On February 1st, 1982 David Letterman launched the Late Night Show on NBC.  As you can tell by its overly dramatic and irony fueled science fiction opening, Dave was far ahead of his time.  Understanding David Letterman’s genius is partly based on knowing what a clear cut revolutionary comic visionary he was.  Not only was he fully secure in his own comic voice, always bleeding confidence over every comedy beat, he was a broadcasting natural, just a seemingly perfect physical fit for the television medium.  When Dave is on TV, he is just in his natural environment.  It’s really harder to imagine the man in real life, and according to those who work with him and know him, the real Dave is a neurotic and socially awkward mess of a man.  TV Dave is the complete opposite, a titanic colossus of confidence and  razor edged awareness.  His first show on NBC is just a remarkable time capsule of his talent and impact, and I got all 7 parts for you to devour below.  You’ll get Dave at his most classic, giving you a bizarre monolog poking fun at himself and NBC.  You’ll get a hilarious tour of the NBC studios, and you’ll get Bill Murray being young and brilliant.  Oh yea, you get Mr. Wizard too.  This is awesome, so check it out and brighten up your late night.

I’ve been all over the world the past few weeks, from Maine to New York, to San Francisco to Seoul, and now to Sydney.  It’s been a whirl wind of adventure and excitement, but on all those long plane trips, I had to keep my mind occupied with something.   Luckily I had Bill Carter’s newish book, The War for Late Night.  Not only did it track the recent tumult at NBC between Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien, it tackled the whole history of late night television and all its stars.  The book got me interested in tracking down legendary clips from Late Night’s long winding path, and I found some real choice ones I’ll be posting this week.  The first is the opening segment from Conan’s debut on NBC 18 friggin years ago, amazing its been that long because Conan still seems so young and vital.  The clip is the cold open and Conan’s introduction to the world where people warn him of the pressure in replacing David Letterman.  Conan takes it all in stride, happily tying a noose around his neck just before his debut.  It’s hilarious, and a piece of comedy history, so check it out folks because I’m back.

It’s the Beastie Boys, its the Roots, and they’re performing “So What’cha Want” LIVE!  Well, it was live, on the Jimmy Fallon show not too long ago.  This is an awesome clip of Mike D, Ad-Rock, and MCA killing their classic hit single from their 1992 LP Check Your Head.  I’ve always like the Beasties, but never really delved head first into their records until recently.  I appreciate their aggressive 3 pronged vocal attack, recording creativity, and their general subversive attitude they interject into the mass culture.  They are three radical uncompromising artists who command a massive fan base which is an impressive feat in today’s sell out sort of world.  This is a flawless performance showcasing their rock solid vitality, an amazing feat in itself for any group that’s been together as long as they have…

Welcome to part 48 of my youtube countdown!  Sorry music fans, I got a comedy video for you, and guess what, I’m not really sorry!  This is Louis CK, the funniest standup comedian alive, talking about how nobody is happy with the incredible futuristic society we were all born into.  I actually remember seeing this appearance on the Conan show years ago, 2004 I think, and NEVER forgetting it.  Luckily, the folks at youtube never forgot either.  Louis basically says everything that’s been on my mind about people in today’s world, and I won’t spoil it by repeating his brilliant and hilarious insights.  Please, do your soul a favor, sit back, and prepare to laugh, a lot.

Welcome to part 44 of my youtube countdown!  Today I bring you a real blast from the past.  It’s the Flaming Lips on the David Letterman show in 1995 performing their only commercial pop hit, “She Don’t Use Jelly.”  I discovered the Flaming Lips when I was 17 years old ten years ago, right before they blew up again in the pop culture landscape.  They are kind of impossible not to love.  Their sound is a psychedelic mix of screeching yet melodic electric guitars, bodacious larger than life drumming, and lead singer Wayne Coyne’s unmistakable, warbly high, pitched croon.  For whatever reason, “She Don’t Use Jelly” made it to #55 on the US Billboard charts, probably just riding the grunge wave of the early mid 90s, but the Flaming Lips were never a grunge band.  They have always been a psychedelic garage band bent on pop music domination, clawing their way to immortality by recording dozens of gorgeous songs and records, having an always incredible experimental live show, and lastly, just through sheer grit and determination.  They are the ultimate underdog story in rock history.  So, without further ado, I present to you their epic ode to female masturbation, with Paul Shaffer making another appearance in a band that no one would have ever have guessed he performed with.  Enjoy.