It’s difficult to put into context for those who weren’t there just how big of a star David Letterman was in March of 1994. He had just left NBC nine months earlier—where he’d reigned tall at 12:30 AM for 11 years—to move up to 11:30 PM at CBS as host of The Late Show. This was a franchise created especially for him, and it made him the highest paid host in late-night history. . . .

The mere notion of Madonna going on any talk show was rare. She didn’t need the publicity. The relentless tabloids took care of that for her. Nor did she have anything to promote. Someone of her magnitude would seldom go on without a reason. But on March 31st, 1994, she did it anyway. She went on David Letterman’s Late Show for her first visit with the host in 6 years. Everybody would be tuning in no matter what. But what we got was something so bizarre that we cannot help but marvel that it was ever really a thing 30 years later.

  • @jqubed
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    78 months ago

    I’ve never heard of this. It’s funny, though, how 1994 doesn’t seem that long ago, and yet so much has changed in the intervening years. I haven’t watched the clip yet, but I suspect none of it would even make news outside of the tabloids today, as part of their regular recaps.

    • @Poxlox
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      28 months ago

      Just 30 years only 30 years a mere 30 years

  • @ganksy
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    58 months ago

    I don’t remember seeing it. I didn’t watch Letterman back then though. Really interesting to hear it through the words of the producers and staff.

  • Orbituary
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    08 months ago

    Man, what a trash bag she was. I’m sure I would have thought that it was edgy back then, but looking back, all I see is a self aggrandized diva.

    Look at her now.

    • El Barto
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      88 months ago

      Bro, just put things in context. We’re talking about something that happened 30 yeats ago. 30! When I was a kid in the late 80s, 30 years earlier was the 50s. Completely different times.

      So yeah, what she did back then can be qualified as edgy, and like it or not, she (and other women) did a lot that was going against the norms back then, and that was okay. Actually, not only okay. It was awesome!

      Though I agree with you about her nowadays. I always admired her when I was younger, but now I’m like “Alright, Madonna, it’s time to act your age.” But then, she wouldn’t be Madonna, I guess.