Sunday, October 04, 2009

Rubber And Glue

I suspect that the metaphor about people who live in glass houses not throwing stones should be extended to people who have their own TV shows. That little box they inhabit has at least one glass wall, the one through which we all watch. To this end, it will be interesting to see how David Letterman decides to move forward after the news of his affairs with co-workers came to light this past week. The fact that Dave was a victim of extortion plot should put him in a fairly sympathetic light. He wasn't married at the time of the affairs, so that should help. But what about all that cynical wise-cracking he has done at others' frailties and expense? That faint smell emitting from the Ed Sullivan Theater just might be hypocrisy.
Then there's the strange case of Paul Reubens. Back in 1991, he was on a monumental career roll as Pee Wee Herman, until he got caught with his pants down, literally. This was a guy who was only abusing himself. There was no other woman, and unless you count his left hand as a co-worker, then this was hardly a "work-place relationship." It's been nearly twenty years, and Hollywood is just now thinking about letting him out of movie jail.
So now let the top ten lists be made. Bring on the references to "Stupid Human Tricks." My guess is that Dave can take it. He's a Hoosier, after all. But I have to admit, there was a part of me that just didn't want to know about Dave's private life. Somehow, it just worked better that way.

No comments: