"Late Night with David Letterman" (1982) TV series 1982-1993

Writers:

Tracy Abbott (writer)
Ted Greenberg (writer) (episode)

Seasons:

1 | 11 | unknown

Release Date:

1 February 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Music | Talk-Show

Plot:

David Letterman hosted this popular late-night comedy/talk-show. Often, Dave would go on location or to the phone lines to play pranks...

Plot Keywords:

New York City | Run Over By A Steamroller | Cult Favorite | Cult TV | Telephone Prank

Awards:

Won 5 Primetime Emmys. Another 4 wins & 37 nominations

Cast

David Letterman

...

Himself - Host / ... (276 episodes, 1982-1993)

Runtime:

60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Carson Productions

Trivia:

At least three people called David Letterman "an asshole" on this show. Cher was the first: "Late Night with David Letterman: (1986-05-22)" (1986). Shirley MacLaine was the second: "Late Night with David Letterman: (1988-10-04)" (1988). Calvert DeForest, aka Larry 'Bud' Melman, was the third in August 1989.

Quotes:

Larry "Bud" Melman: Good evening. Certain NBC executives feel it would be a little unkind to present this show without just a word of friendly warning. We're about to unfold a show featuring David Letterman, a man of science who sought to create a show after his own image -- without reckoning upon God...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "30 Rock: Jack-Tor (#1.5)" (2006)

Best talk show ever,...for the first seasons only

I will freely admit that this show owed a lot of its silliness to its predecessors--especially Steve Allen's TONIGHT SHOW--who was the first to do many of the things Letterman later did (such as the jello vat). But, despite this, it was a relatively fresh and very funny show---complete with lots of funny things above and beyond the celebrity interviews. Who can forget "Monkey Cam"--a chimp on roller skates zipping around the skit on ramps? Or Chris Elliot's "MAN UNDER THE STAIRS" or "THE FUGITIVE GUY"? Or Dave walking around the city and meeting "Mr. Eggroll" and his wife "Mrs. Eggroll" and then stopping for PIZZADONUTS?! Or the wonderful Christmas presents created by his staff--I especially loved the "rabid dog shave cream dispenser" and the "Joe Theisman pencil sharpener"--complete with his broken leg as the crank! But, after a while, he just looked pretty grumpy and did self-parody. It was like he was "phoning in the episodes" and the banter between him and the horribly unfunny Paul Shaffer was just becoming tedious. And for me, as Letterman's interest waned, so did mine. Stick to the first few seasons.