David Letterman to retire in 2015. Stephen Colbert to take over.

I would like to know what heck is Carson Daily for?
Letterman, was way past his time as we discussed he wasn't happy and mischievous
as he once was,. I think he lost his edge quite awhile ago, once and a while it would come out.
But, Letterman made his mark on tv . some bad and a lot child like amusement
I always enjoyed.

 

Leno was the best when they moved him around he wrote the best jokes.
N.B.C means never believe your contract.

 

I doubt Dave takes much of a hands-on role with Worldwide Pants, or that he has much interest in being a producer. I'm not sure I can see him doing something like Seinfeld's show. I think he would perceive it as a comedown. It's one thing for Seinfeld to do a little internet show as a side project that supplements his real career as a very successful standup. If Dave did a show like that it would be the only thing he was doing, and hence might seem kind of pathetic.

 

I hate to think of it that way, but I think that's essentially correct: Leno greatly backed off from the intensity, sarcasm, and anger of his 1980s act when he took over the Tonight Show in May of 1992. People forget how edgy and funny Leno was prior to that.

It's been estimated that Dave made about $100 million from co-owning and executive producing Everybody Loves Raymond. If doing that is pathetic, please, please make my life pathetic.

 

I grew up with Tom Snyder (watching him, I mean, from local newsman on up). We will not see his kind of show (or his Colortinis) again. Witty, relaxed, non-agendized, non-cynical, non-pandering banter is extinct on TV today. Charlie Rose comes close I suppose, but he's "PBS stuffy" too often to appeal to the masses, or even to a crowd that liked Snyder.


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

 

According to who? I'd love some links and proof on that. As far as I know, the show's content had nothing to do with it. It was the revenue of the show and the downward-spiral ratings that did it in, as well as the old-skewing demographics.

Snyder was a polarizing figure, but I liked him quite often on the occasions I was up late enough to watch his show. In truth, though, I might have preferred Dan Aykroyd's impression of Snyder.

 

CBS cares.

 

You're conflating two things I said. First, I said that I don't think Dave has any interest in a career as a hands-on producer, so I doubt he will become more active in producing new shows for Worldwide Pants now that his own show is done. I'm sure he likes the money, but I bet he doesn't do much for that company other than cash the checks. Second, I said that doing a small-scale internet-only show like Seinfeld's Comedians in Cars might be perceived as pathetic, if that was all he was doing in the entertainment world. But I didn't say that making money off Worldwide Pants is pathetic.

 

Do you view Dan Rather or Larry King as professionally pathetic after they left their high profile TV gigs for some side jobs to keep them busy?

 

Agreed, you'll have more chance spotting Bigfoot than Dave.

 

I had read earlier in the day it was going to run over and programmed my dvr to record the next show and thank goodness that did the trick. That is the one issue with dvrs! I would have been mightily disappointed. I would bet you can see the end on line.

 

I am soooo tired of ridiculous high speed montages. Really, does anyone enjoy that sensation?

 

I think it's possible he will -- partly for the money, partly to give some of his staff more work, partly because he enjoys the business (in some ways), and partly because he wants to stay busy in the TV business in some capacity. He's never been very hands-on in producing -- with Everybody Loves Raymond and Ed (the most successful sitcoms Worldwide Pants did), he was basically an investor in the pilots and vaguely involved with approving the concept and the casting, then he stepped away and had smart people run the shows for him. Letterman also produced several shows for Bonnie Hunt, but none of those did very well.

There are always wealthy, powerful, famous people who enjoy working in some form. I suspect Dave wants to avoid the problems that his predecessors like Carson and Jack Paar ran into, where they left their late night shows and then fell off the face of the earth. Both had money, but I think in hindsight they each could've done much more in entertainment, particularly with the glut of cable channels, pay TV, streaming, and all the new media going on these days.

 

I wonder how his ratings have been lately? I thought I had read recently that they were not very good anymore. Perhaps they feel there just isn't a big enough market for his reruns, and I suspect they are right. Not sure many were even watching the new shows until it got down to the wire. Look at all the posts here of people, inc me, that said they used to watch but had moved on. Might be a good idea for a cable channel...reruns of talk shows! You would think they will make a package of his better shows at some point and run them on cable like they did with the Carson shows.

 

20 or 30+ years ago shows like this were reasonably relevant and worth a watch considering the available other content. The last decade or so they were not worth the 28 minutes that show was after all the commercials. How anyone could endure the pathetic content of the last several years is beyond me.

And the last 2 shows were the worst offering of entertainment one could imagine being offered in 2015.

 

My bet is we won't see much, or anything, in the way of home video (I don't use the term DVD because I don't think they DVDs will be around much longer) until Dave is gone, much like Carson. Though he had some stuff, the better Carson material has been released after his death. I just don't see Dave putting his stuff out, probably thinking "who would want that old stuff?" Carson's brother is in charge of Johnny's shows and they have done a wonderful job releasing some great stuff the past few years. World Wide Pants will pass onto whomever and then hopefully some great stuff will come out. I guess with NBC owning the older shows it is tough to say what, if anything, they will do with that. Doesn't make much sense to just let the film sit in a vault, but those of us that were fans from day one are getting older too. They really don't have that long to get this stuff out there. All just a guess of course!

 

What a sad statement...and very likely true.

 

Dan Rather was reportedly pushed out of his anchor chair and then CBS declined to renew his contract. Maybe "pathetic" isn't the best word, but to go from the high profile job he had to a obscure cable channel does seem a huge comedown in status. The same is true for Larry King, though in his case I think he's always been pathetic because of his incompetence at his job.

What I think isn't the point though. It's Dave I suspect that would perceive it as a huge comedown (and therefore pathetic) to go from being on a high-profile big budget show on a major network to doing some small-scale low-budget show either on cable or the internet.

 

I am risking making a complete fool of myself, but are those billboards real? If so, what an absolutely ingenious thing for CBS to do...perfect Letterman response! I bet that had more impact then the #1!

 

Completely legit!

 

That montage should have come with an epilepsy warning.

 

Truly the end of an era...

 

Normally I don't, but this time I actually did, even though my old brain was struggling to keep up...

Did any one else notice that they deliberately hung on Warren Zevon's image for about 3-4 times longer as the other clips?

That was subtle but classy...

 

They held on the Lou Reed picture too!

The biggest laugh I got from the episode was that kid talking about the "Upholstery Farm" in one of the old clips...
Definitely the end of an era (as many others have already said).