Why did David Letterman send his mother to Norway in 1994?

During the 1994 Winter Games in Lillehammer, the media landscape was completely saturated with the intense and scandalous figure skating rivalry between Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding. Rather than sending a traditional sports journalist to cover the events for the Late Show, David Letterman decided on a brilliant piece of counter-programming. He sent his own mother, Dorothy Mengering, to act as the show's special correspondent.

Dorothy's role was not to provide expert analysis but to offer a wholesome, funny, and refreshingly normal perspective from the heart of a media circus. With her charming, down-to-earth Midwestern personality, she interviewed athletes, locals, and even then-First Lady Hillary Clinton. Her gentle and sincere segments were a hilarious and welcome contrast to the sensationalism dominating the news.

The assignment was a massive success, turning "Dave's Mom" into a beloved, recurring television personality. She would go on to cover two more Olympic Games for the Late Show and frequently appeared in segments from her home in Indiana, solidifying her status as a fan-favorite and a unique part of late-night television history.