The Late Show with David Letterman

On August 31st, 1993, my mother made me, (then ten years old) stay up way past my bedtime to watch a new TV show air on CBS. I watched through bleary eyes as a gap-tooth comedian ushered in a new era of entertainment over at the Columbia Broadcasting Station. I became a fan of David Letterman. Five years later, and I can still remember some of the monolouge from that night, as well as some other stuff that happened on that first show.

Letterman ('Dave' to his fans) ran a little show over at NBC called Late Night (now hosted by Conan O'Brien) for eleven-and-a-half-years. He left after losing the Tonight Show to Jay Leno. There was a time when I never missed The Late Show. In honor of that, I've put together this little introduction to the series, and I'll try to explain why it appeals to me so much.

To really explain the whole Late Show experiance, I guess you have to know a few things about it's host, David Letterman. This former weatherman hails from Indiana, and always wanted to be on TV. He became a stand-up comic after the weatherman gig bounced, and began making some really terrific stand-up performances on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Guest hosting duties and a failed morning show later, Letterman became the host of Late Night with David Letterman in 1981.

David Letterman had grown up watching The Tonight Show when it was hosted first by Steve Allen, Jack Parr, and then for thirty years by Johnny Carson. It was a childhood dream for Dave to take over the hosting duties of this age-old show, and Carson agreed. He was good friends with David Letterman, and thought Letterman would be a terrific host of The Tonight Show. Everyone was happy, and letting Dave take over for Johnny as he retired in '92 was a considered to be a good thing all around. However, evil forces within NBC (namely, executives) decided that since Late Night pulled high ratings, they would keep Dave on his show and give The Tonight Show to Jay Leno.

Leno had been a regular guest-host on The Tonight Show, and was frieds with Dave. Johnny Carson didn't like this idea, since he really thought Dave should inherit the show. Sadly, Carson didn't have much sway with NBC execs. Dave was crushed when he heard Jay Leno would host The Tonight Show instead of himself, and left NBC to do a new show at an earlier time on CBS. With his new network and time, Letterman constantly beat Leno in the Late-Night ratings war for a few years, nabbing all the big-time guests and coming up with the funniest comedic bits.

The good times for Dave couldn't last. Once again, foces were conspiring to bring Letterman down. Okay, who rememebers Hugh Grant? And that little...situation, where Hugh and a hooker did some very naughty stuff in the backseat of Grant's car on Sunset Blvd? Well, after that story broke, Hugh Grant appeared on Jay Leno's show (part of a previously-schedualed guest appearance) and Hugh made his appologies for the incident. Since that dark day in late '95, Leno has pulled higher ratings then Dave.

When the ratings for his show began to slip, Dave panicked, I think, and began coming up with lame bits and cruely fired a long-time writer on the show. The Late Show is still funny, but the style of humor featured isn't my style. I just respond better to the 'stupid stuff' on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. If you can't stand Leno (most people can't) give Letterman a test-run.
I doubt you'll be disapointed.

That said, I guess I should start making with the funny. Hands-down, the best thing on The Late Show is the Top Ten List. My personal favorite is this Late Show top ten, the second such list ever to be seen on Dave's CBS show.

"Top Ten Signs Your New Job Isn't Working Out

10. You have a desk, but no chair.
9. Co-workers always punching you in the stomach.
8. You see CBS Chairman Larry Tisch having dinner with Conan O'Brien.
7. You get stung by a bee (not really a sign your new job isn't working out, but just as upsetting).
6. You work for NASA and your title is "Executive in Charge of Space Probe Quality Control."
5. After work, you go nuts and throw firecrackers into a crowd of people.
4. Your company physical is scheduled with Dr. Jack Kevorkian.
3. People start saying maybe they should have elected your wife Hillary president.
2. In your one-page performance report, the word "sucks" appears twelve times.
1. Your office nickname: 'Deadwood.'"

Classic recurring characters, like Larry 'Bud' Melvin and stage manager Biff Henderson round out the solid comedic talents of Letterman and faithful sidekick Paul Shaffer, the music director. The show airs at 11:35 on CBS. Check it out. On to more whoreings!

Offical CBS Site This is one of the few good CBS websites. A nice Top Ten list archive as well as info on upcoming guests, and many comedic bits round out the site. This is a great Letterman resource.
The Unoffical Late Show Page An excellent Dave source, with tons of screengrabs and information on the show.

All images and quoted material copyright