I Dreamed I Saw Larry "Bud" Melman Last Night

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.

Comments

Grza | March 26, 2007, 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.

Bergamot | March 27, 2007, 1:22am | #

People actually watch Letterman? Really?

Stevo Darkly | March 27, 2007, 2:15am | #

He was a true original. God speed, Larry "Bud" Melman.

green mamba | March 27, 2007, 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.

JKP | March 27, 2007, 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!

joe | March 27, 2007, 9:29am | #

RIP to a great man who helped launch rap music.

ed | March 27, 2007, 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 | March 27, 2007, 10:04am | #

Billy Bragg reference?

mediageek | March 27, 2007, 12:24pm | #

Ah yes. His best work was in the Alex Winter epic drama Freaked!

VM | March 27, 2007, 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 :)

mk | March 27, 2007, 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"!!!!

highnumber | March 27, 2007, 6:03pm | #

Billy Bragg reference?

Where?

highnumber | March 27, 2007, 6:07pm | #

You mean "I dreamed I saw.."?
Dylan.
St Augustine

Grza | March 27, 2007, 7:42pm | #

"I dreamed I saw...I never died says he."
The ballad of Joe Hill. Even better.

Robert | March 27, 2007, 9:09pm | #

Anyone know what he did before that?

highnumber | March 27, 2007, 11:01pm | #

Good catch, Grza.
I've blocked labor leaders from my mind. Never would have thought of that. ;)

Jesse Walker | March 28, 2007, 2:28pm | #

Dylan based "I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine" on "The Ballad of Joe Hill," so you weren't far off.