OK. Tell me again...what is with the cape and Paul Schaeffer on Letterman?

[PinkTiger]

I know it is some reference to a famous person or band, but I'm really out of the loop here and I forgot. Help? Anyone?
(Thanks in advance, oh great DU geniuses!)

[kayleybeth]

1. I give up. -eom-

[otohara]

2. It's A Spoof on James Brown

James Brown would sing and someone would come with the cape and help him walk out - but he would break away several times and resume singing

[Cooley Hurd]

3. Paul does an imitation of James Brown...

...and the "don-the-cape-then-discard-the-cape" thing was/is a part of Brown's act. They've expanded on the gag by using "guest-valets" like Wolf Blitzer and Regis Philbin. It's always done on the Friday shows...

[alphafemale]

4. That seems tired, stilted and almost sad

not funny in any way.

[Guaranteed]

5. Yeah...I saw John Malkovich once....

and...man...who else...?? There was someone else that was really obscure...