A FEW MONTHS AGO ,ONTHE DAVE LETTERMAN LATE SHOW,DAVE KEPT REMINDIING EVERYONE THAT MODEL RAILROADING IS THE GREATEST HOBBY IN THE WORLD......................does anyone know the reason behind why he kept mentioning it? he gave no further explanation.
Some times he repeats stuff as a way of trying to be humorous. Some times he's serious. Some times you can tell, other times you cannot. He's not known to be involved in the hobby, so I'd guess he was trying to lead an unknowing audience as being funny. But perhaps a few people heard him say that and became curious enough to take a look at this hobby....
Regardless of what the reason was for why he kept mentioning it, it is a GREAT way to get a plug in on national TV!
As I recall it, at the time it was clearly being inferred as a joke and there were long threads on several forums concerning the context. Let's face it, the use of such a phrase outside of the hobby itself does make for a pretty silly sounding statement in a society where each thinks their own interests/hobby pursuits are surely "the world's greatest hobby". NYW&B
None of the on-line bios I could find mentioned much beyond his love of theater, music and well known involvement in car racing. It would be interesting to know if he does collect Lionel. Such as what era and if he affilaliates with any of the organizations such as TCA.
While hardly to be taken as verified fact, the following link does make mention that Letterman might have been sighted in a popup Lionel store (around Christmastime perhaps?) buying some trains. However, before inferring too much from this, appreciate that he has a young son who would more likely be the recipient of any said trains. http://www.observer.com/2010/11/david-letterman-or-someone-he-knows-likes-trains/ NYW&B
