Rupert Jee's First and Last on Letterman, 1993 & 2015
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- Опубліковано 3 жов 2020
- Rupert Jee appeared on Late Show more than any other human: an astounding 401 times, or 9.5% of the show's nearly 22-year run. His first was on September 20, 1993 (Show #16) as part of Dave's live remote series "Meet the Neighbors." His last was on the penultimate Late Show, May 19, 2015 (#4,213).
1. September 20, 1993. Meet the Neighbors.
2. May 19, 2015. A Retrospective.
The complete Fun with Rupert collection is here: • Fun with Rupert Collec...
I met Rupert in 2007 when I visited my brother in NYC. We went to lunch at the Hello Deli. I didn't expect to see Rupert working the register...I figured he would have employees doing that since he had gotten so "big" on Letterman. But we went in and sure enough, Rupert was right there, manning the register, taking orders, making sandwiches, etc. I ordered and then asked if I could get a picture with him, and he was really kind and gracious to let my brother snap a shot with him. I asked him if that got old, and he was really humble, saying something like "It comes with the territory...I don't mind." I loved meeting him! Oh, and the food was delicious, by the way! :)
I was in NY a couple years back and ran into a whole lot of folks as friendly and nice as this. Gotta love Rupert!
God Bless you.
That was a lovely story :-)
@@ryanellis4474 Thank you!
Same here man!! Back in 95 I was only like 14 and went to eat there and was shocked that Rupert literally stood there and chatted with me and my family for over half an hour like we were his most valued customers!! He told us stories about Dave and about the other guys from Rock America (the 2 middle eastern guys). It was amazing. Truly.
@@flightofthebumblebee9529 Nice! It was kinda busy when we were there so I didn't want to impose. It looked like he was the only one there working that day. But he was so gracious. And your story doesn't surprise me, having met him he just seems like the most genuine person. Thanks for sharing!
Today I learned it wasn't Rupert G. It was Rupert Jee. I've had it wrong for 30 years.
Rupert was always great. I can’t believe he went along with some of them.
Letterman feeding lines to Rupert Jee was what got me hooked on Letterman. Comedy gold.
Me too. I was only like 14 but that as well as the Jerky Boys made me laugh harder than I ever had. Both were New York City representatives!!
I've met Rupert a handful of times at his Hello Deli. He is as humble and down to Earth as he appears. He really does stand behind the register. He never once got paid by Letterman or CBS to appear on the show, and doesn't care that he didn't. And he doesn't have any pictures or autographs from Letterman hanging in his Deli. If you didn't know he was on Letterman so frequently, you would have no idea by walking into his deli. Now I don't know anything about his personal finances, or how big his house is. I would imagine he's done incredibly well for himself, and lives quite comfortably. But he is literally just a regular, hard-working New Yorker.
All true except for the payments. He did get paid for all on-camera appearances.
@@dongiller oh okay. That would make sense. But I do remember one appearance where Letterman asked Rupert if he paid him to be on his show, and Rupert replied with no. But I guess somebody paid him, if it was Dave directly.
Joey Baseball I suspect Rupert was joking.
@@dongiller it makes sense, because even the filthy rich celebrity guests who come on to promote their movies and albums get paid for their appearance.
Anyone who is “directed” gets paid.
Seeing the crowds on the street waving at the camera makes me miss the 90s when people seemed so innocent and friendly then.
Cocaine was flying in NYC!
They still do
In 1995 I met Rupert Jee when my dad took us to NYC to visit his old USMC buddy who lived in Brooklyn. It was amazing. I got lunch at his deli and talked to Rupert personally for like half an hour while he posed for pictures with us. It was truly awesome. He was SUCH a nice guy and made me laugh a lot telling me stories about the crazy stuff he and Dave did for laughs.
I will always remember it as a testament to the greatest city on earth.
My mother and I went to the Hello Deli and bought all our Letterman souvenirs there. He took a pic with me and autographed a napkin for me. I love Dave, and I love Rupert!!! Rupert was my favorite Letterman guest!!! Love these guys.
That last one with Rupert and the girls at the outdoor table was my all-time fav. "That's my THUMB" . . . I lost it . . . then the big yellow gloves at the end . . . I think I woke up the neighbors laughing hysterically. Those were the days of late-nite comedy.
This brings back memories. I watched all of these skits when they originally aired in the 90's. Thanks Don!
Verdade
It was so glorious staying up late to watch these. Miss Dave!!
This was a genius idea by David. Thirty years later, and I"m being entertained by visiting a deli.
Dave is a genius at reading people and treats people who are humble really kindly.. he instantly liked Rupert because of his personality.
At one point Dave tells him to ask for a 5 pounder, and they tell him they don't have that. So Dave tells him to say "can I have 20 quarter pounders, I'm trying to build my own 5 pounder" 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
The Rupert bits were some of the best in the 90s.
Here’s the complete Fun with Rupert collection - ua-cam.com/video/v_sa1aCkJZU/v-deo.html
I forgot how good Rupert was at redelivering Dave's lines.
He was absolute brilliant. He and Dave made quite a team, didn't they.
Especially when he said, "it was my thumb". Hilarious.
I met Rupert in the deli in the mid to late 90s. Very humble and quiet guy. Posed for a pic with me. And he got paid the SAG minimum (ranged from a few hundred to several hundred over the years) when he was on the show.
I’m swedish & visited NY in 2011. Never managed to see the show but DID buy a Letterman mug from Rupert himself - huge! 🙂
Rupert Jee is such a G. Always loved seeing him on Letterman.
Back in 95 I called Jee's shop, from Seattle. I spoke briefly to Rupert and congratulated him on his Letterman success. He was friendly and appreciated the call!
Aww, that's soo cool to hear!! 😁 I love that! I live a couple hours away from Seattle, so that's an additional layer of appreciation 😊
As well as the fact, that every once in a while when I'm scrolling through my phone Contacts, I run across the number for the deli, because I thinnk(?) it was ran across the screen at some point, back when Dave was still on air, -- and I'd thought it'd be a nice memento to 'save', and to feel like an honorary resident of New York 😊 I hope to live somewhere in NY someday, but I'm not able to be there yet.. But on the occasion I get reminded that I saved the deli number.. - I briefly think to myself, like, "What if I ever called that number, just so I could maybe talk to Rupert Jee?!" Hahaha 😂
His quiet dead-pan sensibility always paired so well with Dave 😊 You feel like you've met people kinda like Rupert.. A quiet connoisseur, just there to do his job, and have a few laughs about life every now n then. 💁It was a pleasant reminder of him, to hear that he indeed is friendly, & someone who is appreciative of other people's sentiments/gratitude, and efforts :)
Anyhow, don't mind me with my bored-ness, and missing the good ol days of when Dave was on the air! :)😊 Thank you for sharing the very cool memory!
Dude he is literally the nicest celeb you'd ever meet. I also met him in 1995 and when we went to NYC we chatted with him for over half an hour and he treated us like WE were the celebs. Amazing guy.
@@whoamellie5610 People who live in the Pacific north west shouldnt be allowed to leave, their politics ruined those states and they shouldnt be allowed to run away, cause they wont admit they were wrong and keep the same terrible politics, which leads to them helping to ruin the next place they settle.
@@ZDiddy7777Damn right! They can suffer in the bed they made
Great stats on Rupert's appearances! I ate at the Hello Deli and met Rupert before the taping of the Late Show. He was super nice...and the sandwich was great too!
I watched this show religiously seen Rupert many many times.
God I miss Dave. Thanks Don, your channel rules!
I live in the UK and i started watching Letterman around the same time Rupert Jee first appeared on the show. This brought back some nice memories. Thanks Don.
I was only able to make it to NYC just after Dave left the Ed Sullivan Theater. Colbert's stuff was already up and it was his first week of shows. My wife and I decided we'd go to the Hello Deli. We were just normal customers, I didn't tell him I saw him on TV a million time and felt like I knew him. I just ordered a turkey sandwich and his wife called me "hon." I still have that receipt stuck in a book somewhere.
May is his business partner, not his wife. :)
@@dongiller Huh! I did not know that! In any case they were both exceedingly polite and it was a great sandwich.
Oh yeah. May is great!
"It was my thumb."
Thanks again Don. Brings back so many great memories watching these videos. Your work is appreciated.
"Ah Dave, I don't have enough money". I haven't seen that since it first aired but remembered it and spoke the line along with him. Good times.
Rupert...such a great guy.
Rupert and the other local business people that became part of the cast was for me Dave's greatest satirical statement on celebrity which was IMO, the essence of his show. Turn on the camera and the regular neighborhood people become celebs, their shops gained celeb status, the already famous theater took on a fresh new aspect of celebrity. I never got over Dave's retirement and seeing these segments thanks to Don Giller and others, I never will.
My experience as an addicted viewer was enhanced due to my father owning a small industrial business in a building on W. 54th St. around the corner from the Ed Sullivan marquee I worked there for many years long before Letterman took over the Sullivan. I gorged on many oversized lunch sandwiches frequently both in Rupert's Deli and in Joe G.'s shop, but that was before Rupert was there and probably before Joe G. I also spent many slow afternoon's when I wasn't on the clock in the theater watching tapings of CBS gameshows like "Password" and "To Tell the Truth". So it all feels like going home decades after my dad's business was gone from the neighborhood. However, if none of my personal bond with the neighborhood had ever come about, I would love Dave's show just as much. But the familiarity makes it all the more poignant.
Dig that item in the video description! Top Letterman guest ever! Wow!!!
This was one of my favorite uploads here.
this brings back such good memories. thanks for posting. Letterman is/was a genius.
Such a sweet guy.
That moment changed his life
I remember watching these “Meet the Neighbors“ shows. Such fun.
I was in the 5th grade when I started watching the prank skits on the Late Show. In fact, I think it was the main reason why I started watching them because they were so hilarious. I don't know how many they did but I would love to see a compilation of all of them someday.
See the link in the description.
@@dongiller Omg why didn't I read the whole thing. Thank you!
We got all these shows in Oz , from the early 80’s onwards & usually only a day behind.
Dave was always the best.
Laugh out loud funny. Dave was an evil genius. I love the guy.
I remember the Hello Deli being smaller. The first day he walked into the theater, nervous as hell, he had to know, oh no what have I gotten myself into, and his life was changed forever. I wonder if anyone ever arrested during taping of "Fun With Rupert"? I picture Rupert hanging around long enough for the cops to show up and then Dave having to explain it was for a TV show, only still to get cited for disturbing the peace.
Rupert was amazing for putting up with this. Thanks for the videos!!! 📺📺📺
Thanks, Don 😊
Met Rupert in 1996. He's as nice and genuine in person as he appeared on Dave.
Classic moments from Dave. Thank You for posting. I love it.
Dave Dave Dave! Missed! Thanks for posting.
This is Awesome!!
I saw a Letterman taping once and made sure I went to Rupert's. Bought a mug and he rang me in!
I just love how casually he is dressed, like, I'm going on Letterman, whatever
Man this was the best stuff ever, really miss this ❤️
This was pretty much Impractical Jokers before there was Impractical Jokers
Rupert is the greatest, big fan. from nowhere oklahoma
A Xerox place? My how times have changed.
i liked the show because they would interact with normal people
Dave was hard to beat when it came to these quick-wit, out of the studio skits.
Life was so good back then.
Rupert was so great! He put himself on the line.
Rupert has sincerely said he doesn't think he's remotely funny, but basically everything involving him made me not want to miss whatever would happen. Whether he was pissing people off pre-Impractical Jokers, dancing with Dave's heart surgeon in the style of Stephanie's college ex-boyfriend, or reluctantly accepting a Slurpee machine, the guy has given me so many happy memories that I still laugh at. Personally I always thought his natural humility made him a comic treasure. I still remember when Dave had him go out on the street to see a giant (unveiled I think) billboard of his face. Anybody who makes me laugh as much as Rupert is a comedy hero in my brain. "Knock yourself out, honey." HA HA HA HA..
Totally agree with your takes on Rupert! 😊 Love your choice of highlights too. I'm 29, so I didn't have time to watch Dave till after I graduated high school in '09, so I really appreciate hearing other highlights I didn't get to see when they originally aired 😁 haha. ✌
@@whoamellie5610 Don has lots of it on his channel and there's other stuff floating around if you search for it. I think partly Rupert's laid-back, don't make-me-do-something-stupid vibe is what made so much of his stuff epic. I find it interesting too... so much of Dave's old stuff is still hilarious. But if you watch other stuff from, say Leno or some other guys, it seems so dated, like reading a teen magazine from 20 years ago. And so not funny.
@@rocketreindeer Oh yeahh, I can totally picture that! That's too funny. Yeah, I always preferred Dave, to Leno. In an overall sense. And I only watched some Leno episodes, cuz parts of his staff were still funny, for the bits ~they~ did.. And one bit him and Dave both happened to do coincidentally -- those small town crazy/silly crime headlines/blurbs. So in a sense, the funniest parts of Jay's show, mostly were not Jay himself x) hah. I fast-fwd.'d his monologues 😝 (from dvr-ing it), and just watched a few of the bits, and the interviews (and music guest, if I liked them). The same rule applies today, to some shows actually.. There are some people who aren't really that good or enjoyable, as interview~er's~.. but, if the guest themselves knows how to /carry/ the interview.. then that host really has not much part in the value/entertaining-ness of the conversation actually! It's funny how that goes, in a different sort of way..ha ha.
And people like Dave, and Craig Ferguson -- their now-technically 'old' stuff, does indeed still stand up to time! Huge fan of them both.. And Conan too, his stuff stands up too 😊 I'm aware of many of the fan channels of all 3 of those guys. I've subscribed to Mr. Giller here for a few years. And know of a handful of channels that have Dave or Craig.
Conan posts his ~own~ old stuff, as well as a newer website they made called Conan25, or Conan classic.. I'd have to look again lol.
..People like Leno and Fallon.. not as much of their old stuff stands up now. You really hit it, on the old issues of teen magazines comparison 🤣 Exactly!!
..Ironically too, those 'not so good/entertaining as interviewers' people, are the replacements for the hosts who retired or left. Leno and Dave's 'replacements' ;) So I'm choosy, and count on guests I already know 'carry' interviews..
Don't mind me w/ babbling info & opinions, I'm just pretty bored 😝 haaha.
@@whoamellie5610 No worries Melissa, it's fun to talk about! We all have lots of time to chat with the virus keeping us reflective. I used to like some of Jay's stuff too with his skits.. but my buddy used to say his show seemed a bit artificial but Dave's didn't because his humour and reactions were always alive and natural. I used to like Headlines from Jay, then found out Dave's Small Town News actually started way earlier. For whatever reason, I've watched "Headlines" clips today and didn't laugh. But I can still remember the time Dave read a typo from a local paper at Christmas that said, "everybody bring the kids and come on down to the town square for the arrival of Satan," and I still laugh my ass off. I've read that the three most original epic late night guys are considered Johnny Carson (I think), Dave, and Conan, and then "everybody else."
I've heard that Steve Allen from the 1950s(?) was supposed to be hilarious too but clips I've seen I didn't really understand. But Dave was so naturally funny that it was like hanging out with a friend to see what stupid thing one of us would say. I still think today's group are talented, and Seth Meyers is very kind and stuff like this, but they don'tmake me laugh joyfully as often as Dave, Biff, Rupert, Alan Kalter, and Paul.
What a great friendship.
Oh Don, this was a great starter course. Thank you. Could you put together all Dave and Rupert's escapades?
All 401? Easy peasey.
I did put up the complete Fun with Rupert collection three years ago. - ua-cam.com/video/v_sa1aCkJZU/v-deo.html
Good laugh brings back memories
I would imagine Rupert did, finally, benefit from his appearances on Letterman & being next door. I suppose that's rhetorical on my part. Rupert always seemed like a nice guy.
Rupert retired and I never got a chance to go there :(
Rupert's deli is still there, right?
It is. Reduced hours during this crazy period.
Classic. Dave will always be number one!
I believe that the xerox store on the corner later became the CBS store. I've been there as well as the Hello Deli and chatted with Rupert as well as Late Show stage manager Biff Henderson, stage hand Pat Farmer and many other Late Show cast and crew on 53rd and Broadway many many many times.
And a star was born. An interviewer a year ago or so said he couldn’t tell he was nervous during his first appearance, but it’s pretty clear he is pretty nervous.
Great, great, fun (when Dave actually tried).
Those segments where Dave was telling Rupert what to say were just too funny. Epic. I hope the Hello Deli is still doing well. I had hoped to get up there and meet him one day (along with Sirajul & Mujibur...sp?) like some friends did but it didn't happen.
BTW, they cut the last segment short. That young lady got up in Rupert's face and threatened him just after he brought that last drink, but as far as I remember she's not the one they were talking about that made them have to stop the segment. I was literally laughing out loud all over again watching those spots.
Here’s the complete Fun with Rupert collection - ua-cam.com/video/v_sa1aCkJZU/v-deo.html
funny stuff at the end!
Rupert... television gold!!
I miss those days.
Gaw this is the best.
Good times, that was funny stuff!!!
Some of the best Rupert moments was when Dave asked him to give stuff away for free and Rupert always seemed genuinely concerned.
Is that a picture of Mexican boxing legend Julio Cesar Chavez behind Rupert on his wall at 3:33?
Sad that some of these moved away from the neighborhood during the run.
Still the best!
Rupert is a New York institution. Can't wait to try Hello Deli when I come to New York next month.
Loved Dave then...Rupert a good sport and played it for years...Miss Letterman..."Big Ass Ham" remote car...."Steaming Meatball" for a Christmas tree topper....FUNNY!
Was Rupert holding back tears the whole time in that final clip?
I remember the one with the thumb in the drink better than any of them. As I recall, the woman also got upset, stood up and yelled at him not to touch her.
Wow! I remember these guys back in the 90s viewing on cable. The 2 indian guys and Rupert G!
Did you live outside the U.S. then?
@@dongiller I lived in Canada and still do. Teenager watching on TV just like everyone else did. Yeah, i just recall the 2 indian guys ran a suit store. And Dave controlling Rupert G
I asked because you wrote that you had watched the show on cable. I’m not familiar with the country’s television organizations. Here in the U.S., the show aired on network television, CBS.
Mujibur and Sirijul actually worked in a souvenir shop then.
Also, Jee; Rupert Jee. Great guy. :)
@@dongiller Yeah, I notice now that his last name is Jee as it is how it's written. Back in the 90s, all I heard was "Rupert G". I never got to read his name and how it's spelled. :) So yeah, back in the day, we watched TV on cable, just like the US. Dave actually aired a show at his house, waiting for the cable people to do their install! lol
On a family vacation in 05 we had lunch a the "Hello Deli" and discovered what a rude, arrogant and pompous man Rupert is...just kidding. With Rupert, what you see is what you get. He is humble, kind and welcoming. When he found out that we had come "All the way from California" and that we were willing to sacrifice part of our vacation time just to eat at his deli, he wouldn't let us pay for our meal. So i was forced to use some chicanery... when Rupert was busy talking with my wife and me, our oldest son snuck a $100 bill into the tip jar on the counter next to the register.
David and Rupert are the original two Impractical Jokers!! no wonder I like their show, they copied Dave!!
Thanks! Now I'll never know if the lady stuck her face in the copier.
Back when late night was good, never watched anyone since
Rupert was so lucky
I retired 1/1/2015 myself. I guess it's just the same.
When he didnt have enough money it cracked me up
I wonder if Letterman had to pay Rupert to hire someone to watch the deli while Rupert was doing those skits. They did it in Los Angeles, Miami, and San Francisco.
Rupert has a business partner who runs the Deli with him. They work together, but if Rupert’s not around, she’ll manage the place without him.
That’s hilarious
He must have been doing reasonably well beforehand to be able to afford a shop on 53rd and Broadway.
I always wondered how they prevented these segments from getting physical…
In one episode they went up to a guy calling him Michael jordan he was a cartel leader We're in a wig he was trying to hide from the camera. True
Do you have any Eddie Van Halen? R.I.P.
Stay tuned.
"You're the greatest thing that happened to us." Rupert said even on his first appearance what he might have said on his last. Hey, Donz5, you got any Psychic Sandwich clips?
None uploaded.
the sad thing is..........we will never see entertainment like this again...happy funny..the future is bleak..
That’s a sad outlook to have
Do you have any of the bookmobile clips?
I have everything, but I haven’t done a compilation yet. There were 29 on LN.
@@dongiller I've never been able to find video of it. I have a David Letterman book with photos of it. Fun memories.
Kurt Healy In time. :)
The Funniest. Where's Rupert now?
Where he’s always been, still running the Hello Deli.
not surprised that someone pulled a knife on them in new york, seeing how dave would always have him cross the line a bit too much. haha
that first appearance didnt stand out at all. what made letterman bring him on as a guest more times after that?
Rupert rarely appeared as a guest.
That was part of the charm of the show. Brilliant
I'm a devout Christian but I also believe in Humanity...as much of an "A-Hole" Dave tried to seem like, he was an amazing human...allowing his staff and "common" people their time in the spotlight...
You don't know how much "Larry Bud Melman", Biff Henderson, his "staff" and Rupert and others have shaped my life...
late night shows don't do this anymore its all stand up first and interviews. no interaction and live views but times changes and lots of youtubers do now.
fiver pounder lol !!!!