12/16/03--cbsnews.com
(CBS) Deposed dictator Saddam Hussein may be feared and reviled by millions, but to late night talk show hosts, he's a gift from God. The Early Show Correspondent Tracy Smith stayed up late Monday night to watch.
On Comedy Central's "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," Stewart joked: "Saddam Hussein has been captured and I'm sure by now everybody knows that, unless you were living in a hole."
It was like they hit the comedic mother lode.
On the CBS "Late Show with David Letterman," Letterman noted: "Saddam Hussein just gave himself up. Hell, Michael Jackson put up more of a fight."
At the "Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn," Kilborn simply wondered: "Saddam Hussein, after he was captured got a full medical exam and treatment. How does it feel to know the 'Butcher of Baghdad' got a flu shot before you?"
All night, it was one laugh after another at Saddam's expense.
Letterman also brought out video of the capture: "Here's how they're trying to spin the capture of Saddam Hussein: On Saturday, U.S. troops captured Saddam Hussein, or is it? (Saddam's video was altered shown in a Santa outfit) Bush arrested Santa! (Followed by a picture of Howard Dean) Paid for by Howard Dean 2004."
At "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," Leno had his fun as well, showing a video of himself inspecting Saddam's mouth. Leno: "No weapons of mass destruction in there."
He even looked funny when they found him. And he was in a hole.
Leno: "He was captured in a hole under a farmhouse, the Iraqi version of 'The Simple Life.'"
Letterman's Top Ten: "And the No.1 question asked by Saddam when he was captured: 'will you go easy on me if I tell you where Martha Stewart is hiding?'"
This isn't the first time Saddam has been the butt of late night comedy: He's made David Letterman's Top Ten lists since the last Gulf War. But his capture has given his legacy an ironic turn: a man who caused millions of people so much pain, now giving us all something to laugh about.
Stewart: "Doctors checked Saddam for lice and pronounced him a member of the 'Need-A-Bath party. Heyoooo."
It may be the final humiliation for Saddam, whose regime is ending not with a wimper, but with a gag.
Jimmy Kimmel from ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live: "They got him. They captured Rupert from Survivor, ther he is. (Picture of Saddam.)"
