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November 13, 1986

Much to my surprise, I get a good nights sleep. Feeling rested I take the subway up to Hell's Kitchen and on the train I run into an old customer from my bartending days. He's one of those guys you see in every other commercial on television. We chat for awhile and then he asks "what's going on with you?" I tell him I'm doing Letterman tonight. I say the words and yet I still can't believe it. After five years of humping like a dog the day has come. I look around the train and see the usual passengers. It all seems so surreal. The guy looks at me and says "it's safe to say you are the only one on the train that can say that" he wishes me good luck and I head home. I go over the set and take a long hot bath. The limo picks me up at 4:30 and I head to 30 Rock. Some of the stagehands and pages recognize me from a few years before when I was in the cast of Lorne Michaels "THE NEW SHOW". I head to the dressing room and chill. The day before I stood in the comics spot just to get comfortable with the space (theatre training baby). Dennis Miller comes down from SNL and hangs out. His encouragement is a positive one. Kinison (who is hosting SNL that week) waddles up and says "Havey! How's your head?" I run back to my dressing room and Miller intervenes. Just before I'm about to go on John Travolta comes out of Live at Five where he was a guest. He asks one of the producers if he can come on and surprise Dave. Shit, I'm going to get bumped. The producer comes back and says to Travolta "It's not a good night, Dave is debuting a new comic. Miller introduces me to Travolta. We shake hands and I head backstage. The band plays during the commercial break for about 3 hours. I hear Dave's intro. My heart is beating from my ears to my asshole. I slow my breathing down as best as I can. Wildfire adrenaline. Biff taps my shoulder, I head out.