I’m watching David Letterman right now, which I haven’t done in many moons. I grew up with the impression that Letterman was the cutting-edge of comedy. It’s odd to watch the show and realize that what was once cutting-edge is now the norm, almost corny. Do the kids of today watch Letterman the way that I watched Carson, as an old guy who my parents might like but who didn’t really speak to me?

Another thought, which I read somewhere else before: it is interesting that the way to show appreciation for a good joke is no longer laughter, but applause. It’s not enough to think a joke is funny, you have to act as if it’s the BEST THING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO YOU.