David Letterman’s new Netflix talk show is like watching a rock star doing his first acoustic tour

UPROXX

My Next Guest Needs No Introduction, says Mike Ryan, “reminded me a little bit of Bruce Springsteen’s current run on Broadway: in a ‘this is the essence of what I want to do, here I am, take it or leave it’ kind of way with no band in the background to rely on. And here, Letterman is without Paul Schaffer (Schaffer did write the theme music) or any of that other numerous weirdos he could rely on for a quick laugh. This is Dave, unplugged. And, by golly, Dave seems to be having the time of his life.” He adds: “A funny thing happens, that happens so often when we realize we really do need something after it’s gone – we really missed that steady, calm voice of reason who can speak truth to power. We needed Dave back. And I think Dave needed us back, too. I have a feeling we won’t take him for granted this time.”

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• Letterman, with his “off-putting Methuselah-esque beard,” was rather humorless, behaving like a grump
• Between Obama’s open collar and Letterman’s massive beard, they were finally free to just be themselves