The Norwich Bulletin (Conn.), May 19:
On May 20 ”“ or, rather, in the wee hours of May 21, the time at which insomniacs and odd-shift workers are most accustomed to spending time with him ”“ David Letterman signed off of “The Late Show” for the last time.
He will take with him cutting wit, his unmistakable laugh, his show’s absurdist hijinks and, presumably, his trademark Top 10 Lists. All ”“ and more ”“ will be missed.
But Letterman will endure in Americans’ memory for more than just his tongue-in-cheek brand of late-night comedy. Sure, The Late Show could be irreverent, campy and downright indecent ”“ more often than not, all at once. But Letterman’s bald honesty pointed to a strength of character that often bubbled to the surface throughout his more than three decades in the late-night game.
Nothing better exemplified Letterman’s courage than his Sept. 17, 2001, production, just days after the 9/11 attacks shocked and horrified the nation. That Letterman was the first late-night host to return to the air after the attacks is incidental to the tenor of the show, which the New York Daily News later called “one of the purest, most honest and important moments in TV history.”
In his monologue, Letterman implored the grieving nation to stand strong in the face of senseless violence, saying, “There is only one requirement for any of us, and that is to be courageous, because courage, as you know, defines all other human behavior.”
Then he distilled the utter confusion felt by so many after the attacks: “We’re told they were zealots fueled by religious fervor. And if you live to be 1,000 years old, will that make any sense to you?”
Then he did what he did best: ran his show and made us laugh at a moment when we most needed a dose of levity.
Smears on his legacy ”“ namely, affairs with women on his staff, revealed when he was blackmailed in 2009 ”“ were at least confronted head-on with public apologies rather than evasion.
After Letterman’s last broadcast tonight, late-night enthusiasts will have to wait until September to find out whether successor Stephen Colbert, who earned fame as a satirical caricature on Comedy Central, will host with the same directness, honesty and courage. Here’s to hoping he can.
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