csmincemoyerOK, Like I'm still confused I was hoping there were fans of Dave on the board here and could shed some insight on if he was being nice or not. You can usually tell when he's being "mean" (raises his eyebrow or something, Paul will say something stupid) but that didn't happen. It was more like he was actually showing us respect, if that makes any sense. Anywhooo, thought it was cool to here it mentioned.
Actually in all seriousness, I don't think David was intending to be mean or poke fun at Model Railroading any more than as far as a laugh goes. No, I'm not ashamed of my hobby and do not shy away if someone asks if I have a hobby, but you have to admit, like it or not, the hobby has a sort of lackluster image to those who do not participate. I think it was just for a laugh and could have been easily exchanged for Elvis memorabilia collectors just as well had they thought of that, or any number of other hobbys. They just picked this one.
Todd
Central Illinoyz
In order to keep my position as Master and Supreme Ruler of the House, I don't argue with my wife.
I'm a small town boy. A product of two people from even smaller towns. I don’t talk on topic….. I just talk.
You can watch Friday's 'Late Show With David Letterman' episode here and see for yourself:
http://www.cbs.com/late_night/late_show/video/?pid=k0pyLGLhL8OXIUjODVMf4iRNZgS7uWxd&vs=Full%20Episodes&play=true
He talks about "model railroading" at 14:50 into the broadcast.
Look, I've been watching David Letterman since 1986 and it's basically part of his trademark meta-humor. He preceded the line by going on this rant about cooking short ribs, and then when he was done with that, he pulled the "model railroading" line out of nowhere. It's supposed to be funny because it's so random. That's part of Letterman's style. I personally didn't find the reference offensive or insulting.
Regardless of your reaction, I do think you should watch the scene for yourself before you come to a second-hand judgment.
Just watch it. So why are people up set?
Cuda Ken
I hate Rust
But people get off on feeling like victims and complaining about the most minute of perceived slights. Any comment in any media that cannot be read by the most easily offended among us as at least being neutral is automatically read as criticism.
As Barry has observed, kvetching is a hobby within a hobby. This one;s mild compared to the screams of outrage that arose when CSI had a "model railroader" in the center of a multi-episode plot.
Andre
I don't watch much TV except for hockey. I figure I'll be doing enough of that when I am in the old folks home.
Much like people on this forum grumble, because the same questions are asked over and over again. Comedians poke fun at people and things over and over again. In both cases if that wasn't done neither would exist for long.
I could care less about what people say, or if they poke fun at us. Nobody pokes fun at ModelRailroading more than I do. It is a hobby I really enjoy and am striving to be good at. If you come to my house to run trains, we will strive for excellence but laugh when something goes wrong. Model Railroading is a non issue when life's real problems arise.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
cudaken So why are people upset?
Status quo......
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein
http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/
Thank God Dave did not bring up DC versus DCC!
It really irritates me how touchy this society has become. Perhaps we should demand an appology like Palin did.
Check out the Deming Sub by clicking on the pics:
Out of curiosity, I checked the "Celebrity Model Railroader" thread on Google. David Letterman isn't listed, but Jay Leno is. So I wonder if it might not have been aimed at Leno?
However, if David HAS gotten an interest in model railroading, he'll be joining a rather nifty 'celebrity' group, including Leno, Tom Brokaw, Mandy Patinkin, Rod Stewart, Elton John, Whoopi Goldberg and quite a few others.
Not bad 'company' in my book, LOL!
Tom
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
I watched the video. I lost attention somewhere into the show (it is so boring and unfunny; this passes for humor now?) so I missed any lead-in to his line that model railroading was the most popular hobby in America, and that's supposed to be funny?. (I presume he isn't counting inactive activities like TV or active sports.) So, I don't see what the big deal is.
Mark
twhiteOut of curiosity, I checked the "Celebrity Model Railroader" thread on Google. David Letterman isn't listed, but Jay Leno is. So I wonder if it might not have been aimed at Leno? However, if David HAS gotten an interest in model railroading, he'll be joining a rather nifty 'celebrity' group, including Leno, Tom Brokaw, Mandy Patinkin, Rod Stewart, Elton John, Whoopi Goldberg and quite a few others. Not bad 'company' in my book, LOL! Tom
But Leno is FAR more synonymous with 1:1 scale automobiles than he is with trains.
I've been watching Letterman since his daytime show c. 1980, before he hooked up with Paul. IIRC was the one that won an Emmy a couple of weeks after it was cancelled.
As I recall, on the night of the Challenger disaster - a show that I thought Dave did very well - the Top Ten list was a combination of "Popular Railroad Cars" and "Popular nicknames for Swedes". I imagine some website somewhere has all the Top Ten lists listed.
I haven't watched Letterman in quite a while...but I watched that airing, and he is always throwing out random facts. The laughter from the audience is just ignorance IMHO.
Bob Berger, C.O.O. N-ovation & Northwestern R.R. My patio layout....SEE IT HERE
There's no place like ~/ ;)
cudaken Thank God Dave did not bring up DC versus DCC! Cuda Ken
...or Metal vs. Plastic.
...or Brass vs. Nickel Silver.
...or Kadee vs. Accumate...
Dave
Just be glad you don't have to press "2" for English.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ_ALEdDUB8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hqFS1GZL4s
http://s73.photobucket.com/user/steemtrayn/media/MovingcoalontheDCM.mp4.html?sort=3&o=27
steemtrayncudaken Thank God Dave did not bring up DC versus DCC! Cuda Ken ...or Metal vs. Plastic. ...or Brass vs. Nickel Silver. ...or Kadee vs. Accumate...
HO vs. N!
Metro Red Line You can watch Friday's 'Late Show With David Letterman' episode here and see for yourself: http://www.cbs.com/late_night/late_show/video/?pid=k0pyLGLhL8OXIUjODVMf4iRNZgS7uWxd&vs=Full%20Episodes&play=true He talks about "model railroading" at 14:50 into the broadcast. Look, I've been watching David Letterman since 1986 and it's basically part of his trademark meta-humor. He preceded the line by going on this rant about cooking short ribs, and then when he was done with that, he pulled the "model railroading" line out of nowhere. It's supposed to be funny because it's so random. That's part of Letterman's style. I personally didn't find the reference offensive or insulting. Regardless of your reaction, I do think you should watch the scene for yourself before you come to a second-hand judgment.
Um...that's it?? He looks at the camera and says "I've said it before, so forgive me for repeating myself....but Model Railroading is America's greatest hobby" and then goes on the next subject.
About a month ago, during a snowstorm, Steve, the owner of the Hobby Gallery here in Ct. told me he only had two customers come in, myself and David Letterman (different times). He actually took a picture of him in the store. I thought that Steve said that he (Letterman) collects or runs Lionel. Pretty sure it was O gauge anyways.
Den
wjstix Um...that's it?? He looks at the camera and says "I've said it before, so forgive me for repeating myself....but Model Railroading is America's greatest hobby" and then goes on the next subject.
Looks like Dave's riffing on the World's Greatest Hobby campaign
Probably saw that when he was at the hobby shop in the snow
Eric
I wish I was a headlight
On a northbound train
Hmm. Well if Dave was taking a stab at model railroading I wounder what he would say about my other two favorite interests, racing around an oval at 190mph and racing down a straight 1/4 mile at 190mph? Turn left...left again...go left...oh you know which way to go by now
David Letterman operates 3-rail O gauge, O scale model railroad equipment with O scale structures.
Watch my videos on-line at https://www.youtube.com/user/AndrewNeilFalconer
Oh goodie, a revival of a 10-year old thread. How does one even manage to find a decade old thread, especially with a non-existent Search function and totally crappy software?
Rich
Alton Junction
Yea, I dunno Rich! Must be a David Letterman fan. The poster has some cool stuff on his YouTube, if you like the CN, which I follow, 'cause it an't the WC anymore.
https://www.youtube.com/user/AndrewNeilFalconer
Mike.
My You Tube
Google lets people find anything.
I was remined of this from watching a Facebook Live stream from Mr. Muffin's Trains.
Use Google to search for model railroad topics.
The HO and N scale people always freak out when O scale and O gauge is mentioned, even though they have been in recent issues.
mbinsewi Yea, I dunno Rich! Must be a David Letterman fan.
Yea, I dunno Rich! Must be a David Letterman fan.
Andrew Falconer Google lets people find anything.
Speaking of, Google surfaced Dave's old Top 10 Lists. Alas, none for model trains. I'm not offering to start though!
I was like WTH, before clicking on the topic, I thought it was about David Letterman had died. Good grief.
Gotta love necro topics.
Andrew.
Many forums I am on consider necroing topics something of a forum party foul or in bad taste, and in on or two cases against the rules.
But here at MR forums, it seems to be a regular sport.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Hi Tmarsh
Just one problem with your statment well two actualy.
Many railway modelers /model railroaders are real or ex real ralway employees. some are even Engine Drivers / Engineers so we don't run around saying choo choo at least not after child hood
We get to play with the big boys trains as well and they make all the noise you could possibly want.
Uhm who is David Letterman? .
Heard of a lot of the others mentioned but not him
regards John
I always loved David Letterman and was sad to see him retire from the show. I enjoyed him every night he was around. Have you seen him with his beard these days? Johnny Carson was the best and none of the new late night talk show hosts stand up in comparison to either. I miss Dave. I sure hope he has a good railroad.
I wonder how old his son Harry is now. He's gotta be in his upper teens.
TF
Track fiddlerI always loved David Letterman and was sad to see him retire from the show. I enjoyed him every night he was around.
Dave did a series of Netflix interviews over the past year or two. Have you seen any of those, TF? Worth a look if you can get Netflix.
Regards, Ed
The day that Letterman shaves off that godawful beard cannot come soon enough.
He looks like a vagrant.