David S. Weiss
Encyclopedia
David S. Weiss is an American comedy writer. He has written for Dennis Miller Live
, CNBC's "Dennis Miller", The Late, Late Show with Craig Kilborn
, and Penn & Teller: Bullshit!. In 2005, he ran unsuccessfully for the Writers Guild of America
board of directors.
From March 2007, he was Dennis Miller
's talk radio
sidekick on The Dennis Miller Show, where he was referred to as "Salman," or "Sal". Miller assigned Weiss the moniker early in their time working together, due to his purported resemblance to Sir Salman Rushdie. He was also referred to as "Count Dracu-sal
" and an eerie organ music cue (Johann Sebastian Bach
's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor) was played whenever he made funny and/or cryptic remarks that reflected his penchant for black comedy
. Miller also frequently referred to "Sal" as his "go-to Jew", when he needed some inside information on Jewish culture and customs. Weiss is a banjo
player. On February 17, 2009, after not missing a radio show for the first two years, Dennis Miller nicknamed the dark-humored comic the "Cal Ripken of Hate". During the February 22nd, 2010 show, it was announced on air Weiss would be leaving the show February 26 to pursue other opportunities.
He is married to television writer and story editor Joan Binder Weiss
.
Dennis Miller Live
Dennis Miller Live is a weekly talk show on HBO, hosted by comedian Dennis Miller. The show ran 215 episodes from 1994 to 2002, and received five Emmy awards, plus an additional 11 Emmy nominations...
, CNBC's "Dennis Miller", The Late, Late Show with Craig Kilborn
The Late Late Show (CBS TV series)
The Late Late Show is an American late-night television talk and variety show on CBS hosted by Craig Ferguson since 2005. It immediately follows Late Show with David Letterman and is produced by Letterman's Worldwide Pants Incorporated...
, and Penn & Teller: Bullshit!. In 2005, he ran unsuccessfully for the Writers Guild of America
Writers Guild of America
The Writers Guild of America is a generic term referring to the joint efforts of two different US labor unions:* The Writers Guild of America, East , representing TV and film writers East of the Mississippi....
board of directors.
From March 2007, he was Dennis Miller
Dennis Miller
Dennis Miller is an American stand-up comedian, political commentator, actor, sports commentator, and television and radio personality. He is known for his critical assessments laced with pop culture references...
's talk radio
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
sidekick on The Dennis Miller Show, where he was referred to as "Salman," or "Sal". Miller assigned Weiss the moniker early in their time working together, due to his purported resemblance to Sir Salman Rushdie. He was also referred to as "Count Dracu-sal
Dracula
Dracula is an 1897 novel by Irish author Bram Stoker.Famous for introducing the character of the vampire Count Dracula, the novel tells the story of Dracula's attempt to relocate from Transylvania to England, and the battle between Dracula and a small group of men and women led by Professor...
" and an eerie organ music cue (Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor) was played whenever he made funny and/or cryptic remarks that reflected his penchant for black comedy
Black comedy
A black comedy, or dark comedy, is a comic work that employs black humor or gallows humor. The definition of black humor is problematic; it has been argued that it corresponds to the earlier concept of gallows humor; and that, as humor has been defined since Freud as a comedic act that anesthetizes...
. Miller also frequently referred to "Sal" as his "go-to Jew", when he needed some inside information on Jewish culture and customs. Weiss is a banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
player. On February 17, 2009, after not missing a radio show for the first two years, Dennis Miller nicknamed the dark-humored comic the "Cal Ripken of Hate". During the February 22nd, 2010 show, it was announced on air Weiss would be leaving the show February 26 to pursue other opportunities.
He is married to television writer and story editor Joan Binder Weiss
Joan Binder Weiss
Joan Binder Weiss is an American television screenwriter and producer.Most notably, Weiss has written several episodes for both Gilmore Girls and Everwood, although other writing credits include episodes for Inconceivable, Journeyman, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, Grace Under Fire, Summerland and the...
.