Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton gives a preview of her appearance on "The Late Show with David Letterman." Letterman brought in the mayor, Kirby Puckett, and residents of Minneapolis as part of a running thematic series on his show of highlighting various cities across the country.
[MUSIC PLAYING] JOHN RABE: 5:20, it's All Things Considered. I'm John Rabe. Artificial snow fell throughout the Ed Sullivan Theater after late night TV host David Letterman thanked the crowd for an ovation, which he said lasted as long as summer in Minnesota. It was the first of many jokes with a Minnesota flavor. After all, the entire audience of 461 people had been flown in from the Twin Cities to tape Late Night With David Letterman for tonight's broadcast. Minneapolis mayor Sharon Sayles Belton was among them, and she joins us on the line. Good evening, Mayor.
SHARON SAYLES BELTON: Good evening. How are you?
JOHN RABE: Not bad.
SHARON SAYLES BELTON: Oh, good.
JOHN RABE: I haven't been on The David Letterman Show. You were there. What was it like?
SHARON SAYLES BELTON: Oh, it was just fantastic. It was fantastic. First, I've got to say that the Minnesota crowd, the Minneapolis crowd, was absolutely wonderful. They were enthusiastic and just pleased to be in New York City.
JOHN RABE: What was the point of the show? Why did he bring everybody in?
SHARON SAYLES BELTON: Well, you know what? I think that, as I understand it, he's been selecting some great cities across the United States that he's wanted to feature on his show, and Minneapolis was one of those great cities.
JOHN RABE: All right. Did the movie Fargo have anything to do with it, do you think?
SHARON SAYLES BELTON: I don't think Fargo had anything to do with it. I think it had everything to do with the vitality of Minneapolis. I want you to know that everything great about Minnesota was attributed to our city. And it was just wonderful. And the crowd went along with it. It was wonderful.
JOHN RABE: How'd Kirby do?
SHARON SAYLES BELTON: Oh, Kirby. Kirby was--
JOHN RABE: He did the top 10 list.
SHARON SAYLES BELTON: He did the top 10 list. I gotta tell you something about Kirby. He is a natural. He was just perfect. He was spoofing him and spoofing his name and all that.
JOHN RABE: Engelpuck Kirbydink was one of the--
SHARON SAYLES BELTON: That's my favorite, Engelpuck Kirbydink. And when he came out off the stage, we were all in the green room together. And I teased him about it, and I said, Kirby, that's the one that I'm going to remember. In fact, I'm going to have the whole top 10 list framed and put in my office.
JOHN RABE: Did you make it on the actual show?
SHARON SAYLES BELTON: Yes, I made it on the actual show. My job was to come out and to give David Letterman the top 10 list, right? And so they told me, they said, Mayor, just go out and hand him the list and wave to the crowd. Well, of course I go out there to try to do that. Just walk out, give him the list. And then he starts moving towards me. And then he gets in front of me. And this guy, he kisses my hand like I'm the Queen or something. It's unbelievable. He's just so wonderful. It was great. And the crowd screams, and it was just wonderful.
JOHN RABE: If they're going to give Mr. Coleman a shot to get his hand kissed?
SHARON SAYLES BELTON: I don't know. Does Norm Coleman really want to get his hand kissed by David Letterman? That's the question.
JOHN RABE: All right. Well, thanks for joining us.
SHARON SAYLES BELTON: It was wonderful.
JOHN RABE: Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton on the line, actually from the State Capitol. And you could watch the David Letterman Show, if you like, tonight at 10:35 on Channel 4. Remember the Minnesota--
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