The first big Super Bowl shocker came early tonight, in a CBS promo, no less. The Super Bowl is on CBS, so it's no surprise we get a shot of David Letterman on a couch in his Colts jersey, but here's where things get weird: he's at a Super Bowl party with Oprah, and he's complaining about how it's the worst Super Bowl party ever. We then see Jay freakin' Leno, who says that Letterman is only saying that because he's there. Letterman then mocks Leno, and then we see that this whole thing is a promo for 'The Late Show with David Letterman.'
How in the hell did this happen?
I truly believe that there is animosity between Leno and Letterman that started in the first Late Night War and continued into the Second Late Night War. So to not only have these two guys appear in an ad together, but to appear in an ad for 'The Late Show,' while Leno is getting ready to return to 'The Tonight Show' and once again become Letterman's competition, is the strangest thing I've ever seen. I can't even concentrate on the game right now, because this Blew. My. Mind.
The idea isn't completely new-- it's a play off of a 2007 Super Bowl ad featuring Letterman and Oprah on a couch-- but this just takes it to an entirely new and amazing level. By the way, in case you were wondering, the spot was filmed on Letterman's turf: The Ed Sullivan Theater in New York, where he films 'The Late Show.' (UPDATE: Here's the whole story from Bill Carter of the New York Times.)
Here's the 2007 ad:
The TV Squad Podcast: New Shows, Conan Tour, 'Breaking Bad' and More!
'Breaking Bad' Tidbits from Cranston, Paul and Odenkirk
Andy Cohen on Jersey Housewives, 'Top Chef,' and Being the Face of Bravo
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
2-07-2010 @ 8:27PM
Ben said...
I knew as soon as I saw this ad that there would be a post about it here on TV Squad. It blew my mind too!
Reply
2-07-2010 @ 8:37PM
Manuel Reis said...
I can't believe this. Really.
But this ad doesn't mean that Leno and Letterman are all buddies again... Or does it!?
Reply
2-07-2010 @ 8:45PM
snowy2004 said...
I have no doubt Letterman is still bitter (He certainly showed it during the Conan vs Leno debacle) but remember that they are still just a bunch of jokers. They are probably the most able people to make fun of themselves.
2-07-2010 @ 8:40PM
Wii60 said...
I can't believe they even got them in the same room?
Reply
2-07-2010 @ 8:41PM
Wii60 said...
Yes, when this kind of mind-blowing event occurs, its ok to end a sentance with a question mark?
2-07-2010 @ 9:26PM
Brian Sheridan said...
Could this have been shot before the whole Coco/Leno debacle? Leno wouldn't have cared about promoting Dave's show because he wasn't up against him anymore. Now, there was probably no way to pull it off of the air and I can't imagine NBC has any more money to throw at that whole mess.
Reply
2-08-2010 @ 11:56AM
RobynM said...
I guess they did manage to come up with some more money after all - the linked NYTimes article says that not only had NBC arranged to have Jay's show preempted the night of taping, but he flew to NYC on the NBC corporate jet.
2-07-2010 @ 10:02PM
nick said...
No, I think Leno is using self deprecating humor. He was also on the recent cover of Entertainment Weekly with title of TV's biggest bombs ever, and it looked like he had been blown up.
It's all damage control because he took a hit during the Conan debacle.
....or the guy simply does not like to be off TV, and is now invading commercials.
Reply
2-08-2010 @ 12:03AM
The MediaBlog said...
Exactly!
To me, this is just another version of having Jimmy Kimmel come on to rip him apart. Jay has decided to try to repair his image by letting people make fun of him.
I guess he thinks that at some point the viewing public will either decide he's done his penance and forgive him or that sooner or later one of his rivals will go too far with it and he'll get pity love.
Either way, I think it's (to borrow an expression) vintage Jay. The man seems so desperate to be loved that it gets in the way of him having much in the way of self respect...
NBC wants to kick him to the curb? Sure. I'm a nice guy. I'll do whatever you want.
NBC wants him to do 30 minutes at 11:35? Sure. I'm a nice guy.
Dave wants to poke fun and promote his own show? Sure. I'm a nice guy.
It's kind of pathetic.
2-07-2010 @ 10:14PM
jackie said...
Oprah twitted that the spot was taped on Tuesday.
Reply
2-07-2010 @ 11:06PM
jffm said...
Someday it will sink in.
These "feuds" may be almost religious in nature to some fans, but to the guys getting the big paychecks, it's business. Barely removed from just being more schtick.
Reply
2-08-2010 @ 12:16AM
ac said...
Never before has an ad made my jaw drop in surprise like this one did. I thought the space time continuum had exploded.
Plus Letterman is going to now be boycotted by Conan fans probably...
Reply
2-07-2010 @ 11:53PM
Deezul said...
Could it also mean that Dave shows up in a Jay ad for his return to the Tonight Show?
Reply
2-08-2010 @ 12:04AM
The MediaBlog said...
I wouldn't hold my breath.
2-08-2010 @ 1:15AM
Brett Alan said...
The link to the NYTimes story is wrong. Here's the real one:
http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/07/how-the-letterman-oprah-leno-super-bowl-ad-came-together/?hp
Reply
2-08-2010 @ 8:29AM
Joel Keller said...
Thanks. Cut-and-paste error on my part. It's been fixed.
2-08-2010 @ 1:18AM
Greg said...
I don't understand why Leno would agree to promote Letterman's show when it's going to be his direct competition again come March 1st (or whenever).
Reply
2-10-2010 @ 3:55PM
Wii60 said...
It was just as much a promotion for Leno as Letterman. He was on TV during the most watched event ever.
2-08-2010 @ 6:55AM
Zoidbert said...
What would have made it epic would have been Conan showing up with a pizza and asking, "where am I supposed to sit?"
Reply
2-08-2010 @ 2:45PM
Joyce N. said...
What this shows, is that first and foremost, these two guys are comedians. Good for them!
Reply