Letterman Feels Like an 'Ugly Date' After McCain's Cancellation

Copyright 2007 Bryan Bedder / Getty Images
A seemingly peeved David Letterman continued to address John McCain’s cancellation on his Thursday night “Late Show” on CBS, saying he took the rejection like an “ugly date” and talking about the situation with tonight's guest, Paris Hilton.

This is the funny man’s second night venting about McCain’s Wednesday cancellation, when Letterman announced that the GOP presidential candidate personally called him to apologize for backing out of the appearance, citing a rush to fly to Washington to deal with the nation’s economic situation.

But Letterman cut to a live CBS feed during the taping of his Wednesday show that showed McCain preparing for an interview with CBS News’ Katie Couric.

Letterman called himself a "patriot" for relieving McCain of his appearance commitment, but reiterated he felt "used," "cheap," and "sullied" -- "like an ugly date."

"Here's how it works: you don't come to see me? You don't come to see me? Well, we might not see you on Inauguration Day," Letterman said.

Letterman jokingly likened McCain’s cancellation to a recent headline-grabbing magic stunt, in which daredevil David Blaine hung upside for 60 hours in New York City.

"They just left the guy hanging there," Letterman said. "It's the same thing McCain did to me last night."

And then the talk-show host brought up the cancellation while interviewing his Thursday night guest, Paris Hilton. Hilton was mentioned unfavorably in a McCain presidential ad campaign last August, and then retaliated back at the GOP candidate in her own internet video.

"I heard he dissed you," Hilton told Letterman. "He dissed me."

A spokesperson for McCain explained the cancellation by saying that Wednesday "wasn’t a night for comedy," adding that McCain "deeply regrets offending Mr. Letterman."

Published 9/26/08 by the Insider

Comments (9)

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  • Does Letterman really think the world revolves around him? Has he looked out his penthouse window to see how us poor smucks live? I want the entire congress in Washington working on the problem not on a TV show. Oh yeah, not just a phone call away....
    highlandlassie 9/26/08 Reply
  • If this were another interviewer, would we still be attacking the host? If McCain bailed on Larry King like this (said he was focusing on the crisis but was going to another interview instead) or Meet the Press, how different would the reaction be?
    Anonymous 9/26/08 Reply
  • How appropriate that the miserably tendentious, self satisfied Olberman of the low rated "Countdown" would fill in for McCain. After all, Letterman treated us to an over-reaching, virtiolic,one sided diatribe all too charachteristic of Olberman....
    Anonymous 9/26/08 Reply
  • In this financial crisis, a little humor is essential to get through the bad news we have on TV 24/7.

    Dave should look on the bright side, at least George W. didn't come to his show!
    Anonymous 9/26/08 Reply
  • Dave IS an ugly date!
    Anonymous 9/26/08 Reply
  • Yea, He should go on the letterman shaow cuz that's where the Simple minded get their hard news....
    Anonymous 9/26/08 Reply
  • Its not about whether John McCain cancelled the appearance in show or not. Its about the reason he showed and later it appeared that he was still in NY, not in Washingto. Its about the difference between his action vs his promise to American people....
    Anonymous 9/26/08 Reply
  • David Letterman...OMG. Let it go already! Have you noticed that your city (NYC) is practically collapsing behind you? And all you can worry about is McCain actually go to WDC to do....his job! Why are you not criticizing every politican for not...
    Anonymous 9/26/08 Reply
  • David,

    Please grow up... Is this the best you can do these days to try and get a laugh from your audience. It's pretty sad indeed!!!
    Anonymous 9/26/08 Reply