I've just finished watching The Late Show, where David Letterman welcomed Oprah Winfrey as his guest for the first time in 16 years. Now while I'm a huge Letterman fan, I always had the sneaking suspicion that the "feud" that kept Oprah from guesting on the Late Show had more to do with Dave and his caustic humour than anything on Oprah's side of the equation. It is pleasing to see the hatchet buried, and Dave couldn't have been more gentlemanly in the process.
Oprah Winfrey is doing great things with her popularity and her riches - one might say she is "magnanimous" - literally "great souled". I am especially appreciative of her Book Club, which has not only inspired millions to take up everyday reading of serious literature, but she has also brought some classics into American homes, especially Anna Karenina (link to discussion guide by the Great Books Foundation) by Leo Tolstoy, as well as works by John Steinbeck and Gabriel Maria Márquez. (Side note: Is it mere coincidence that the Oprah Empire shares the same home base as the Great Books Foundation, Chicago?)
Dave, as I mentioned, was quite a gentleman last night, asking Oprah to explain her childhood inspiration to charity, as well as her latest venture in South Africa to start a school for girls who would otherwise not have an opportunity for education. He got in a few good comedy bits before Oprah came on stage, including a great bit in the monologue: "Oprah thinks she's here to see Spamalot. And we had to give her a Pontiac." But most telling was Dave's pointing out that she had nothing to gain by appearing on his show - "It's not like things are going to really go her way after this!"
Oprah told Dave that she herself began to see him change and "soften" when his son Harry was born two years ago. I must say, I have seen the same, and it's charming to see him become less caustic and more reflective on occasion.
I predict that this warming relationship between Dave and Oprah will have a great impact on Dave's popularity. In my opinion, David Letterman is the funniest man on television, as well as a great comic inspiration to me, so I'm darn happy that he's beginning to make a comeback against that no-talent ass clown Jay Leno. Cheers to Oprah for rehabilitating my boy!
technorati tags: comedy, letterman, media, radio/tv/film, tv, oprah, great books program, culture