@@redacted2275 very true. was rigid. but the style of humor of Get A Life doesn't have an easy audience. You could look at it either way...if he had a different look it would have been easier. If he dumbed down his humor it would have been easier... from my point of view the whole thing was perfect. loved the way he looked and loved the comedy. Brilliant on both. No one said everyone has to get everything.
I was too young to watch Letterman in the 80s - started watching in 94-95. I always thought the early years at CBS were the golden years but thanks to UA-cam I'm discovering the earlier stuff on NBC. Absolutely brilliant.
@@jtjurje357 I was probably too young to watch letterman in the 80s on school nights too. The NBC years were the best, but the early CBS years were good too
@@Plisken65 Thank you for not at all being bitter and political and showing how much you appreciate Chris Elliot’s sense of humour. That sure takes a lot of heart to do. I truly hope you will keep up the good positive spirit by helping everyone in need not as well of as yourself in future as well. Lots of ❤
I’ve been wanting to see that hair plug bit again for over 32 years! I remember watching and the first time he took his hat off I almost died from laughing! Thank you for preserving and posting these!
My wife and I were married in 1985, and I remember we would tape this on a vhs 📼 tape and watch it the following day because we both had to get up pretty early to go to work so we didn’t stay up late during the week, oh such great memories, those were our “salad days.” Thanks for the upload Don!
I love watching these videos at night with the lights dimmed and the volume low. Reminds me of the first time I saw David letterman on Christmas break as a kid
this stuff is so weird and great. i love how they do a dumb bit that kinda bombs, then bring him _back out_ to then throw a spotlight on that dumb bit that kinda bombed.
I loves me some Chris Elliot. I was in college at the time and Dave Letterman's show was a constant throughout that period at the time. It came on at 11:35 PM and we typically watched the entire thing no prob. Great show and miss it big time.
“Who do you think I am? Lyle Waggoner?” Lol! One thing I always loved about letterman were these constant references to all the obscure 70’s tv actors.
I had no idea Chris Elliot was a regular on Letterman. Loved him in his movies. I can now see a lot of Conan's best bits are inspired by Chris' sketches. Also the bit where Chris and Paul don't like each other is hysterical.
jigga1215 yep. Devoured both of them. Chris is a unique brand. He’s like comedy anchovies...you either hate them or you love them🤷🏽♂️. He was ironic and hipster before it was ironically hip.
@@WrvrUgoThrUR My older brother doesn't get it at all. This guy was ahead of the times in some of the off comedy he was doing. Sometimes I would start laughing before he said a word. Good to know others saw what I was seeing.
Don Giller is a hero and a friend. I used to watch these when I got home from high school back then. Thank God for the timer function on those old VCRs
You ain't neer lied. I used to save up a week's worth and then on weekends my girlfriend and I would settle down for what we called 'Daveouts'. I got really good at blazing through the commercials.
I was 10 yrs old but I remember it well. My brother and I first discovered Dave around 1979 when he was guest hosting for Johnny Carson. So we were excited when he got the morning show.
😂😂😂 Chris: On the east coast the husband might say after dinner “how about another cup of coffee?” Whereas on the west coast the husband says “how about another divorce? Audience: BOOOOOOO!! Chris: Thank you very much Holy fuck.
Yes, Neil's death was hard to take. The worlds intelligence, and musical virtuosity was significantly reduced with his passing. Very tough loss, and like Chris Elliot, I think he was A talent that never fully got the recognition deserved.
In all of the many hours I've watched Chris perform, since back when these originally aired, I've never once seen him break character unintentionally, no matter how silly and ridiculous the performance. I crack up just hearing his voice, but he never once loses it. World-class comedian. Andy Kaufman was the only other guy who could keep it totally together through any degree of goofiness.
@@deme9873 yeah build A time machine, or A space ship, because after all like Miller said, A space ship is just A time machine. Hell Chris built A submarine in his parents bathroom before (G.a.L.).
WOW! This is gold. Oh man - we had it good during these days of Letterman. So thankful to be able to see these again (and for the 1st time). Thank U - as I never saw all of these - let alone, more than once.
Thanks Don, nice bit of archaeology! Here I assumed the well had run dry on Cris Elliott artifacts. Who knows if more treasures are left to be unearthed!!
You are a lean mean posting machine, Don. lol. So many great clips and when I tell the younger folks about Letterman's earlier years - I point them here - thanks!
I moved to America in ‘87 at 10 years old. So I missed Letterman during most of the ‘80s and then never really watched Dave until I was in college in ‘98. However I learned about Chris when his off the wall sitcom “Get a Life” started on Fox So I missed the whole 80s and never even knew Chris was A) on Letterman at all and B) he was such a major part of the show I
Yeah, Chris is hard to define, but you just got to watch him. His unstable tics were just good TV. Love how anything can set him off. And Letterman plays perfect straight man for his act.
I look for Davide Letterman videos, I look for Conan O'Brien videos and they are still funny as hell after all these years. Not Leno though, I'll watch his "Garage" show but his TV show just doesn't hold up over time.
Some of Chris’s best lines go right over the audience. “It’s like Bambi meets Das Boot (The Boat)”. If you ever saw that incredibly intense German war movie, that’s a very weirdly funny line.
Just the fact that Chris comes up with an "impersonator" character...who doesn't do anything Chris would normally do...is brilliant and hilarious! What a talent, truly one of the best. Was VERY lucky to end up with Letterman, I really don't think he could have done these things anywhere else with the same success. Him and Dave had a chemistry that is rare, and the Late Night format just provided the vehicle for Chris to perform his genius brand of comedy!
While both Dave and Chris were masters of quick-witted, sarcastic, passive-aggressive comedy, only Chris was willing to risk going the extra mile, by throwing caution to the wind and leaving most of his dignity at the door to get the laugh. Dave always took the safe route by remaining calm, cool and collected and playing it straight. And in the end, this combination always worked perfectly in these skits. Miss the 80's.
It's not even how much Dave laughs with Chris - it's his most unique stares, grimaces, and strained expressions as he struggles to contain his glee and complete amusement at Chris' deadpans and quirks. Dave will randomly look down at his desk or look all the way up to the ceiling in astonishment that this is all occurring while trying to play his role to mostly confused audiences. I was born in 85, and I think this most obviously is the golden age of late night so very far ahead of its time.
I'm/we are so glad you said that....... you hit that on the nose. I pretty much watched the whole thing just looking at Dave and felt a little weird, like I didn't get it or something..... probably didn't find it funny, but I like Chris Elliott.... strange, very strange..... Dave obviously thinks Chris is absolutely hilarious....
I thought that was Paul Shaffer. For me Dave was funniest in the unscripted segments such as stupid pet tricks, stupid human tricks, kids love Dave etc.
The thing I love love LOVE about Chris is his commitment. He never gives so much as a hint he's not genuinely the character he's portraying. Played against Dave's straight-laced talk show host who's not quite complicit in the whole thing is just perfection on screen.
Many people today might not realize Chris Elliott came from (literally) 1/2 of the old radio comedy team of Bob and Ray. Bob Elliott was Chris' father. Very funny, low-key humor, similar to Bob Newhart's early days. There are plenty of Bob and Ray UA-cam bits, one really good one is Bob and Ray "The Great Lakes Paperclip Company" recorded from radio. You'll see where Chris got his inspiration.
Chris Elliott on Late Night, and then his show Get a Life was funny as hell. He's seriously the most underrated comedian of the 80s and 90s.
AdonisJones I loved Get A Life
@@sallypea3202 I'll never forget his performance in Zoo Animals on Wheels.
Agreed
I know it's polarizing, but I'm a big fan of Cabin Boy too
@@Mrjohndoe280 Cabin Boy was brilliant
Thanks for putting these clips on, Chris Elliot has never gotten the appreciation he deserves.
Pretty sure a lot of people weren't getting that he was joking. Puts a damper on popularity.
@@trple2 No, I think he was victim of typecasting in Hollywood because of his looks.
@@redacted2275 very true. was rigid. but the style of humor of Get A Life doesn't have an easy audience. You could look at it either way...if he had a different look it would have been easier. If he dumbed down his humor it would have been easier...
from my point of view the whole thing was perfect. loved the way he looked and loved the comedy. Brilliant on both.
No one said everyone has to get everything.
Those were the golden years of Letterman and Chris Elliott was one of the reasons why
I was too young to watch Letterman in the 80s - started watching in 94-95. I always thought the early years at CBS were the golden years but thanks to UA-cam I'm discovering the earlier stuff on NBC. Absolutely brilliant.
@@jtjurje357 I was probably too young to watch letterman in the 80s on school nights too. The NBC years were the best, but the early CBS years were good too
well said
@@Plisken65 Thank you for not at all being bitter and political and showing how much you appreciate Chris Elliot’s sense of humour. That sure takes a lot of heart to do. I truly hope you will keep up the good positive spirit by helping everyone in need not as well of as yourself in future as well. Lots of ❤
@@Plisken65Facts.
Most people now days don't know who Chris Elliott is and that's a shame. This dude is a legend.
Always been serverely underrated.
Know him as that weird guy in the second scary movie
yes he is!
They probably recognize him from Scary Movie
1980’s Letterman and Chris Elliott. I miss those days.
Letterman does too - he's senile now ...
When Dave wasn't a libtard a$$hole
I’ve been wanting to see that hair plug bit again for over 32 years! I remember watching and the first time he took his hat off I almost died from laughing! Thank you for preserving and posting these!
Chris Elliot is an underappreciated genius
He's a creep who pissed off too many people
Reminds me of Norm McDonald
My wife and I were married in 1985, and I remember we would tape this on a vhs 📼 tape and watch it the following day because we both had to get up pretty early to go to work so we didn’t stay up late during the week, oh such great memories, those were our “salad days.” Thanks for the upload Don!
Chris looks like Rod Stewart
@@Plisken65 Nice DLR reference!
I love watching these videos at night with the lights dimmed and the volume low. Reminds me of the first time I saw David letterman on Christmas break as a kid
I landed on a random moment in the middle of this 39-minute video, and I was laughing within 3 seconds. Chris Elliott was amazing on this show.
OMG! This is comedy gold. The Skylark bit is hilarious. So happy to see this posted.
I don’t think Dave laughed any more than when Chris Elliott made his appearances on his show.
The Skylark Trilogy! You are doing God’s work! Prior to this I had only seen part 2.
Can't get enough of these Chris Elliot uploads, you're doing the Lord's work Don.
Agreed!
this stuff is so weird and great. i love how they do a dumb bit that kinda bombs, then bring him _back out_ to then throw a spotlight on that dumb bit that kinda bombed.
“...thank you very much.” 😂
Chris Elliot is a national treasure. I love you, Chris.
I loves me some Chris Elliot. I was in college at the time and Dave Letterman's show was a constant throughout that period at the time. It came on at 11:35 PM and we typically watched the entire thing no prob. Great show and miss it big time.
“Who do you think I am? Lyle Waggoner?” Lol! One thing I always loved about letterman were these constant references to all the obscure 70’s tv actors.
Lyle Waggoner just passed away Tue Mar 17, 2020
Like when Chris came on and told Dave, "I watched you last night and you were really top dollar with Nipsey Russell!"
Always had a theory that "laid-back guy" was inspiration for The Dude.
the 80s Dave was the best version of him
Yes . . . Correct . . David Letterman is the absolute pinnacle of late night, there were, are and will never be anyone more better thanks Dave
Chris Elliot, Late night hunk, "we're very near the end of civilization..." LOL
Spoke too soon
Ah the memories! Watching Dave was the best TV and Chris Elliot fit right in there
I had no idea Chris Elliot was a regular on Letterman. Loved him in his movies. I can now see a lot of Conan's best bits are inspired by Chris' sketches. Also the bit where Chris and Paul don't like each other is hysterical.
Thought I'd seen all of Chris's work, but "The Amazing Skylark" is a revelation.
For those of you who say: “This guy should have had his own show” well, he did. It’s called ‘Get A Life’
Loved that show....and his movie Cabin Boy.
jigga1215 yep. Devoured both of them. Chris is a unique brand. He’s like comedy anchovies...you either hate them or you love them🤷🏽♂️. He was ironic and hipster before it was ironically hip.
@@WrvrUgoThrUR My older brother doesn't get it at all. This guy was ahead of the times in some of the off comedy he was doing. Sometimes I would start laughing before he said a word. Good to know others saw what I was seeing.
He's really A one of A kind!
Nevermind it's the flat out truth but, it's also the highest compliment I can think of.
Special Person Entering The World... Egg Yolks
His entrance music is Sheena Easton’s Strut 😂
Don Giller is a hero and a friend. I used to watch these when I got home from high school back then. Thank God for the timer function on those old VCRs
You ain't neer lied. I used to save up a week's worth and then on weekends my girlfriend and I would settle down for what we called 'Daveouts'. I got really good at blazing through the commercials.
Same here :)
I used to record them regularly. They didn’t come on until 2 a.m. Newfoundland Standard Time
Back when late night shows were worth watching
I love how genuinely tickled dave gets.. and how put off paul is
@Spanish Ramon Yes, he's in on the joke.
Don, as a huge Chris Elliot fan, I love that you are doing this. If you ever need anything, a loan, a kidney, my first born, just let me know.
Did you guys like him on Raymond ?
@@deme9873 Yes, the both of them should have had their own shows, I've been saying it for years but, no one listens "Most people are DUMB".
Does anyone remember Dave’s (very) brief morning show? Classic. I love anything Chris Elliot!
I’ve uploaded a few morning shows plus a highlights reel.
I was 10 yrs old but I remember it well. My brother and I first discovered Dave around 1979 when he was guest hosting for Johnny Carson. So we were excited when he got the morning show.
I've said it before , but only to myself, and now I'll say out loud, Don you are a prince among men.
Brad Bugos rrurrrrrrrrrirrrrrrrrrrrrrrirrrrrrrurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
iuuussurdrttt
i is the wer
i is the wer
😂😂😂
Chris: On the east coast the husband might say after dinner “how about another cup of coffee?”
Whereas on the west coast the husband says “how about another divorce?
Audience: BOOOOOOO!!
Chris: Thank you very much
Holy fuck.
Chris Elliot was for a long time my favorite bit comedian. He brings the same energy to his characters in his films.
I really needed to take a break from Neil Peart mourning, timely upload. Thanks, Don!
Yes, Neil's death was hard to take.
The worlds intelligence, and musical virtuosity was significantly reduced with his passing. Very tough loss, and like Chris Elliot, I think he was A talent that never fully got the recognition deserved.
he's on a Canadian comedy series called shitts creek
Schitt's is fantastic. And he was perfect for that role.
In all of the many hours I've watched Chris perform, since back when these originally aired, I've never once seen him break character unintentionally, no matter how silly and ridiculous the performance. I crack up just hearing his voice, but he never once loses it. World-class comedian. Andy Kaufman was the only other guy who could keep it totally together through any degree of goofiness.
Good point! I wonder if growing up with a comedy great helped make him immune to cracking.
Quite true, consummate professional, one of the tenets that backup the claim of Chris Elliott devotees that he Is A
Comic GENIUS.
That’s what makes him great. Staying in character was his best quality obviously along with being funny as hell.
@@toweypatIt certainly didn't hurt! Bob and Ray were amazing!
Another gem, Don....instead of getting a good night's sleep I am watching this. My first exposure to The Amazing Skylark. His Judy Garland is uncanny.
Takes me back when I was a teenager. I used to love Dave, and especially when Chris dropped in
Chris Elliot is hilarious ! Love all his different characters on late night !
NOW I get why Mary was into Woogie...he used to be a teen heart throb.
I think Mary and Skylark shared the same hair stylist.
These videos are so nice as I was slightly too young to enjoy Chris's greatness back in the day. Now I can. Thanks!
@@deme9873 yeah build A time machine, or A space ship, because after all like Miller said, A space ship is just A time machine.
Hell Chris built A submarine in his parents bathroom before (G.a.L.).
Thank you for these I just subscribed I’m totally looking forward to the regulator Guy😂
WOW! This is gold. Oh man - we had it good during these days of Letterman. So thankful to be able to see these again (and for the 1st time). Thank U - as I never saw all of these - let alone, more than once.
Hope y'all had seen him in Schitt's Creek. Great show, and great role.
That's his worst work in most overrated least funny show ever... Thank you very much
Thanks Don, nice bit of archaeology! Here I assumed the well had run dry on Cris Elliott artifacts. Who knows if more treasures are left to be unearthed!!
I haven’t even touched the Late Show years yet (except for one Comparison Test).
@@dongiller Excavating and retrieving ancient treasure takes great dedication and patience!
It also helps to have no life. :)
I love Dave’s reactions.
You are a lean mean posting machine, Don. lol. So many great clips and when I tell the younger folks about Letterman's earlier years - I point them here - thanks!
"Who do you think I am, Lyle Waggoner?" might be the funniest line I've ever heard
I don’t get it, I know who Waggoner is but I don’t get the reference.
A very low on the totem pole 'actor' or 'comedian'? from the Carol Burnett Show. Came close to being Batman on TV@@franklubbock8400
I moved to America in ‘87 at 10 years old. So I missed Letterman during most of the ‘80s and then never really watched Dave until I was in college in ‘98. However I learned about Chris when his off the wall sitcom “Get a Life” started on Fox
So I missed the whole 80s and never even knew Chris was A) on Letterman at all and B) he was such a major part of the show
I
When Skylark 19:00 put that girl in that black bag..........I almost died laughing funny shite
When comedy so dated is still timelessly funny. Chris Elliot, Brian Regan, Brian Stack, and Norm MacDonald never get old
Let's add the great Brian McCann as well. Audacious, charismatically goofy, and fully committed like Chris.
The Laid Back Guy looks like Jeff Spicoli with a beard.
He reminds me of Jax.
nobody like Dave... nobody!! and Chris? He is just a genius end of story. Hysterical from the moment I look at him I can't stop laughing.
Another season of Eaglehart would be nice.
Yeah, Chris is hard to define, but you just got to watch him. His unstable tics were just good TV. Love how anything can set him off. And Letterman plays perfect straight man for his act.
SKYLARK IS A LEGEND he eats alot of fish 12:45
I've never seen the Skylark bits before. I'm dead.
80s....goofy hair bands, horrible TV, MTV sucked, top 40 pop music sucked......this was a beacon of comedy joy. Thanks Dave and Chris.
Skylark was simply OUTSTANDING…
The plug session was awesome 🤣
The most committed comedian of our generation. No one could touch him.
dude your ads are intrusive and LAME
Dude, they’re not my ads.
I remember bumping into Skylark as an Eastern Airlines flight attendant. Long story short, guess a Make-A-Wish performance of his went awry.
Chris is one of the funniest people alive.
Skylark has to be my favorite character that Chris did. He was a comic genius.
I look for Davide Letterman videos, I look for Conan O'Brien videos and they are still funny as hell after all these years. Not Leno though, I'll watch his "Garage" show but his TV show just doesn't hold up over time.
"Who do you think I am? Lyle Waggoner?" 🤣
Some of Chris’s best lines go right over the audience. “It’s like Bambi meets Das Boot (The Boat)”. If you ever saw that incredibly intense German war movie, that’s a very weirdly funny line.
You got to love the people whose first reaction is to make the "overexcited face with raised arms" when they notice the cameras are turned on them. 😁👍
Skylark was ahead of his time. 😏
Just the fact that Chris comes up with an "impersonator" character...who doesn't do anything Chris would normally do...is brilliant and hilarious! What a talent, truly one of the best. Was VERY lucky to end up with Letterman, I really don't think he could have done these things anywhere else with the same success. Him and Dave had a chemistry that is rare, and the Late Night format just provided the vehicle for Chris to perform his genius brand of comedy!
36:57 funniest bit
This guy is so funny. If he was around now he’d kill
How great the 80's were.
In Living Color followed by Get A Life was, albeit briefly, the best hour in comedy history....
Chris’s dad was funny as hell too.
37:55 "Bloomies" 20 years before Artie and Teddy on Howard Stern
Can you post a Don Rickles compilation?
Not anymore.
@@dongiller sad, I would pay at least $15 for one 😢 😔
His parents Bob n Ray. Must be so proud
Just Bob. Both he and Ray have passed away.
Those two together are gold.
Chris Elliot is underrated.
While both Dave and Chris were masters of quick-witted, sarcastic, passive-aggressive comedy, only Chris was willing to risk going the extra mile, by throwing caution to the wind and leaving most of his dignity at the door to get the laugh. Dave always took the safe route by remaining calm, cool and collected and playing it straight. And in the end, this combination always worked perfectly in these skits. Miss the 80's.
It's not even how much Dave laughs with Chris - it's his most unique stares, grimaces, and strained expressions as he struggles to contain his glee and complete amusement at Chris' deadpans and quirks. Dave will randomly look down at his desk or look all the way up to the ceiling in astonishment that this is all occurring while trying to play his role to mostly confused audiences. I was born in 85, and I think this most obviously is the golden age of late night so very far ahead of its time.
It's like Chris was one of the few to know where to tickle Dave.
I wish dave would've let him accessorize him that wouldve been great lol
Chris Elliott was the best example of what Dave thought was funny to himself. You feel he could watch Chris forever.
I'm/we are so glad you said that....... you hit that on the nose. I pretty much watched the whole thing just looking at Dave and felt a little weird, like I didn't get it or something..... probably didn't find it funny, but I like Chris Elliott.... strange, very strange..... Dave obviously thinks Chris is absolutely hilarious....
@@chrispalmer9952 probably because you don't have a good sense of humor
Well said.
I thought that was Paul Shaffer.
For me Dave was funniest in the unscripted segments such as stupid pet tricks, stupid human tricks, kids love Dave etc.
Bingo
You're doing the lord's work, Don.
BROTHER THEODORE FOREVER AND EVER. Amen.
Always seemed like he was very strange or maybe only his characters were.
Chris is the best ever. Dave called him the funniest man he knows.
The thing I love love LOVE about Chris is his commitment. He never gives so much as a hint he's not genuinely the character he's portraying. Played against Dave's straight-laced talk show host who's not quite complicit in the whole thing is just perfection on screen.
Many people today might not realize Chris Elliott came from (literally) 1/2 of the old radio comedy team of Bob and Ray. Bob Elliott was Chris' father. Very funny, low-key humor, similar to Bob Newhart's early days. There are plenty of Bob and Ray UA-cam bits, one really good one is Bob and Ray "The Great Lakes Paperclip Company" recorded from radio. You'll see where Chris got his inspiration.
If I was half as funny as Chris Elliot, I would be twice as funny as Chris Elliot. - Skylark.
The idea of a Vegas Chris Elliott impersonator, was pretty clever.
I still remember those hair plugs to this day. Hilarious!
Das Boot! not Das Boat. Otherwise i love Chris Elliott, brilliant comedian.
So that's where Conan got those "audience skits"? 0:34
Me and my brother were always so thrilled when he was on.
Kids today don't even know David Lettermans show. They don't even know what they missed
Thus this channel.