The first joke at the top of the show was a three word phrase: "Poor David Frye."
This first episode of "Dennis Miller Live" was broadcast live within hours after the death of former President
Richard Nixon.
David Frye was an impressionist who became famous for his take on Nixon.
This joke was also a reference to
Lenny Bruce's first joke on the night of
John F. Kennedy's assassination in 1963. Lenny went on stage, and after a respectful silence, said "Man... poor Vaughn Meader".
Vaughn Meader was an impressionist who became famous for his impression of JFK. After the assassination, Mr. Meader's career never recovered, and he never did the impression again.