Although the basic format of silent ventriloquist and garrulous dummy never changed, he was able to prevent the act becoming tired by making sure that Charlie's material was always excellent.
No matter what modicum of positive change he is able to achieve, we will regrettably remain a country where most people don't read a newspaper, can't name the individuals who represent them in Congress, and can't find Iraq on a map -- even after a dozen years at war there.
"Shinseki represented a change over what came before, but the world wanted more change than he was able to deliver in the time frame that he had," Thompson says.
"His whole essence changed because he was able to understand himself from the side, to see his sins from the side".
They left him feeling like he was in a stupor but his life changed after he was able to start smoking (and later eating) a small amount of marijuana.
"I just think with these things, there could be a 15, 20-year cycle before we see the real impact, certainly of what Tiger has been able to do to the game and some of the changes he's been able to make," he said.
If the opposition changed plans, then he was able to adapt on the field, work out what we needed to do to get the ball back, and I think that's what he's done with us here".
"TV has changed so radically since he was able to make those programmes with such authority, it's not possible.
"Anybody in their right mind would have said, 'You don't change this kid.' He was able to dominate major league baseball to this point".
The commission, he said, changed his life because he was able to use the G.I. Bill of Rights to get a college degree in mathematics from Oberlin College in Ohio and a master's degree in journalism from the University of Minnesota.
