David Letterman’s conversation with America began in 1982 when I was just 15. Letterman and Saturday Night Live formed the subversive bookends for the week: Dave appearing nightly Monday through Friday, with SNL’s Eddie Murphy and Joe Piscopo finishing it off on the weekend.
At 18, I went off to college and became a regular viewer. Each weeknight my three roommates and I insisted on taking over the dorm’s TV room. Those who stayed were treated to the wonders of Letterman, and sometimes a slice of pizza. Our little posse grew over time to include more converts. Eventually, everyone knew that the 12:30AM time slot was reserved for Dave.
Letterman wasn’t Last-Exit-to-Brooklyn subversive, but for a white middle-class kid living in a...
First Click: Dave, this conversation can serve no purpose anymore. Goodbye.
