# Letterman's Speech about WTC tonight... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 18, 2001, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lettermans-speech-about-wtc-tonight/82327 "2001-09-18T03:46:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lettermans-speech-about-wtc-tonight/82327/1 "2001-09-18T03:46:32Z")
Wow. Letterman started his show tonight with the strongest show of emotion he has ever given on television. He was nearer to tears than the day he returned fro heart surgery. He explained that he was personaly confused about coming back to do a comedy show in the midst of chaos and grief, but agreed with Giuliani that he had to go back to normality. He praised the Mayor extensively, calling him the model of courage. He avoided mentioning the President, but didn’t make fun of him either. He also praised the FD and NYPD. Did anyone else see this? It was both surreal and beautiful. Very poignant. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lettermans-speech-about-wtc-tonight/82327/2 "2001-09-18T04:01:45Z")
I just tuned in. Dan Rather almost broke down, and Dave went to commercial. I guess it’ll be a while before it gets any easier… ---
**Author:** ![HelloKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecccb3/32.png) [@HelloKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelloKitty)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lettermans-speech-about-wtc-tonight/82327/3 "2001-09-18T04:06:53Z")
Am watching now also. It is somewhat relieving to see Dan be “human” because he has to be detached when he is on the air. Same for Dave…I couldn’t imagine what he could come out and tell jokes about this week, he made the perfect choice for tonight’s show. Interesting that Dave pulls the emotion out of Dan by just listening to him talk. ---
**Author:** ![drewbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drewbert/32/15890_2.png) [@drewbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewbert)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lettermans-speech-about-wtc-tonight/82327/4 "2001-09-18T04:52:45Z")
That was an amazing hour, I thought, and the show was handled in the best possible way given the circumstances. There wasn’t much humor, but where Dave found an opportunity to make a reasonable funny remark, he took it. Wish I’d taped it. But now that he’s made his big talk at the beginning of the show… well, tomorrow’s show may be even more difficult to pull off - he can’t simply repeat what he did tonight. And as he mentioned at the end of tonight’s show, he currently doesn’t have any guests lined up at all. ---
**Author:** ![jaimest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/48db29/32.png) [@jaimest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaimest)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lettermans-speech-about-wtc-tonight/82327/5 "2001-09-18T05:33:37Z")
Im in Mountain Time, so I’m still watching. I was shocked to see Dan Rather like that. I never really watched his news before (except on election night when he was being goofy with his “this is tighter than a \_\_\_\_ at a \_\_\_\_\_” sayings). Now I will pay more attention to the old guy. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lettermans-speech-about-wtc-tonight/82327/6 "2001-09-18T05:48:21Z")
…Checking in from Cal-Eye-Four-Nye-Aye … so I still have 45 minutes until the show even starts. I’ve been a little out of the Dave loop lately, but this sounds like a good night to catch the show. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lettermans-speech-about-wtc-tonight/82327/7 "2001-09-18T14:43:17Z")
I thought it was a wonderful show, I always love it when Dave has newsmen on anyway, but Dan Rather was just great. He really explained things as he saw them and his emotion really showed through. As for David Letterman, well, he has a difficult job of putting on his show at this time but I’m glad he’s back on the air. I thought his speech was one of the finest things I’ve ever heard to come out of a celebrity. ---
**Author:** ![SpaceGhostofArrakis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@SpaceGhostofArrakis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpaceGhostofArrakis)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lettermans-speech-about-wtc-tonight/82327/8 "2001-09-18T14:46:21Z")
I, personally, was touched. Kudos Dave. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lettermans-speech-about-wtc-tonight/82327/9 "2001-09-18T14:47:06Z")
Anyone have a transcript of Letterman’s speech? ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lettermans-speech-about-wtc-tonight/82327/10 "2001-09-18T14:52:20Z")
I was deeply impressed by Letterman’s speech, and equally impressed that CBS didn’t censor the tape by bleeping the “goddamned.” It takes courage to go on the air after something so tragic so close to him and to us all and speak from the heart as he did. I also absolutely concur with his assessment of Guiliani. He’s one hell of a leader in a crisis. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lettermans-speech-about-wtc-tonight/82327/11 "2001-09-18T15:15:33Z")
Yeah, I thought Regis’ story about having his wheelchair bound son in the Pentagon was interesting too. Did anyone see Craig Kilborn? Even he didn’t do any funny stuff last night(intentionaly this time). Yeesh, it’s going to be very difficult for these guys to get back on the air. Jay comes back on tonight. I kinda hope he doesn’t mention it and just goes for regular comedy, avoiding making fun of America or the President. ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lettermans-speech-about-wtc-tonight/82327/12 "2001-09-18T23:40:06Z")
Incredibly moving. I hate to be tacky, but if Letterman does not get an Emmy for this show, something’s wrong. I am sure that was the furtherest thing from his mind while doing the show, but class deserves to be saluted in some way. And it was a classy, classy show. ---
**Author:** ![SterlingNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@SterlingNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SterlingNorth)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2001, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lettermans-speech-about-wtc-tonight/82327/13 "2001-09-18T23:52:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RickJay \* > Anyone have a transcript of Letterman’s speech? Well, I don’t. But CBS just put RealVideo[sup]TM[/sup] of the monologue on their site. > **[The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (Official Site) Watch on CBS](https://www.cbs.com/shows/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/)** > > Watch full episodes of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert and view video clips and browse photos. Join the conversation and connect with CBS's The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. ---
**Author:** ![SterlingNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@SterlingNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SterlingNorth)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2001, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lettermans-speech-about-wtc-tonight/82327/14 "2001-09-19T00:42:07Z")
Oh, yeah… ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2001, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lettermans-speech-about-wtc-tonight/82327/15 "2001-09-19T02:18:46Z")
Thanks, Sterlingnorth. You guys were right. His comments were very touching and very heartfelt, and he obviously loves his adopted city. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2001, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lettermans-speech-about-wtc-tonight/82327/16 "2001-09-19T02:42:35Z")
I really didn’t know what to expect when I tuned in. I figured there would be an awkward moment or two, and then the show would quickly move on to the guests. But Letterman’s speech was anything but awkward. It was absolutely beautiful–it made me wish that I could call New York City my home. And I have a new-found respect for Dan Rather. ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2001, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lettermans-speech-about-wtc-tonight/82327/17 "2001-09-19T02:50:16Z")
I wish I’d seen it–I heard about it from friends. Thanks for the link. Scott Simon started crying tonight on NPR. They were going to cut him off, but he said “No, no, don’t let me off the hook here…” and he said it was a terrible thing but it wasn’t uncommon to see people in New York reading the paper or doing whatever and just bursting into tears. That’s how it is. I thought I was done crying, but stuff like that gets me every time. Professionals letting their guard down. I saw a NY doctor break down on camera last week and have to go into the arms of the interviewer. That was a 3-kleenex move right there for Cranky. ---
**Author:** ![Ace\_Face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@Ace\_Face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ace_Face)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2001, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lettermans-speech-about-wtc-tonight/82327/18 "2001-09-19T03:01:49Z")
As a long-time Letterman fan who hasn’t watched the show much in the past few years (out of the country), I had to watch last night. I have never seen Dave – king of sarcasm and irony that he is – be serious about _anything_, so I had to see how he handled this situation. I thought he did a great job, and hit all the right notes. His obvious discomfort at showing emotion made it even more powerful. I especially liked his Montana high school story. I wasn’t so impressed with Rather. But I don’t feel like being contrarian at the moment so I’ll just shut up. ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2001, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lettermans-speech-about-wtc-tonight/82327/19 "2001-09-19T13:11:25Z")
Shoot, I missed Monday’s show, and really wanted to see it. To see how Dave would handle the situation. Sounds like he was right on top of his game. I taped last night (Tuesday’s) show, but haven’t watched it yet. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2001, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lettermans-speech-about-wtc-tonight/82327/20 "2001-09-19T13:14:46Z")
I can’t get the real player app to run on my machine at work. Can somebody who taped the monologue transcribe it for me/us? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lettermans-speech-about-wtc-tonight/82327.md?page=2)