For 22 years it was hosted by David Letterman Late ShowPaul Shaffer served as his bandleader, musical director, and trusted friend. But Martin Short gave a very funny spin on this latest title by appearing opposite Letterman dozens of times.
Short guesses that it was “definitely in the 1950s” while Letterman and his team counted at least 40 people, plus all the random times he would show up to cover for another guest who canceled at the last minute. the Late show The team made it easy for Short to attend because, in a way, it was like family to him as Shaffer has been one of his best friends since they met in 1972.
The trio put their chemistry on full display inside the Montalban Theater in Hollywood on Thursday night Netflix is a joke offering: It’s better to be funny with David Letterman. And it was. Letterman hosted Short in the Spotlight at center stage for a 90-minute conversation that culminated in a one-song performance featuring Shaffer at the piano, Short on the microphone and a smiling Letterman looking on from his chair. Just like ancient times.
As for the tune, Short composed a Netflix-inspired original tune in part of the company’s synergy: Netflix presented the special event, and Letterman is hosting the long-running chat series My next guest needs no introduction Short has a new documentary directed by Lawrence Kasdan Marty, life is short It’s scheduled to hit the streamer on May 12. (Kasdan was in the audience Thursday night as was Short’s entire team, including Brillstein’s longtime manager Mark Gurvitz, WME agents and Imagine Entertainment president Justin Wilkes. Letterman was on stage two nights after the previous Netflix event Is a Prank with John Mulaney.)
“You’ve got to be nice to the Netflix lady. You’ve got to give her your respect. Then she’ll suck your face until you can’t stand it. There’s no pressure to commit. Dating month to month will do the trick. Then she’ll let you hook up with her and stream on demand. So, in conclusion, Mr. Letterman, take my message seriously, this girl is serving up a hell of a happy ending,” Short belted. “Just remember, Netflix is a lady. Netflix is a lady who makes up and makes up once you fill out your free trial and kiss your lady goodbye.”
The show concluded the show, and the audience responded with a standing ovation, in one of the sets during the event. The audience first rose to their feet when Letterman came out to start the show, again when Shaffer surprised the audience moments later, and again when Letterman welcomed his friend Short on stage for conversation. And it’s very similar to their coming and going Late Show — well documented in this YouTube clip featuring Letterman and Shaffer — Short came out swinging.
“Let me tell you something, because sometimes you insinuate that I’m kind of artificial, but I’m telling you from the bottom of my heart, you’ve never looked younger in your life. No, really, because earlier today I saw you from a distance and thought, ‘Wow, whatever he’s doing, he’s gotta stop,'” Short quipped. “But I’m looking at you now. You look like a kid. Is this RFK’s all-day raccoon diet? That’s what it is. Is it gluten-free? Because you have that post-bomb Pete Hegseth glow. A lot of people don’t like a beard. You heard that, didn’t you? I’m just wondering if you were here, who works at the Chuck Wagon? That’s the only thing. You look like someone whose letters could be read on.” End of Ken Burns’ documentary.
Letterman loved the loving insults. “Marty, when I think of you, which is not uncommon actually, I think of you as someone who has brought true happiness, joy, and joy into my life over the years,” he said in return before getting serious. “Here lately, as I have thought of you this year, it has not been much. It has been a great sadness for you, and I am very sorry for your loss, and I am very glad that you may be here with us to-night.”
Short responded with a brief “thank you” as Letterman offered his condolences for the loss of his 42-year-old daughter, Katherine Short, who committed suicide in October. It was one of the few serious moments in an exciting conversation, with the other near the end when Letterman noted how much loss Short had experienced in his youth. His older brother died in a car accident, and at his funeral his mother began coughing, leading to her being diagnosed with cancer. She died three years later, and his father died within a year of that.
Aside from those moments, the rest of the conversation finds Short and Letterman in lively conversation as they trace Short’s biography and autobiography, starting with their upbringing in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, before enrolling as a pre-med student at McMaster University. He ended up graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work and during his college time he began getting involved in acting and performing in school plays.
After graduation, he was cast in a Toronto production of the film Gods magicLetterman asked him about the show’s plot and how it paved the way for his career in the arts. He also asked about dating someone Gods magic Co-stars Gilda Radner, who found fame as a cast member Saturday Night Live.
“It was just as wonderful as you dream it would be,” said Short, who previously detailed their relationship in a podcast interview. “Every girl wanted to be her best friend and every guy wanted to go out with her because she was fun and in the moment.'” “I remember the first rehearsal, she came up and said, ‘Hi, I’m Gilda. I’m really excited to see you.’ And then she had a big oil here [using her finger to cover it on her forehead]. “She was as funny as anyone, and everyone adored her.”
Short and Radner eventually separated, and after a few years, he found love with a woman named Nancy Dolman, who happened to be Radner’s replacement in Gods magic. They were married for 36 years until her death in 2010 from ovarian cancer. Short recalled a story early in their engagement when they were supposed to have dinner with Shaffer and Bill Murray, who at the time was a major star in… SNL.
“As we were walking out there on Flores Street, I said to Nancy, ‘I have to sit down,’ and she said, ‘Why?’ And I said, ‘Because I can’t go to dinner with Bill and pretend to be happy for him while I’m drowning in my career like Leonardo DiCaprio in my movie.’” [inmycareerlikeLeonardoDiCaprioinTitanic]. We sat there on the bench. After about 15 minutes, Nancy said, “How long are we going to sit here?” I said: I don’t know, but I can’t advance or retreat. I don’t know.’ Anyway, we went home. “Bill and Paul and I didn’t have dinner, and the next night I saw this group in Los Angeles called War Babies and it changed my life and inspired me.”
He was so inspired, in fact, that he called Andrew Alexander, the former CEO of Second City in Toronto, and said he’d be willing to join. “And he let me in.” He joined the band and eventually became a cast member Second City TV Opposite comedy greats like Eugene Levy, John Candy, Andrea Martin, Dave Thomas and Catherine O’Hara. He snapped to Saturday Night Live The rest is history.
Letterman and Short revisited some of this history, including 1994 Clifford, Mulaney, Maya & Marty, Prime Time Glick, The Associates And more. He also asked Short about his long friendship and comedic relationship with Steve Martin. He told Letterman that after appearing on his show in May 1985, he immediately went to Lorne Michaels’ apartment to discuss a western movie Michaels had written with Martin and Randy Newman.
“Then the next day I flew to Los Angeles and went to Steve’s house to pick a script for ¡Three Amigos! I went to his old house on Bedford Drive, and it was a beautiful house, but you walked in and you couldn’t believe what you were seeing – the art and the statues. There was Picasso, there was [Roy Lichtenstein]there was [David Hockney] I said to him: How did I get this rich because I saw your work? “Oh, I think I like this guy,” he said.
They went on to work together several times, and Short said he and Martin had agreed not to do that typical show business of working together for several months on a movie, becoming very close and then never seeing each other again. “Steve and I were careful not to do that,” he said.
At several points in the conversation, Letterman spoke of Short’s close relationship with… Many celebrities. “I like you, and I didn’t really want to get close to you because you have a very long list of really important friends,” Letterman said. “How do you get such a long list of important friends?”
“Well, you’ve got to be nice,” Short said, mocking his roster, which includes the likes of Martin, Levy, Shafir, Kasdan, Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg, Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, to name a few. To illustrate this point, Letterman played a clip of Marty, life is short which featured Spielberg filming Hanks and Short on a yacht recreating the film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid Scene with Paul Newman and Robert Redford. The crowd was in stitches, as they were for most of the night, a reflection of Short’s numerous appearances on Late show.
“There were a few guests when they appeared on our show, and we knew it was going to be great,” Letterman said, praising his friend. “But I also knew I didn’t have to do much because you would take charge and you would be great and it was just a matter of putting on a show for me and I loved it.” Just like ancient times.
