Flunky was your typical depressive clown -- chain-smoking and despondent, a sufferer of prostate problems prone to those in the circus arts. Played by writer Jeff Martin, Late Night viewers could always count on Flunky to dump a bucket of ice water on whatever fun might be commencing. The only reason Flunky got into clowning at all was to meet babes, but “it turns out most women think clown makeup looks kinda gross, especially when you sweat.”
Martin went on to write for The Simpsons, presumably penning episodes that featured Krusty, another chain-smoking clown with a bad attitude. Krusty appeared before Martin joined the staff, but after Flunky debuted on Letterman. Coincidence? We’ll let the Reddit boards fight it out.