[78-L] RCA Victor humour

[Jeff Lichtman]

Carson's was at his best when ad libbing (e.g. his reaction to Ed Ames' tomahawk throw).

Letterman has been coasting for years. When he first started on NBC, he was doing a kind of parody of a talk show. Some of his humor came from the idea that you could put anyone on TV - like Mujibur and Sirajul, two people with utterly no talent for being in front of a camera. You never knew what you'd see on his show. Now it's become very predictable, and less funny as a result.

Getting back to RCA humor:

I Like Bananas Because They Have No Bones - Willie Bryant and His Orchestra, Bluebird B-6436

I'm a Ding Dong Daddy from Dumas - Johnny Johnson and His Orchestra, Victor 22564

Swat the Love Bug - Bob Skyles and His Skyrockets, Bluebird B-7998


> Johnny Carson's humour lost some of it's effect because he seemed to want to make it clear that he was reading cue cards - obviously looking down below the camera during his routines.  David Letterman, on the other hand, often brings his cue card operator into the routine which adds to the humour.

                       -        Jeff Lichtman
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