Late Night with David Letterman

1982-1993
12 seasons
NBC
Comedy, Music, Talk & Interview
TV-PG

David Letterman hosted this popular late-night comedy/talk-show. Often, Dave would go on location or to the phone lines to play pranks. Some famous features of the show include the "Top Ten" lists and "Stupid Pet Tricks" (complete with slow-mo). Fans of the show will also remember Dave's use of unusual camera placements (Sky-Cam, Guest-Cam, etc.) and Dave's supporting cast (Paul Shaffer, Chris Elliott, Larry Bud Melman). Many famous guests and bands appeared on the show.

1982-1993
12 seasons
NBC
Comedy, Music, Talk & Interview
TV-PG

D'Oh! David Spade Turned Down David Letterman's Late Night Gig

Why'd he say no?

Thu, Nov 5, 2015

D'Oh! David Spade Turned Down David Letterman's Late Night Gig

The Top 10 Most Memorable David Letterman Moments

Drew! Madonna! Joaquin! And more!

Sat, May 16, 2015

The Top 10 Most Memorable David Letterman Moments

Emmy Watch: How the Late Night Upheaval Could Shake Up the Variety Series Competition

When Johnny Carson signed off from The Tonight Show in 1992, his reign as the King of Late Night was celebrated with an Emmy win for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series. Granted, the competition that year was sparse: Fox's sketch-comedy show In Living Color and NBC's Late Night with David Letterman were the only others nominated. This year, as newly retired Tonight Show host Jay Leno attempts to secure one final nomination in the category now known as...

Wed, May 21, 2014

Emmy Watch: How the Late Night Upheaval Could Shake Up the Variety Series Competition

David Letterman to Retire from Late Show in 2015

David Letterman will retire from The Late Show in 2015, he announced during his Thursday night show. "I phoned [CBS President and CEO Leslie Mooves] just before the program, and I said 'Leslie, it's been great, you've been great, and the network has been great, but...

Thu, Apr 3, 2014

David Letterman to Retire from Late Show in 2015

Bill Murray Is Returning to The Late Show for 20th Anniversary

Bill Murray, who was the first guest on The Late Show with David Letterman when it premiered in 1993, will return to the show to celebrate its 20th anniversary later this month. Murray will make his 26th guest appearance on Thursday, Aug. 29, CBS announcedMonday. Murray was also the first guest on David Letterman's Late Night show when it premiered in 1982.

Mon, Aug 26, 2013

Bill Murray Is Returning to The Late Show for 20th Anniversary

Exclusive: TV Writers Choose the 101 Best-Written Shows Ever; What Was No. 1?

Bada bing! The Writers Guild of America has named HBO's The Sopranos, created by David Chase, the best-written TV series of all time. Members of the WGA's West and East coast chapters — folks who obviously know a thing or two about writing TV shows — evaluated hundreds of dramas, comedies, miniseries (six hours or more), daytime serials, animation, variety series, talk shows and kids' programs to come up with an unprecedented, exhaustive list of TV's top 101.

Mon, Jun 3, 2013

Exclusive: TV Writers Choose the 101 Best-Written Shows Ever; What Was No. 1?

David Letterman Rips "Crazy" Tonight Show Succession Plan: "What Are They Thinking?"

Shortly after NBC announced that Jimmy Fallon would be taking over The Tonight Show from Jay Leno next year, David Letterman got a phone call. But the call wasn't from Leno, Fallon or even Conan O'Brien. "I got a call from my mom today. She says, 'Well, David, I see you...

Wed, Apr 3, 2013

David Letterman Rips "Crazy" Tonight Show Succession Plan: "What Are They Thinking?"

Today in America's Got Talent Oddities: Watch Twiggy, the Waterskiing Squirrel

During America's Got Talent's arduous audition process, viewers inevitably get tired of watching contestants sing/dance/tell bad jokes/etc. (Imagine how the judges feel!)

Wed, Jun 13, 2012

Today in America's Got Talent Oddities: Watch Twiggy, the Waterskiing Squirrel

Conan O'Brien to Appear on Letterman for First Time in 13 Years

Conan O'Brien is heading to Late Night with David Letterman for the first time in 13 years. It should be an interesting sit-down, to say the least. The two have a lengthy history, as O'Brien took over Letterman's Late Night spot in 1993.

Thu, May 10, 2012

Conan O'Brien to Appear on Letterman for First Time in 13 Years

Adam Lambert Performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Scrapped

More than a week after Adam Lambert's daring, S&M-themed performance at the American Music Awards on ABC, Lambert's upcoming performance on the network's Jimmy Kimmel Live! has been...

Thu, Dec 3, 2009

Adam Lambert Performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Scrapped

Female Writer Recalls Hostile Workplace at Late Night; Calls for More Diversity

One of the few women to write for Late Night with David Letterman recalls a hostile, sexually charged workplace when she worked for the show in the late '80s. In a first-person piece for Vanity Fair

Tue, Oct 27, 2009

Female Writer Recalls Hostile Workplace at Late Night; Calls for More Diversity

Sanjaya's Late Night Visit

It's been less than a week since Sanjaya Malakar was booted off American Idol, but the 17-year-old high-school dropout has further solidified his iconic status by presenting the Late Show with David Lettermans top-10 list Monday night. Some of the things he said he "learned" from his time on Idol were No. 10 "The camera adds 10 pounds to your mohawk" and No. 5 "Voting for yourself 100 times an hour causes some wicked carpal tunnel."Paul Shaffer effusively declared Malakars appearance a triumph. We got him! Hes ours! Shaffer said. He was, at least for the night, theirs. But Malakar continues to move on.Malakar has quickly gone from a Seattle-based unknown to a certified celebrity, despite being roundly reviled as untalented by critics.The night after he was voted off (leaving six remaining  and far less familiar  contestants to vie for Idols top prize) he was a guest on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and performed in a skit opposite a t...

Tue, Apr 24, 2007

Letterman's Calvert "Larry Bud" DeForest Dead at 85

Entertainer Calvert DeForest, perhaps best known for the "Larry 'Bud' Melman" character he played on David Letterman's late-night NBC and CBS talk shows off and on for some 20 years, died on Monday, at age 85. Says Letterman in a statement, "Everyone always asked if Calvert was an actor playing a character, but in reality he was just himself  a genuine, modest and nice man. He was a beloved part of our show, and we will miss him."

Thu, Mar 22, 2007