Harvey Pekar's On-Air Implosion | Letterman

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  • Опубліковано 26 вер 2024
  • Spoiler alert: He did come back.
    (From "Late Night," air date: 8/31/88)
    #harveypekar #americansplendor #letterman
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    Welcome to the Letterman UA-cam 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. And for those of you who like Miscellaneous, you may very well find some Miscellaneous here.

КОМЕНТАРІ • 2,6 тис.

  • @bc1969214
    @bc1969214 8 місяців тому +2612

    From Harvey's wikipedia page- After Pekar's death, Letterman reflected in 2017 that
    "He was great.... He would just go after stuff. He ... would go after me, he would go after the network, he would go after everything, in a very committed way. It wasn’t a gag, it wasn’t an act, he would really go to work on you.... [Pekar] was anti-establishment in a way that you don’t see guys like that anymore. And that used to really upset me, because I just thought 'Come on Harvey, don’t do this to us, just play the game, blah blah blah blah.'... I’m a completely different person now. And I would be so much more better equipped to view the immediate surroundings of that show now, than I was [then].... Now, jeez, I wish I could have had Harvey on every night.

    • @presto709
      @presto709 8 місяців тому +145

      Wow, that's interesting. Thanks for sharing

    • @profile2047
      @profile2047 8 місяців тому +38

      Pretty cool.

    • @danny1959
      @danny1959 8 місяців тому +74

      It was great television, and Dave was no fool.

    • @presto709
      @presto709 8 місяців тому +64

      @@danny1959
      Charles Grodin was very antagonistic and always had a great interview on Letterman. It was a little more playful than with Pecor.

    • @amra33
      @amra33 8 місяців тому +14

      Thank you for sharing this.

  • @ahappyshow
    @ahappyshow 8 місяців тому +673

    I watched this episode when it aired. Harvey was truly fearless, and you'll never see network TV like this again.

    • @JK-br1mu
      @JK-br1mu 8 місяців тому +13

      Clearly a little "off".

    • @spb7883
      @spb7883 8 місяців тому +60

      @@JK-br1muIf you read his work and understand his motivations, not in the slightest. What he *was* was his own person, and - unsurprisingly - that seems “off” to anyone in American culture.

    • @JK-br1mu
      @JK-br1mu 8 місяців тому +16

      @@spb7883 very off, he didn't really make much sense here, and if he was going to attack Dave, he could do it in a coherent fashion.
      One of those counter-culture weirdos who aren't capable of forming coherent thoughts, but they're very anti. Very, very anti.

    • @derekderek2570
      @derekderek2570 8 місяців тому +2

      What’s network TV?

    • @ahappyshow
      @ahappyshow 8 місяців тому +4

      @@derekderek2570 NBC, CBS, FOX, ABC, are all network television.

  • @MrDuneedon
    @MrDuneedon 7 місяців тому +1174

    "Sneakers and a suit -- that looks weird, man." THANK YOU, HARVEY.

    • @Taffey_Lewis
      @Taffey_Lewis 7 місяців тому +18

      He f'n got him there wow

    • @StrikeTeam0316
      @StrikeTeam0316 7 місяців тому +8

      Exactly! Sneakers 👟 don’t go with suits

    • @hannibalburgers477
      @hannibalburgers477 7 місяців тому +4

      Looked 🔥 on 10th Doctor

    • @Skank_and_Gutterboy
      @Skank_and_Gutterboy 7 місяців тому +5

      I have to agree. Buckaroo Banzai is quirky and loveable but it didn't work him, either.

    • @Braindead591
      @Braindead591 7 місяців тому +10

      Harvey reminded me of Al Pacino here

  • @Chris_34
    @Chris_34 7 місяців тому +562

    Dude reminds me of Andy Kaufman doing a character. This was awesome.

    • @Skank_and_Gutterboy
      @Skank_and_Gutterboy 7 місяців тому +14

      That's who I thought this was when I clicked the thumbnail. Then, "Wait, this isn't Andy Kaufman...." I needn't have worried.

    • @michaelgpartridge2384
      @michaelgpartridge2384 7 місяців тому +8

      But if you were around to see it back then, you knew it was for real. It was awesome

    • @granthurlburt4062
      @granthurlburt4062 6 місяців тому +10

      He;s nothing at all like Kaufman, who was a self-aggrandiizing entertainer who some people found funny. Pejar was honest.

    • @leucifer2
      @leucifer2 6 місяців тому +4

      ​@@michaelgpartridge2384it wasn't real. It was staged

    • @marcowerner8739
      @marcowerner8739 6 місяців тому +1

      Exactly what I thought!!!

  • @Zer0fuks
    @Zer0fuks 7 місяців тому +229

    "meditation is silent..... *Dave* ....." 😂

    • @DrummerJacob
      @DrummerJacob Місяць тому +1

      Wasnt really a good roast. Dude was being silent when Dave said it. It made complete sense when he said it and Harvey was just snapping off hot remarks before he had a chance to even make sure it makes sense.

    • @animals_of_overtown
      @animals_of_overtown 27 днів тому

      @@DrummerJacob "Dude was being silent when Dave said it" - yeah, that's how conversations work, dude. One person is audible, then the other, then the first one again. Sometimes both have a go at the same time. All auduble. Unlike meditation, which as Pekar said *is* silent.

    • @DrummerJacob
      @DrummerJacob 27 днів тому

      @@animals_of_overtown You've completely missed my point and decided to write a block of text about how conversations work.
      Dave said meditation is silent as if he wasn't being silent, thus not truly meditating, but he was silent when he said that, thus the roast wasnt a very good one.
      That would have worked better if he was talking a lot or agitated but he really wasn't.

  • @markjohnson7910
    @markjohnson7910 8 місяців тому +978

    The unblinking stare. Right into Dave’s soul. Absolutely amazing.

    • @fatmunch6318
      @fatmunch6318 8 місяців тому +36

      He didn’t blink the whole interview

    • @ParaousiaComingnow
      @ParaousiaComingnow 8 місяців тому +60

      He didn't blink because he's a psycho... he's also high. Look at the gloss in his eye.

    • @andreaholcock8992
      @andreaholcock8992 8 місяців тому +25

      @@ParaousiaComingnow that’s not an indicator of a psycho lol

    • @ParaousiaComingnow
      @ParaousiaComingnow 8 місяців тому +27

      @@andreaholcock8992 I've worked with Schizo's for years, they don't blink... unless you used the phrase metaphorically, it absolutely is an indicator.

    • @andreaholcock8992
      @andreaholcock8992 8 місяців тому +39

      @@ParaousiaComingnow a schizophrenic isn’t a psychopath, so even if you were telling the truth you’re still wrong

  • @Jimmietwotimes
    @Jimmietwotimes 8 місяців тому +628

    Every now and then you can see a twinkle in Pekar's eye that says, "This is fun as hell."

    • @milesstover3724
      @milesstover3724 8 місяців тому +15

      it comes with his unique cultural and ethnic heritage

    • @Bulvan123
      @Bulvan123 8 місяців тому +13

      ​@@milesstover3724 there are quite a few Jews like this. Brilliant & "out there" but kookoo as well.

    • @PhilJRose
      @PhilJRose 8 місяців тому +8

      Cough cough, Andy Kaufman.@@Bulvan123

    • @mr.blackhawk142
      @mr.blackhawk142 8 місяців тому

      I see a GLASSY-eyed guy who writes comic books. What is the attraction here? BTW, I hope he DIN lol shave his back just for this appearance! :P

    • @mr.blackhawk142
      @mr.blackhawk142 8 місяців тому +3

      Yup! It's a SKIT! They'll go for beers after and laugh at the audience!

  • @MensaGiraffe
    @MensaGiraffe 4 місяці тому +367

    "How about another joke, Murr-Ray?"

  • @nextworldaction8828
    @nextworldaction8828 8 місяців тому +61

    my eyes are burning just watching him not blink!

  • @Brandon-tk2rw
    @Brandon-tk2rw 5 місяців тому +76

    I think the "you're in a rut, you do the same thing every night" stung a little for Dave, hence him falling back on his well used "thanks for dressing up" line .. and I love Dave

  • @wungabunga
    @wungabunga 8 місяців тому +176

    I can imagine Dave getting extremely uncomfortable here, once that line is crossed it’s hard to pull back! Hahaha. Tough gig. Loved the guest.

  • @torgman
    @torgman 8 місяців тому +1134

    I remember this. Harvey's beef was that Dave didn't honor the writers' strike that was going on at the time.

    • @Scorchy666
      @Scorchy666 8 місяців тому +162

      That must have been why his first question was what Dave had been doing. Letterman looked very uncomfortable answering.

    • @fostena
      @fostena 8 місяців тому +37

      Oh! That makes sense. And what about 5:20 "why you defended G"? "being a shill for G"?

    • @torgman
      @torgman 8 місяців тому +13

      @@Scorchy666 if I remember right, that was the week that Dave returned to the show after honoring the strike for a bit

    • @jdsciano
      @jdsciano 8 місяців тому +48

      For working people, most honorable thing is not to cross the Picket line in a Union strike-cannot blame Harvey but kudos to Letterman for having him on knowing that was his beef.

    • @dbadagna
      @dbadagna 8 місяців тому +94

      @@fostena He might have actually said "GE," referring to General Electric, the owner of NBC at the time.

  • @misterbonzoid5623
    @misterbonzoid5623 8 місяців тому +185

    Anyone who can rock that hairstyle does not care what anyone thinks of him.

    • @ruok3351
      @ruok3351 8 місяців тому +4

      Who sold comics about his life story. That’s ego and people with big egos actually care deeply about what people think of them.

    • @humphreygruntwhistle3946
      @humphreygruntwhistle3946 8 місяців тому +8

      I doubt he even owned a mirror. Just a frivolous waste of money.

    • @ler5478
      @ler5478 2 місяці тому +2

      A suit and sneakers is better than t-shirt and a comb-over

  • @markmorico5439
    @markmorico5439 5 місяців тому +36

    Paul Giamatti played Harvey brilliantly

  • @XeroFailGames
    @XeroFailGames 6 місяців тому +9

    Bros intensity is insane i love it

  • @terracottapie
    @terracottapie 8 місяців тому +885

    Where was the implosion? That was just Harvey being himself. Seemed like Dave imploded, if anything.

    • @brt5273
      @brt5273 8 місяців тому +42

      Exactly.

    • @Splandrocity
      @Splandrocity 8 місяців тому +48

      Right, he couldn't match his energy so he tapped out.

    • @benjaminqmorris
      @benjaminqmorris 8 місяців тому

      this is a definite EXplosion. see, imploding is silent; exploding is audible.

    • @svalbard01
      @svalbard01 8 місяців тому +35

      Dave filled his diaper about 60 seconds in.

    • @sgt.thundercok4704
      @sgt.thundercok4704 7 місяців тому +7

      We now find one of the people that could never rise above the joke, whether Pekar or Kaufman.

  • @KurtChristensenPhoto
    @KurtChristensenPhoto 8 місяців тому +257

    Nowadays you would never see a Harvey Pekar on late night TV. It's sad. Now it is just a bunch of actors and pop stars pretending they are excited to lip sync with Jimmy Fallon as he fake laughs and ruins every joke that every guest tells.

    • @hunterericson6782
      @hunterericson6782 4 місяці тому +20

      nailed it. the fakeness is so cringeworthy i cant dare to watch

    • @maddrop
      @maddrop 4 місяці тому +15

      Facts. It became so fake that it´s annoying.

    • @lablaine1981
      @lablaine1981 3 місяці тому +10

      Fake" describes late nite tv,

    • @cdgolem
      @cdgolem 3 місяці тому

      Last time I watched a late night comedy show was when Jimmy Fallon had Obama on and he was "slow jamming the news." They had the Roots playing and Obama stood their and gave a bunch of talking points to push Obamacare. It was literal propaganda from the State and the audience were too stupid to even realize what was going on. There was no comedy, there was no talent. It was simply propaganda.

    • @andrewrobert5019
      @andrewrobert5019 3 місяці тому

      Don't forget the absolute garbage heap that is Kimmel lol

  • @foreleftyall
    @foreleftyall 8 місяців тому +370

    "I want you to savor this appearance" is such a great line

    • @misterpsych3804
      @misterpsych3804 8 місяців тому +28

      brilliant way to say you're never coming back!

    • @luskvideoproductions869
      @luskvideoproductions869 7 місяців тому +8

      This is what I miss the most about Letterman...he was nearly perfect with pointed ripostes to guests off the cuff. The Between 2 Ferns out-take where he grills Zack about why the show is called between TWO ferns is just comedy perfection

    • @educateme8455
      @educateme8455 7 місяців тому

      No. The way you yanks worship these tv shills is just depressing.

    • @jasonsgroovemachine
      @jasonsgroovemachine 7 місяців тому +3

      Reminds me of when Joaquin Phoenix came on and did his "act" with the gum.

  • @willdotchill7607
    @willdotchill7607 5 місяців тому +78

    If Michael Keaton and Andy Kaufman had a baby.

  • @williamoleary9330
    @williamoleary9330 3 місяці тому +63

    I’ve never seen Dave get this upset. He was steaming

    • @Zz2424zxcvbnn
      @Zz2424zxcvbnn 2 місяці тому +12

      No kidding! Most of these guys who dish, can never take it!

    • @Nantosuelta
      @Nantosuelta Місяць тому +3

      David Letterman is such a lame.

    • @DrummerJacob
      @DrummerJacob Місяць тому +5

      That's because Harvey carried a heavy darkness around him and loved pulling people down with him.

    • @tdbass2968
      @tdbass2968 Місяць тому +2

      Dave didn't get upset he was playing along.

    • @Recessio
      @Recessio Місяць тому

      Dave later said in hindsight he wished he could have dealt with it better and had people like Harvey on every night.

  • @MrBradfordchild
    @MrBradfordchild 8 місяців тому +436

    'Dave, you're wearing sneakers with a suit'. Dave quickly puts his sneakered foot behind the desk.

    • @djdonald243
      @djdonald243 7 місяців тому +9

      Yah, Dave thought that made him anti-establishment edgy, but he was a midwesterner in New York

    • @DaveDexterMusic
      @DaveDexterMusic 7 місяців тому +9

      no, he shifts his sneakered foot into view afterwards then moves it back. it wasn't like it was on display the whole time and only pekar's comment got him to hide it

    • @djhenyo
      @djhenyo 6 місяців тому +1

      Dave's foot was already behind the desk when Harvey said that and was moved sideways, putting it in view for less than a second, while Dave rotated his body slightly away from Harvey and towards the audience. Your interpretation of events is horrible.

    • @NP-ux9xg
      @NP-ux9xg 3 місяці тому +1

      @@djdonald243 being a "midwesterner in New York" has nothing to do with being edgy one way or another. As a matter of fact someone going to New York (the center of the universe as far as boring and normal goes) is as much the opposite of edgy as you can get. Add to that someone working in the TV business in New York and you have as much of a square as someone can be.

    • @DrummerJacob
      @DrummerJacob Місяць тому +1

      Dave didn't do anything. He wore sneakers because you never saw his feet. Why would you lie about something we can literally instantly fact check?
      Watch it again. Zero reaction. You're just projecting. You wish he did something so it made sense but none of Harvey's roasts made any sense.
      Harvey was also silent when Dave asked if he was meditating and then started talking a lot to pretend like he wasn't zoning off but he did in fact zone off and appear to be meditating if you were being funny about it.

  • @Kestrel13
    @Kestrel13 8 місяців тому +150

    "Sneakers and a suit" really got me ☠️

  • @travelwell8098
    @travelwell8098 8 місяців тому +440

    This dude knew how to get under David's skin... it's wonderful

    • @thegreatrenaldo7718
      @thegreatrenaldo7718 8 місяців тому +11

      He was mad because he’s bald

    • @travelwell8098
      @travelwell8098 8 місяців тому

      was does that even mean?@@thegreatrenaldo7718

    • @seanoleary1979
      @seanoleary1979 7 місяців тому +27

      @@thegreatrenaldo7718 ...don't quit your day job. Comedy won't pay the bills for you!

    • @Hausbrauen
      @Hausbrauen 7 місяців тому +4

      @@seanoleary1979 Seemed to me like a genuine hypothesis as to why he may not be a happy fella, rather than intended as a joke.

    • @noneofyourbusiness4616
      @noneofyourbusiness4616 6 місяців тому

      @@thegreatrenaldo7718 Thanks for sharing the perspective of a small child.

  • @danbrodsky57
    @danbrodsky57 3 місяці тому +6

    The perfect guest for Dave.. Wish there was more authentic folks like him which you don't see anymore.

  • @mossbogger8366
    @mossbogger8366 7 місяців тому +33

    the look of a man who has been up every night thinking about his interview since the day he was born

  • @MsPea
    @MsPea 8 місяців тому +457

    I met Harvey around this time. This was his normal. You never knew what to expect. My ex-husband illustrated a couple of Harvey's stories in American Splendor. Weird times it was.

    • @jamesjdm
      @jamesjdm 8 місяців тому

      He has a personality disorder and needed therapy

    • @nighthawk5295
      @nighthawk5295 8 місяців тому

      Maybe your husband left you because you're a raging feminist. (lol) 😑

    • @v4v819
      @v4v819 8 місяців тому +18

      He seems like a reasonably agreeable, charming, elegant kind of fellow... I'm sure you enjoyed his company and i wish you and your family the best for 2024! :)

    • @jediryan9454
      @jediryan9454 8 місяців тому +4

      So this wasn't staged or a bit?

    • @OTOss8
      @OTOss8 8 місяців тому +4

      Val Mayerik?

  • @mkb7013
    @mkb7013 8 місяців тому +34

    3:25 “Harvey, I want you to savor this appearance” 😂😂😂 you will not be asked back.

    • @LincolnsLawyer
      @LincolnsLawyer Місяць тому +1

      But was kinda refreshing, considering the 100% sychopantic segments we get on late night shows these days 😅

  • @charlescowan6121
    @charlescowan6121 8 місяців тому +34

    It's awkward as hell and amazingly fun! This guy is having a blast!

    • @DrummerJacob
      @DrummerJacob Місяць тому +1

      Is he? He looks like one of the most miserable people I've ever witnessed. If this is him having fun, that's a HUGE cope.

  • @johnskrizniak6573
    @johnskrizniak6573 2 місяці тому +9

    Back story on GE and Dave. GE owned NBC at the time and would give Dave a hard time for having unpredictable guys like Pekar on. Dave had to play a balancing act because CEO of GE at the time would not hesitate to cancel any show, no matter how successful. So Pekar calling Dave a shill isn't right. If it wasn't for Dave pekar would never be on the show at all. Dave took a lot of heat for Pekar and fought for him to be on and be invited back after this. GE hate Pekar, Despised him.

  • @phrozac
    @phrozac 5 місяців тому +12

    One of the best interviews I've ever seen. Harvey just being Harvey and Dave trying to navigate the storm on live TV. Brilliant for as long as it lasted. RIP Harvey

  • @guardshack9865
    @guardshack9865 8 місяців тому +237

    Harvey actually grabs Dave's pencil from him. That is the true source of Dave's power....notice how Harvey's demeanor changes to calm when he has it and Dave loses control.

    • @daveconnor6174
      @daveconnor6174 8 місяців тому +18

      Haha that's wild. Dave really didn't wanna give it up.

    • @callmesceptical9114
      @callmesceptical9114 8 місяців тому +18

      So true! The pencil grab was a savage move💪🏼

    • @autonomoustronomous5264
      @autonomoustronomous5264 8 місяців тому +20

      That's because Dave went from getting laughs to getting laughed at and it broke him. Lol

    • @devonalomar9012
      @devonalomar9012 8 місяців тому +5

      Harvey was actually trembling. Truly a sad mental case.

    • @CPRICEIV
      @CPRICEIV 8 місяців тому +7

      I thought Dave was going to catch it in the jugular there for a minute!

  • @UberNeuman
    @UberNeuman 8 місяців тому +147

    Harvey lived to flip the table over and he pretty much did that on every appearance. Still remember him complaining about not getting dounuts and then there's that thought-bubble picture of dounuts - I about died laughing that night. RIP, HP, you beautiful bastard.

    • @Hengry-hn7rb
      @Hengry-hn7rb 7 місяців тому

      I’m making a t-shirt that says “ beautiful bastard “😂

  • @jasperburchfield2028
    @jasperburchfield2028 8 місяців тому +20

    I think calling him "whining" in his intro is what started it.

  • @HexagonFL
    @HexagonFL 7 місяців тому +4

    It was honestly pretty refreshing to see Letterman get called out. He bullied a lot of his guests and I found that to be not so upstanding of him. I don’t have much respect for people like Letterman.

  • @jallanb1963
    @jallanb1963 8 місяців тому +72

    The way he kept saying Dave's name...reminiscent of the talk show scene in the Joker.

  • @ArchernAce
    @ArchernAce 8 місяців тому +62

    I saw this when it happened when it was broadcast. I'm sure he meant it. He was always off the hook.

  • @curtislindsey1736
    @curtislindsey1736 8 місяців тому +172

    That stare though, no blinking.😂😂😂

    • @kdooms
      @kdooms 8 місяців тому +6

      This. I've stared pretty hard at certain people in my life.....I'm not sure he actually ever does blink though....

    • @justinsixx90
      @justinsixx90 7 місяців тому

      Cocaine

    • @randallf.4646
      @randallf.4646 7 місяців тому +5

      A common trait of a psychopath....

    • @blazer3327
      @blazer3327 5 місяців тому +1

      Pekar was the real deal amidst the phony personalities of the celebrity mill wheel.

    • @blazer3327
      @blazer3327 5 місяців тому +3

      In a match I’d have to give Pekar the edge over Dave by virtue of his unpredictability and relentless focus.

  • @evangalyen3407
    @evangalyen3407 8 місяців тому +1812

    When you insult a man before he even comes on stage you’re bound to get something back

    • @stevec7770
      @stevec7770 8 місяців тому +159

      Always despised Letterman

    • @useliteski3381
      @useliteski3381 8 місяців тому +114

      Letterman is absolutely awful.

    • @57briben
      @57briben 8 місяців тому +1

      awfully good.@@useliteski3381

    • @taylorbayouth998
      @taylorbayouth998 8 місяців тому +24

      I get that, but look what he was wearing

    • @keithobrien7894
      @keithobrien7894 8 місяців тому +75

      @@stevec7770yet here you are on a Letterman channel lmao

  • @ignatiusgrippa
    @ignatiusgrippa 3 місяці тому +2

    Absolute legend. Stuff like this is why Late Night was so entertaining and unpredictable. Nothing like it since.

  • @georgehenderson7783
    @georgehenderson7783 Місяць тому +1

    3:20 "Harvey, I want you to savor this appearance."

  • @dustinprewitt
    @dustinprewitt 8 місяців тому +726

    Him and Crispin Glover are the only two guests that I know of who have made Dave visibly lose his temper

    • @Nastyboy269
      @Nastyboy269 8 місяців тому +49

      I remember him getting heated with Bill O’Reilly once, but you’re probably right. The weirder and more uncomfortable an interview the more he loved it. Especially the early days.

    • @dustinprewitt
      @dustinprewitt 8 місяців тому +19

      @Nastyboy269 I sorta remember that interview.... but Dave seemed less angry and more annoyed

    • @peterjensen6233
      @peterjensen6233 8 місяців тому +21

      Richard Simmons.

    • @thedude4672
      @thedude4672 8 місяців тому +77

      Harmony Korine, who was a weird interview and who got banned when Letterman caught him going through Meryl Streep's purse backstage.

    • @thedude4672
      @thedude4672 8 місяців тому +25

      Oh yeah, and we can't forget Andy Kaufman

  • @Deadfoot-Dan
    @Deadfoot-Dan 8 місяців тому +15

    I watched this live, one of those many interviews on Late Night that you never, ever forget.

  • @JockoV
    @JockoV 8 місяців тому +39

    If anyone is wondering what the donuts were about they were used in a comedy bit earlier in the show. The bit started with a stage light crashing down next to/on Dave's desk and it turns out it was Biff Henderson's (stage hand) plan to kill Dave so he had more donuts to himself in the breakroom. So the bit ended with the camera fixed on a disappointed Biff thinking about the extra donuts he's missing out on. Some genius in the control room decided to bust out the donut graphic again to use on Harvey. I saw this when it first aired and I lost my mind laughing 😆 It's been quite a while but that's the way I remember it.

    • @lowkeysoundsystem6174
      @lowkeysoundsystem6174 8 місяців тому +4

      Nice. I thought it was from one of their previous interviews where Harvey asks Dave for doughnuts. 😅

    • @derekderek2570
      @derekderek2570 8 місяців тому +1

      40 years!!! Is quite awhile. Better times back then I’m sure

    • @ADrunkBassist
      @ADrunkBassist 8 місяців тому +4

      he was promised donuts the next time he came to the show in a previous interview.

    • @caderoger
      @caderoger 8 місяців тому +4

      haha without any context it looks bizarre and random

    • @thjola
      @thjola 8 місяців тому +4

      On his first visit on the show, Harvey complained about the lack of snacks in the green room, e.g. donuts, to which Dave replied that Tom Brokaw ate them all when he was a guest a little earlier on the same show.

  • @stardustshakedown
    @stardustshakedown 16 днів тому +1

    At the end it seems Daves kind of says "He's a dumb ass" in a way that sounds like Dumb Ads. Pretty funny.

  • @iAmiSaid
    @iAmiSaid 9 днів тому

    These early vintage clips of lettermen interviews, they're like the antiques roadshow finds of vintage clips

  • @blurredlenzpictures3251
    @blurredlenzpictures3251 8 місяців тому +22

    There's a very funny, well-made film about Harvey, with Paul Giamatti playing him. American Splendor.

  • @robatsea2009
    @robatsea2009 8 місяців тому +195

    The unpredictability of the guests - and the sheer eclectic variety of who was appearing - made this show must-see each night.

    • @gordons-alive4940
      @gordons-alive4940 8 місяців тому +6

      Yeah,. They lost that when Dave moved to an earlier time slot. It became a pretty conventional late night talk show.

    • @markbeames7852
      @markbeames7852 8 місяців тому

      Pekar was on five or six times.

    • @crackawood
      @crackawood 8 місяців тому +4

      ​@@gordons-alive4940but dave's influence was already well established. his effect on comedy reverberates to this day and every late night show is just a rehash of conventions that dave established

    • @olorin1710
      @olorin1710 6 місяців тому

      Left version of Trump

  • @perrymihalakos2119
    @perrymihalakos2119 8 місяців тому +14

    Kudos to Pekar. Love the guy.

  • @212days
    @212days Місяць тому +1

    " ... to promote your little Mickey Mouse magazine here, your little news letter, your little club house rainy day fun for boys and girls, your little weekly reader deal..." 🤣

  • @dylanmartin9190
    @dylanmartin9190 Місяць тому +2

    Letterman rises to the challenge and almost reveals his hand

  • @danielstoddart
    @danielstoddart 8 місяців тому +53

    I loved this one. I remember staying up late in college to watch this episode. Amusingly, right from the get-go Pekar's body language and the way he shakes Dave's hand is very telling. And it goes downhill from there...

    • @brt5273
      @brt5273 8 місяців тому +19

      I think it was going downhill before Pekar even came out. Letterman's tone is already dismal, probably because they exchanged words before the show and he got an idea of the sort of ride it was going to be.

    • @danielstoddart
      @danielstoddart 8 місяців тому +10

      @@brt5273 My fave Letterman guests were Pekar, Charles Grodin, Harrison Ford, Harmony Korine (before he got banned), Crispin Glover, and Andy Kaufman. Those were absolute musts to stay up late.

    • @kbrewski1
      @kbrewski1 8 місяців тому +1

      ​@danielstoddart
      Man, I don't remember issues with Grodin and Kaufman, those guys were Dave regulars, especially Grodin. I'm going to have to search for those clips.
      Joaquin Phoenix is the one that stands out for me. He appeared like he was drugged and Dave couldn't get him to talk.

    • @danielstoddart
      @danielstoddart 7 місяців тому

      @@kbrewski1 They weren't really "issues" because especially in the case of Grodin, it was a bit. A gag. Grodin's entire act was to be antagonistic to the host. But all of the guests mentioned above scored high on the passive-aggressive quotient.

    • @kbrewski1
      @kbrewski1 7 місяців тому +1

      @danielstoddart
      That was my point. Dave didn't have issues with Grodin because he knew Grodin's shtick. This Pekar wasn't in that category, he was truly so odd and obstinate he wanted to upset the apple cart.

  • @The_Notorious_N.O.E.
    @The_Notorious_N.O.E. 8 місяців тому +53

    I hope Dave still has that autographed comic from Harvey. What an amazing collectable it is now

  • @ChrisCarnage-jp4fc
    @ChrisCarnage-jp4fc 5 місяців тому +10

    Priceless. Someone who saw hollywood for what is was long before now.

  • @karrdashen9190
    @karrdashen9190 5 місяців тому +4

    That. Was. AWESOME!

  • @drillbag
    @drillbag 8 місяців тому +242

    Harvey was one of the few people who would have no problem with talking to Dave the way he spoke to his guests and called BS anytime he smelled it!!!!

    • @MikeSchmidt969
      @MikeSchmidt969 8 місяців тому +9

      Yeah those types of folks are invited to parties once and only once.

    • @TheGeenat
      @TheGeenat 7 місяців тому +12

      @@MikeSchmidt969good. Those types of people are superior to the idiots at the party (sheep fest) anyway.

    • @blakfloyd
      @blakfloyd 7 місяців тому

      Indeed. I thought the exact same thing.

    • @westerling8436
      @westerling8436 3 місяці тому +1

      ​@@TheGeenat being loud doesn't make you smart

  • @emerpus01
    @emerpus01 8 місяців тому +39

    Pekar covered the whole thing from his perspective in an issue of American Splendor labeled “David Letterman Exploitation Issue” showing Dave telling Harvey (in front of the audience) “You f-cked up a great thing!”.

  • @ricebrown1
    @ricebrown1 8 місяців тому +37

    Ordinary life is pretty complex stuff.

  • @Jivolt
    @Jivolt 6 місяців тому +2

    This is just two guys having a good time playing off each other. It’s gorgeous.

    • @vegaslimoguy2376
      @vegaslimoguy2376 Місяць тому

      Finally someone with a brain. All these morons in the comments

  • @BenjaminRay
    @BenjaminRay 3 місяці тому +4

    What a wild interview. I would have loved to be in the audience to feel how uncomfortable it might have been in the studio!

  • @BenGates
    @BenGates 8 місяців тому +138

    I would pay good money to see Eric Andre flip his own script and do a whole season where every guest is combative and angrily talking over him like in this interview.

    • @andrehendrik
      @andrehendrik 8 місяців тому +10

      really? I tried watching his show, kind of empty shock value, I thought it got boring pretty fast

    • @mralexforbes
      @mralexforbes 8 місяців тому +6

      100% the show is pure shit​@@andrehendrik

    • @thechosenmountain9815
      @thechosenmountain9815 8 місяців тому +1

      or eric andre having harvey pekar

    • @D2ezbmu
      @D2ezbmu 8 місяців тому +2

      except this sint a skit or an act or a gag.

    • @steventhana8314
      @steventhana8314 7 місяців тому +2

      Found the smooth brain who enjoys eric andre elementary school humor

  • @westleywest7259
    @westleywest7259 8 місяців тому +177

    I remember when Dave used to have actual psychos on the show. We at home were never really sure how much was real or fake. BEST TELEVISION EVER!

    • @mwdiphone
      @mwdiphone 8 місяців тому +36

      Your comment is exactly why Harvey finally went off. He wasn’t a psycho. Not even close. He was a brilliant writer. A regular guy with a job who had a talent. Dave and the audience played him and his words like he was a fool. Harvey felt like he was being used instead of being listened to. Thats why he went off.

    • @sonicdiablo8968
      @sonicdiablo8968 8 місяців тому +9

      How is he a psycho?

    • @thedude4672
      @thedude4672 8 місяців тому +12

      I don't think Harvey was a psycho at all, but Dave was good about having eccentric people on who wouldn't make you comfortable

    • @porflepopnecker4376
      @porflepopnecker4376 8 місяців тому +11

      Harvey was pushing Dave's buttons hard that night and he knew it. Dave kept things comedy-oriented while still demonstrating that he wasn't a pushover for someone like Harvey to steamroll on his own show.

    • @Mozart1220
      @Mozart1220 8 місяців тому +8

      @@mwdiphoneI don;t know him but from this interview he's a psycho.

  • @jean-paulgagnon8479
    @jean-paulgagnon8479 8 місяців тому +13

    Unmatched intensity.

  • @Steviecraig7
    @Steviecraig7 5 місяців тому +7

    Being from the other side of the pond, I'd never heard of Harvey Pekar before tonight. Which is a shame, seemed like a good guy.

    • @guins99
      @guins99 2 місяці тому +2

      Seemed like a flake with angry tendencies…

  • @LTD-7
    @LTD-7 7 місяців тому +3

    In 1999 i won a post card mail in contest on Dave Letterman's show. I set beside Tony Randall and it was a blast.

  • @lostsols-ancienttreasure6457
    @lostsols-ancienttreasure6457 8 місяців тому +71

    Letterman was so much better when it wasn’t just about spoiled celebrities.

    • @OMGWTFLOLSMH
      @OMGWTFLOLSMH 8 місяців тому +6

      I gave up on talk shows because of celebrities shilling their crappy projects, well before The Late Show ended. I watched the last few weeks, which I enjoyed, and I watched/watch clips of Conan and Kimmel on UA-cam, sans celebs.

    • @fatalmodelmadhatter
      @fatalmodelmadhatter 8 місяців тому +4

      Thank you! Funny how the "talk" parts of a talk show are often the less interesting unless there is chemistry with a guest or it's not a celebrity pandering. Dave usually made an effort to go beyond the shilling and when the celebrity went along with it got gold, but modern talk shows don't even bother, everybody comes rehearsed and all is insufferable because of it!

    • @keefriff99
      @keefriff99 8 місяців тому +3

      @@fatalmodelmadhatter
      There are some celebrities who are REALLY great at talk shows…relaxed, funny, conversational, not overly scripted, but they’re few and far between.
      Nothing is worse than a comedian who’s being prompted by the host for anecdotes. It’s so fake that it drives me crazy…can’t do it.

    • @apchsiri1156
      @apchsiri1156 8 місяців тому +3

      ​@@keefriff99Comedians doing bits from their latest show during their talk show interview: uggh.

    • @jonesnbones
      @jonesnbones 4 місяці тому +1

      I loved when Dave really did get uncomfortable. It made for good tv.

  • @calixa
    @calixa 8 місяців тому +16

    I don't know him or anything about this, but I like Harvey.

  • @maximehamelin156
    @maximehamelin156 8 місяців тому +33

    Ordered 3 of his books last month! Thanks to you, Dave!

    • @maximehamelin156
      @maximehamelin156 7 місяців тому

      @flatearthlogicdotnet Really, ordering more.
      I grew up with Archies in the restroom,. Harvey replaced them :)

  • @cappystrano1
    @cappystrano1 3 місяці тому +2

    I am old, but every Harvey I have ever met in my life, has been an exceptional and interesting person, seriously.

  • @tuffteddy1446
    @tuffteddy1446 7 місяців тому +10

    "Three and a quarter Dave, but for YOU - two fifty. We'll settle up after the show, you got it on ya?!"
    Man, Harvey was fantastic!

  • @RajeshJustaguy
    @RajeshJustaguy 8 місяців тому +70

    actually this is the first time ive seen Dave visibly losing patience at 5:14, very rarely have i seen him shaken... You can see he isnt happy at all

    • @Road2acept
      @Road2acept 8 місяців тому +8

      Harvey Pekar looked ready to fight him. The way he grabbed the pen. Privately these 2 definitely would have traded blows.

    • @Cockneyartist
      @Cockneyartist 7 місяців тому +5

      Good, Letterman is awful

    • @asdf2593
      @asdf2593 6 місяців тому

      @@Road2acept you're projecting, why would anyone fight over words? because they are an idiot

  • @jayess7177
    @jayess7177 8 місяців тому +72

    Harvey was a simmering volcano of saccharine contempt, God love him!

    • @zimmerman1031
      @zimmerman1031 7 місяців тому +6

      What was saccharine about his contempt?

    • @jamescarter3196
      @jamescarter3196 7 місяців тому +2

      "saccharine" means 'artificially sweet' and he wasn't artificial or sweet, just extremely focused on whatever he was thinking

  • @miked6426
    @miked6426 7 місяців тому +2

    Waiting for him to pull a joker...i want you to savor this last time youll ever be on this show...😂

  • @johnhancock8556
    @johnhancock8556 8 місяців тому +3

    I miss this kind of confrontational interviews on late night talk shows. Those were the good old days.

  • @AlanDavidDoane
    @AlanDavidDoane 8 місяців тому +359

    Harvey was one of the greatest comic book writers in history. His American Splendor comics are absolute genius. I cannot recommend them enough. Anyone interested in him should check them out and also watch the great Paul Giamatti bring him to life in the American Splendor movie.

    • @mwdiphone
      @mwdiphone 8 місяців тому +24

      His appearance on Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservation Cleveland episode is a classic as well. The entire show was pretty much themed to go with Pekar’s comics.

    • @dengueberries
      @dengueberries 8 місяців тому

      oooooh i have to check that out, thanks a lot @@mwdiphone

    • @keefriff99
      @keefriff99 8 місяців тому +4

      @@mwdiphone
      Oh damn, I gotta look this episode up now! Thanks for the suggestion.

    • @brt5273
      @brt5273 8 місяців тому +1

      Good stuff. Available online.

    • @BiffJackson-o4i
      @BiffJackson-o4i 8 місяців тому

      Oh, shut up. He's a social misfit. He's the problem not everybody else.

  • @ChrisIrving-f7k
    @ChrisIrving-f7k 8 місяців тому +9

    A real New York interview

  • @davemustaki134
    @davemustaki134 8 місяців тому +50

    He had an Andy Kaufman vibe to him here

    • @kbrewski1
      @kbrewski1 8 місяців тому +5

      More of a Son of Sam vibe....

    • @davemustaki134
      @davemustaki134 8 місяців тому +1

      @@kbrewski1 nah lol

    • @April21Volunteer
      @April21Volunteer 8 місяців тому +2

      Yes, with a little Christopher Lloyd's Reverend Jim from Taxi mixed in.

    • @davemustaki134
      @davemustaki134 8 місяців тому

      @@April21Volunteer yeah kinda....

    • @jamescarter3196
      @jamescarter3196 7 місяців тому

      @@April21Volunteer Like Reverend Jim if he was a scary crackhead

  • @roleplayingpain4349
    @roleplayingpain4349 2 місяці тому +3

    omg i love this man and now need to find his comics

  • @nork24
    @nork24 Місяць тому +1

    Man didn't blink but once!😬

  • @TandemKnights
    @TandemKnights 8 місяців тому +10

    Ah, the good ole days of television.

  • @joelzulueta5585
    @joelzulueta5585 8 місяців тому +64

    Love Harvey, and love his comics. Kudos to Dave for keeping this interview in the show. I thought it was one his best interviews, ever.

    • @hughmcaloon6506
      @hughmcaloon6506 8 місяців тому +6

      Harvey was interviewing Dave, from the outset. It's really stunning to see; fascinating. Harvey was large and in charge until Dave blew his top.

    • @carewser
      @carewser 8 місяців тому +2

      @@hughmcaloon6506 Dave never "blew his top", he just got rightfully annoyed with Pekar

    • @useliteski3381
      @useliteski3381 8 місяців тому

      Yes, he did. Harvey is an incredible man, Dave is not.@@carewser

    • @chrisisnowliftingstuff3248
      @chrisisnowliftingstuff3248 8 місяців тому +3

      This was Harveys 6th appearance and they were all like this one. After this appearance Harvey continued to come on. Dave and Harvey loved going back and forth. It wasn't scripted or rehearsed but this was the magic they knew would naturally happen.

  • @deathisaprimitiveconcept
    @deathisaprimitiveconcept 8 місяців тому +10

    It’s funny how on other nights their banter was in good spirits, this particular night was a perfect storm of Harvey been a little more toxic than usual and for whatever reason Dave just not being in the mood for Harvey.

  • @bonitabromeliads
    @bonitabromeliads 6 місяців тому +2

    Harvey really got under his skin, never saw Dave lose his cool like this. Dave knew he was a sellout and didn't like hearing it from the working mans hero. It's too bad Dave didn't realize what he had until after Harvey died.

  • @lamelama12
    @lamelama12 6 місяців тому +7

    Harvey was a genius captured David held him hostage for like 15 minutes a thing of beauty.

  • @chiefscheider
    @chiefscheider 8 місяців тому +12

    "Look Dave, I signed the paper, I'll talk when I wanna talk."
    This guy was great 😄

  • @gzayas08
    @gzayas08 8 місяців тому +46

    I used to love watching Letterman growing up, even though I didn't get half the jokes. I have never heard of Harvey Pekar before, he's awesome!

    • @lesweizman388
      @lesweizman388 8 місяців тому +5

      you should read american splendor

  • @rangers11ization
    @rangers11ization 8 місяців тому +9

    Paul was getting nervous😂

    • @jeff-ds2pr
      @jeff-ds2pr Місяць тому

      He's a kiss ass for Dave, so seeing someone challenge him probably made him wet himself.

  • @gutenstagl
    @gutenstagl 7 місяців тому +3

    Seems like Letterman wasn't equipped to spar with a mind as sharp is Pekar.

  • @phdtobe
    @phdtobe Місяць тому +7

    Looks like David Letterman imploded! 😂

  • @williampierson4340
    @williampierson4340 8 місяців тому +94

    I do my best to live my life as a problematic Letterman guest.

    • @chiefscheider
      @chiefscheider 8 місяців тому +7

      Same here. I'm a combination of Oliver Reed and Crispin Glover.

    • @bradford_shaun_murray
      @bradford_shaun_murray 8 місяців тому +2

      I don't even try and I'm a problem for some people.

    • @brugelxencerf
      @brugelxencerf 4 місяці тому

      @@chiefscheider That's perfect!

  • @dg-ov4cf
    @dg-ov4cf 8 місяців тому +9

    I can’t tell how serious this is

    • @profile2047
      @profile2047 8 місяців тому +16

      According to Dave it wasn’t an act or gag. There’s some insightful things Dave has said about him.

    • @basskick666
      @basskick666 8 місяців тому +5

      As cancer

    • @thedude4672
      @thedude4672 8 місяців тому +4

      @@basskick666Harvey had just found he he had cancer around this time

    • @basskick666
      @basskick666 8 місяців тому +2

      @@thedude4672 damn!

    • @justing7631
      @justing7631 8 місяців тому +2

      It's more funny because it's absolutely serious.

  • @davebushmediadesign
    @davebushmediadesign 8 місяців тому +73

    Harvey was the absolute best guest of Dave's entire career. RIP

    • @joeschmo2693
      @joeschmo2693 8 місяців тому +5

      Dude, get serious - it's Brother Theodore.

    • @thedude4672
      @thedude4672 8 місяців тому +5

      I'd go with Norm Macdonald

    • @M-ps6ve
      @M-ps6ve 8 місяців тому +1

      not a funny bone in his body

    • @theshapeexists
      @theshapeexists 8 місяців тому

      ​@@thedude4672agreed

    • @pinecone9045
      @pinecone9045 8 місяців тому +3

      @@joeschmo2693 My first thought Brother Theodore was the consummate Letterman guest he didn't have the need to insult Dave to make his point.

  • @jasonf9325
    @jasonf9325 27 днів тому

    It's hilarious how he always puts the emphasis on DAVE!
    Dave: "Did you get those free with your subscription to Field and Stream?" 🤣🤣

  • @garrethenderson9695
    @garrethenderson9695 7 місяців тому +3

    I’ve been wanting to see this ever since I saw American Splendor. Glad they released it.

    • @agtv_media
      @agtv_media 4 місяці тому

      I just saw American Splendor for the first time today

  • @johng6565
    @johng6565 8 місяців тому +65

    He's clearly not a "psycho" like some in the comments are saying. Unfiltered, neurotic, and very intelligent would be most accurate.

    • @ruok3351
      @ruok3351 8 місяців тому +7

      A psycho is someone who is dangerously unstable. Being neurotic and openly rude are common traits. You can clearly see the ego, arrogance and cynicism flowing through his behavior. Everybody knows a person in their lives who are like this. And they are generally not nice people to be around. They are passive aggressive and would always try to find a way to mentally abuse you. The only reason you would defend people like this is because you can see yourself in them.

    • @fukhue8226
      @fukhue8226 8 місяців тому

      Crazy but intelligent at the same time.

    • @easkeybikes1966
      @easkeybikes1966 8 місяців тому

      I think you've proven your own argument. @@ruok3351

    • @jefffuller3139
      @jefffuller3139 8 місяців тому +1

      OK now but please!!! get back on your meds

    • @LMAODOODZ
      @LMAODOODZ 8 місяців тому +1

      ​@ruok3351 Well said. He is angry and every comment he makes is passive aggressive after every comment like its a competition to insult him each time then gets progressively worse.

  • @dan0nada754
    @dan0nada754 8 місяців тому +12

    since I saw this dude on the first upload they did of him on this channel, hes become my fave guest ever. surpassing all the guests I ever saw on the show while it was on the air

  • @andyrose5616
    @andyrose5616 8 місяців тому +24

    0:52 I had forgotten about his deal to star in movies for Disney. Almost as soon as he signed that deal, he started making jokes and giving interviews saying he didn't intend to fulfill it.

    • @chiefscheider
      @chiefscheider 8 місяців тому +10

      Thank God he fulfilled his obligation to appear in Cabin Boy

    • @danielbrown4383
      @danielbrown4383 8 місяців тому

      @@chiefscheider Would you like to buy a monkey?

    • @Brendan-Black
      @Brendan-Black 8 місяців тому +2

      ​@@chiefscheider"Man oh man, do I hate them fancy lads."

  • @ForestMcIntosh-t6r
    @ForestMcIntosh-t6r Місяць тому +5

    Well this is a perfect illustration of 2 leftists. One fully mature, and Letterman before he fully matured. Now Letterman is Harvey.

  • @PaulDale-og1lk
    @PaulDale-og1lk 5 місяців тому +8

    I have the great pleasure of meeting Harvey pekar at the San Diego Comic-Con in 1995. We were both in the artist Ali section. This is an area in which famous artists and writers of comic books can get a table for free and sell their work to the attendees. Few people seem to recognize him as he has never been at the Comic-Con before, it was also his first time in California. He was such a nice person and he was impressed with my ability to do sales. He was so interested that he put me in his next issue of American Splendor comics published in June 1996.

  • @exciteproductions4two0
    @exciteproductions4two0 8 місяців тому +9

    This reminds me so much of the ending of the new joker movie. Just waiting for him to pull out a snub nose and pop him live on air. Lmfao

  • @domonicp9136
    @domonicp9136 8 місяців тому +9

    From off the streets of Cleveland! Keep the Harvey Pekar vids coming!