OK, a comedy segment bashing game shows might seem inappropriate for a game show forum, but hey, I thought this was funny. The set-up...
It's October 24, 1980 at about 10:54 am. \"The David Letterman Show,\" a low-rated-but-with a loyal following comedy talk show, is going off the air after 18 weeks. How does Dave, not knowing if he'll ever be on television again, spend the final minutes of his farewell? Thanking the staff? Looking back at favorite moments? Introducing his girlfriend and members of his family and expressing gratitude for their support?
Nope. He's going to spend it burying one of the shows that will be replacing him.
With limited, and completely insincere, enthusiasm, Dave talks about the amazing twist of having a living deck in the new show's bonus round. With that, he turns things over to singer Harve Mann, playing his \"lounge singer\" character, and Frank Owens & the David Letterman Symphony Orchestra strikes up for a special tribute to \"Las Vegas Gambit,\" set to the tune of the theme music from \"The David Letterman Show\"........
It’s the Las Vegas Gambit Show
The Las Vegas Gambit Show-ow-ow
Win cash and fabulous prizes
on NBC
A chorus line of “living cards” walks on stage and dances.
It’s not just cash
Not just fabulous prizes
It’s a mixture of the two
Cash and fabulous prizes!
You’ll win dinettes!
You’ll win a car or two!
Round trips to Las Vegas
Where you’ll see Wayne New…ton.
A moose attacks the Joker in the living deck.
It combines the excitement
Of the classic game of Gambit
With a living deck.
We’ll have 52 people,
Each one representing
A different playing card
From the deck.
The NBC Peacock Girls, a Rockette-like group of women in skimpy but ugly-looking green outfits and stuffed peacock headdresses, walk on stage and dance with the surviving members of the living deck..
The Las Vegas Gambit Show-ow-ow-ow-ow-ow-ow!
Las Vegas Gambit Show-ow-ow!
From 10 to 10:30 mornings,
Right before Blockbusters
It’s for preschoolers!
It’s for you gals at home!
You’ll win a trip to Rome,
Or a styling comb.
You’ll win a boat!
You’ll win a furniture!
But just because you’re you,
You’ll win some things for her.
Balloons and confetti are now dumping EVERYWHERE, similar to the end of “The Gong Show”
It combines the excitement, excitement
Of the classic, classic game of Gambit
With a living deck.
And you will see 52 people
Each one representing
A playing card from the deck.
The studio audience now empties and walks on stage to take turns shaking Dave's hand.
Las Vegas Gambit Show!
Las Vegas Gambit Show-ow-ow-ow-ow-ow-ow!
‘Cause people like to tune into game shows
In the middle morning.
Cut to a fan in the audience holding up a sign reading “KILL WINK”
It’s set in Las Vegas
Well, in a studio.
We don’t really show you Vegas
But we’re there though
Another fan in audience holds up a sign: “Wink WHO???”
It’s not just trips.
It’s not just appliances.
Folks play from
Different creeds and alliances!
Everybody join in!
Las Vegas Gambit Show!
Las Vegas Gambit Show-ow-ow-ow-ow-ow-ow!...
Harve's voice fades out and just the regular theme plays.
And that's how Dave's daytime show ended. \"Blockbusters\" was spared, presumably because Dave had worked with and respected with Bill Cullen, who, a short time later, sent Dave a necktie as a gift after \"Late Night\" launched.
PS: \"Hit Man\" fans might be interested in how Bill Wendell signed off on the daytime \"David Letterman Show\" finale...
\"You want tickets to The David Letterman Show? FORGET IT! NO WAY! OUT OF LUCK! WE'RE HISTORY!...(suddenly very somber)...we're a ghost.\"
