Gluten Joke On Letterman Sept 19, '06

[skbird]

OK - last night I was up watching Late Show with David Letterman and right after his monologue, and he was seated at his desk, he made some joke, and then this random woman came out with a tray of food for him. (I've seen her before -recurring gag). Anyway, he looks at her and she says "it's pizza bread" and he looks at her and says "No thanks - I'm allergic to glue-tin" (big emphasis on the "glue" part). Now I could have just been imagining things but I'm 95% certain that's what he said.

That pissed me off. I mean, so it's a joke? Makes me feel discredited when I tell people I can't have it.

Did anyone else see it?

Stephanie

[Lauren M]

I didn't see it, but I think I would all depend on the context of the joke. I normally like Letterman, though!

You know what they say, no such thing as bad publicity (I don't believe that, but at least we're hearing the word "gluten" in more common settings!)

- Lauren

[skbird]

I think the thing that bothers me is so many people are learning about gluten that it's being perceived as a trend to be gluten free, and the underlying health condition is not being discussed. It's getting to the point in some places that it's "the new Atkins" which is not a favorable comparison.

Anyway, I do like Letterman, but that bothered me. My first reaction was wow - interesting joke - then, hmmm, at whose expense?

Stephanie

[Nantzie]

Maybe he's discovered he actually has a problem with it? It's always possible...

Nancy

[jerseyangel]

Yes, the first thing I thought was--maybe he has a problem with gluten!

[Lauren M]

  skbird said:

I think the thing that bothers me is so many people are learning about gluten that it's being perceived as a trend to be gluten free, and the underlying health condition is not being discussed. It's getting to the point in some places that it's "the new Atkins" which is not a favorable comparison.

Stephanie,

I think you're right about eating gluten-free becoming a "trend" - but I think this is because SO many people feel better on the gluten-free diet. Think about it, the diet is supposed to help autistics, and with the number of undiagnosed Celiacs out there, maybe this is a good trend. If people try the gluten-free lifestyle and notice how good they feel on it, sounds win-win to me.

- Lauren

[Guest ~jules~]

  skbird said:

OK - last night I was up watching Late Show with David Letterman and right after his monologue, and he was seated at his desk, he made some joke, and then this random woman came out with a tray of food for him. (I've seen her before -recurring gag). Anyway, he looks at her and she says "it's pizza bread" and he looks at her and says "No thanks - I'm allergic to glue-tin" (big emphasis on the "glue" part). Now I could have just been imagining things but I'm 95% certain that's what he said.

That pissed me off. I mean, so it's a joke? Makes me feel discredited when I tell people I can't have it.

Did anyone else see it?

Stephanie

Nope I didn't see it, but I did want to comment on the misconception that being gluten free is a trend. My husband works with this guy who's wife and he eat only organic foods, so after my diagnosis my husband came home all excited about the gluten free diet. This is not my choice, I'ts not "cool or exciting " to me to have to eat this way, I have to. I think this is really hard for some people to grasp because of all the trendy eating out there these days. Its very annoying to me also...

[VegasCeliacBuckeye]

any press is good press in my opinion...

[LaurieAnn13]

I say at least it's publicity, something that may get people thinking. The way I see it, most jokes have the potential to offend someone. It's not really any different than a blonde joke or a gender joke.

Laurie

[Canadian Karen]

Or a newfie joke.......

[rinne]

  Canadian Karen said:

Or a newfie joke.......

I loved Newfoundland, it reminded me so much of my grandfather who came over when he was about twenty but never really left Ireland, if you know what I mean.

[chrissy]

what's a newfie?

[rinne]

I was so distracted by my memories of Newfoundland that I forgot the thread topic.

I didn't see it but it sounds as if the underlying tone was one of ridicule, no big surprise there. I'm sure there are a lot of people who are refusing to eat gluten because they feel so much better when they don't. I'm equally sure there are a ton of people out there who know they would feel better if they quit eating gluten but they can live with how sick they are and would rather do that than change. I think it is great that it is becoming enough of an issue that it makes the Letterman Show. It means people are changing.

Does Letterman write his own jokes? I don't think so but I don't know.

[floridanative]

David Letterman had shingles and the complication from it called postherpetic that I had in 2004 as well. Who knows, an infection that serious could easily trigger the Celiac gene so he could have it or not. I just know people with autoimmune diseases are at much more risk to get shingles than the average population.

[rinne]

Floridanative, that is an interesting fact, thank you. Could he have been referring to himself?

[Michi8]

  rinne said:

Floridanative, that is an interesting fact, thank you. Could he have been referring to himself?

I wouldn't be surprised. He has been known to make jokes about himself and his health before...like when he had his bypass surgery.

Michelle

[rinne]

I don't watch the show much but I have noticed him making fun of himself before so maybe he is just coming out of the gluten closet.

[angel-jd1]

I have to agree, any publicity is good publicity. Ok, well MOST publicity is good publicity

Letterman being gluten free, now THAT would be funny. He would always be complaining about the prices and the dry grittyness of prepackaged gluten-free foods

-Jessica

[bklynceliac]

it's a running gag. the other night he said he was allergic to pectin. just another letterman oddity.

[jerseyangel]

  angel_jd1 said:

Letterman being gluten free, now THAT would be funny. He would always be complaining about the prices and the dry grittyness of prepackaged gluten-free foods

-Jessica

Yes! Could you imagine

Or Jerry Seinfield--I'd love to hear his take on gluten-free foods!

[2Boys4Me]

  chrissy said:

what's a newfie?

Someone from Newfoundland/Labrador in Eastern Canada. According to the jokes, they are dumber than a roomful of Blondes.

No offense to anyone blonde or from Newfoundland. (Pronounced like NEWfinnLand)

[CarlaB]

  2Boys4Me said:

Someone from Newfoundland/Labrador in Eastern Canada. According to the jokes, they are dumber than a roomful of Blondes.

No offense to anyone blonde or from Newfoundland. (Pronounced like NEWfinnLand)

Yea, yea, yea, pick on the blondes ...

[DingoGirl]

I've been watching Dave for as long as he's been on....just this year falling asleep too early most of the time. I don't think he's gluten-intolerant, but, he rarely discusses anything in his personal life....he has many writers who write most of the jokes but he does throw in his own goofy stuff. I think he's totally being silly in this case. It doesn't offend me, but, I happen to think he's one of the funniest and brightest humans alive.

Newfoundland...it sounds SO charming and remote.....what was that quirky novel I read that took place on that island, with a movie starring....Kevin Pollack maybe? think they found a dead body somewhere? other than that, the details are hazy....lots of fishing...

[skbird]

  bklynceliac said:

it's a running gag. the other night he said he was allergic to pectin. just another letterman oddity.

It made me want to run and gag!

I guess the problem I have with it is lately (last year or so) Letterman seems to have gotten a lot more random and not as on it with the humor as he used to be. My husband and I have a hard time watching him anymore but every so often I enjoy something on there so I still turn it on at times.

Odd is fine. I just felt mocked by it - maybe I'm overly-sensitive because I'm in the process of starting two new jobs and I keep having to explain the food thing to people and with Letterman's tone when he said it, it was just sort of rude.

Sorry I've lost my sense of humor these days...

Stephanie

[DingoGirl]

Stephanie I don't think you've lost your sense of humour. Letterman CAN be rude! he's a complete nut. But, I actually have seen Leno, who I thought was milder, harass and embarass people in a way that Letterman hasn't done in years and years (I think his quintuple bypass and birth of his son have mellowed him quite a bit). I missed the pectin joke....that waitress comes to his desk a lot and he says random stuff.

And, it is really tedious having to explain the gluten situation to people all the time - so I could see how you'd be sensitive to it.

why do *I* still think Dave is funny? maybe I'm stupid-er now....ha ha ha