By Eric Ditzian
Today David Letterman turns 63 years old, closing the book on what might be the craziest year of his three-decade-long career as a TV talk show host. The 62nd year in the life of Dave saw him winning and then losing the late-night ratings war, welcoming a sitting president to a late-night show for the first time ever, experiencing a creative rebirth during the Conan/Leno contretemps and, oh yeah, admitting on air that he'd slept with a co-worker whose ex-boyfriend was attempting to blackmail him. We'd wish Letterman just as exciting an upcoming year, but we fear his quintuple-bypass-afflicted heart couldn't stand it.
Instead, let us tip our hat to arguably the greatest comedian of his generation for a year that veered from achievements to controversies but which was entertaining at every turn.
A month and a half after Letterman turned 62, he received a belated birthday present when his long-time nemesis Jay Leno stepped down from his "Tonight Show" perch. Conan O'Brien jumped in to fill the void, but it didn't matter: Letterman was once again the ratings king of late-night TV.
In the fall, Letterman pulled off another coup: Barack Obama stopped by the "Late Show," becoming the first sitting president in history to appear on a late-night talk show. The pair chatted about health care reform, the fragile economy and the role race plays in his political standing. "I think it's important to realize that I was actually black before the election," the president joked.
It was a good thing Letterman booked Obama when he did, because barely a week later, things got weird and wild for the host. On air, Dave admitted to having sex with one of his employees, whose ex attempted to exhort two million dollars from Letterman in exchange for keeping quiet about the affair.
"The creepy stuff was that I have had sex with women who work for me on this show," Letterman told his audience. "My response to that is, yes, I have. I have had sex with women who work on this show."
For a comedian who'd made a living mocking the sexual transgressions of politicians and celebrities, it was a stunning revelation. So too was the manner in which he made the revelation, attempting to wring laughs from an ugly situation and dismissing his workplace escapades as if they were no big deal. This was not his finest hour, but it sure made for compelling TV.
So too did the start of another round of late-night wars, as O'Brien and Leno wrangled for "The Tonight Show" and Letterman could barely contain his glee as he tossed grenades at the man he dubbed "Big Jaw." Letterman had seemed to be struggling to sustain interest in his duties since the extortion revelation, but suddenly he was creatively enlivened. Assuming a sort of elder statesman role, Dave hammered Leno with the type of truth-speaking vitriol that can only come from decades' worth of battle.
"I've known Jay for 35 years, and what we're seeing now is vintage Jay, and it's enjoyable for me to see this," Letterman said. "Lord knows I've got my own problems, but I just can't help myself."
Yet despite their beef, Dave and Jay joined together for a potent and unexpected Super Bowl ad that became the only commercial people were talking about the next day. It was a PR win for the king of late night ... and it wouldn't last for long.
Leno has been back behind his "Tonight Show" desk since March and has beaten Letterman in the ratings for five straight weeks. After the public drubbing Leno received during the late nights wars, Letterman has got to feel particularly embittered.
Or not. What a year it's been! And while he may once again be in second place, he can still hold tight to the widely-held assessment that he's a better host than the safe-as-milk Leno and the ho-hum schtick he hauls out nightly. Dave, we salute you!