To open the show, we find Dave with 50 in the green room.
Dave: "So you've been shot 9 times?"
50: "Yeah"
Dave: "See, that's one difference between you and me. I've never been shot."
50 glares.
50: "Matter of time, G."

After Dave's final monolog joke, out runs Paul Tergat of Kenya, the Men's winner of the 36th Annual New York City Marathon. His time: 2 hours, 9 minutes, 30 seconds. He defeated last year's winner by one/third of a second. Ouch!
And right after Paul comes Jelena Prokupcuka on Latvia, the Women's winner. Her time: 2 hours, 24 minutes, 41 seconds.
As always, while I watched the marathon on Sunday I was rooting for runners with names easy to pronounce.

The Late Show also had a runner in the marathon; camera man Fred Shimizu. At one time we would have between 5-10 marathoners. Now it is only Fred who carries the load. Fred's time was 5 hours plus, and he told me before the show it was his career worst for the New York City Marathon. He promises to rededicate himself to a better time next year. My window of participating in the marathon is slowly closing. Come to think of it, if I put the time I spend doing the Wahoo into running, I could probably run in the 37th NYC Marathon.

Oh, and the holidays are coming, so what better time to welcome back an old friend, The Guy on Fire. A guy comes running out across the stage, in front of Dave's desk, then out back through the guest entrance. There he is quickly doused. A smiling Dave says he loves that guy.

A MESSAGE FROM THE NFL: Two Carolina Panther cheerleaders were arrested last night in Tampa, Florida The NFL wasted no time in releasing this message concerning the women's behavior.
Announcer:

"Yesterday, two Carolina Panther cheerleaders were engaged in sexual activity inside a bathroom stall when they became entangled in a catfight with a third woman. Both cheerleaders were arrested and spent the night in a women's prison. We here at the NFL would just like to say . . . awesome! The NFL: You ain't gonna see crazy-ass stuff like that in baseball."

"President Bush has laid out a bold plan to combat bird flu. To lead the fight, Bush has appointed his most trusted advisor --- Harriet Miers. How's it going, Harriet?" (cut to a scene from Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds." The woman is getting pecked to near-death.)
"George W. Bush --- Oops! I did it again."

I also gave Biff a list of all the places he's gone. I tell Biff he should know what's on Dave's blue card and be familiar of the list of places he's gone. And I know exactly what happened to Biff. He concerned himself with the list of 15 other places and forgot the obvious; the place he just went. It's understandable. I've done it myself. I call it the 'Ralph Kramden/Swanee River" syndrome.
How did Biff remember Eagles Nest, New Mexico? I asked if the Control Room told him through his head set but Biff told me he turns off his headset when he's talking to Dave. "It would be too distracting" says Biff. While Biff was trying to think of the town, another stage manager mouthed the words "Eagles Nest, New Mexico." Though not a lip reader, Biff was able to decipher the lip movement of the stagemanager.
Eagles Nest, New Mexico.
We see Biff discussing the town's slogan.
Biff riding a tractor. Says the rancher: "If he breaks that thing I'm gonna kick his ass."
The Winnebago at 8 mpg.
A visit to the Laguna Vista.
The town worm-eater.
The Cowboy's Cafe.
The locals talk about the rich history of Eagles Nest.
And Biff visits a brothel.

It looked like Biff had a nice visit to Eagles Nest.
I did a quick Google on Eagles Nest and found that if you're interested in taking a haunted honeymoon, you should check out the Laguna Vista Lodge.
Found on the Google:

Laguna Vista Lodge & Saloon in Eagles Nest, New Mexico has quite a past and, according to some reports, at least 22 ghosts. One of particular interest is thought to be the spirit of a bride who honeymooned at the Lodge with her husband. One day her husband went out hunting, never to return. It is said that the young bride then became a "saloon girl" and that it is her spirit that still haunts the hallways. To find out more about the ghosts of Laguna Vista's Lodge & Saloon check out:
http://www.legendsofamerica.com/HC-EagleNestLake5.html

TOP TEN: Things Overheard During the New York City Marathon.
#7. "Those wooden shoes were funny the first half-mile."
#6. "Is that the finish line or crime scene tape?"
#3. "Hello, Triple A? I'm at mile 23 and I need a tow."

JENNIFER ANISTON:
It's been 2 years since Jennifer has last been here, before the big "Friends" goodbye. She's now in a film entitled, "Derailed" that was filmed in Chicago and London. The film takes place in Chicago, so why go to London? She doesn't know for sure but imagines money had something to do with it. Oh, yeah, when I want to go on the cheap, I go to London. It sounds like the director wanted to spend a few days in London so had it put into the script. While in London, Jennifer was preparing for an intense scene that included an explosion or two. It was to be her first real violent scene so Jennifer was really focused and deep in concentration. Seconds before shooting, it was announced that Sir Paul McCartney was there and would like to say hello. How can you say "no" to Sir Paul? Jennifer says it was a big thrill to meet the Beatle, but wished it had been at a better time.
She recently finished filming "The Break-Up" with Vince Vaughn. There have been a lot of rumors of J.An and ViVa. getting serious, but both parties deny anything more than friendship. The photos of them canoodling on the beach were from scenes for the film, according to them. Want more than that? You'll have to make it up. And we learn about plastination.
Since Jennifer spent time at Oprah's house`, Dave asks Jennifer if she would come to his house and spend some time? Jennifer says she would love to. Dave doubts her sincerity and Jennifer tries her best to convince him. Still Dave is doubtful, ‘What's the trick?" he wants to know. No trick. Hmmm, Jennifer and Dave at Dave's place . . . how can I get a photograph and sell it to Intruder magazine? That sale could get me enough money for a big screen plasma.
Oh, the "cat and mouse" thing going on between Dave and Oprah? Dave claims it's all Oprah.
Jennifer's film, "Derailed" opens this Friday. In the clip we see a he and she flirting at a bar. The he bets her $20 that he can kiss her without using his lips. We see a long, lip-kiss from he to she. When lips unlock, he says in a breathy whisper, ". . . . worth every penny." It reminded me of what we would do as kids . . . "Let's have a contest on who could hit the softest." You would let the first go hit you on the arm as soft as he could. You would then punch the guy in his arm as hard as you could. You would then say, "You win."

Before introducing 50 Cent, Dave says to Paul, "Jennifer Aniston and Oprah probably had more fun in one weekend than you and I would have in our lifetime." I don't know about that. Can "girl talk" really be all that much fun?

Uh, it's that guy again. It's the Guy on Fire. The guy runs to and fro with all afire. He then exits and is quickly extinguished. Dave asks Executive Producer if we pay the Guy on Fire per show or per ignition. Dave is told it is per ignition. That may seem like a great deal for the Guy on Fire but insiders say all his profits go for new jackets.

50 CENT: He grew up in Queens, New York, right over the East River from here. Living with his mom, "50" became accustomed to the good things in life. Unfortunately, his mom died and he was raised by his grandparents. The material things weren't so nice there and so he had to do things on his own to satisfy his wants. This ended up with his going off in the wrong direction and making some mistakes. He then had a son and 50 Cent decided to correct the direction of the ship he was sailing. His talent as a rapper soon became known on the street, reaching the ears of Eminem. With Eminem's support, 50 has since gone on to sell 20 million albums. According to 50 Cent, he film, "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" is about 75% accurate about his life. It comes out Wednesday.

ACT 5: Announce: "And now, a Snapple Cap Fact!"
George Clarke opens a bottle of Snapple and reads under the cap: "#35. Larry King is 97 years old. Yeah, I could see that."
George drinks the Snapple.
Announce: "This has been a Snapple Cap Fact. Go back to your miserable lives, losers!"

50 CENT: From the soundtrack of "Get Rich or Die Tryin'", 50 Cent performed "Window Shopper."

And that was our show for Monday, November 7, 2005. Wahoo EXTRA!

I was reading the Letterman newsgroup the other day and a Late Show watcher commented his surprise that Anton is a lefty, based on Anton's holding the gun in his left hand after shooting Pat Farmer during a "comedy" bit. Keen eye by the viewer but not a correct assumption. Actually, it may be a correct assumption but not based on Anton's holding the gun in his left hand. I stood in for Anton during rehearsal for this piece. I took into consideration where the camera would be and decided it would be best to hold the gun in my left hand even though I am a righty. It would keep my body more towards the camera. When Anton came down to the stage for the 2nd rehearsal run-through, I suggested he too hold the gun in his left hand. I'm not sure if he heard me or heeded, but that's my story as to why Anton held the gun in his left hand.

CONVENIENT STORE VS. CONVENIENCE STORE. Last week I asked where people buy their booze. I said I was able to buy my beer at a convenient store, but in Jersey you had to buy beer at a package store. Many wrote in to tell me it's not a "convenient store," but a "convenience store." So I Googled.
CONVENIENT STORE: 173,000 references.
CONVENIENCE STORE: 3,610,000 references.
Hmmm, does this make me wrong? Is it Convenient Store and not Convenience Store? It seems so, according to the Google hits.

The rest of the family was out the other night so I ordered up a meal for myself at the local pizza restaurant. I order by phone and then headed over immediately, enjoying an ale or two while I wait for my take-home food. That night at the Mountain House Pizza was a trivia contest. I didn't participate but I did grab the question sheet. Question #7. "What current National Football League franchise began as the Decatur Staleys in 1920 before moving and taking its current name, in 1922?

I thought about this one and decided it was the Chicago Bears, figuring it was probably a Midwest team and one of the originals still in existence. I was going to Google it at home but chose to chew on it a while and see if the right answer didn't come to me. The next morning my wife Denise needed the car so I took the bus to work. I grabbed a book to read. Knowing the bus ride would only be for one day, I chose "What's My Name, Fool? - Sports and Resistance in the United States" by Dave Zirin. Each chapter could stand alone so I figured this would be a good choice; one chapter about Jackie Robinson, another about Muhammad Ali; another about Tommie Smith and Juan Carlos. I could start it and not have to finish it. I sat down in the bus and opened the book. And there on the second page of my reading I find this, about the early days of professional sports:

"What's My Name, Fool?"
"As the popularity of sports rose among working people, factory owners began to see the benefit of starting plant teams as a form of labor management. This synthesis bore team factory names that remain today like the Green Bay Packers and the Milwaukee Brewers. The Chicago Bears, who used to be rooted in Decatur, Illinois, were known as the Decatur Staleys, named after the A.E. Staley Company. Their first coach, George ‘Papa Bear' Halas, was a Staley manager."

But back to the excerpt in the book. The Milwaukee Brewers? Didn't they come into existence in 1970, after one year as the Seattle Pilots? I did a quick Google check and found there was a Milwaukee Brewer baseball team from 1894-1901. From there they went to become the St. Louis Browns, who in turn became the Baltimore Orioles in 1954.

Google. Kids, you have no idea what life was like before Google. The above information would have taken me hours to uncover at the library 20 years ago. Today, it took me minutes.

Last week I mentioned something about a convenient store. Many wrote telling me it's not a "convenient store"; it's a "Convenience Store." So of course, I googled both.

Don't forget to make an informed vote.

Any Veterans out there? Let me know. I'll give you a shout out on Friday. Just give me the who, what, and where.