DAVID BIANCULLI

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DAVID LETTERMAN: THE MARK TWAIN PRIZE
November 20, 2017  | By David Bianculli  | 1 comment

PBS, 8:00 p.m. ET

 

SPECIAL PREMIERE: On Oct. 22, David Letterman went to Washington, D.C. as recipient of the 20th annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. (To which I say: After 20 years, to not make room for the Smothers Brothers is just shy of criminal.) But in the past few days, a change was made to the program produced for PBS to honor and preserve that occasion. Sen. Al Franken participated in the event, but according to PBS, has been edited out of the broadcast after being accused of sexual harassment by a fellow USO tour member a decade ago. “Every year,” PBS said in a carefully worded statement, “this program is edited for both length and content to keep it focused on its intended purpose as a celebration of American humor.” Okay – but another question worth asking is, “What would Mark Twain want?” Check local listings.

 
 
 
 
 
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Mark Isenberg
They have to give it someone but aside from occasional man in the street segments or Paul McCartney singing on the marquee or Darlene Love at Christmas,David Letterman was never going to be Johnny Carson in terms of versatility or humor.He had a mean streak and was often unfair to actress guests other than Julia Roberts or in one case Drew Barrymore. He is doing better work now as a Daddy and finally figured out what Husband mean. And Sen. Franken was not that funny decades ago on SNL as part of Franken and Davis and it appears he has a little growing up still to do.....
Nov 20, 2017   |  Reply
 
 
 
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