Staff Favorite Moments: Head Writer James Downey

Staff Favorite Moments: Head Writer James Downey | Letterman

Рет қаралды 122,468

2 жыл бұрын

The "Late Night" head writer remembers camping with Barry White, the pirates skit that bombed, the world's largest vase and more.
#JamesDowney #Pirates #Letterman
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Welcome to the Letterman KZfaq Channel, home to all your favorite clips from Late Night and Late Show - as well as conversations with the writers, producers and performers who helped make it all happen. These highlights have been artisanly-produced, carefully-curated, and chosen completely at random by an old computer that used to pick numbers for the New York Lotto back in the 90’s.

Пікірлер: 187

@GideonWeissman 2 жыл бұрын

Internet is extremely lacking in James Downy content.

@bcmcinnis 2 жыл бұрын

Here here!

@BedrockLeadership 2 жыл бұрын

Y E S ! ! !

@MTVCOPS 2 жыл бұрын

Or Jim Downey!

@tenebrae23 2 жыл бұрын

He is interviewed by Dana Carvey and David Spade on the Fly on the Wall podcast.

@BomChickyBowWow Жыл бұрын

I know! I’ve googled my ass off and there’s nothing. I’m dying to see an interview of him from the 80s or something but I don’t think they exist. I guess he just wasn’t known then.

@Paulafan5 2 жыл бұрын

Barry White: I don't wanna die, Dave... That never stops being funny.

@229BlackHat 2 жыл бұрын

David, my leg, I think it’s broken

@angelacooper5682 2 жыл бұрын

@@229BlackHat 🤣

@gregbear123 9 ай бұрын

😂

@penguinjammer8522 3 ай бұрын

The please after Dave advises to get Barry White to a doctor kills me every time

@eromacque 2 жыл бұрын

Jim Downey. Holy hell. Genius beyond genius in the world of comedy. The Harvard Lampoon alum who blazed the trail from Cambridge to Hollywood. FUN TRIVIA: He provided the voice for Hercules in the fantastic IL RETURNO DE HERCULES sketch on SNL and provided that very same voice for James Hong in WAYNE'S WORLD 2. He was also the news vendor telling White Guy Eddie Murphy to "Go on...take it!" with the newspaper because white people give things to each other. Oh, and he was Norm Macdonald's other brain in writing Weekend Update.

@joadbreslin5819 2 жыл бұрын

You left off a couple of his most notable contributions: the "everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it" speech from Billy Madison (kzfaq.info/get/bejne/grdziJZn1dGsZ5c.html), and playing Andy Samberg's dad, who was having an affair with Jonah Hill (kzfaq.info/get/bejne/jdyFe8Slrt-vgmg.html).

@michaelmcdonald8452 2 жыл бұрын

And his bits as the wistful homeless guy in Dirty Work were great as well. And yeah, his role in Billy Madison... "if there are any attempts to cheat.... especially with my wife..."

@danwroy Жыл бұрын

I had no idea he was the dubbed voice of Wayne's father-in-law, that's amazing

@VillemarMxO 8 ай бұрын

Glad you mentioned Norm Macdonald. I just finished his brilliantly absurdist autobiography, wherein he praises Jim Downey as an absolute comedy writing genius.

@michaelmcdonald8452 2 жыл бұрын

Barry adding "please" after "get Barry White to the hospital" is comedy gold.

@jaybestnz 8 ай бұрын

The deep line from Barry "I don't want to die Dave" was amazing.

@hanzzarkov7690 7 ай бұрын

I laughed my face off. So good.

@bobwalton4630 8 ай бұрын

Mostly a writer but James had some great on screen moments in Dirty Work and Billy Madison. Just a straight up legend.

@PatrickKeating 3 ай бұрын

He's great in There Will Be Blood too.

@SidelerMN Жыл бұрын

Downey is not only an all time comedy writer but also a great story teller.

@SidelerMN Жыл бұрын

‘The plank is NOT going to break.” I loved this line by Steve ODonnell. Tough crowd that night.

@603ER Жыл бұрын

The world needs the World's Largest Vase and its message of unity now more than ever.

@VillemarMxO 8 ай бұрын

Can we avoid the hard linoleum of doom?

@LetsBeHonestImAPrat Жыл бұрын

Can I go back to being a child staying up every night to watch Letterman? That’d be a dream come true

@andybaldman 8 ай бұрын

Yes, you can.

@ross302ci 2 жыл бұрын

If you listen to Conan's podcast, he'll gush about Jim Downey at any chance he can get. It's clear he's a legend in the world of TV comedy writers.

@Rob_Kates 2 жыл бұрын

He wrote some of the best SNL skits.

@leonardstilwell1894 2 жыл бұрын

@@Rob_Kates Change Bank. Might be my favorite all-time SNL remote.

@michaelparks6120 2 жыл бұрын

These are so funny !

@debschaefer7820 2 жыл бұрын

@@leonardstilwell1894 "We can do that".

@jozz2248 2 жыл бұрын

@@debschaefer7820 Always made me feel more empowered to ask the bank for a dollar in nickels.

@Ellierua 2 жыл бұрын

Makers of this channel need to get the word out.. Because snippets from James Downey and his ilk are priceless.. So amazing to see and enjoyable!

@MegaPrincefox 2 жыл бұрын

This man is pure comic genius. Thanks for this!

@Ellierua 2 жыл бұрын

He's absolutely one of the best. I don't use the word Legend lightly.. But he's up there, if not there already!

@wyskass861 Жыл бұрын

Jim has been at the forefront of comedy writing for 50 years. Legend.

@illygah 8 ай бұрын

Not only is he top dog, every single one of the lesser-thans got there by having had worked with Jim.

@namj8145 Жыл бұрын

I did a gut-busting laugh when he mentioned the late Calvert DeForest, then paused and asked if he was actually dead. And not wanting to be wrong about it said " I believe...I hope." LMFAO.

@thelettermanpodcast Жыл бұрын

On our show we refer to the first couple years of Late Night as the lower levels of the Letterman pyramid that would be built. It’s clear the foundation built during the point in time was not only solid, but unbreakable; the fact that 40 years later this content holds up is a remarkable testament.

@chiefscheider 2 жыл бұрын

That whole bit with Barry White is like something that would've been on SCTV 😄

@eromacque 2 жыл бұрын

"David. My leg. I think it's broken."

@catholicdad 2 жыл бұрын

The Fishin' Musician!

@JackSilbert 2 жыл бұрын

Mr. Downey's delight, even at the bits that other staffers wrote, really made me happy.

@thelettermanpodcast Жыл бұрын

For sure. The pride in being a part of this show is evident.

@tbx59 2 жыл бұрын

That was great - the folks involved have been doing a good job with the channel.

@ontologicallysteve7765 2 жыл бұрын

Tell the folks at home how the folks involved have been doing a good job...

@rockturtleneck 2 жыл бұрын

"Barry White has just been bitten by a Northern Copperhead." Another great segment on this brilliant channel.

@paulocuaresma9480 8 ай бұрын

The best thing in these video is the classic bits and Jim Downey laughing as he remembers it 😊

@RobLives4Love 2 жыл бұрын

this pirates bit may be one of my favorite sketches of all time

@Subo23 2 жыл бұрын

The Great James Downey

@kit2770 Жыл бұрын

I hope that we as a civilization can all come together in the way that giant vase said. That's a smart vase. And his owner is a good wrestling coach.

@thomassalyers1391 Жыл бұрын

“ the hard linoleum of doom”

@thelettermanpodcast Жыл бұрын

Beware!

@DouglasRichardson-er4ky 8 ай бұрын

Lee Majors transition from 6 million dollar man to the fall guy as a metaphor for life 🤔

@greenatom 8 ай бұрын

All of this stuff has been stored in my brain for decades, forgotten until now!

@ronniechilds2002 2 жыл бұрын

Dave was the BEST. He took his obvious adoration for Carson and ran with it and eventually exceeded him by a mile Fortunately he had a talent for finding and hiring great writers, like Downey here, and taking the brilliant stuff they came up with and making it HILARIOUS, night after night. Man, I don't think I ever missed a Dave show.

@stephenpeters8404 2 жыл бұрын

I love subtle and unintended touches, and the scene in "They Took My Show Away" where the kid accidentally rips the TV Guide in a way that leaves the cover visible and flapping in the wind (1:45 mark) cracks me up.

@thelettermanpodcast Жыл бұрын

Yes! Genius!

@VillemarMxO 8 ай бұрын

Here's one...Manimal! Later when that show got cancelled they had a memoriam to Manimal which was hilarious.

@bernlin2000 2 жыл бұрын

Good lord was Letterman driven early on to push comedy to a new level 🙂"Camping with Barry White" is phenomenal, surprised I've never heard of it until now, been a fan forever (but born in the middle of the first late night show).

@mikesternmike Жыл бұрын

By the time he got to CBS all the good years were behind him unfortunately many of the writers that made gold already left

@debbiebankscell 2 жыл бұрын

I felt the same way as Little Jimmy about Voyagers. 😥

@hamsandwichson 2 жыл бұрын

"We will give you the change equal to the money you needed change for"

@richorichards4655 2 жыл бұрын

If only we’d listened to the worlds largest vase

@FloraWest 2 жыл бұрын

"They Took My Show Away" and "Camping with Barry White" are of my (many) favorite pieces from this show. And "a nightmarish carnival of mayhem" in my everyday vocabulary.

@RobLives4Love 2 жыл бұрын

"I don't wanna die, Dave" always takes me right out.

@Brian-uy2tj 9 ай бұрын

It is pretty obvious that Barry White had a really good sense of humor. Whenever he was on the show it was great and a lot of fun.

@VillemarMxO 8 ай бұрын

Loved Barry's top ten list. "Big Assss Ham."

@danathanaurelius4685 Жыл бұрын

With his philosophy on bombing, it makes a lot of sense why he vibes so well with Norm McDonald

@sepitheroth Жыл бұрын

I remember these. Good times. I miss Dave.

@kolst8406 Жыл бұрын

AT the time, 1983, F Lee Bailey was the host of a short-live, syndicated TV show called Lie Detector.

@kolst8406 Жыл бұрын

"lived" for God's sakes.

@Football__Junkie Жыл бұрын

“Here’s a chimp that lives in Washington. Hah. You know that will be a good one.” 😂😂

@schtum1 2 жыл бұрын

Good to see a young Conan in the first sketch

@loopy7057 2 жыл бұрын

The World's Largest Vase thing is absolutely fucking hilarious 😂

@cs5845 2 жыл бұрын

This was a good one! Also, I loved having the whole outro at the end.

@MichaelMurphy-kj3xf Жыл бұрын

Agree 100%!

@bgheadjack Жыл бұрын

Downey is on the late night writer Mount Rushmore. What a legend

@JonBlondell Жыл бұрын

Great, thank you!

@TheEkatz 2 жыл бұрын

Just listened to your Fly On The Wall appearance with Carvey/Spade.. Really fantastic stories.. Nice to see this as well. You've done a lot!

@PopeLando 2 жыл бұрын

Me too, just this morning!

@Jiv_Ing57819 2 жыл бұрын

The pirates are very matter of fact, what are you doing? Oh sorry we’re just going to take this ship to x marks and then send Charles to a watery grave. ,:-0

@Jiv_Ing57819 2 жыл бұрын

It is going to be an agonising death for him, once we take him to the spot after some sailing and he is sinking it will be unpleasant yet pleasant for us pirates to know thy mission is accomplished. ,:-0

@kmac1766 8 ай бұрын

Dave admonishing the youngster’s threat to “Never watch TV again!”😂😂😂😂😂”Jimmy!!! Don’t ever say that!”

@allendracabal0819 4 ай бұрын

"Not even as a joke."

@kmac1766 4 ай бұрын

@@allendracabal0819 😂😂😂

@gersonkphone 2 жыл бұрын

Barry White attacked by a snake? That's like the opposite of what you should post on Whacking Day.

@KennethWrites Жыл бұрын

That vase would be about 120 years old now if it is still around. I can't seem to find it anywhere.

@markybgoode 8 ай бұрын

Long time Late Nite fan. Never thought too much about who wrote his funny skits and bits of business. I love 💕 this former writer. I’d like to have coffee with him sometime.

@martyblair7221 5 ай бұрын

Jim Downey will always be my 2nd favorite world's largest vase.

@jarrodf_ Жыл бұрын

Sublime

@ineedausernamenow999 10 күн бұрын

just relistened to Jim's Conan podcast and I haven't laughed at a podcast that many times and that hard ever. Jim's a jem

@ineedausernamenow999 10 күн бұрын

the financer?

@g-pa-Rok-n-Tok 2 жыл бұрын

Dave will always be the King!

@teresaf991 2 жыл бұрын

I feel they need to just show all of these on late night t.v. So many people would quickly tune in. They could just play these made for you tube videos. Not Any extra work. The could call it THE GENUIS OF THE DAVID LETTERMAN SHOW. THE FIRST ONE. WOW! These were all my favorites.

@markjones952 2 жыл бұрын

I'd go camping with Barry White.

@chiefscheider 2 жыл бұрын

Imagine him reading you a bedtime story...

@janisthompson9801 2 жыл бұрын

Alright, alright,alright , says someone!!❤️🇨🇦❤️

@thelettermanpodcast Жыл бұрын

Well, I suppose it would be quiet.

@kellyneese5216 2 жыл бұрын

GREAT WRITER.

@hankochai 8 ай бұрын

That pirate torture & death bit was hilarious. Ahead of its time, perhaps.

@ronsandlin9618 Жыл бұрын

MANIMAL!!!

@mre_physvids 10 ай бұрын

I always watch watch these to very end hoping to hear Hiram Bullock playing. What a monster.

@tonyguitarro 2 жыл бұрын

Hey do you fine people have any reruns of the original Late Late Show with Tom Snyder, being a Worldwide Pants production? I loved that show.

@robatsea2009 2 жыл бұрын

As echoed by others great to see a true legend here. Interesting to see the fate of the Paul Zimmerman episode repeated here, which also featured actor Klaus Kinski. Mr. Zimmerman wrote a number of the early "Sesame Street" shows before "The King of Comedy" was produced (about a decade after he had written it). Sadly he passed away quite young, about ten years after his appearance on the show.

@dongiller 2 жыл бұрын

I believe the Paul Zimmermam appearance is available on another YT channel.

@mackymintle7806 Жыл бұрын

So funny that the writers were laughing about that book, letters to E.T. 😜🤓

@TDB.AO. Жыл бұрын

GOAT

@DrTimWhatleyDDS 3 ай бұрын

Fun fact: the red head boy who plays Jimmy was Conan O’Brien

@jamesdowney6578 7 ай бұрын

Should have snatched his Late Night paycheck while I had a chance…

@GPSjammer Жыл бұрын

DAVID MY LEGGG

@dimitrikorsakov2570 2 жыл бұрын

You guys should do one with Bill Scheft, too.

@joadbreslin5819 2 жыл бұрын

No doubt that will be forthcoming.

@mlc4050 2 жыл бұрын

Jim awards us no points, and may God have mercy on our souls.

@justinhicks306 2 жыл бұрын

His greatest performance

@stephengiese7549 8 ай бұрын

The sillier the better😅

@davidroel3047 2 жыл бұрын

I liked Voyagers, too.

@thelettermanpodcast Жыл бұрын

Who didn’t?

@illygah 8 ай бұрын

17:58 Go Cyclones! God Bless Coach Nichols.

@NoellaScott Жыл бұрын

Dave avoided anything that verged on acting?! That's crazy because all of Dave's best bits back then seemed to be when he was killing it as an actor. I'm sure all the writers saw this, too, and it must have driven them insane apart from making their jobs easier.

@asynchronicity 8 ай бұрын

I always get a kick out of people who have the first name “F.”😅

@yasirayala 2 жыл бұрын

conan was so young when he played jimmy...

@johnnytransam5894 11 ай бұрын

Why is his video in black and white?

@roccoand2612 2 жыл бұрын

Bermuda!

@zorantaylor3190 8 ай бұрын

I wonder if this is why Barry White is also in the snake-whacking episode of The Simpsons....

@Worthywalker Жыл бұрын

May God have mercy on your soul, Jim Downey.

@fbomb7184 8 ай бұрын

Manimal was a real show and my 9 year old self loved it! He could turn into all sorts of animals. And it was real dramatic when he would morph. They’d play this funky 80’s synth music and do all this make up. I wish I was watching it right now! That ape show was a joke tho.

@mccallosone4903 2 жыл бұрын

as i recall, they stopped voyagers because the lead guy killed himself playing russian roulette. i was sad too kid, i liked that show

@RideAcrossTheRiver Жыл бұрын

No, Hexum died on the set of a different show a year later. He was clowning with a prop gun that fired powerful blanks.

@michaelgreer8659 2 жыл бұрын

Touch your screen and go to settings, change speed to 1.75, hilarious.

@thelettermanpodcast Жыл бұрын

Fantastic. Now, I need to break out my Alvin and the Chipmunks records!

@lawrenceflail3164 6 ай бұрын

I never knew the World's Largest Vase married common street trash.

@quiet451 2 жыл бұрын

I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

@1972glm Жыл бұрын

26:08 Daniel Stern?

@qthelost Жыл бұрын

Yeah, he was a guest that night and became involved in the skit.

@samanthab1923 2 жыл бұрын

That kid looks like Conan! 😂

@thelettermanpodcast Жыл бұрын

For the gods sakes, please, Don’t blame Conan!

@ConradSpoke 8 ай бұрын

It's weird, James Downey looked a lot younger forty years ago.

@catholicdad 2 жыл бұрын

This is the Principal of Knibb High School?

@ThePeej 8 ай бұрын

Are James & Jim Downey related??

@fbomb7184 8 ай бұрын

Voyagers was great. Surprised they haven’t tried a reboot. Actually the premise was ensuring history happened the way it was supposed to. Nowadays they just rewrite history.

@sketchyspot Ай бұрын

BUT WHO WILL CLOSE THE DOORKNOB GAP?!

@tvviewer4500 8 ай бұрын

He worked at the late show/letterman longer than that... right?

@YourTVFriend 7 ай бұрын

No, he didn’t. He still had a decent influence on the early years of the show however

@rumayar5 2 жыл бұрын

Why did he leave?

@justinhicks306 2 жыл бұрын

When the hell did Jim Downey become an old guy?

@samanthab1923 2 жыл бұрын

Right? Makes me feel old

@hebber1961 7 ай бұрын

If I went camping with Barry White and he was bitten by a snake.... he's not gonna make it.

@bmla88 2 жыл бұрын

Fun fact: Jimmy was played by a young Conan Obrien.

@dongiller 2 жыл бұрын

Conan was 20 the year this aired.

@RideAcrossTheRiver Жыл бұрын

It was Chris Elliott.

@VillemarMxO 8 ай бұрын

That was me. I am writing this from prison. Shortly after this afterschool special I turned to a life of crime, subsequently convicted of multiple homicides with 17 consecutive life sentences. That fame really went to my head. 😢

@mackymintle7806 Жыл бұрын

I remember that hilariously awful pirate bit.

@lynnturman8157 2 жыл бұрын

At the end, they shoulda had somebody accidentally knock over the vase.

@actualturtle2421 Жыл бұрын

Jim Downey is one of the funniest writers in the history of television, but it's kind of mind blowing that he isn't all that funny in real life. Like I'm sure the guy can crack a joke, but for someone who's such a genius at putting pen to paper, I'm just surprised that he doesn't really have the "comedian" kind of humor about him. That's fascinating to me.

@ownpetard8379 8 ай бұрын

Not a performer. Different skill set. Jim seemed affable and friendly. That is enough to carry a conversation.

@actualturtle2421 8 ай бұрын

@@ownpetard8379 Very true! Not to mention one of the most insightful guys in the business.