Here is the video from today, some jokes from Dave and some nice things about McCain as well, followed by an interview with Keith Olbermann and a live peek into the CBS Evening News Studio where McCain is getting the makeup plastered on while sitting across from Katie Couric (apparently he didn't have to "race" back to Washington as quickly as he told Dave).
As we saw in his last days at NBC, Dave does some of his best comedy when he is pissed off, and tonight's show, as a result of the McCain dis, was no exception.
Video below the fold:
Here's the video, seems to be a compilation of the best moments designed to fit within YouTube's ten minute limit, now that the show has aired you may want to check the CBS website for more. Apparently nearly the whole show, plus some of Craig Ferguson's show, was dedicated to abusing McCain.
UPDATED WITH A LITTLE ANALYSIS: In watching it Dave & Keith wonder why McCain blew him off to "race back to Washington" yet still had time to appear on Katie Couric's program. Perhaps it had something to do with Sarah Palin's disastrous appearance with Katie earlier? It was diaried here:
http://www.dailykos.com/...
But to summarize Katie asked Governor Palin to name one accomplishment in the realm of regulation of McCain's over the last 26 years, and Sarah basically said I'll get back to ya' on that one.
Maybe his handlers thought it more important to meet with Katie and do some damage control for Sarah? Maybe they thought yucking it up with Dave when the economy is melting down would send the wrong signal? Maybe they didn't think McCain could have given the type of great performance Barack gave with Dave when he appeared on September 10th?
Anyway, it seems the height of uncool to blow off Dave, and Dave wasn't shy about expressing his displeasure.
UPDATED X 2 with summary:
SUMMARY - for those who can't see the video:
Dave welcomes people to the show and announces that John McCain canceled his appearance because he is suspending his campaign to help the economy. Dave let's people who don't know in on who McCain is:
"You know who John McCain is, he's the running mate of Sarah Palin."
Dave then goes on to do the obligatory complimenting of McCain, says he has a high regard for him because of his service to this country. Mentions that McCain turned down the Viet Cong's offer of early release to stay with his comrades. Paul jokes that if he were given that offer, and were told Dave couldn't leave with him, he would have said, "Bye!!"
Dave then goes on to express his displeasure (following the Barack Obama routine, first preface every attack by praising McCain for his service):
"When you call up and cancel at the last minute, ladies and gentlemen, this is starting to smell ... Something is going haywire with the campaign. Blow Letterman off, he's a lightweight."
DAVE: When the economy is about to crater, and I love that expression, crater...
PAUL: Crater? I don't even know her!
And then Dave makes probably his greatest points of the night, the uselessness of Sarah Palin:
"You're a Senator. You go back to Washington, you handle what you need to handle. Don't suspend your campaign, you let your campaign go on as shouldered by your VP nominee. You don't quit. Or is that really a good thing to do? [Makes mock-scared face]. If I drop dead, Paul's taking over the show! You say I gotta get back to Washington to save this country and while I'm gone campaigning in my stead will be my great running mate from the state of Alaska, Sarah Palin. Well what happened there? Where is she? Why isn't she doing that?
PAUL: She is a good looking babe.
DAVE: Exactly. That's the point I'm trying to make. This doesn't smell right. This is not the way a tested hero behaves. Somebody's putting something in his metamucil. And let's say there's a time of crisis, and the poor guy, he's a little older, about my age, and then Sarah Palin takes over as President, she ought to be ready, because she's handled crises like these in the past. Oh wait a minute, she really hasn't handled crises like these. You don't suspend your campaign.... you put in your second string quarterback.
DAVE: Are we suspending the campaign because there's an economic crisis or because the poll numbers are sliding?
PAUL: Oops!
Then he has Keith Olbmermann on and Keith concludes that McCain dissed him. They show a live shot from the CBS Evening News Studio and McCain is having makeup applied by his personal makeup expert, about to do an interview with Katie Couric. Dave and Keith talk while the image occupies the screen. Dave yells (Katie & McCain cannot hear), "Hey Senator, do you need a ride to the airport?" Keith bursts out in laughter, as does the crowd.
UPDATE #3 - THE TOP 10 LIST
This is not in the YouTube video, but it is a particularly brutal Top 10 List about McCain. You can find it here:
http://lateshow.cbs.com/...
Or just read it here:
The Top 10 Questions People Are Asking the John McCain Campaign:
- "I just contributed to your campaign -- how do I get a refund?"
- "It's Sarah Palin - does this mean I'm Pars'dent?"
- "Can't you solve this by selling some of your houses?"
- "This is Clay Aiken. Is McCain single?"
- "Do you still think the fundamentals of our economy are strong, genius?"
- "Are you doing all this just to get out of going on Letterman?"
- "What would Matlock do?"
- "Hillary here - my schedule is free Friday night."
- "Is this just an excuse to catch up on your napping?"
- "This is President Bush - what's all this about trouble with the economy?"