R.I.P Calvin DeForest (aka Larry "Bud" Melman)

[ScoopJohnD]

Awwww, one of the classics from the old Letterman show passed away. It was guaranteed laughs when he was on. One of my faves, his ads for Melman
Bus Lines with slogans like "Our buses fit through the Lincoln Tunnel" and "Our buses have tires."

[Zydekitten]

Yeah, I saw that too and was sad . . . those were the really good ol' days of Letterman - the giant doorknob, monkeycam, the velcro suit, and Melman. Sigh.

[ScoopJohnD]

Don't forget elevator races.......

I used to have a connection who could get me tickets for Letterman at NBC. Went a few times, but one time this was the guest list.......Bob Dylan and ...........Liberace.

[festivalgirl]

I'm lifting a glass for Larry Bud! :(

[mightyradgumbo]

awww man...he was so funny...must be getting old when I say to myself those were the glory days of Letterman

[Zydekitten]

Don't forget elevator races.......

I used to have a connection who could get me tickets for Letterman at NBC. Went a few times, but one time this was the guest list.......Bob Dylan and ...........Liberace.
Yeah, the elevator races and dropping things off of the roof - good times.

Wow, I'm envious - I've always wanted to go and see the Letterman show in NYC - but haven't been able to do so! Dylan and Liberace is just too surreal - love it!!

[festivalgirl]

Yeah, the elevator races and dropping things off of the roof - good times.

Wow, I'm envious - I've always wanted to go and see the Letterman show in NYC - but haven't been able to do so! Dylan and Liberace is just too surreal - love it!!

I used to work smack in between Letterman & SNL. You saw some pretty weird shit on the street - even for NYC!

[Zydekitten]

I bet!! Fun!

[windowman]

I bet someone handed him a hot towel when he got to the gate. RIP Calvert, you made a lot of people laugh along the way.

[Rossvegas]

Gee, I remember seeing him when he first appeared on Letterman and I thought: "Man, this dude is gonna die soon. That's not going to be very funny..." Turns out he had LOTS of life left in him! I can only imagine how his life changed after his appearance on Dave...

[Frosty]

Ah, Letterman in his NBC days. THAT was truly his best time. Now, he's got all celebrity guests who are boring. None like The Worlds Fastest Quilter from Omaha, etc.

[Headless Hornman]

That is sad news; and I agree the NBC days were the best. I rarely watch anymore, but back in '86, '87 I'd tape it and watch almost every show.

To tie this to the Fest: in '86 during Jazz Fest Paul Schaffer missed a few shows; something about meeting Queen Elizabeth, I believe. One night soon after his return he was wearing the official HowAhYa JFest shirt. This resulted in my first viewer mail letter; I accused Paul of playing hooky to go to New Orleans. It didn't make the show, but I figured I'd keep trying until I got one on. About 30 letters and a year later I finally got one on Viewer Mail.

Dear Dave,

Just wanted to let you know that I moved again.

Keeping you informed,

Paul G.
Gainesville, Florida


(Dave, yells back stage) "Did you hear that Tommy, Paul G. has moved again."

Backstage there's a magnetic map of the USA, titled "Our Viewers." There's only about two dozen faces on the map. Tommy moves one to the center of Florida. "Got it, Dave."

(Dave, muttering under his breath) "That's about right."

[Frosty]

That is sad news; and I agree the NBC days were the best. I rarely watch anymore, but back in '86, '87 I'd tape it and watch almost every show.

To tie this to the Fest: in '86 during Jazz Fest Paul Schaffer missed a few shows; something about meeting Queen Elizabeth, I believe. One night soon after his return he was wearing the official HowAhYa JFest shirt. This resulted in my first viewer mail letter; I accused Paul of playing hooky to go to New Orleans. It didn't make the show, but I figured I'd keep trying until I got one on. About 30 letters and a year later I finally got one on Viewer Mail.

Dear Dave,

Just wanted to let you know that I moved again.

Keeping you informed,

Paul G.
Gainesville, Florida


(Dave, yells back stage) "Did you hear that Tommy, Paul G. has moved again."

Backstage there's a magnetic map of the USA, titled "Our Viewers." There's only about two dozen faces on the map. Tommy moves one to the center of Florida. "Got it, Dave."

(Dave, muttering under his breath) "That's about right."


That is hilarious. And why Dave was the best!

[tangledupinblue]

Rest In Peace! He was hiliarious!

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o133/klsarge/BudMelman.gif

[bluedog]

awwwww ... that is sad news! RIP Bud ... he's prolly cutting up with Richard Pryor & Sam Kinison.

That is sad news; and I agree the NBC days were the best. I rarely watch anymore, but back in '86, '87 I'd tape it and watch almost every show.

To tie this to the Fest: in '86 during Jazz Fest Paul Schaffer missed a few shows; something about meeting Queen Elizabeth, I believe. One night soon after his return he was wearing the official HowAhYa JFest shirt. This resulted in my first viewer mail letter; I accused Paul of playing hooky to go to New Orleans. It didn't make the show, but I figured I'd keep trying until I got one on. About 30 letters and a year later I finally got one on Viewer Mail.

Dear Dave,

Just wanted to let you know that I moved again.

Keeping you informed,

Paul G.
Gainesville, Florida


(Dave, yells back stage) "Did you hear that Tommy, Paul G. has moved again."

Backstage there's a magnetic map of the USA, titled "Our Viewers." There's only about two dozen faces on the map. Tommy moves one to the center of Florida. "Got it, Dave."

(Dave, muttering under his breath) "That's about right." LOL that's riot! I remember those daze! I may even vaguely remember that clip! For some reason it's ringing a bell. Ring a ding!

[Zydekitten]

That is sad news; and I agree the NBC days were the best. I rarely watch anymore, but back in '86, '87 I'd tape it and watch almost every show.

To tie this to the Fest: in '86 during Jazz Fest Paul Schaffer missed a few shows; something about meeting Queen Elizabeth, I believe. One night soon after his return he was wearing the official HowAhYa JFest shirt. This resulted in my first viewer mail letter; I accused Paul of playing hooky to go to New Orleans. It didn't make the show, but I figured I'd keep trying until I got one on. About 30 letters and a year later I finally got one on Viewer Mail.

Dear Dave,

Just wanted to let you know that I moved again.

Keeping you informed,

Paul G.
Gainesville, Florida


(Dave, yells back stage) "Did you hear that Tommy, Paul G. has moved again."

Backstage there's a magnetic map of the USA, titled "Our Viewers." There's only about two dozen faces on the map. Tommy moves one to the center of Florida. "Got it, Dave."

(Dave, muttering under his breath) "That's about right."
That's classic Dave - good on ya, HH!!! :D

My brush with Letterman greatness came when I was in L.A. on business and staying at the Airport Marriott (nice hotel), I was downstairs getting a Starbucks and who comes up next to me?? Biff Henderson! Having been a former Angelino, I normally don't do any starf**king/please can I have your autograph type of thing, but I did feel compelled in this case to say hello and tell him how much I enjoyed him on the show . . . he was very nice and appreciative!

[Headless Hornman]

LOL that's riot! I remember those daze! I may even vaguely remember that clip! For some reason it's ringing a bell. Ring a ding!



If you think that rings a bell, maybe the best viewer mail answered that night might confirm it. Somebody wrote that in the liner notes of David Sanborn's new record there was a thank you to David Letterman. So the viewer asked what Dave did to deserve it. In a flashback skit Sanborn plays a sax solo with the band, then rests for a minute. Letterman comes over and drains the spit valve. For a long time; gallons and gallons. He then hands the sax back to Sanborn just in time for his next solo.

[bluedog]

LOL!!!! I do remember that! and ew! http://forum.jamesfoxall.com/images/smilies/Green%20Alien.gif

[ohio]

RIP Bud! He was the best!

[Priestboy]

:( R.I.P. and Godspeed, Calvert ("Larry Bud") DeForest! Your way of bringing joy will be your ticket through the Gates!:)

[ScoopJohnD]

Dave says goodbye to Calvin on tonight's show.

[Amyloves...]

Awwww....I loved him.