Calvert DeForest, a.k.a. Letterman regular Larry "Bud" Melman, has passed away at age 85. I never died, said he:
Letterman hosted a mock eulogy to Melman way back on the fifth anniversary of his NBC series. Producers prepared a touching tribute -- actually a satire of schmaltzy showbiz eulogies -- and the sentimental song "The Way We Were" was played. But then suddenly DeForest burst onto the stage shouting that he wasn't dead and to stop the memorial service right there.
Then he did his wacky, head-tossed-back laugh, never believable yet always contagious. He wasn't an actor to say the least, or the most, but he could summon up from nowhere this crazy cackle of fiendish delight.
Tom Shales has more here. Rest in piece, Bud: With every gag, even the lame ones, you did the world more good (and much less evil) than virtually all the politicians Reason covers every day.
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Grza|3.26.07 @ 11:48PM|#
Really? You've tied the death of Bud Melman to politics? I mean, of course, a note on a funny man's passing, fine, but I think you might need to check your perspective.
|3.27.07 @ 1:22AM|#
People actually watch Letterman? Really?
|3.27.07 @ 2:15AM|#
He was a true original. God speed, Larry "Bud" Melman.
|3.27.07 @ 5:54AM|#
Bergamot must be a youngun. For some of us who had to endure the 1980's, Letterman was the hippest thing on TV and a bright spot in those dark days.
|3.27.07 @ 8:03AM|#
My favorite Larry "Bud" story was the time that Larry, at the close of some awful skit or other, was supposed to say, "Good-bye Regis!" to Letterman, but instead flubbed his line and said: "Good-bye, Elvis!"
Funny. Too bad, Larry. Gonna miss you!
|3.27.07 @ 9:29AM|#
RIP to a great man who helped launch rap music.
ed|3.27.07 @ 9:52AM|#
a great man who helped launch rap music
I would never use that particular combination of words in the same sentence. Unless you consider Joe Stalin and Nancy Grace "great". Then I guess I might.
VM|3.27.07 @ 10:04AM|#
Billy Bragg reference?
|3.27.07 @ 12:24PM|#
Ah yes. His best work was in the Alex Winter epic drama Freaked!
VM|3.27.07 @ 12:31PM|#
Media -
just sing a few bars of Mission of Burma's "That's when I reach for my revolver", while you're polishing the walnut handle on your vintage piece :)
|3.27.07 @ 2:21PM|#
JKP,
my favorite Larry moment was this bit of on-air dialog:
I'm sorry, did I say "rat's ass"?
I meant to say "RAT'S ASS"!!!!
|3.27.07 @ 6:03PM|#
Billy Bragg reference?
Where?
|3.27.07 @ 6:07PM|#
You mean "I dreamed I saw.."?
Dylan.
St Augustine
Grza|3.27.07 @ 7:42PM|#
"I dreamed I saw...I never died says he."
The ballad of Joe Hill. Even better.
Robert|3.27.07 @ 9:09PM|#
Anyone know what he did before that?
|3.27.07 @ 11:01PM|#
Good catch, Grza.
I've blocked labor leaders from my mind. Never would have thought of that. ;)
Jesse Walker|3.28.07 @ 2:28PM|#
Dylan based "I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine" on "The Ballad of Joe Hill," so you weren't far off.