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Letterman Delivers Carson’s Last Monologue (USA Today)

Posted by Ed and Lois

David Letterman paid tribute to Carson, who died Jan. 23, by delivering a Late Show monologue Monday composed entirely of jokes the retired Tonight show host had quietly sent him in his final months.

Only after the monologue was through and Letterman was back behind his desk did he tell the audience who had written the jokes.

Letterman set up one joke by noting scientists had been working on an airplane that flew 50 miles above the Earth. Only two man-made objects were visible at that distance, he said.

“One is the Great Wall of China,” Letterman said. “and the other is Donald Trump’s hair.”

Another joke noted Democrat John Kerry, under fire for his Vietnam service record, was criticized for throwing away some of his military service medals.

“Not to be outdone, President Bush threw away his National Guard spotty attendance records,” he said.

Letterman played a poignant clip from a few years after Carson’s retirement. Carson walked onstage to deliver Letterman’s top ten list and Letterman motioned to have him sit behind the desk. Carson did so and beamed, back in the driver’s seat and soaking up a standing ovation. But before saying anything, he shook his head, smiled and walked offstage.

Everybody who’s doing a talk show, himself included, is secretly doing Carson’s Tonight show, he said.

“The reason we’re all doing Johnny’s Tonight is because you think, ‘Well, if I do Johnny’s “Tonight” show, maybe I’ll be a little like Johnny and people will like me more,’” he said. “But it sadly doesn’t work that way. It’s just, if you’re not Johnny, you’re wasting your time.”

Full Post:http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2005-02-01-letterman_x.htm