"Bud"
Calvert DeForest, better known to David Letterman fans as Larry "Bud" Melman, just died.
He was on the Letterman's late night show almost from the start. His odd looks and off-beat delivery made him the most popular of Letterman's many eccentric regulars.
I think the moment that really broke him was on a remote where he greeted people at the Port Authority Bus Terminal, handing out hot towels. What made it so funny was how he unwittingly removed the microphone from anyone's mouth (including his own) just before they spoke.
It's not clear how aware he was of just what he was doing. Once he was sent on a goodwill tour of South America in a Winnebago but got so tired of the trip that they let him return before he hit the Mexican border.
Other bits I loved. Ask Mr. Melman, where audience members would ask questions, and he'd give surprisingly nasty answers. ("I have controlled the halls of Congress just to make a little girl cry." "Your shoes are fine, but your hair...ouch!")
My favorite memory might be his most bizarre character, Kenny The Gardener. He appeared several times, but the highlight was hearing him sing an off-key version of "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" for no discernible reason. It still makes me laugh when I think about it.
posted by LAGuy @ 2:22 AM
3 Comments:
Important to note that Kenny's every appearance was disclaimed with a statement that he was a fictional character and not representative of hardworking patriotic gardeners in America.
I remember that Kenny the Gardener bit: With his nephew Tad from up north, and Tad (Chris Elliot) was trying to give him some "edge" by having him sing "Ricky Don't Lose that Number" while he accompanied on tambourine.
I am so sad.
I'm schocked and thrilled that someone else remembered the bit. I sometimes wondered if it was just a dream.
And me saying the performance was off-key was far too kind. It was clear Melman hadn't heard of the song until very recently, and couldn't sing to save his life in any case.
Another odd memory: Eddie Murphy as Gumby on SNL telling Joe Piscopo as Letterman that the Melman bit isn't working and he should drop it. I remember thinking then it takes a lot of nerve for SNL to mock any other comedy program.
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