Catching
comedian J.B. Smoove’s appearance on The Late Show With David Letterman on
February 4, I found it interesting how this very physical comedian whose
movements on stage are broad and big, adapted to being a seated guest on a late
night talk show.
J.B.
Smoove’s interactions with Letterman were still more physical than verbal –
again, interesting, because Smoove is also very talkative as a performer.
Paying tribute to Letterman because of his upcoming retirement, Smoove told
Dave that he needed to strike a pose befitting his status as an icon, setting
Letterman up nicely – he leaned back in his chair, arms behind his head, a “what
me worry?” grin on his face and raised a blurred middle finger.
Smoove
is no newbie either, and these two old pros were riffing and improvising within
the physical limitations of staying seated. Smoove responded that he never
wanted to be looking directly at the camera, striking a thoughtful pose of his
own, then hitting on another bit of physical comedy.
“I
just wanna be pointing things out,” Smoove said, stretching his arm out toward
stage right, “like I’m on the grassy knoll. Something ain’t right over there!”
Letterman chuckled in recognition in this surreal bit of humor that Smoove
generated.
