Friday, January 30, 2009

Stoplights Don't Care If Your Heart Is Breaking

Relax, citizens-my heart isn't broken; the title has more to do with automated systems which we depend on which are soulless, lacking emotion.
Which brings us to why David Letterman isn't funny.
Bob and Ray were funny. Groucho Marx was funny. Jack Benny could evoke laughter with a raised eyebrow, even into his latter 39 years-what happened to Letterman?
He is stuck, like a soulless traffic light, doing his automated bits of comedy-top tens, head tilt with grimace, joshing with the band, insulting celebrities. He could do his monologue in his sleep, and possibly he does. But why isn't he funny anymore?
He's rich, so their is no hunger to succeed, to climb higher, to try harder. He gets paid the same no matter what numbers his show brings the network.
If he were asked to retire, I think he would jump at the chance to be free. He doesn't care whether audiences like him, or think he is funny.
It was a strong, emotional goodbye when Carson left his show. I don't think anyone will shed a tear for Letterman. It's hard to empathize with a sullen millionaire.

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