Ask Mr. Melman Collection on Letterman, Part 3 of 3: 1987-1992

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3 жыл бұрын

For an explanation on the origins of "Ask Mr. Melman," see the description to Part 1, uploaded here: • Ask Mr. Melman Collect...
28. January 12, 1987. The gift: a hundred packs of gum.
29. February 4, 1987. Again, a hundred packs of gum.
30. March 16, 1987. Ask The Big Man. A Steve O'Donnell creation. Gift: a 3-liter bottle of soda.
31. April 1, 1987. Ask The Big Man. Gift: $6 and $11.
32. April 28, 1987. The Big Man in Peace Through Dramatization Players skit.
33. May 25, 1987. Ask The Big Man. Gift: A bucket of nickels.
34. July 22, 1987. Ask The Big Man. A NABET strike t-shirt.
35. September 22, 1987. Ask The Big Man and Farewell. Gifts: The Big Man body parts.
36. October 14, 1987. With an associate, "Mr. Crawford" (portrayed by Clem Rivera). Gift: a carton of frozen biscuit dough.
37. August 30, 1988. Ask the Phantom. Gift: dinner for two (worth $50) at theater-district restaurants.
38. October 18, 1988. Ask the Head of Larry "Bud" Melman. Gift: scrap lumber.
39. May 24, 1989. Gift: Florsheim Wingtip Shoes, Size 10 1/2.
40. December 19, 1989. Gift: a punchbowl of eggnog.
41. May 9, 1990. Stump "Red" Melman. Gift: a pocket comb. (Sitting in with the band is Charlie Musselwhite.)
42. August 9, 1990. Ask Larry "Bud" Hussein. Gift: a gold medal from the Goodwill Games.
43. October 10, 1990. Ask Enzo "Bud" Melman. Gift: a blonde wig.
44. March 28, 1991. Ask Larry "Bud" Schwarzkopf. Gift: bag of randomly-selected prescription eye glasses.
45. April 24, 1991. Ask Ranger Larry Bud (with Daniel Kellison and Dave Hamilton in the bear costumes). Gift: a bowl of Fig Newtons.
46. October 9, 1991. Ask Larry "Bud" Fortensky. (Sitting in with the band are Matthew Fisher [organ] and Gary Brooker [piano], both from Procol Harum.) Gift: randomly-selected high school yearbooks.
47. July 8, 1992. Ask H. "Bud" Perot. Gift: a sweet kiss or a hearty handshake from Regis Philbin.
48. Early February 1984. Calvert DeForest profile on "Entertainment Tonight."

Пікірлер: 88

@DemosthenesQDrake 3 жыл бұрын

"They're laughing at me or with me. It's immaterial to me. I just like to keep them happy." Thanks so much for this, Don Giller. What a human treasure Calvert DeForest was, and remains.

@jsrecords2023 3 жыл бұрын

I wish I had gone to bed before this was uploaded. Now I'll have to stay up for two hours!

@tvbarn 3 жыл бұрын

Even with that fabulous backstory, the thing I’m left with is how for more than a decade that guy was the oracle for so much incredibly well written comedy. It’s not only still hilarious, it’s textbook comedy, so clean, so tight. And it came out of THAT mouth. We’ll never see his kind again!

@chaave9675 2 жыл бұрын

Oh my god. Thank you for putting this up. I've been checking out all the clips you've put up but these Larry clips have me crying. I was born in 75 and my parents let me stay up as late as I ever wanted. I was raised on Dave, and so many memories of watching these with my dad. Amazing.

@PlanetNewfoundland 3 жыл бұрын

that Entertainment Tonight segment at the end, what a nice bonus! you take good care of us Don. much appreciated.

@alisonlindholm1169 3 жыл бұрын

I appreciate the detailed description, especially that you included the gifts for each segment. Don, thank you. So many people would be missing out on Letterman without you.

@_PrimetimePranks 3 жыл бұрын

Don your station has given me many hours of laughs. Thank you again and again !!

@patcrowley6949 3 жыл бұрын

This is a dream come true! Thank you, Don!

@mrporter2u 9 ай бұрын

On behalf of all of us for whom original Letterman was the benchmark of comedy, thank you for these incredible time capsules!

@joegideon8461 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for your incredibly thorough Letterman collection videos!

@maestro-zq8gu 2 жыл бұрын

I loved how he screamed as he gave away his body parts. Such a funny episode that was.

@ThymeKeeper 3 жыл бұрын

This is one of my favorite series. There is a very odd sort of mental state brought on by watching these back to back :D

@mackdaddyg321 3 жыл бұрын

FINALLY got this collection completed while still working on the George Miller one as well. A fine job as always, Don. Honestly, to avoid stress over the past couple of nights, I've been watching your video collections and nothing else. Thanks very much for your hard work.

@Vejur9000 3 жыл бұрын

This is comedy comfort food, during tough times

@davidsthubbins176 3 жыл бұрын

It took me a few days, but I watched the whole damn thing (All 3 parts). Thank you Mr Giller!!

@dongiller 3 жыл бұрын

David St Hubbins Requirement is same-day nonstop or it doesn’t count. :)

@ronachten2902 3 жыл бұрын

"... we'll be right back with Tempestt Bledsoe!" No need to date stamp that one Donz.

@ronachten2902 3 жыл бұрын

@P McGill Some programming twit gave her a daytime talk show. I think it lasted about a year. Gee, I am realizing I know too much about her. Need a hobby, I guess.

@scottruisch6593 3 жыл бұрын

Don - Thanks so much for posting this collection. I'm in segment 46 ( Fortensky ), third question and being posted on KZfaq will make sharing my 15 minutes of fame a lot easier than loaning out my rapidly decaying DVD recording ( I'm tech un-savvy and never managed to post it myself )

@dongiller 3 жыл бұрын

Congrats! Tell us how it came about. How were you selected? Was this your question or was it handed to you? I know the answers were written at the last moment, without Dave’s knowledge.

@scottruisch6593 3 жыл бұрын

@@dongiller I have a friend who worked for a Broadway producer, that was my "in" for VIP seats ( I had already been to Late Night twice by writing in for tix ). My 3 friends and I arrived early and stand in a separate line than write-in ticket holders, we're going upstairs first. While waiting in line the tell us that an "advice expert" will be on the show and if anyone has questions to write them down. I was enough of a fan that I knew a Melman set-up when I hear one. My "question" was open-ended enough to provide a funny answer so I was one of the chosen. They gave us aisle seats, told us to be ready for middle segment. The participation gift was a "randomly selected High School yearbook". In looking through it later I saw one of the graguatio class was Annette Funicello. Those yearbooks might be the kind of thing a newsroom has so that if the celebrity graduates obit piece has to be done ( sorry to seem so grim ) they've got backstory photos. Anyhoo -- being on Late Night was awesome and I'm glad my appearance is available for all KZfaqrs out there !

@dongiller 3 жыл бұрын

Scott Ruisch Excellent memory, Scott. Thanks so much for giving us the inside scoop!

@davebonnar1199 3 жыл бұрын

wow thanks again for posting a wonderful collection, i forgotten all about Ask Larry Bud , haven't see many of these segments since the 80 , 90 s had them on VHs, look for ward to the BIG man, phantom, again thanks good memories of hilarious comedy

@bodyslamhimjeff 3 жыл бұрын

During the COVID pandemic, I’m gonna do something productive. I’m getting some lumber and a few miles of fabric and making my own Big Man suit for when we go back to the office. Shoot down my proposals now, you worms!

@DaDitka Жыл бұрын

Mr. Giller, I had a totally random memory enter my head about watching the skit featuring James Monroe and The Big Man. I remember it being so funny for a teen like myself watching it, but I never thought I would ever see it again. Then I watched your video and you had it on there! Thank you so much for bringing me a good memory of a corny skit. I appreciate it! Take care and all my best!

@fatalmodelmadhatter 3 жыл бұрын

Larry "Bud" Melman (or better, Calvert DeForest) just had that quality of coming across as an adorable teddy bear even when he was supposed to insult everyone and everything. If they made a plushie toy bearing the likeness of this man, I would buy it. "And it was worth every penny, pinhead! Goodnight, suckers!"

@KrazeeClark 3 жыл бұрын

He would look good in it...dam good.

@brianstorm5488 11 ай бұрын

Don, many thanks for posting these classic bits, they are like a balm for the soul, especially with TV comedy hobbled by the writer’s strike. You’re doing God’s work my friend. May the wind be always at your back.

@dongiller 11 ай бұрын

Thanks!!

@dba4292 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you indeed 🥰

@timthatshim8037 2 жыл бұрын

The Golden Age of late night TV

@wecontrolthevideo 3 жыл бұрын

I wonder how all the college students that had “questions” for Larry have done in their careers? They are all in their middle 50’s now, some probably have grand children already. I was in my early 30’s then and I’m long retired now. I have to confess I enjoy all these because of all the parallels to my life and the memories it brings. I was born in Indianapolis about 6 1/2 years later and about 10 miles from Dave. My career was in TV production and I was a Technical Director on a live daily one hour show. I also did Chyron work and in my spare time I figured out how to make the machine read out from bottom to top (had to write a special auto sequence) and created some of my own top ten lists.

@scottruisch6593 3 жыл бұрын

I'm one of the college students asking a question here. Segment 46, third question ... and actually a drop out at this point in my studies but appearing on this show ( and even getting a seemingly genuine laugh from Dave ) is still a highlight of my life to this day. Whether that's good or bad I'll leave you to judge.

@qthelost 3 жыл бұрын

@@scottruisch6593 I haven't reached episode 46 yet, but how did all that work? Did they give you the questions? Obviously the writers had to have time to come up with the answers. In a lot of these segments the questions sound like legitimate ones from the individuals. Although some were vague like, "When should I get married?"

@scottruisch6593 3 жыл бұрын

@@qthelost Actually the questions are supplied by the audience. Waiting in line to go upstairs an NBC page mentioned that an "advice expert" would be on the show and if anyone had questions they wanted answered write them down and maybe get read on the air. I'd watched Late Night long enough I figured it was a Melman bit so I supplied an open-ended question. While still waiting downstairs my question ( and 2 others ) were selected, me and the other folks pulled out of line and given aisle seats so we'd be accessible when Dave came into the audience. So within a few minutes writers looked through all questions audience provided, found 3 where they figured out "Yeah, we can do something with this", came down and got people who wrote them and we were taping our Melman segment ( as part of the show ) within an hour or so. Pretty quick work for the writers if you ask me !

@qthelost 3 жыл бұрын

@@scottruisch6593 Thanks for the response. When I was trying to figure it out, that was one of my thoughts that the writers would have to do some pretty quick writing. It also explains why everyone is on an aisle seat. I guess they would give Larry a few readthroughs of the material backstage before the segment, but his reading straight from the cards is part of the comedy of it.

@DemosthenesQDrake 3 жыл бұрын

"Bob Rooney please give this small person six dollars in cash."

@antlerking69 3 жыл бұрын

Thanx Don!

@cefcat5733 2 жыл бұрын

Congrats for all of this sanity- saving nonsense, Mr. L-man and team. You began as a difficult mean dude and became a comfy, wise, well-respected Talkshow host. Don't let the darling Big Man fall. There is fun on this planet after all, but in a moment, it was all gone so we watch these videos with you now.

@robkerr8695 2 жыл бұрын

"Pay no attention to my cringing underlings" :)

@Atomikenrtia 8 ай бұрын

"Damn you for reminding of my humiliation. Damn your soul to Hell!" Jesus Christ 😂

@michaelparks6120 Жыл бұрын

This is such a bizarre and hilarious idea....you just gotta love it or we will send thugs!!

@ztoxtube 3 жыл бұрын

I hope that guy got into broadcasting but i hope even more that he still owns that Big Larry arm

@namj8145 Жыл бұрын

Larry/Calvert was literally one in a hundred million. There's an endless number of people who'd be bad actors. His mild mannered real personality was funny as hell. But when he'd go into the written material, and he faked anger or pomposity or stupidity with that booming voice and speech impediment, he created something no other bad actor could achieve. I don't know what the hell it is, but it's endlessly fascinating, beyond hilarious, and should be treasured like a rare diamond.

@marialewis6432 3 жыл бұрын

OMG, I soooooo remember this guy ... and Dave's dropping produce off the roof

@dongiller 3 жыл бұрын

The Tower Drop collection here - kzfaq.info/get/bejne/ecyJlZCk2-DadJ8.html

@yohei72 3 жыл бұрын

Larry "Hussein" is introduced by the Lawrence of Arabia theme by Maurice Jarre.

@dhpbear2 3 жыл бұрын

Believe it or not, before Last Night with David Letterman, Calvert had not done television! ;)

@yohei72 3 жыл бұрын

I find that totally believable. I would be shocked to learn he had!

@urabusxrw04 Жыл бұрын

I keep watching Melman’s The Big Man, theres something so right about it.

@plaws0 3 жыл бұрын

OK, the Sigma Chi in #40? *sigh* ANYWAY, thanks Don. I realized watching this that I must have cut way back on my LNwDL watching because ... I really don't remember AMM (or variants). Real shock to me, TBH. But, thanks to you, The Donz, I've seen every last one of them. Thank you. And #48 was a real treat! Is that the one that cost him his job at the clinic?

@brianarbenz1329 4 ай бұрын

I love Larry Bud!

@leeholloway229 2 жыл бұрын

I'm trying to find an ep of 'Ask Mr Melman' where he wears the kaftan! ('It's a *flowing* kaftan, Dave')

@dongiller 2 жыл бұрын

All three parts have detailed descriptions, including what you’re looking for.

@yosemitesaddam 3 жыл бұрын

This is pure manna

@Stonehopper1067HMG 2 жыл бұрын

14:06 “oh a lita, a big 3 lita bottle of soda”. Larry sounded so happy when he heard the prize was a bottle of soda.

@johnphelan4215 2 жыл бұрын

Pronounced BOT-l just like my mother from Queens would say. Not bod-ul like I would in my boring neutral accent from growing up in Westchester.

@andyrose5616 3 жыл бұрын

For some reason, I thought Larry’s “guilty conscience” bit in Los Angeles was an Ask Mr. Melman segment. I guess it was Viewer Mail.

@janetremsing6988 3 жыл бұрын

R.I.P....

@milart12 2 жыл бұрын

I always wondered how much this guy got for these appearances. He was an integral part of the show.

@milart12 2 жыл бұрын

Oops I mean got paid $$$

@BaccarWozat 2 жыл бұрын

I like the obscure Yojimbo reference

@mikecashus2165 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome compilation. Any idea on the intro song and its connection?

@dongiller 2 жыл бұрын

I checked the segment before this. The song was “Gimme Shelter” - Rolling Stones (1969). The guest was Brian Bosworth. No connection; the song was frequently played during the half-hour station break.

@mikecashus2165 2 жыл бұрын

@@dongiller thanks Don. I really should check the time stamps because I actually meant the song they bring Larry out to. Like at 1:20

@dongiller 2 жыл бұрын

@@mikecashus2165 Ah, sorry. Yeah, very recognizable, but damn if I can place it at the moment.

@alrivers2297 2 жыл бұрын

@@mikecashus2165 The song is Under My Thumb by the Rolling Stones. Everybody is puny under the BIG MAN'S 👍

@danpalmer5451 5 ай бұрын

Does anyone know the piece of music Paul plays during The Big Man's entrance @16:36 ? It's driving me nuts.

@dongiller 5 ай бұрын

Rolling Stones, “Under My Thumb.”

@danpalmer5451 5 ай бұрын

Thanks @@dongiller ! Have a handful of nickels.

@valueofnothing2487 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome. I need to know who thought this up.

@dongiller 2 жыл бұрын

Nobody reads my descriptions. All explained.

@valueofnothing2487 2 жыл бұрын

@@dongiller Thanks!

@valueofnothing2487 2 жыл бұрын

@@dongiller I also have a PhD in economics.

@christ5783 3 жыл бұрын

I doubt any film exists but I'd like to see what sort of act Bud did at comedy clubs

@captainscentsible1811 2 жыл бұрын

You can hear Dave's mind speaking in buds mouth.you can tell he wrote some or gave some thoughts.esp about the speeding ones in pt 2 video

@dongiller 2 жыл бұрын

All of the answers were written by the show’s writers and heard for the first time by Dave when Calvert read them.

@michaelleighton6879 3 жыл бұрын

Interesting stuff indeed. The audience members visible come across to me now as looking and acting like they were all from the same family...

@scottruisch6593 3 жыл бұрын

Segment 46, Question 3 -- that's me and I'd proudly consider myself part of Late Night with David Letterman's big, happy family !

@maskof 3 жыл бұрын

1:12:30 "your head is tiny, it's the size of a tangerine..."! Oh man, Steve O'Donnell and the writing team were on top of their game in the 80s, too funny! You can't do these kinds of jokes anymore without offending a champion snowflake member of the 'Tangerine Sized Head Association of America'.

@georgial6398 3 жыл бұрын

between these 80s Letterman compilations and the Norm MacDonald Live compilations, Steve O'Donnell is involved in a lot of the funniest stuff on YT

@yohei72 3 жыл бұрын

There's no one whinier in the world than people like you who complain about "snowflake" minorities all the time. Get over yourself.