David Letterman¶
David Letterman is the real-life talk-show host who, shortly before the 1992 election, interviews the Biz about the Georgia scandal on Late Night with David Letterman and becomes his ally for the rest of the mystery.
| Type | NPC (real person, fictionalized) |
| Aliases | Letterman |
| Affiliation | Late Night with David Letterman |
| Status | Alive (as of Walkers 01) |
| First appearance | Walkers 01 |
| Played by | Andre |
Description¶
Letterman first appears in the cold open of Walkers 01, as a broadcast on a wood-paneled tube television in a dilapidated room. The announcer bills Gary Oldman talking Dracula, musical guest Patti Smith, and "a late-night special interview: the most hated cop in America." Letterman's monologue jokes about the election, the Clinton Polaroids, Ross Perot and CNN's exhausted anchors (Walkers 01).
He is sharp and sarcastic at first, introducing the Biz as "the most hated cop in America, some would say," but becomes sincerely curious once the interview goes off script. He loves magic (Walkers 01).
History¶
The Letterman taping¶
The FBI had wanted a PR representative to do a news tour, but every show insisted on someone actually involved, so the Bureau ordered the Biz onto Letterman's couch, with Huell waiting backstage in reserve. During the Oldman segment break Letterman sits with the Biz ("You look nervous") and offers to bring Huell out for support. After the break he introduces "Richard Baxter" and forgets Huell's surname until Huell supplies "Kendrick" (Walkers 01).
The Biz's remark that he did not know shooting a Polish person could make him the most hated man in America leaves Letterman's face frozen. Ezra then rolls Manipulate Someone at -2 and burns a Luck point to turn the roll into a 12. A 12 or better lets the Biz make someone his ally for the rest of the mystery, and he picks Letterman rather than the audience. Letterman goes off-script and starts genuinely talking with him (Walkers 01).
Letterman asks why gold miner Jan Martense would surveil Clinton, and tells the Biz the Polaroids were taken with a Russian camera, which is news to the Biz. Because of the ally result, he says "Sure" when the Biz offers a card trick. The Biz rolls Act Under Pressure and gets a 10: a marked-card trick with an FBI twist, using his wallet and badge on the desk. The patter is rough, but there are more claps than boos (Walkers 01).
Afterward Letterman says "This interview did not go where I expected," and calls Huell "Detective Hendricks". A PA gives the Biz Letterman's personal phone number. Ezra remarks, "That was worth the luck point." (Walkers 01)
Relationships¶
- The Biz: his ally for the rest of the mystery, by the result of the Luck-burned Manipulate Someone roll.
- Huell: Letterman forgets his surname, then calls him "Detective Hendricks".
Trivia¶
- Letterman's misnaming of Huell as "Hendricks" is Andre's slip at the table, which the players noticed.
- The players joked during the session that "it's not Fallon".