" . . . and now, boozy, lipstick-smeared starlet . . . . . . David Letterman!"

ACT 1:
Dave again does a slew of "McCain, he looks like the guy who . . . ." and "Ralph Nader looks like the guy who . . . ." I'm enjoying these.

Our New York City Mayor . . . . Mayor. . . . Mayor Michael Bloomberg has made an important announcement yesterday about his political future. We take a look at the announcement.
Announce:

"After much deliberation, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has decided not to run for President of the United States. While America is clearly ready for its first woman president and its first African-American president, it is, unfortunately, not yet ready for its first president who is so cute you just want to put him in your pocket and take him home.
Michael Bloomberg: Who's cute? You are! Yes, you are!"

And now it's time for "A Message From Hillary Clinton": We cut to Senator Clinton, who says, "My fellow Americans, I pose this simple question to you: are you better off now than you were when this disappointing show began?"
Back to Dave who can't believe what he just heard. In the middle of a sip of coffee, he does a spit take. Some of the spitooey made it to Tony the Cue Card Guy. Dave does another one but this time Tony is ready is scampers away.

The New York Philharmonic gave an historic performance in North Korea. Kim Jong Il seemed to really enjoy the music. We see a clip of the New York Philharmonic performing in North Korea. The Philharmonic is working hard to produce the beautiful music. And then we cut to Kim Jong Il. He too is enjoying it but his hair is absolutely loving it! It sways to the left and to the right and to the left and to the right.
If you're keeping score at home, mark that under "Very Silly."

Believe it or not, disgraced Senator Larry Craig is looking for summer interns. To those interested in applying, here is the official announcement.
Announce:

"Are you a college student interested in a career in politics? Then apply today to be a summer intern at Senator Larry Craig's office. Applicants must have a G.P.A. of 3.5 or higher . . . be proficient in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint . . . have a distinguished brow, firm-set jaw, strong, but knowing hands, bronzed rippling biceps, abs sculpted and toned to perfection and flowing, flaxen hair cascading gently over broad, tanned, sinewy shoulders.
The Larry Craig Congressional Internship. Gain hands-on experience from the Senator.

I guess that's proof that Dave is indeed excited to have Amy Adams on the show tonight.

ACT 2:
One of the blue cards Dave threw through the window landed on the bridge behind him. Dave suggests if you're driving home after the show, avoid the West Side Highway. That blue card is going to cause lots of problems. He suggests taking Riverside Drive or the GOWANUS! I don't know why he shouted "Gowanus" but it's probably because he likes the sound of "Gowanus."

And now it's time for another message from Senator Hillary Clinton: "If you want my recipe for delicious Snickerdoodle cookies, log on to hillaryclinton.com!"

And when the animation goes away, who is sitting next to Dave but Lyle the Intern.
LYLE: "I've been standing backstage watching you. Watching you work. It's like watching a lion stalking its prey. It's beautiful, man."
DAVE: "I'm sorry, you're the intern?"
LYLE: "Lyle the intern. That's right. Me Lyle. Me, the intern. You, King of the Jungle. Roar."
DAVE: "Which department do you work in?"
LYLE: "I'm here. I'm there. I float. I'm a floater."
DAVE: "I see. Lyle . . . . we're right in the middle of the show."
LYLE: "I know. You work . . . I'd just like to watch you." (stares at Dave)
DAVE: "Lyle, can we talk later?"
LYLE: "Well, I want to talk to this Dave . . . the funny one . . . not the one who sits in his office muttering to himself and cleaning his guns."
DAVE: "Not sure that's exactly fair."
LYLE: "Isn't it? Listen, the last time I saw you it got dirty. Wasn't very pretty. Lyle feels maybe he came on too strong. You're my Bro. I love the idea of you. I brought you something. Open it." (hands Dave a colorfully wrapped box, about shoebox size. Dave opens it. It's empty. There's nothing inside)
DAVE: "There's nothing in here."
LYLE: "It's whatever you want it to be, David. Naaaah, I'm just smacking your bag. I got this for you." (hands Dave a necklace with the word "BRO" on it)
DAVE: "Oh, you got one for yourself, too."
LYLE: "I'll see you around the quad, bro-hime." Lyle slowly gets up and exits.

Hmmmm. Must be interning from a community college.

ACT 3:
AMY ADAMS: She's in the new film, "Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day." It opens March 7th in selected cities. Amy talks of her show-biz start in Dinner Theater and how the actors would also have to serve the meals at times. She described the life of a dinner theater actor as "Skits and Grits."
Dave asks, "And how do you get from dinner theater to becoming a big Hollywood star?" Amy, with a slightest laugh, answers, "Well . . . ." Somehow the audience took this as her insinuating "favors" were given. It played very well. I don't think she meant it to sound like that but it worked well for laughs.
Her film: Dave says the film takes place in pre-World War II London. We see a clip of Amy in the film, "Miss Pettigrew." Walking the streets of London, she says to Frances McDormand something about being in a play and drinking margaritas. For the rest of appearance and part of the next ACT, I was on the Google and Wikipedia researching margaritas. Was the margarita around in pre-World War II? From what I found, the margarita was invented sometime in the 1930s, so yes, the margarita could have been around at the time of this film. Damn. I was hoping I spotted a blooper. I was going to send that in to someone and get a T-shirt or something.

ACT 4:
It's time for another Message from Hillary Clinton: "We must save Social Security because we have no more precious resource than elderly people . . . like Dave." Dave spits again, but apologizes to Tony, explaining it was a gag reflex. He asks Tony for his forgiveness and tells him not to call Janice. Big laugh from the staff.

ACT 5:
Announce: "Friday on the Late Show, Dave is joined by actor Woody Harrelson and comedian Tommy Tiernan. Celebrate Leap Day with us! We'll be right back.

ACT 6:
JAMIE OLIVER: Jamie is a judge on the new ABC show, "Oprah's Big Give." It premieres this Sunday at 9:00 PM. My guess is the show will be a big success. Put the name "Oprah" in front of anything and it'll likely be a huge seller. Jamie Oliver was on the Oprah show and soon after his cook book sky-rocketed. That's the show you want to go on when you want to sell a book. Dave appears a little hurt by the comment, figuring his show was THE show to appear to sell a book. Jamie asks how Dave's book sold after his appearance on Oprah. Back in the shack where a handful of us watch the show backstage, we scurry to look for a book entitled, "I Have A Book, Too" with Dave's mug on the cover. It's been in the shack for 7 years now . . . . and must have disappeared this weekend. We couldn't find it anywhere. But we all knew the book was there last week.
Jamie and Dave cook up some Crab Linguine. Keep reading if you want the recipe, found below.

ACT 7:
LIAM FINN: From his album, "I'll Be Lightning," Liam Finn and BJ Barnes performed "Second Chance."

And that was our show for Thursday, February 28, 2008.



Get it ready for tomorrow!
The Leap Year Cocktail
-2 ounces gin
-1/2 ounce Grand Marnier
-1/2 ounce sweet vermouth
-1/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
-Twist of lemon peel
Instructions: shake the gin, Grand Marnier, and lemon juice with ice; then strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with lemon peel.

And while you're enjoying your Leap Year Cocktail, why not prepare some of the Crab Linguine Dave and Jamie prepared tonight:

Lovely Crab Linguine
Serves 4
Crab has a delicate flavor, so what you do with it in a dish has to be well considered. However, flavors like fennel, chili, a delicate extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice really help to make this dish an absolute winner. Try and get hold of freshly picked crabmeat from your fishmonger as opposed to those packets of pre-picked crab, as the meat will have lost most of its sweetness and will be much drier. Or, if you want to, try cooking and picking your own crab, which isn't hard at all.

1 heaped teaspoon fennel seeds
2-3 fresh red chilies, deseeded and very finely chopped
zest and juice of 1 lemon, plus a little extra juice
1 fennel bulb, outer leaves trimmed, halved and very finely shaved with a speed peeler, herby tops reserved
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
14 oz. freshly picked white crabmeat
5 1/2 oz. freshly picked brown crabmeat
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
a bunch of medium-sized asparagus, trimmed
1 lb. 2 oz. good-quality linguine or spaghetti

In a pestle and mortar smash up your fennel seeds, then put them into a big heatproof bowl. Add most of your chopped chili, the lemon zest and juice, your finely shaved fennel and the extra virgin olive oil. Mix the white and brown crabmeat together and fold into the mixture. Taste and season with salt and pepper if need be. Drizzle with a little more extra virgin olive oil, then fill your pasta pan with cold, salted water, put the bowl on top and bring to the boil over a high heat. Give the crab mixture a little stir every now and then - it will start to warm up as the water comes to the boil. Now's a good time to prepare your asparagus. Shave each spear lengthways with a speed peeler and put in a little bowl.

Carefully put the crab mixture to one side (the bowl will be hot!) and add the linguine or spaghetti to the pan of boiling water. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions, then drain it in a colander, reserving a little of the cooking water. It's important to work quickly at this point, otherwise it won't be hot enough when you come to eat it, so don't hang about! Toss the hot steaming pasta and crab mixture together, adding a little of the reserved cooking water to lighten the sauce if needed - you don't want it to be too stiff. Have a final taste - you might need to add a little more lemon juice or seasoning.

Serve the pasta either on one large platter or divide it between plates, then finish it off by flicking over the reserved, chopped chili and the fennel tops. Dress your shaved asparagus with a little squeeze of lemon juice, a tiny glug of extra virgin olive oil and a pinch of salt, then sprawl it all over the top. Serve immediately. Wine suggestion: Italian white - Vernaccia di San Gimignano

The new Spring schedule is out for the Big Screen Classics at the beautiful Lafayette Theater in Suffern, New York. Once you go to the Lafayette to see a movie, you'll never go anyplace else. Every Saturday morning at 11:30, the Lafayette shows classic movies; ones you want to see again and again. Here is this season's schedule.

BIG SCREEN CLASSICS at the Suffern Lafayette Theater
-Saturday mornings at 11:30am -- ALL SEATS $7.00

March 8: NORTH BY NORTHWEST: Cary Grant, James Mason

March 15: KING KONG: Robert Armstrong, Fay Wray, Bruce Cabot

March 22: GRAND HOTEL: John Barrymore, Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford

March 29: DOUBLE INDEMNITY Fred MacMurray,Barbara Stanwyck, Edward G. Robinson

April 5: THE NATURAL: Robert Redford, Glenn Close, Robert Duvall

April 12: JASON & THE ARGONAUTS:Todd Armstrong, Nancy Kovak Special Effects by Ray Harryhausen

April 19: Frank Capra's MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON James Stewart, Jean Arthur, Claude Rains

April 26: Michael Powell's STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN (a.k.a. A MATTER OF LIFE & DEATH) David Niven, Kim Hunter, Raymond Massey

May 3: ARTISTS AND MODELS: Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis

May 10: THE LADY FROM SHANGHAI: Rita Hayworth, Orson Welles

May 17: THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Basil Rathbone

May 24: CITY LIGHTS: Charlie Chaplin, Virginia Cherrill

May 31: IN A LONELY PLACE: Humphrey Bogart, Gloria Grahame

June 7: Howard Hawks' HIS GIRL FRIDAY Cary Grant, Rosalind Russell, Ralph Bellamy

June 14: THE JOLSON STORY: Larry Parks, Evelyn Keyes

June 21: CARTOON & COMEDY CARNIVAL Looney Tunes, 3 Stooges, and more.

I hope to make a few shows. I like to sit in the balcony. I'm getting a small following by spreading the word among staff members. It's a great way to start a Saturday. Get there early and enjoy the playing of the Wurlitzer organ.

I'd have more for you tonight but I can't find anything else to cut and paste.

CAMEO MENTION OF A WAHOO READER
From Winchester, Massachusetts, it's Thom Fries
This concludes another episode of CAMEO MENTION OF A WAHOO READER