David Letterman may have given us more laughs than anyone in TV history. There's plenty of supporting evidence of it on his new YouTube channel, which is constantly being updated with classic clips from his past late-night shows, a treasure trove for those who believe Stupid Pet Tricks is three times funnier than watching Lucille Ball stuff chocolates in her mouth.
But that trip down memory lane also reveals an ugly truth: Letterman was a lousy interviewer. He was easily distracted, bored with those he imagined were beneath him and eager to jump on every opportunity to sneak in a one-liner, even if it meant stepping all over a guest's story.
Letterman wasn't alone. Late-night hosts have a tradition of being more interested in comedy than conversation. But the 75-year-old entertainer has done something most of his contemporaries never did — he's evolved.
