David Letterman’s cantankerous wit, mixed with a penchant for mocking the absurdities of late-night clichés, has endeared him to those who make people laugh for a living. After hearing today's news that Letterman is planning to step down next year, I reached out to some of my favorite comedians to get their thoughts on losing another late-night icon.Eric Andre (The Eric Andre Show)Letterman was one of the first "anti-talk-show" talk-show hosts. He didn't give a fuck when the show started and just filmed himself walking around the studio. He also gave a platform to more "out-there" comics: Andy Kaufman, Bobcat Goldthwait, Bill Hicks, Mitch Hedberg. He will be missed.
Todd Glass (The Todd Glass Show)I remember when Johnny was leaving. For people, it was more than someone funny was leaving; it was the comfort watching the same person every night. No disrespect to Johnny Carson, it’s just that I didn’t really connect to that. Now, I understand, because that’s how I feel about David Letterman leaving.I don’t think there’s a right or a wrong when it comes to leaving your political or social views to yourself. You just have to do what you want to do. But it really made me fall in love with him on another level, because over the last five or ten years, he’s really been expressing those views more and more. He will be very proud of that, I think, as years pass. We’ll realize that he was on the right side of history.Also, he’s just so comfortable and so relaxed. The type of relaxation that you’d maybe see on a podcast. To do that on national television? To just be so comfortable in your skin that you’re not afraid of silence sometimes. I just love everything about that.Jake Fogelnest (The Fogelnest Files)I knew this day was coming, but the news today really caught me by surprise. It's almost impossible to articulate just what a profound influence David Letterman has had on me. He is the definition of late-night comedy cool. Always has been, always will be. I just hope Regina doesn't get too annoyed with him sitting around the house playing with ham-radio equipment.
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