Vettel on David Letterman

[cosworth151]

Sebastian Vettel was on David Letterman last night (6/11/2012). I didn't know about it until shortly before it came on. Letterman, who is from the Indianapolis area, has been part owner of an IndyCar team for years.

Best quote of the interview:

Letterman - "If you could have an F1 race anywhere in the United States, where would you put it?"

Vettel - "Indianapolis."   

[Ian]

I liked the bit where the customs guy asked Seb if he had a good seat for the GP. 

[John S]

Letterman, who is from the Indianapolis area, has been part owner of an IndyCar team for years.

From his bumbling introduction of DRS into the conversation it seems either he doesn't have much to do with the technical side of his teams operations, or he was trying to dis the world's No 1 motorsport

   

[Scott]

You have to know Letterman.  He probably has a better grip on motorsport tech than most of us.  He was baiting Vettel.  It's always better if the expert describes things than the TV host.

[Jericoke]

I do like Letterman's idea of F1 cars entering the Indy500 using one off designs. 

It would certainly help IRL by providing plenty of competing suppliers.

It would certainly help back marker F1 teams to have customers for their designs.

Of course, the biggest obstacle is the Monaco Grand Prix.  I can't see either race changing their date.

[cosworth151]

The Indy 500 was a points-paying F1 race from 1950 through 1960. Even then, It conflicted with Monaco.

[David]

I don't know how anyone watches David Letterman! 

[Scott]

Plenty of UK shows that I haven't been able to get through more than a few minutes.  It's cultural, not one better than the other.  I.e. it's funnier if you can relate.

[David]

Plenty of UK shows that I haven't been able to get through more than a few minutes.  It's cultural, not one better than the other.  I.e. it's funnier if you can relate.

Let me rephrase, I don't know how anybody watches chat shows where the host is that obnoxious. I'm not a big TV fan.

[Jericoke]

Plenty of UK shows that I haven't been able to get through more than a few minutes.  It's cultural, not one better than the other.  I.e. it's funnier if you can relate.

Let me rephrase, I don't know how anybody watches chat shows where the host is that obnoxious. I'm not a big TV fan.

To be fair, Letterman has been at this since before Bernie took over F1.  A lot of people watch Letterman because they have fond memories of what he brought to late night TV in the 1980s.

I haven't watched Letterman since the 90s.

In the rare times I am watching late night TV, it's either Sports Desk, Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert or Conan.

[Ian]

I thought Letterman was rather ignorant, asks a question and then butts in before the answer. I think that the chat show hosts have forgotten that the guest is the starand not them, or have they all got their heads that far up their own bums.

[Scott]

Letterman has to jam a fair amount into 40+minutes of TV.  He (and so many other interviewers) have a style that doesn't usually appeal to hard core fans of any particular guest.  However it does appeal to most of his audience, because they get a quick insight, a few good laughs, and then on to the next guest.  That's just life in big American talk shows.  Leno is no better.

And actually for the record, Letterman IS the bigger star.  His annual salary is almost double what Alonso's is (who is highest paid in F1 I believe), and his net worth would put him only second to Bernie in the F1 circus.

I don't watch him regularly any more, but that's mostly because we don't get it over here, and I like other shows more (for infotainment I much prefer Rick Mercer or Jon Stewart).  When I am in North America, I'll usually try to watch him if it's convenient.   

[cosworth151]

Letterman has to jam a fair amount into 40+minutes of TV.

That was the case on this day. He had an opening monologue, a couple of comedy bits, Mark Wahlberg, Seb, and the band Black Box Revelation. All in 44 minutes of program.

[lkjohnson1950]

Plenty of UK shows that I haven't been able to get through more than a few minutes.  It's cultural, not one better than the other.  I.e. it's funnier if you can relate.

I'm part of the culture, I can relate, I still don't watch. He is obnoxious, his show is shallow and I always get the feeling he thinks he's smarter than the rest of us. 

[Scott]

I'm part of the culture, I can relate, I still don't watch. He is obnoxious, his show is shallow and I always get the feeling he thinks he's smarter than the rest of us.  

There is an entire network in the US that fitS that description.