"TV Turn-Off" Controversy on Letterman, October 3, 9, 1984

Comments · 712

• AN

  @andrewdesalvo3092 · 9 years ago

  I would like THANK whoever published this.  The wonderful woman Dave called -- Nancy DeSalvo  (my mother) -- died, at the age of 90, on August 13th, 2017.  This was her '15 minutes of fame' and provides a very small example of the wit and grace I grew up with.  She would later go on to be on the selection committees of the two most prestigious book awards for children, the Newberry and Caldecott awards.  Her kids and grandkids miss her terribly; she was a perfect foil for Dave's deadpan humor and she exhibited this honesty, dedication and  'spunk' until the very end.  We'll treasure these Letterman calls for years...

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• SC

  @scottlarson1548 · 5 years ago

  Thirty seven years later I still remembered her saying, "It's bigger than the both of us." Her ad-libbing was as good as the writing.

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• JO

  @johnholland9371 · 5 years ago

  Remember when satire existed because there was a distinction between utterly bizarre and daily life?

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• FR

  @frankharvey88 · 5 years ago

  Paul got me with the “nine months” crack. 😂

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• JE

  @jesse_cole · 5 years ago (edited)

  I think I participated in this boycott when I was 5 years old in 1984. I never got over missing the first episode of Bleeps and Bloopers that season.

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• JA

  @jameypiedalue7844 · 5 years ago

  Letterman was effectively promoting her tv ban... fantastic...

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• GR

  @grog0cean · 5 years ago (edited)

  This was great! Dave used humor criticizing her to promote her cause.

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• AD

  @AdamWood · 5 years ago

  "It's bigger than both of us" - SAVAGE

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• RE

  @Reedlbrace · 5 years ago

  When she answers the phone she says "this is she". She really is a librarian.

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• PE

  @peacecitizen1 · 5 years ago (edited)

  This is why he was the King.<br><br>Instead of a simple monologue joke, quickly forgotten. He turned it into a multi episode piece of genius.

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• BR

  @briancherry8088 · 5 years ago

  I love how much fun she seemed to be having on the call.

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• CH

  @chelseagirl278 · 5 years ago

  I LOVE how she is not intimidated by Dave or her mocking her. &nbsp;She is amazing!! ❤️💕❤️

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