guido Sarducci.

Anyway, the book is full of letters that this seemingly caring yet inappropriate citizen writes letters to companies, political figures, celebrities, etc. with uncomfortable praise and often laughable suggestions. They’re hilarious. I later bought his second book: Citizen Lazlo.

With enormous respect and admiration for Lazlo Toth, I penned the following letter.

Lazlo Toth

Dear Lazlo,

I recently embarked on a journey of writing handwritten letters every day for a year – you are Day 29! In a way, your books, The Lazlo Letters and Citizen Lazlo, inspired me to take on this adventure. I understand you have another book called From Bush to Bush, but I haven’t read that one and can’t find it in any bookstores. Pehaps you should try to place your books in stationery stores since people who read your books probably like to write letters! I give you that tip for free.

You always used to say, “You send out letters, you get back letters, that’s for sure!” I actually think you should consider changing your quote slightly because my experience is that you don’t always get a letter back. Perhaps these would work better:

“You send out letters, you might get letters back if you include return postage”

“You send out letters, you will definitely wait a long time to get a response”

or…

“If you forget to write someone and lie about having sent them an email, they probably won’t believe you that it got lost in cyberspace, but if you say that you sent them snail mail, there’s no telling where that letter is at!”

You can use all of them for free.

Lazlo Toth-2By the way, I was disappointed you didn’t throw your hat in the 2003 California gubernatorial recall election ring. You would have won. Your history with Richard M. Nixon would have trumped any power move that Schwarzenegger could have thrown your way. But I saw Conan the Barbarian and get it if you were intimidated by him.

Keep writing, don’t give up on us now – when we need you the most!!

Your fan and friend,
Reed Sandridge

 

PS  Happy belated birthday – you’re the only person I know with a birthday on New Years Day.
PPS  Go Lakeside Dragons! Fight! Fight! Fight! 

Enclosed: Forever Stamp

Lazlo Toth-3