Jump to content
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Gluten Joke On Letterman Sept 19, '06


skbird

Recommended Posts

skbird Contributor

OK - last night I was up watching Late Show with David Letterman and right after his monologue, and he was seated at his desk, he made some joke, and then this random woman came out with a tray of food for him. (I've seen her before -recurring gag). Anyway, he looks at her and she says "it's pizza bread" and he looks at her and says "No thanks - I'm allergic to glue-tin" (big emphasis on the "glue" part). Now I could have just been imagining things but I'm 95% certain that's what he said.

That pissed me off. I mean, so it's a joke? Makes me feel discredited when I tell people I can't have it.

Did anyone else see it?

Stephanie


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Lauren M Explorer

I didn't see it, but I think I would all depend on the context of the joke. I normally like Letterman, though!

You know what they say, no such thing as bad publicity (I don't believe that, but at least we're hearing the word "gluten" in more common settings!) :rolleyes:

- Lauren

skbird Contributor

I think the thing that bothers me is so many people are learning about gluten that it's being perceived as a trend to be gluten free, and the underlying health condition is not being discussed. It's getting to the point in some places that it's "the new Atkins" which is not a favorable comparison.

Anyway, I do like Letterman, but that bothered me. My first reaction was wow - interesting joke - then, hmmm, at whose expense?

Stephanie

Nantzie Collaborator

Maybe he's discovered he actually has a problem with it? It's always possible...

Nancy

jerseyangel Proficient

Yes, the first thing I thought was--maybe he has a problem with gluten!

Lauren M Explorer
I think the thing that bothers me is so many people are learning about gluten that it's being perceived as a trend to be gluten free, and the underlying health condition is not being discussed. It's getting to the point in some places that it's "the new Atkins" which is not a favorable comparison.

Stephanie,

I think you're right about eating gluten-free becoming a "trend" - but I think this is because SO many people feel better on the gluten-free diet. Think about it, the diet is supposed to help autistics, and with the number of undiagnosed Celiacs out there, maybe this is a good trend. If people try the gluten-free lifestyle and notice how good they feel on it, sounds win-win to me. :)

- Lauren

Guest ~jules~
OK - last night I was up watching Late Show with David Letterman and right after his monologue, and he was seated at his desk, he made some joke, and then this random woman came out with a tray of food for him. (I've seen her before -recurring gag). Anyway, he looks at her and she says "it's pizza bread" and he looks at her and says "No thanks - I'm allergic to glue-tin" (big emphasis on the "glue" part). Now I could have just been imagining things but I'm 95% certain that's what he said.

That pissed me off. I mean, so it's a joke? Makes me feel discredited when I tell people I can't have it.

Did anyone else see it?

Stephanie

Nope I didn't see it, but I did want to comment on the misconception that being gluten free is a trend. My husband works with this guy who's wife and he eat only organic foods, so after my diagnosis my husband came home all excited about the gluten free diet. This is not my choice, I'ts not "cool or exciting " to me to have to eat this way, I have to. I think this is really hard for some people to grasp because of all the trendy eating out there these days. Its very annoying to me also...


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



VegasCeliacBuckeye Collaborator

any press is good press in my opinion...

LaurieAnn13 Newbie

I say at least it's publicity, something that may get people thinking. The way I see it, most jokes have the potential to offend someone. It's not really any different than a blonde joke or a gender joke.

Laurie :)

Canadian Karen Community Regular

Or a newfie joke....... :D;)B)

rinne Apprentice
Or a newfie joke....... :D;)B)

:lol::lol::lol:

I loved Newfoundland, it reminded me so much of my grandfather who came over when he was about twenty but never really left Ireland, if you know what I mean.

chrissy Collaborator

what's a newfie?

rinne Apprentice

:ph34r:

I was so distracted by my memories of Newfoundland that I forgot the thread topic.

I didn't see it but it sounds as if the underlying tone was one of ridicule, no big surprise there. I'm sure there are a lot of people who are refusing to eat gluten because they feel so much better when they don't. I'm equally sure there are a ton of people out there who know they would feel better if they quit eating gluten but they can live with how sick they are and would rather do that than change. I think it is great that it is becoming enough of an issue that it makes the Letterman Show. It means people are changing.

Does Letterman write his own jokes? I don't think so but I don't know.

floridanative Community Regular

David Letterman had shingles and the complication from it called postherpetic that I had in 2004 as well. Who knows, an infection that serious could easily trigger the Celiac gene so he could have it or not. I just know people with autoimmune diseases are at much more risk to get shingles than the average population.

rinne Apprentice

Floridanative, that is an interesting fact, thank you. Could he have been referring to himself?

Michi8 Contributor
Floridanative, that is an interesting fact, thank you. Could he have been referring to himself?

I wouldn't be surprised. He has been known to make jokes about himself and his health before...like when he had his bypass surgery.

Michelle

rinne Apprentice

I don't watch the show much but I have noticed him making fun of himself before so maybe he is just coming out of the gluten closet. :lol:

angel-jd1 Community Regular

I have to agree, any publicity is good publicity. Ok, well MOST publicity is good publicity :P

Letterman being gluten free, now THAT would be funny. He would always be complaining about the prices and the dry grittyness of prepackaged gluten-free foods :P

-Jessica :rolleyes:

bklynceliac Apprentice

it's a running gag. the other night he said he was allergic to pectin. just another letterman oddity.

jerseyangel Proficient
Letterman being gluten free, now THAT would be funny. He would always be complaining about the prices and the dry grittyness of prepackaged gluten-free foods :P

-Jessica :rolleyes:

Yes! Could you imagine :lol:

Or Jerry Seinfield--I'd love to hear his take on gluten-free foods! :D

2Boys4Me Enthusiast
what's a newfie?

Someone from Newfoundland/Labrador in Eastern Canada. According to the jokes, they are dumber than a roomful of Blondes.

No offense to anyone blonde or from Newfoundland. (Pronounced like NEWfinnLand)

CarlaB Enthusiast
Someone from Newfoundland/Labrador in Eastern Canada. According to the jokes, they are dumber than a roomful of Blondes.

No offense to anyone blonde or from Newfoundland. (Pronounced like NEWfinnLand)

Yea, yea, yea, pick on the blondes ... :P

DingoGirl Enthusiast

I've been watching Dave for as long as he's been on....just this year falling asleep too early most of the time. :angry: I don't think he's gluten-intolerant, but, he rarely discusses anything in his personal life....he has many writers who write most of the jokes but he does throw in his own goofy stuff. I think he's totally being silly in this case. It doesn't offend me, but, I happen to think he's one of the funniest and brightest humans alive.

Newfoundland...it sounds SO charming and remote.....what was that quirky novel I read that took place on that island, with a movie starring....Kevin Pollack maybe? think they found a dead body somewhere? other than that, the details are hazy....lots of fishing... :)

skbird Contributor
it's a running gag. the other night he said he was allergic to pectin. just another letterman oddity.

It made me want to run and gag!

I guess the problem I have with it is lately (last year or so) Letterman seems to have gotten a lot more random and not as on it with the humor as he used to be. My husband and I have a hard time watching him anymore but every so often I enjoy something on there so I still turn it on at times.

Odd is fine. I just felt mocked by it - maybe I'm overly-sensitive because I'm in the process of starting two new jobs and I keep having to explain the food thing to people and with Letterman's tone when he said it, it was just sort of rude.

Sorry I've lost my sense of humor these days...

Stephanie

DingoGirl Enthusiast

Stephanie I don't think you've lost your sense of humour. Letterman CAN be rude! he's a complete nut. But, I actually have seen Leno, who I thought was milder, harass and embarass people in a way that Letterman hasn't done in years and years (I think his quintuple bypass and birth of his son have mellowed him quite a bit). I missed the pectin joke....that waitress comes to his desk a lot and he says random stuff.

And, it is really tedious having to explain the gluten situation to people all the time - so I could see how you'd be sensitive to it.

why do *I* still think Dave is funny? :blink: maybe I'm stupid-er now....ha ha ha

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,609
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Gwen Gatzke
    Newest Member
    Gwen Gatzke
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):




  • Who's Online (See full list)


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      It seems like you have two choices--do a proper gluten challenge and get re-tested, or just go gluten-free because you already know that it is gluten that is causing your symptoms. In order to screen someone for celiac disease they need to be eating gluten daily, a lot of it--they usually recommend at least 2 slices of wheat bread daily for 6-8 weeks before a blood screening, and at least 2 weeks before an endoscopy (a colonoscopy is no used to diagnose celiac disease). Normally the blood panel is your first step, and if you have ANY positive results there for celiac disease the next step would be to take biopsies of your villi via an endoscopy given by a gastroenterologist.  More info on the blood tests and the gluten challenge beforehand is below: The article includes the "Mayo Clinic Protocol," which is the best overall protocol for results to be ~98% accurate. Here is more info about how to do a gluten challenge for a celiac disease blood panel, or for an endoscopy: and this recent study recommends 4-6 slices of wheat bread per day:   Not to discourage you from a formal diagnosis, but once you are diagnosed it may lead to higher life and medical insurance rates (things will be changing quickly in the USA with the ACA starting in 2026), as well as the need to disclose it on job applications. While I do think it's best to know for sure--especially because all of your first degree relatives should also get screened for it--I also want to disclose some negative possibilities around a formal diagnosis that you may want to also consider.  
    • Wheatwacked
      Yes.  Now, if you hit your finger with a hammer once, wouldn't you do your best not to do it again?  You have identified a direct connection between gluten and pain.  Gluten is your hammer.  Now you have to decide if you need a medical diagnosis.  Some countries have aid benefits tgat you can get if you have the diagnosis, but you must continue eating a gluten-normal diet while pursuing the diagnosis. Otherwise the only reason to continue eating gluten is social. There are over 200 symptoms that could be a result of celiac disease.. Celiac Disease and Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity  both cause multiple vitamin and mineral deficiency.  Dealing with that should help your recovery, even while eating gluten.  Phosphatidyl Choline supplements can help your gut if digesting fats is a problem,  Consider that any medications you take could be causing some of the symptoms, aside from gluten.        
    • trents
      Welcome to the forum, @Ben98! If you have been consciously or unconsciously avoiding gluten because of the discomfort it produces then it is likely that your blood antibody testing for celiac disease has been rendered invalid. Valid testing requires regular consumption of generous amounts of gluten. The other strong possibility is that you have NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity) which shares many of the same symptoms with celiac disease but does not have the autoimmune component and thus does not damage the small bowel lining. It is 10x mor common than celiac disease. There is currently no test for NCGS. Celiac disease must first be ruled out. Some experts in the field believe it can be a precursor to the development of celiac disease. Having one or both of the primary genes for developing celiac disease does not imply that you will develop active celiac disease. It simply establishes the potential for it. About 40% of the population has the genetic potential but only about 1% develop active celiac disease. 
    • Ben98
      TTG blood test and total IGA tested on many occasions which have always remained normal, upper GI pain under my ribs since 2022. I had an endoscopy in 2023 which showed moderate gastritis. no biopsy’s were taken unfortunately. genetic test was positive for HLADQ2. extreme bloating after eating gluten, it’ll feel like I’ve got bricks in my stomach so uncomfortably full. the pain is like a dull ache under the upper left almost like a stitch feeling after a long walk. I am just wanting some advice has anyone here experienced gastritis with a gluten issue before? thank you  
    • Wheatwacked
      "Conclusions: The urinary iodine level was significantly lower in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis, and iodine replacement may be important in preventing osteoporosis"  Body iodine status in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis Low iodine can cause thyroid problems, but Iodine deficiency will not show up in thyroid tests.  Iodine is important for healing, its job is to kill off defective and aging cells (Apoptosis). Skin, brain fog, nails, muscle tone all inproved when I started taking 600 mcg (RDA 150 - 1000 mcg) of Liquid Iodine drops. Some with dermatitis herpetiformis, Iodine exacerbates the rash.  I started at 1 drop (50 mcg) and worked up to 12 drops, but I don't have dermatitis herpetiformis.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.