While Letterman was furious about not getting “The Tonight Show” gig, his career didn’t falter.
He didn’t even blame Carson for not getting the job.
Instead, he blamed NBC.
“I blamed the whole thing on him.
(via People).
“I am a huge fan.
You know, when I started, Letterman was a great wordsmith …
He could put things together, but he’s kind of a hesitant performer.
I was a very loud, boisterous performer, but I wasn’t that good a writer.
So I’d watch him and go ‘Oh man, how do you put those sentences together?’
And he’d watch me and go, ‘How can you be so confident on stage?’
Interestingly enough, both entertainers announced their exits from the late-night stage around the same time in 2014.
“Once Jay left, I knew I had to get out,” Letterman told biographer Jason Zinoman.
“I was already the old guy” (viaPeople).
