Late Show with David Letterman

Name: Late Show with David Letterman
Genre: Talk, Comedy
Rating: 6.4
Cast: David Letterman, Paul Shaffer, Alan Kalter

1993

★★★☆☆ 6.4/10

📺 22 Seasons

🎬 4252 Episodes

📅 Ended

🌐 EN

⏱️ 63 min/episode

TalkComedy

Late Show with David Letterman is an American late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and is produced by Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated and CBS Television Studios. The show's music director and band-leader of the house band, the CBS Orchestra, is Paul Shaffer. The head writer is Matt Roberts and the announcer is Alan Kalter. Of the major U.S. late-night programs, Late Show ranks second in cumulative average viewers over time and third in number of episodes over time. The show leads other late night shows in ad revenue with $271 million in 2009. In most U.S. markets the show airs at 11:35 p.m. Eastern/Pacific time, but is recorded Monday through Wednesday at 4:30 p.m., and Thursdays at 3:30 p.m and 6:00 p.m. The second Thursday episode usually airs on Friday of that week. In 2002, Late Show with David Letterman was ranked No. 7 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time. CBS has a contract with Worldwide Pants to continue the show through 2014; by then, Letterman will surpass Johnny Carson as the longest tenured late-night talk show host.

Seasons

Season 1

1993 • 219 Episodes

Tom Brokaw shows up to take back some NBC ""intellectual property;"" Dave shows off the renovated Ed Sullivan Theater and chats with Bill Murray.

Season 2

1994 • 220 Episodes

Season 3

1995 • 210 Episodes

Dave grills his new announcer, making him do voiceovers throughout the show (including #1 on the top ten list).

Season 4

1996 • 213 Episodes

Dave gives a ham to an audience member named Bud Perchinski, who later assumes control of one of the cameras. Later, Flea (from Red Hot Chili Peppers) and Jewel Kilcher perform a duet.

Season 5

1997 • 203 Episodes

Dave shows highlights from the annual Labor Day staff cookout on 53rd Street; Terry Bradshaw and stagehand Corky Ramirez both inexplicably break into song.

Season 6

1998 • 213 Episodes

During a segment comparing President Clinton's vacation to Dave's, a stockbroker comes in for a hug.

Season 7

1999 • 196 Episodes

Dave rants about the CBS/Viacom merger; Kevin James promotes a new comedy special.

Season 8

2000 • 197 Episodes

Dave shows that he has a bandaged finger, claiming that he got a poison gas sensor alarm at his house over the weekend. He later breaks down, admitting that he cut his finger making potato salad.

Season 9

2001 • 208 Episodes

Dave announces that instead of "whatever," from now on he will be saying "wherever"; during a segment called "While We Were Out," the male staff members commemorate a minor design change on the stage by sitting in Dave's chair buck naked; Will Ferrell makes a threating message in song to Barbra Streisand.

Season 10

2002 • 187 Episodes

Dave mentions that a street is being named after Paul in his hometown of Thunder Bay, Ontario. Later, Dave plays ""How Many Guys in Alien Suits Can Fit Into a Coffee Shop?""

Season 11

2003 • 189 Episodes

Dave chats with Stephanie about a (supposed) incident that occurred over the weekend; Alan makes a suggestive offer to Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao; Al Franken promotes his new book.

Season 12

2004 • 193 Episodes

Dave points out that CBS is airng stock footage of a guy wresting an ostrich to compete with NBC's Olympic coverage; director Chris Kentis promotes Open Water; ""Still Standing"" star Renee Olstead performs a scorching rendition of ""Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby.""

Season 13

2005 • 197 Episodes

Season 14

2006 • 199 Episodes

Travis Pastrana - Andy Kidler - Baby Gramps

Season 15

2007 • 168 Episodes

Former President Bill Clinton plugs his new book and explains why he can't be his wife's running mate; Patti Scialfa performed "A Town Called Heartbreak."

Season 16

2008 • 200 Episodes

Nicolas Cage, Anna Torv, and Terrence Howard are the scheduled guests.

Season 17

2009 • 245 Episodes

Dave makes an unusual offer to Moammar Khadafi; throughout the night, Dock Diving Dogs make a splash out on 53rd Street; Howie Mandel explains the origins of his obsessive-compulsive disorder; The Dirty Projectors performed "Cannibal Resource."

Season 18

2011 • 181 Episodes

Season 19

2012 • 178 Episodes

Season 20

2013 • 179 Episodes

Comic Kathy Griffin; from "Zero Dark Thirty", actor Chris Pratt; Big Boi performs.

Season 21

2014 • 118 Episodes

From "Girls", creator and actress Lena Dunham; from "New Girl", actor Max Greenfield; musical guest Brandy Clark.

Season 22

2014 • 139 Episodes