LATE NIGHT WITH DAVID LETTERMAN {ANDY KAUFMAN, JERRY "THE KING" LAWLER, DAVID WALLECHINSKY} (TV)
Summary
One in this series of late-night talk/variety programs hosted by David Letterman. This program features a violent slapfest and coffee-tossing exhibiton between unmuscular, otherworldly comedian Andy Kaufman and burly, regal grappler Jerry "the King" Lawler, as well as an interview with author David Wallechinsky. Letterman opens the program by encouraging sidekick/bandleader Paul Shaffer to sing his ballad "Bermuda." The host then oversees a comedy segment about new cable television networks. Following this segment, Letterman introduces footage of a wrestling match between Kaufman and Lawler from April 5, 1982, in Memphis, TN, before introducing the two antagonists. Kaufman is adorned with a neck brace to protect an injury which he claims was caused by two jarring piledrivers he endured during their brief match. The puzzled host asks the meek Kaufman why he would wrestle the much larger Lawler. Kaufman -- the self-proclaimed Intergender Wrestling Champion -- states that his many victories over female opponents caused him to overestimate his own wrestling abilities. Lawler then introduces a series of clips in which Kaufman had taunted him and the entire city of Memphis prior to their match. When Kaufman steadfastly demands an apology from Lawler, the angered grappler strikes him violently across the face. Kaufman concludes the segment with a string of profanities and by hurling the contents of a piping hot cup of java at his hated foe. Once the two combatants are ushered off the stage, Letterman introduces a video segment which has him visiting the self-proclaimed "kings" of New York -- proprietors of retail outlets such as Papaya King, King of Used TVs, and the Sturgeon King. The program concludes with Letterman interviewing author David Wallechinsky about his "The People's Almanac" books which contain bizarre, picayune, and often revisionist information. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: November 30, 1981 12:35 AM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:39:36
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T85:0653
- GENRE: Talk/Interviews; Comedy/Variety
- SUBJECT HEADING: Author; Comedy; Wrestling
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1982-1993
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Jack Rollins … Executive Producer
- Barry Sand … Producer
- Hal Gurnee … Director
- Merrill Markoe … Writer, Head Writer
- Paul Shaffer … Music (Misc. Credits), Bandleader
- David Letterman … Host
- Andy Kaufman … Guest
- Jerry Lawler … Guest
- David Wallechinsky … Guest