Letterman Recalls Phoning Jay Leno, Describes How Antidepressants Changed his Life

TV Tattle

Letterman recalls phoning Jay Leno, describes how antidepressants changed his life
In a new interview with Rolling Stone, David Letterman says low doses of drugs like Paxil and Lexapro, along with transcendental meditation, helped calm him down. “It changed my life,” he says. “I used to have kind of a hair trigger; I used to put my fist through Sheetrock.” Letterman also reveals he phoned Leno when The Tonight Show host announced his retirement. “I know it must have been hard for him,” Letterman says. “I said, ‘Jay, are you actually retiring?’ And he said, yeah. . . . And I said, ‘Well, I hope this is good for you, and I’m sorry you’re leaving.’ He was very nice and earnest about it.” (Note: There’s still no word on if Leno will visit Letterman.)

Report: NBC is in talks to revive The Maya Rudolph Show
Rudolph’s Lorne Michaels-produced special, which aired in May of last year, may get a 2nd chance as a companion to Neil Patrick Harris’ new variety show, according to Variety.

Melissa Rivers: Jay Leno snubbed me months after Joan Rivers’ death
Melissa Rivers says she ran into Leno — who carried on Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show ban on Joan Rivers — in December at an industry breakfast. As Melissa tells Howard Stern, “I walk in, and I’m standing, having a coffee in the reception area, and Jay…looks right at me, and looks away.”

Wheelchair-bound Price is Right contestant on winning a treadmill: “It’s hilarious, it’s the best”
Standup comedian Danielle Perez, who lost her legs in a 2004 accident, says of her viral moment: “I thought the day that I won it and experiencing that was the best day ever, but today, sharing it with everyone, it’s been incredible.”

TNT moves Legends to the fall
Season 2 has been pushed back from the summer to do a schedule change for Edward Burns’ 1960s-set police drama Public Morals.

Lifetime announces a “Broad Focus” initiative
The Lifetime project’s goal is to provide more women with opportunities behind the camera.

Justified and Olive Kitteridge lead Critics’ Choice Television Awards nominations
FX’s Justified earned the most nominations among regular series with five, including nods for Timothy Olyphant, Joelle Carter and Walton Goggins.

Sam Waterston: “There are a lot of moving parts” to reviving Law & Order
“I’ve heard that they will if they can. There are a lot of moving parts,” Waterston tells The Hollywood Reporter. “If they can get it all assembled I understand that the network would be pleased and happy, and I know Dick Wolf would.”

Bob Schieffer will leave Face the Nation earlier than expected, at the end of this month
The longtime CBS newsman was initially reported to be retiring this summer.

Comedy Central orders high school animated series Legends of Chamberlain Heights
The cartoon revolves around three high school freshman, two of which are inspired by former UCLA basketball players.

Watch tumbling Stephen Colbert and Amy Sedaris in a 1992 sketch
Colbert’s longtime collaborator Paul Dinello also joins them in this Second City sketch.

Check out a Google maps version of Game of Thrones‘ Westeros
A Redditor gives a modern sense of the HBO drama’s geography. PLUS: Jon Snow’s new sidekick can sing.

Bill Nye gets an Emoji Science web series
The Science Guy is teaming with G.E. to explain basic science concepts with emoji.

Vikings adds 3 new actors for Season 3
New cast members include Finnish actor Peter Franzen, who will play King Harald Finehair.

See a preview of America’s Got Talent‘s Willis Family’s new TLC show
Another mega-family is coming to TLC with reality show The Willis Family.

BBC America sets premiere date for Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
The seven-part miniseries set in 19th-century England debuts on June 13.

Jason Alexander is taking credit for discovering Taylor Swift
Turns out the former Seinfeld star directed Swift in the background of a 2007 Brad Paisley music video.

Happy 60th birthday, Tom Bergeron!
“60. It’s the new 59,” tweeted the Dancing with the Stars host, accompanied by an Instagram photo of him working out.

Why does Kevin Bacon have a fat face?
The internet has been buzzing about The Following star’s fat face since he posted a pic of it on Instagram, but so far his rep isn’t responding for comment.