.
THANK YOU FOR COMING.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE OUR USUAL 
SHOW TONIGHT BECAUSE -- AND I'M 
GOING TO TELL YOU UP FRONT, I'M 
GOING TO CRY, I'M ALREADY 
CRYING, WHICH IS EMBARRASSING.
BUT -- WELL, I'M NOT GOOD WITH 
THIS SORT OF THING.
AND I'M SORRY ESPECIALLY TO 
THOSE OF YOU WHO CAME TO SEE THE
SHOW IN PERSON.
BECAUSE IT'S PROBABLY NOT WHAT 
YOU CAME FOR.
BUT WE LOST SOMEONE THAT WE AND 
I LOVE VERY MUCH TODAY.
AND AGAIN, I'M SORRY FOR HEARING
THIS JUST NOW FOR THE FIRST TIME
BUT DON RICKLES PASSED AWAY THIS
MORNING.
HE WAS 90 YEARS OLD.
AND I KNOW IT SOUNDS CRAZY TO 
SAY HE WAS TOO YOUNG.
BUT HE WAS.
BECAUSE HE WAS YOUTHFUL AND 
FUNNY AND SHARP AND GENEROUS.
AND I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO 
NOT ONLY HAVE DON ON THIS SHOW 
AS MY GUEST BUT ALSO TO BECOME 
CLOSE TO HIM AND HIS WIFE 
BARBARA, WHICH WAS A LOT OF FUN 
FOR ME.
I GREW UP IN LAS VEGAS, SO DON 
RICKLES, EVEN WHEN I WAS A KID, 
WAS A VERY BIG DEAL.
HIS NAME WAS ON THE MARQUEE AT 
THE SAHARA HOTEL.
YOU COULD SEE HIM WITH JOHNNY 
CARSON MAKING FUN OF JOHNNY, 
MAKING FUN OF FRANK SINATRA.
PEOPLE ALWAYS WANTED TO HEAR DON
TELL SINATRA STORIES AND HE HAD 
GREAT STORIES.
BUT -- I THINK THIS MIGHT BE 
WHAT BROUGHT -- I TOLD DON, THIS
IS HONESTLY HOW I FELT, SIP 
NAUGHT TRA STORIES ARE GREAT BUT
IF SINATRA WAS HERE I'D BE 
ASKING HIM FOR STORIES ABOUT 
YOU.
DON'S GOOD FRIEND, BOB NEWHART, 
ANOTHER NATIONAL TREASURE, TOLD 
ME A GREAT STORY ABOUT HAVING 
DINNER WITH DON AND SINATRA.
SINATRA SOMETIMES WOULD GET 
ANGRY FOR WHATEVER REASON AND 
FLIP OUT.
SO ONE NIGHT THEY WERE ALL AT A 
BIG TABLE AT A VERY FANCY 
RESTAURANT, THE RESTAURANT WAS 
ALL WHITE, EVERYTHING WAS WHITE.
THE WALLS, THE TABLECLOTHS, 
EVERYTHING.
DON AND BARBARA, HIS WIFE, AND 
BOB AND HIS WIFE GINNY, WERE AT 
THE TABLE.
AND FRANK WAS DRINKING AND HE 
WAS NOT IN A GOOD MOOD.
HE WAS GETTING SURLY WHICH PUT 
EVERYONE ON EDGE.
WHEN FRANK WASN'T HAPPY YOU HAD 
TO WATCH IT.
THEY'RE DRINKING AND THE FOOD 
COMES AND THE WAITER PUTS A 
BOTTLE OF KETCHUP AND PUTS IT ON
THE TABLE IN FRONT OF FRANK.
FOR WHATEVER REASON THIS SENDS 
FRANK INTO A RAGE.
HE DOESN'T WANT KETCHUP ON THE 
TABLE.
HE TAKES THE BOTTLE, IN A VERY 
CROWDED, ELEGANT RESTAURANT, HE 
THROWS IT AT THE WALL.
AND THE BATTLE SMASHES AND 
THERE'S KETCHUP EVERYWHERE.
AND EVERYONE IN THE RESTAURANT 
STOPS.
IT'S LIKE A GASP.
AND DON WITHOUT MISSING A BEAT 
TURNS AND SAYS, FRANK, WILL YOU 
PASS THE KETCHUP?
[ LAUGHTER ]
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
SINATRA LAUGHED.
AND EVERYONE LAUGHS AND NOBODY 
DIES THAT NIGHT THANKS TO DON.
THE FIRST TIME DON WAS ON OUR 
SHOW WAS ALMOST -- FOUR YEARS 
AFTER WE STARTED.
WE'D BEEN TRYING TO BOOK HIM 
SINCE THE BEGINNING.
WE ASKED HIM TO DO THE SHOW OVER
AND OVER AGAIN.
AND HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THIS 
WAS.
HE KNEW "THE TONIGHT SHOW" AND 
LETTERMAN AND THAT'S IT.
FINALLY AFTER WE BOTHERED HIM 20
TIMES HE GAVE UP AND DID THE 
SHOW FOR MY BIRTHDAY IN 2006.
AND IT WAS EXCITING, IT WAS LIKE
I WAS IN TALK SHOW FANTASY CAMP 
SITTING BEHIND THE DESK WHILE 
DON RICKLES MADE FUN OF ME.
IT WAS LIKE BEING A REAL TALK 
SHOW HOST FOR A MINUTE.
THEN DON CAME TO VISIT 17 MORE 
TIMES AFTER THAT.
AND WHENEVER HE WAS ON, WE WOULD
GO OUT TO DINNER.
WE WOULD ALWAYS GO OUT TO DINNER
AFTER THE SHOW EXCEPT FOR ONE 
NIGHT.
I COULDN'T GO BECAUSE I WAS 
ALREADY GOING TO DINNER.
IT WAS LIKE A LATE BOOKING.
I WAS GOING TO BEGINNER WITH MY 
FRIEND JEFF ROSS, THE COMEDIAN, 
IT WAS HIS 50th BIRTHDAY AND 
HE'S ONLY IN TOWN THE NIGHT.
I TOLD DON, I CAN'T GO TO DINNER
AFTER THE SHOW, I ALREADY HAVE 
PLAN
PLANS, WE'LL GO ANOTHER NIGHT.
I COULDN'T TELL HIM I WAS GOING 
TO DINNER WITH SOMEONE ELSE.
I WAS NONSPECIFIC, I SAID I 
COULDN'T MAKE IT.
AFTER THE SHOW I SAID GOOD-BYE 
TO DON, I WENT TO DINNER WITH 
JEFF.
JEFF AND I AND COUSIN SAL ARE 
SITTING AT THE TABLE AND WHO 
WALKS IN?
[ LAUGHTER ]
AND NOT ONLY WALKS IN, IS SEATED
AT THE TABLE RIGHT NEXT TO US.
IS DON.
HE LOOKS AT ME, THE THOUGHT YOU 
COULDN'T DO TO DINNER!
I'M LIKE, IT'S HIS BIRTHDAY, I 
DIDN'T KNOW!
HE HAMMERED AND HECKLED ME 
THROUGH THE WHOLE MEAL.
[ LAUGHTER ]
UNTIL FINALLY I GOT UP AND MOVED
OVER TO HIS TABLE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
THOSE DINNERS.
DON WOULD DRINK VODKA AND TELL 
STORIES.
BOB SAG GET AND JOHN STAMOS WERE
LIKE DON'S -- I WON'T SAY SONS 
BECAUSE SONS ONCE THEY PASS THE 
AGE OF 10 DON'T WANT TO HEAR 
ANYTHING THEIR FATHER SAID.
MORE LIKE HIS STEPDAUGHTERS, I 
WOULD SAY.
[ LAUGHTER ]
DON WOULD MAKE FUN OF JOHN 
STAMOS FOR THREE HOURS STRAIGHT 
WITHOUT A BREATH AND JOHN LOVED 
IT.
HE MADE FUN OF EVERYBODY.
HE'D MAKE FUN OF ME, GEE YARE 
KNOW, THE BAND, THE AUDIENCE, 
THE GUY WHO PUT THE MICROPHONE 
ON HIS LAPEL, HE'D MAKE FUN OF 
THE VEGETABLE PLATTER IN HIS 
DRESSING ROOM.
WHEN HE'D COME TO MY HOUSE HE'D 
YELL ABOUT THE STAIRS AS IF I 
PUT THEM THERE SPECIFICALLY TO 
INCONVENIENCE HIM.
EVERY TIME I'D SEE HIM, YOU 
STILL HAVE THOSE STAIRS?
NO, WE'RE POLE AS A RESULTING 
INTO THE HOUSE NOW, DON.
I ONCE TOOK HIM TO MOTZA, WHICH 
IS MARIO BATALI'S RESTAURANT 
HERE, A VERY NICE RESTAURANT, WE
RENTED THE PRIVATE ROOM IN THE 
BACK, WE HAD FOOD, I INVITED HIS
FRIENDS, IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.
IT WAS VERY EXPENSIVE, OKAY?
AND I PAID FOR IT.
END OF THE MEAL, AT THE END OF 
THIS BEAUTIFUL MEAL, HE SAYS TO 
ME, I'LL NEVER FORGET.
I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU TOOK ME TO A
PIZZA PLACE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
BUT HE WAS VERY SWEET.
THEY CALLED HIM MR. WARMTH AS A 
JOKE BUT THAT WAS WHAT HE WAS.
HE WOULD ALWAYS ASK ABOUT MY 
PARENTS, MY KIDS, WHEN MY UNCLE 
FRANK PASSED AWAY I CALLED HIM 
AND ASKED HIM TO BE THE GUEST ON
THE SHOW, WHICH WAS A TOUGH 
SHOW.
HE HELPED ALL OF US THROUGH IT.
HE GAVE ME ADVICE.
GOOD ADVICE, NOT THE ADVICE 
PEOPLE GIVE YOU JUST TO HEAR 
THEMSELVES GIVING YOU ADVICE.
HE'D SAY, KEEP MY NAME ALIVE.
WHICH HE'D TELL ME TO KEEP HIS 
NAME ALIVE, WHICH WAS FUNNY, 
BECAUSE -- I WAS LIKE, YOU'RE 
DON RICKLES.
YOU KEEP MY NAME ALIVE!
HE WAS HUMBLE, HE WAS 
THOUGHTFUL.
I WENT THROUGH MY HOPE CHEST 
TODAY.
I DON'T REALLY HAVE A HOPE 
CHEST.
[ LAUGHTER ]
I HAVE A BOX.
I SAVED EVERY NOTE HE EVER SENT 
ME.
THERE ARE LIKE 27 NOTES AND 
LETTERS FROM DON.
I WANT TO READ A COUPLE OF THEM.
BY THE WAY, EVERY TIME HE SENT 
ME A CARD HE'D SEND IT IN AN 
OVERNIGHT MAIL PACKAGE AND THERE
WOULD BE A LABEL ON IT, IT WOULD
COST $20 EVERY TIME.
HE DIDN'T JUST -- HE SPENT MORE 
THAN $500 ON POSTAGE ALONE FOR 
THESE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
HERE ARE A FEW OF THESE VERY 
EXPENSIVE NOTES.
DEAR JIMMY, THANKS SO MUCH FOR 
INVITING ME INTO YOUR HOME FOR 
DINNER, BUT TO BE HONEST, WE 
WOULD HAVE PREFERRED A 
THREE-MONTH TRIP TO VENICE, 
ITALY.
LOVE, DON.
[ LAUGHTER ]
DEAR JIMMY, THANKS SO MUCH FOR 
THE BEAUTIFUL FRAME OF YOU AND 
I, WHO NEEDS SINATRA, THE 
PICTURE OF US TOGETHER IS MUCH 
MORE IMPORTANT, PLEASE DON'T 
SHOW THIS NOTE TO ANYONE BECAUSE
IT COULD CAUSE HARM TO ME AND MY
FAMILY.
LOVE, DON.
[ LAUGHTER ]
JIMMY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE
BOTTLES OF WINE, WE'VE BEEN SO 
BUSY CRUSHING GRAPES WITH OUR 
BARE FEET HOPING TO HAVE WINE 
FOR THE HOLIDAYS.
AND YOU CAME TO THE RESCUE JUST 
IN TIME.
DEAR JIMMY, WHAT A GREAT, 
THOUGHTFUL GIFT FOR CHRISTMAS.
SUCH A GOOD ITALIAN.
MAYBE YOU SHOULD OPEN A DELI AND
START SELLING SALAMI.
MAYBE I SHOULD.
DEAR JIMMY, WE WATCHED YOUR 
ACADEMY AWARDS SHOW.
BARBARA LOVED EVERY BIT OF IT, 
BUT HERE'S WHAT I THOUGHT.
[ LAUGHTER ]
YOU WERE ON CAMERA TOO MUCH.
ALL IN ALL, IT WAS OKAY.
WE LOVE YOU, SO DON'T WORRY.
[ LAUGHTER ]
THERE'S ONE MORE.
THE NIGHT MANNY PACQUIAO WAS ON,
I SHOWED HIM A PICTURE OF DON.
DEAR JIMMY, WHAT RIGHT DO YOU 
HAVE TO HOLD UP MY PICTURE 
WITHOUT MY OKAY?
I'M GOING TO TELL ALL MY 
FILIPINO FRIENDS TO ATTACK YOU 
AT YOUR STUDIO.
YOUR GOOD FRIEND DON.
YOUR GOOD FRIEND DON, THE GUY 
WHO KNOWS JOHN STAMOS AND BOB 
SAG GET PERSONALLY.
P.S., BARBARA REALLY LIKES YOU.
HE WAS A FUNNY GUY.
I KNOW THAT'S NOT A NEWS FLASH.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
I WAS LUCKY TO KNOW HIM.
OUR LOVE AND CONDOLENCES TO 
DON'S WIFE BARBARA, DAUGHTER 
MINDY, STEPDAUGHTERS BOB AND 
JOHN.
HIS MAIN MAN TONY O., PAUL 
SHEPARD.
THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER DON 
RICKLES, PROBABLY THE GREATEST 
TALK SHOW GUEST OF ALL-TIME.
WE'VE PUT TOGETHER A VIDEO 
TRIBUTE.
HERE HE IS, THE ONE AND ONLY MR.
WARMTH, DON RICKLES. 
>> OUR FIRST GUEST AS LEGENDARY 
PERFORMER, BEST-SELLING AUTHOR, 
ONE OF THE GREATEST COMEDIANS OF
ALL-TIME, RIGHT, DON, IS THAT 
ALL CORRECT?
>> DON'T BE A DUMB BILL.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> THE FUNNIEST MAN ON PLANET 
EARTH, THE SULTAN OF INSULTING.
MR. WAMPLTD, THE GREAT DON 
RICKLRI
RICKL
RICKLES!
THIS IS THE EIGHTH APPEARANCE 
YOU'VE MADE ON THIS SHOW. 
>> I'LL DROP MY PANTS AND FIRE A
ROCKET.
>> RARELY DOES ANYONE GET A 
STANDING OVATION ON THIS SHOW. 
>> OKAY, THAT'S IT FOR ME.
>> I SAW YOU, THREE OF US IN THE
DRESSING ROOM, DEAN MARTIN, 
FRANK SINATRA AND ME, READY TO 
GO ON FOR PRESIDENT.
FRANK SAYS, NO DRINKING.
YOU UNDERSTAND?
KNOW DR
NO DRINKING.
AND RICKLES, [ BLEEP ], I'M NOT 
GOING TO HAVE ANYTHING.
FRANK GOES WOUFT ROOM.
DEAN OPENS HIS COAT.
THERE'S A ROLL OF BOOZE IN THE 
COAT THERE.
AND THAT NIGHT WE MADE RONALD 
REAGAN KNOW HE'S ALIVE.
FRANK WAS THE SECURITY GUARD.
BY THE STAGE DOOR, IN THOSE DAYS
YOU WENT RIGHT INTO THE CASINO.
WHEN YOU CAME OFF OF SHOATE.
THIS ISN'T TOO FAST FOR YOU?
>> NO, NO.
>> OKAY.
YOU'RE LOOKING AT ME LIKE I'M A 
CHEMISTRY SET.
HE USED TO STAND BY THE DOOR.
EVERY NIGHT I'D COME OUT, HE'D 
GO STAND BACK, EVERYBODY, MR. 
RICKLES IS COMING!
STAND BACK!
AND THERE WAS NOBODY THERE.
I EXAGGERATE LIFE.
MAKE FUN OF OURSELVES THE.
AS I MAKE FUN OF YOU. 
>> THANK YOU.
>> YOU SHOULD BE PROUD.
IF I DIDN'T LIKE YOU, I WOULDN'T
MAKE FUN OF YOU.
AS I LOOK AT YOU NOW, YOU'VE GOT
TO GET A NOSE JOB.
>> THIS IS 3D THIS "TOY STORY" 
MOVIE, THIS IS YOUR FIRST 3D 
FILM?
>> YEAH.
>> I ALWAYS SAY, RYE TO BE 
DIFFERENT.
IF YOU'RE DIFFERENT YOU HAVE A 
CHANCE.
YOU'RE DIFFERENT BECAUSE NOBODY 
KNOWS WHAT THE HELL YOU ARE.
>> SUCH A DUMBBELL.
SHUT UP, JIMMY.
DON'T BE CUTE.
THAT WAS FUNNY, JIMMY.
I WAS NEVER MEAN SPIRITED THANK 
GOD.
THAT'S WHY I'M ON THIS SHOW 
BECAUSE I SKYROCKETED.
ANYWAY.
GIVE ME A MINUTE BECAUSE 
EVERYTHING I SAY KII DID IN MY 
ROOM AND I LAUGHED MY ASS OFF.
LY COME BACK HERE WITH YOU GUYS 
AND FRANK AND YOUR WHOLE FAMILY,
IT REALLY MAKE AT GUY FEEL AT 
HOME.
>> WELL, IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO 
HAVE YOU HERE.
DON RICKLES, EVERYBODY!
 YOU GIVE ME A BOOT 
 I GET A KICK OUT OF YOU 
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> DON'T AN DUMBBELL, LAUGH!
>> THANK YOU, DON.
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
