Choosing the right guests isn't easy, since silliness is definitely in the eye of the beholder. Susan Hall Sheehan, who books the monthly segment, hears from lots of high schools, humane societies, clubs and bars that have held their own stupid pet trick contest. Video has replaced auditions as the major source of candidates, and some of the submissions are strange, to say the least. The rats needed a little help staying on their feet, since they were dead. Sheehan automatically rejects a trick if the pet seems not to be enjoying the experience.
Humans are relatively free to abuse themselves once they sign a release.
When a guest appeared who stopped an electric-fan blade with his tongue, Letterman took the precaution of warning the audience not to try duplicating the feat at home. He also had the guest explain how he'd painstakingly developed his talent for three years, beginning by stopping a desk fan with his finger. Finding the civilian guests requires more research for the simple reason that those who believe they're absolutely perfect for Late Night usually aren't. Madeleine Smithberg, a Late Night talent coordinator responsible for civilian recruitment, also collects brochures from fairs and festivals, which she occasionally visits in person. People have a semireligious fervor about their gourds.