So the Foo Fighters will rock the Ed Sullivan Theatre on the last night of the tenancy of David Letterman. Perfect. I almost saw Dave Grohl’s band and Jerry Seinfeld live there on Hallowe’en 2002, when I was in New York on a travel-writing trip and to cover the New York Marathon.
I never made it out of the standby line, but, being a Thursday night, there was a second taping, for the Nov. 1, 2002 episode. The guests? The Legendary Don Rickles and the Pale Jim Gaffigan. Not a half-bad consolation prize, eh?
My pre-show dinner at Rupert Jee’s Hello Deli consisted of the Shaffer sandwich (cutlet, cheese, sweet peppers, lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise on a hero) — served by Mr. Jee himself. And, yes, the theatre was kept cold. Just like Dave liked it.
After 33 years of watching the white-socked, gap-toothed merrymaker from Indiana, what else can one do for therapy but create a top 10 list?
So, from the home office in Spuzzum, British Columbia: The Top 10 New Ideas to Beat Boredom at 11:35 p.m. On Weeknights, After David Letterman Retires.
10: Brush up on Etch-a-Sketch
9: Become a breakdancer
8: Watch Friends reruns in chronological order
7: Three words: Home Shopping Channel
6: Practice Grade 10 algebra
5: Read Taxidermy for Dummies
4: Memorize the periodic table of the elements
3: Backyard T-shirt cannon target practice
2: Unlock the secrets of Newton’s cradle (y’know, them collision balls)
And, the number one new idea to beat boredom at 11:35 p.m. on weeknights, after David Letterman retires:
1: Bingo!
Thanks to Dave and the NBC Late Night, CBS Late Show and Worldwide Pants teams for 33 years of laughter and inspiration (and a little bit of insomnia).