October 03, 2007
Late-night smackdown
David Letterman vs. Jay Leno: the differences are stark, when insomnia strikes. Leno is a lowest-common denominator host, cracking witless jokes, slapping hands with the audience and relentlessly kissing the ass of every guest making an appearance to flack for her latest movie-CD-book-TV show-perfume.
Letterman, on the other hand .... I used to love this guy when I was in college; his snarkiness and sarcasm were a welcome relief from the traditional talkshow host. When Letterman chatted with a guest with whom he was less than impressed, he didn't conceal his feelings.
And when confronted with a celeb with pretensions, he delighted in puncturing them. In one famously contentious appearance, Cher called him an "asshole," and she wasn't joking around.
In recent years, however, Letterman has become increasingly partisan, injection a strain of left-wing politics into his show that I find unbearable, especially when all I'm looking for is a laugh before sleep. It's a curious thing, the compulsion amongst the celebrity ranks to self-righteously alienate half the viewing-audience on an entertainment program.
Anyhow, the result is that I'm more likely to watch the cringe-inducing Leno, just because I know he won't be launching some ill-considered rant against the war or those who support the war.
However, every so often, the old Dave emerges, throwing a bucket of cold water on the latest empty-headed celebutante making the late-night rounds.
The most revolting of that crowd, the inexplicably famous Paris Hilton (renowned for appearing in home-made sex tapes, being rich and doing nothing useful with her life) went on Letterman's show, expecting a Leno-like reception and getting something very different, according to the New York Post.
DAVID Letterman's merciless grilling of jail bird Paris Hilton on Friday's "Late Show" has emerged as another YouTube.com sensation.
Yesterday, video of the riveting confrontation between the gap-toothed late-night host and the air-headed heiress had been viewed on YouTube more than 2.7 million times, according to tallies posted on the site.
The segment, which was approximately 8½ minutes long, was posted by numerous YouTube contributors over the weekend, although one posting in particular, contributed by someone identified as mangoface247, drew the lion's share of hits - more than 2 million.
In the video, the two faced off over Letterman's insistence that Hilton answer questions about her recent experience as an inmate in L.A.'s county jail.
The famed amateur porn star and celebrated nightclub-goer cooperated at first, but eventually complained that Letterman's focus on her criminal record was preventing her from publicizing an upcoming movie, a clothing line and a new perfume.
"How'd you like being in jail?" Letterman asked as soon as Hilton sat down to chat with him.
"Not too much," Hilton answered.
After answering a number of questions about her jail time - including questions about the food she was forced to eat there - Hilton tried in vain to get Letterman to change the subject.
"I've moved on with my life," she said, "so I don't want to talk about it anymore."
But Letterman refused to budge. "Well, this is where you and I are different," he said, "because this is all I want to talk about."
At one point, someone in the studio audience shouted, "I love you, Paris!"
"I love you too," she replied, blowing the person a kiss.
"Somebody you met in prison?" Letterman asked.
I knew there was going to be trouble when Letterman began, "My first guest is a woman of many talents ...."
Gadzooks.
Posted by Mike Lief at October 3, 2007 07:33 AM
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Comments
When I first saw this on line, I thought of you. I knew you would find it. I laughed my big, hairy a$# off when I saw it. I give Letterman a "brilliant" rating for this interview.
Posted by: Thin Ice, Sr. at October 3, 2007 07:54 PM
Oh..My..God....I mean like....I'm so over it.
Geez, I really cant stand this little rich bitch, but I must admit I was rolling on the floor after watching the video. Thanks again to David Letterman for keeping it real and asking the tough questions--even if no one really cares.
Posted by: Schmegle at October 3, 2007 09:24 PM