THE SECOND SHOW...
The
Late Show with David Letterman Guests:
Don
Rickles & Jim Gaffigan Show
#1897
We were numbered 28 & 29 so we found our place near the front of the
line. A few minutes later, we went into the outer lobby with the 300 or so
others.
***[This
number 28 & 29 is such a nice thing...until
you know that the access point to walk to the front
of the line was way back down the street. We
checked the numbers and entered UNDER the restraining
rope thingie. It would have been fine except my
back was not exactly supposed to be moving like that.
I didn't even think about it. I did not realize
it was bothering me until later. All the exercise
walking was a good thing. There was a delay
in the pain until the next day. As we entered the
theater, to be seated, it was not so bad being in
the line. We were on the edge and I spent some
time visiting with Dorothy, the security guard and
another page. It was then time for the prep and
I actually wanted to see a couple get tossed out
on their ear.]
Our talk here was near the same as the night before, but for the general
audience, without the “you’re the start of laughter” parts. During one point,
some person in the group made some groans and comments and they were quickly
shut-up by a frightful stare by the page. At this point, I saw what they were
expecting. People not paying attention to what was going on. Each pep
talk is used for the purpose of making sure the audience is in the correct frame
of mind and they won’t need to be thrown out due to behavior. I’m sure the
person that made the comment was at least warned about what he had done.
We
enter the theater and were seated in the center section, 4th row from the front,
3rd & 4th seats from the stage right aisle. We’d be in front of Dave for his
monologue and for Jim Gaffigan’s stand-up. The opening band introduction,
tape and comments were the same as Wednesday night. Dave came running out
again, the same way.
After his monologue,
the lights went dark while Dave was at the
desk. One of a couple technical goofs that happened. The next was when the scrim
was raised too early before the Will It Float? segment. Don Rickles was
typical Don Rickles. He’s much shorter in person. Tom Cavanaugh came out
during Paul’s solo and caped him. Being a Friday taping, there would be no
audience sweep. Jim Gaffigan had a funny stand-up segment and I was
surprised that he was so close to the camera while doing it.
***[This
show can best be described as "more" by me. More distractions
from the massive audience around me, and more people
on the stage. There was motion everywhere and my eyes
went with it. It was almost as if I was looking
through a busy crowd doing stuff and had to try
and find
the core of the show. I was bored during Rickles' part of the show. He had
said almost the very same thing on his last appearance. There appeared to be some revisions
happening at one point. Tony was busy
with the cards...the 'brothers' busy talking with
each other. Dave stood a moment and seemed to
be editing a card with Eddie Brill standing close
to his left. The only way I can try and explain
the way this show felt to me was like being at a
football game and standing behind the bench. All
the players etc. flowing in front. You can see the
quarterback, but really can't watch anything much
without quickly being distracted. I really don't
remember much of the content. I remember none
of Gaffigan's jokes. I do remember thinking
that he was taller than I thought he should be.
The show was over quickly. Everyone seemed
in a hurry to shut down and get out. Made sense.
It was the last show of the week.]
This show
seemed to be over faster than the Warren show, but it did take the same amount
of time. As we left the theater, I spotted Wahoo Mike sitting in the guest chair
with Alan Kalter next to him. I decided not to try to get his attention…he works
way too hard on the show as it is. We went back to Kinko’s and posted the
PLSQGs for the Thursday & Friday shows. Dinner that night was at a
restaurant on Broadway. Ellen's had singing wait staff and being Halloween, it made
for a bit of a different show.lan's report. Alan will be very wordy and share exactly
all the details that everyone wants to read.
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