This from a man who maligned Michele Bachmann as "whacko", Rush Limbaugh as a "bonehead gangster", and Senate Republicans as "stooges." What's that old saw about talk show hosts who live in glass penthouses?
Late Show schmoozer David Letterman came through with spirited hilarity last night, albeit unintended, while chatting with actress Shailene Woodley about her new film "Insurgent" and recent visits to Australia and Indonesia.
Woodley's flummoxed reaction to a question from Letterman was worth the price of admission --
LETTERMAN: So did you go backpacking in Australia?
WOODLEY: No, I didn't. We were actually only there for four days and then we went over to Indonesia and I had never been there before, I had never been to that part of the world and it was so lovely. It was the first time I was ever really exposed to the Hindu religion and I didn't know much about it but I found their lifestyles to be so peaceful and just this sense of calm and they live with this serenity that I hadn't, that I hadn't ...
Woodley, to her credit, acknowledges knowing little about Hinduism, just before Letterman demonstrates not knowing the bare minimum that any American should about Indonesia --
LETTERMAN: What are countries we would recognize that comprise Indonesia?
WOODLEY: Uh, what? (laughter from the audience). I'm sorry, say that again.
LETTERMAN: Well, like where, where in Indonesia? Is it just one ...?
WOODLEY: I was in Bali in Indonesia.
LETTERMAN (light bulb goes off): Oh in Bali! Oh my God, well, that's fantastic.
The countries that "comprise" Indonesia? Just one, Dave -- it's called Indonesia. True, all those islands make for confusion. You may recall that our president, the one you're so enamored of, spent time there in his childhood.
Is it my imagination or did Letterman scarcely let a night pass in the autumn of 2008 without mocking GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin for her alleged ignorance, especially of foreign affairs?
For example, from Letterman's "Top Ten things overheard at Sarah Palin's debate camp" -- "Hey, I can see Mexico from here!" and "Maybe we'll get lucky and there won't be any questions about Iraq, taxes, or health care." And what are the countries that comprise Indonesia? (Hey, trick question!).
Something tells me Mrs. Palin has better ways to waste her time than watching Letterman, but last night would have been worth it.
