First Aired: August 30th, 1993
Status: Ended
Network: CBS
Summary: 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.
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Season 15
Episode 2: Danny DeVito, Larry David, Avril Lavigne
Air Date: September 5th, 2007
Summary: Dave apologizes to Sue Hum for a pre-show accident; the show is interrupted by a performance of "Mark Twain Tonight!" starring Johnny Dark; Danny Devito plugs his new restaurant; Larry David (in his very first Late Show appearance) comments on Dave's hair; Avril Lavigne performs "When You're Gone."
Episode 3: Jessica Alba, George Saunders, The Manchester Orchestra
Air Date: September 6th, 2007
Summary: In the midst of a citywide taxi strike, a cab is seen carrying people on the its roof and front hood; Biff makes a feeble attempt at seeing Jessica Alba in person; George Saunders plugs his new book; Manchester Orchestra (in their network television debut) performs "Wolves at Night."
Episode 6: Dr. Phil McGraw, Andy Kindler, Suzanne Vega
Air Date: September 11st, 2007
Summary: Prior to the show, Jude Brennan confronts Dr. Phil about Dave's "psychotic tendencies"; Deborah Lynn loses yet again on "Psychic Sandwich"; during his interview with Dave, Dr. Phil discusses at length the reasoning behind celebrity bad behavior; Suzanne Vega performed "Anniversary."
Episode 9: Regis Philbin, Chamillionaire
Air Date: September 14th, 2007
Summary: Dave does an impression of Tony's reaction to an inaccurate monologue joke; Regis critiques' Dave's recent appearance on Oprah and plugs the 20th anniversary of his talk show; Chamillionaire (with a sizable string section) performed "Hip Hop Police."
Episode 17: Alec Baldwin, Faith Hill
Air Date: October 3rd, 2007
Summary: Throughout the night, Late Show interns attempt to parallel-park on 53rd Street; Dave reads "Top Ten Signs Your Team Isn't Going To Win the World Series" out of order; Alec Baldwin plugs "30 Rock" and gives parallel parking a shot; Faith Hill performed "Stronger."
Episode 22: Stephen Colbert, Eva Mendes, Queens of the Stone Age
Air Date: October 10th, 2007
Summary: A canned ham is almost given to an audience member; the "f*** you" guy brags about a winning lottery ticket; Stephen Colbert discusses "roughing it" and plugs his new book; Queens of the Stone Age perform "3's and 7's."
Episode 24: Halle Berry, Bill Hader, Spring Snake Symphony
Air Date: October 12nd, 2007
Summary: A pregnant Halle Berry plugs Things We Lost In The Fire and shows a 3-D ultrasound image that resembles Dave. Also, Eric Buss and his "Spring Snake Symphony" (375 snakes-in-a-can) perform Strauss' "The Blue Danube."
Episode 27: Rebecca Romijn, Jimmie Walker, LeAnn Rimes
Air Date: October 17th, 2007
Summary: Dave (amongst others) discusses a fire in the theater basement that occured earlier that day; staff writer Bill Scheft comments on the possible writers' strike; Jimmie "JJ" Walker explains the differences between the BET and TV Land Awards; LeAnn Rimes performed "Nothin' Better To Do."
Episode 29: Amanda Peet, Patrick Warburton, Jeff Caldwell
Air Date: October 19th, 2007
Summary: Mac n' cheese is the latest food item that Sue Hum offers Dave (and promptly rejects); the lovely Amanda Peet plugs Martian Child, but a clip of Santa Claus Conquers the Martians airs instead; Patrick Warburton discusses living in Oregon; comedian Jeff Caldwell riffs on HMOs and birth control.
Episode 30: Jerry Seinfeld, Joe Torre
Air Date: October 29th, 2007
Summary: Two marathon runners interrupt the monologue (one week early, it shall be noted); to honor the possible WGA strike, Bill Scheft chooses not to reveal the punchline to a Dick Cheney joke; Jerry Seinfeld plugs Bee Movie and gets caught in the crosshairs on "Alan Kalter's Celebrity Interview"; Joe Torre dodges questions about his next managerial gig.
Episode 31: Jennifer Connelly, Slash, Nicole Atkins
Air Date: October 30th, 2007
Summary: An excerpt is revealed from President Gerald Ford's posthumous memoirs; Alan Kalter hosts "This Is Your Lunch," looking back at Dave's last meal (lasagna); guitarist Slash plugs his autobiography; in her network TV debut, Nicole Atkins performed "The Way It Is."
Episode 32: David Spade, Penn & Teller, Jonathan Papelbon
Air Date: October 31st, 2007
Summary: The 26th annual "New Halloween Costumes" segment includes a Hillary Clinton pantsuit, an overstuffed glove compartment, and Spongebob's less-than-beloved cousin "BrillopadTed SquarePants". Also, in the event of a strike, Dave reads off two weeks' worth of potential punchlines, while Penn & Teller turn quarters in a waterbowl into goldfish.
Episode 33: Dr. Phil McGraw, Ryan Adams
Air Date: November 1st, 2007
Summary: With a writers' strike now looking very likely, "Mrs. Letterman" (Jude Brennan) nags Dave into doing some housework; Stupid Pet Tricks include a pit bull terrier that plays the drums and a cockatoo that likes the Backstreet Boys; Bill Scheft interrupts "Alan Kalter's Foreign Affairs Minute" to remind the audience that the WGA needs the public's support; Ryan Adams & The Cardinals performed "Everybody Knows."
Episode 34: Bill Murray, Jay-Z
Air Date: November 2nd, 2007
Summary: Etch-a-sketch artist George Vlosich becomes the latest person to do a portrait of Biff Henderson; Bill Murray discusses his ongoing legal troubles in Sweden and plays On-Star operator on Dave's desk phone; comeback kid Jay-Z performs "Roc Boys."
Episode 35: Robin Williams, Lupe Fiasco
Air Date: January 2nd, 2008
Summary: Dave returns from an eight-week hiatus with a full beard and his writing staff intact; an audience Q&A bit is interrupted by Bill Scheft; ten striking writers present the Top Ten; Robin Williams discusses his recent USO trip to Iraq; after a 16-year layover, "Hal Gurnee's Network Time Killer" returns to the Late Show; associate producer Nancy Agostini appears on "Know Your Staff"; Lupe Fiasco performs "Superstar."
Episode 36: Bill Maher, Ellen Page, the cast of Broadway's "Young Frankenstein"
Air Date: January 3rd, 2008
Summary: Dave's beard gets a key to the city, courtesy of Mayor Bloomberg; a wayward WGA picketer wanders around in the backdrop; Hal Gurnee's latest Network Time Killer is a "balloon drummer"; Ellen Page plugs Juno; Roger Bart, Sutton Foster, and Chris Fitzgerald perform a song from the musical "Young Frankenstein."
Episode 37: Donald Trump, Shooter Jennings
Air Date: January 4th, 2008
Summary: Dave admits that he's getting tired of the beard, then confesses to feeling sick over his new "feud" with Rosie O'Donnell; Dave and Donald Trump talk football; talent coordinator Sarah Billington appears on "Know Your Staff"; Shooter Jennings performs "This Ol' Wheel."
Episode 44: Denzel Washington, Don Rickles
Air Date: January 15th, 2008
Summary: An audience member claims to know Dave's ex-wife, who apparently now lives in Florida; the show is again interrupted by radio transmissions from Lt. Len Easton of the California Highway Patrol; Mike McIntee and Harold Larkin play "Can Two Guys and Their Dead Friend In An Office Chair Hail a Cab?"; Don Rickles plugs his DVD Mr. Warmth and throws a few zingers at Dave and fellow guest Denzel Washington.
Episode 45: Michael Douglas, Katherine Heigl, Wyclef Jean
Air Date: January 16th, 2008
Summary: Throughout the night, Tony and Dave play the Spanish-language version of "Wheel of Fortune"; Michael Douglas talks skiing and plugs King of California; an old AC/DC song is butchered on "Gary-oke with Gary Mintz"; Wyclef Jean performed "Sweetest Girl."
Episode 47: Diane Keaton, Jim Gaffigan
Air Date: January 18th, 2008
Summary: Dave begs Gaines to stop feeding in phone calls from the California Highway Patrol, which interrupts the show three times. Also, in her first Letterman appearance in two decades, Diane Keaton kisses Dave and admits to being astounded by her costars in the movie Mad Money.
Episode 48: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Dan Patrick, Ringo Starr
Air Date: January 21st, 2008
Summary: The Bruce Willis Secret Word of the Night is "Muffin"; during an audience Q&A segment, one man flips out over Chris Dodd's decision to drop out of the presidential race; Sarah Michelle Gellar shows photos from a recent vacation; Dan Patrick plugs his new column in Sports Illustrated; Ringo Starr (featuring Dave Stewart) performs "Liverpool 8."
Episode 51: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, T.J. Miller, Super Furry Animals
Air Date: January 24th, 2008
Summary: Lt. Len Easton is caught annoying Dave and interrupting "Larry King Live"; Dave is repeatedly distracted by a photo of Mitt Romney; Andy Kindler visits a life coach; Sen. Barack Obama presents the Top Ten (via satellite); Dave gives an audience member a pizza; Super Furry Animals performed "Neo-Consumerism."
Episode 55: Dr. Phil McGraw, Lena Headey, Gary Allan
Air Date: January 30th, 2008
Summary: An audience member gives Dave a gold hat, which Paul wears; Lt. Len Easton pops up on "Sex Talk with Sue Johanson"; a clothing-optional airline is the subject of several gags, including the Top Ten; two more audience members react poorly to the latest election news; Dr. Phil discusses viral encephalitis and his botched "chat" with Britney Spears; Gary Allan performs "Watching Airplanes."
Episode 63: Kate Walsh, Jason Sudeikis, OK Go and Bonerama
Air Date: February 11st, 2008
Summary: While fielding a question about Oprah tickets, Dave accidentally breaks one of his pencils in half; a certain panicky audience member is confronted by Dr. Phil in the theater hallway; Kate Walsh shows off her new puppy; Jason Sudeikis discusses his famous uncle; OK Go (featuring Bonerama) performed "A Million Ways."
Episode 65: Martin Short, Amy Ryan
Air Date: February 13rd, 2008
Summary: Dave obsesses over his orange tie; live via satellite, a man with a black eye won't talk to Dave; Chris Elliott and Gerard Mulligan drop by to plug their (fake) new show, "American Conquistadors"; Martin Short takes a jab at the paparazzi and sings a parody of "Maybe This Time"; Oscar nominee Amy Ryan plugs Gone Baby Gone.
Episode 69: Randy Jackson, Saffron Burrows, Ray Davies
Air Date: February 19th, 2008
Summary: Bill Scheft apologizes for a bad Dick Cheney joke, citing tainted roast beef; after Dave mentions the resignation of Fidel Castro, a certain angry audience member pummels four CBS Pages; Dave meets "Millionaire Matchmaker" Todd Pendleton, who turns out to be a phony; Ray Davies performed "In a Moment."
Episode 75: Kid Scientists, Natalie Portman, Kenna
Air Date: February 27th, 2008
Summary: "AMPTP President Nick Counter" and "Writers Guild Executive Director David Young" call a truce... and make out; in tonight's remote, Andy Kindler visits a toy convention; the latest Kid Scientist experiments from Naperville, IL include gravity-defying water and a crudely-built hovercraft; Kenna (featuring N.E.R.D.) performed "Say Goodbye to Love."
Episode 79: Martha Stewart, Snoop Dogg
Air Date: March 11st, 2008
Summary: Dave comments on the Gov. Eliot Spitzer scandal; the backdrop scalper (Mike McIntee) tries to sell Dave some Snoop Dogg tickets, even though he's on the show; Martha Stewart describes how to make a "white wine Spitzer"; Snoop Dogg plugs his youth football league and performs "Sensual Seduction."
Episode 81: Kate Beckinsale, Graham Colton
Air Date: March 13rd, 2008
Summary: Dave tears up a new five-dollar bill and ketchup spills out; the 2008 Wild Turkey Bourbon Grand National Gobbling champs strut their stuff; "Johnny Twain" drops by to tell Jeff Foxworthy-style "redneck" jokes; Graham Colton performed "Best Days."
Episode 84: Al Franken, Lauren Conrad, The Cribs
Air Date: March 18th, 2008
Summary: Dave gives an update on his tick infection; a man from Texas plays "What's In The Soup?" at Hello Deli; Al Franken (D-MN) stumps for his US Senator campaign; Lauren Conrad explains to Dave what a "frenemy" is; The Cribs perform "I'm A Realist."
Episode 85: Brooke Shields, Seth Meyers, Gutter Twins
Air Date: March 19th, 2008
Summary: Cameraman Dave Dorsett is caught drinking on the job; the cast of "Battlestar Galactica" reads the Top Ten; Dave and Brooke Shields discuss foot surgery; Alan recalls an unpleasant Final Four memory; SNL's Seth Meyers explains why he doesn't have a valid driver's license; The Gutter Twins perform "Idle Hands."
Episode 86: Demi Moore, Anthony Bourdain, Counting Crows
Air Date: March 24th, 2008
Summary: An audience woman shares her own tick bite experience with Dave; Alan narrates a history of the Ed Sullivan Theater, then cuts himself off to use the washroom; Demi Moore discusses leach therapy and plugs Flawless; Counting Crows perform "You Can't Count On Me."
Episode 95: Kelsey Grammer, Kristen Bell, Rogue Wave
Air Date: April 15th, 2008
Summary: After Kelsey Grammer shares a disgusting antedote about his pet, Dave theorizes that every great story ends with "...and then the dog ate it." His hypothesis is confirmed when "Heroes" star Kristen Bell shares a dog story of her own.
Episode 99: Billy Crystal, Maria Sharapova
Air Date: April 21st, 2008
Summary: Dave discusses Harry's T-ball debut; the backdrop scalper tries to sell Papel Mass tickets a week late; Chris Elliott and Gerard Mulligan spend a day at New York Rangers' practice; Billy Crystal riffs on turning 60 and playing one game for the Yankees; Dave and Billy play tennis on 53rd Street with Maria Sharapova.
Episode 135: Steve Carell, Lance Armstrong, Dr. John
Air Date: June 17th, 2008
Summary: Dave attempts to channel the spirit of President Harry Truman, but ends up getting his voice mail; with Rupert's assistance, a tourist from British Columbia takes a vacation photo with Dave; Steve Carell plugs Get Smart; Dr. John and The Lower 911 performed "Time for a Change."
Episode 139: Will Smith, Joe Buck
Air Date: June 23rd, 2008
Summary: Dave discusses watching his son play T-ball; Dave embarasses George Clarke by addressing him as Thomas Beatie (that pregnant transgendered guy); Will Smith plugs Hancock and appears on "Alan Kalter's Celebrity Interview"; Fox Sports announcer Joe Buck comments on steroid and Viagra use in baseball.
Episode 140: Charlize Theron, Richard Belzer, Mötley Crüe
Air Date: June 24th, 2008
Summary: After a gag about "Martian Ice" bombs, Dave gives the red-colored ice to an audience member; over at Hello Deli, Deborah Lynn plays "Psychic Gasoline" (and loses yet again); Charlize Theron discusses camping and plugs Hancock; Richard Belzer eulogizes comedy legend George Carlin, who passed away two days earlier; Motley Crue performed "Saints of Los Angeles
Episode 147: Ricky Gervais, John Mellencamp
Air Date: July 17th, 2008
Summary: Following "Top Ten Signs It's Time To Wash Your Monkey," Lyle the Intern unsuccessfully tries to persuade Dave into opening a Pizza Hut franchise. Also, John Mellencamp performed "Troubled Land" and reminisces about living in Indiana with Dave
Episode 150: Amanda Peet, Jon Hamm, Augustana
Air Date: July 22nd, 2008
Summary: Dave welcomes back Bill Scheft, who was sidelined with hip surgery; Small Town News is interrupted by a guy in a Batman mask; Amanda Peet plugs the "X-Files" sequel; "Mad Men" star Jon Hamm discusses summer trips to Florida; Augustana performed "I Still Ain't Over You."
Episode 154: Gillian Anderson, Simon Pegg, We Are Scientists
Air Date: July 28th, 2008
Summary: Dave describes an incident during the monologue where Inky's cue-cards went AWOL; Dave and Paul acknowledge the passing of ex-WMDB guitarist Hiram Bullock; Gillian Anderson discusses living abroad and her "make-out session" with Dave six years ago; We Are Scientists performed "After Hours."
Episode 158: Richard Simmons, Mary-Louise Parker
Air Date: August 1st, 2008
Summary: Paul Thoresen appears again to drop a 55-gallon water balloon on a '94 Chevy LeBaron convertible; Dave and Richard Simmons have another animated interview, in which the fitness guru stands and sings on the guest chair; Richard also appears on another tension-filled edition of "Alan Kalter's Celebrity Interview"; in her first Late Show appearance in 13 1/2 years, Mary-Louise Parker plugs "Weeds" while Dave
Episode 165: Bryan Clay, Don Cheadle, Little Anthony & The Imperials
Air Date: August 26th, 2008
Summary: Tonight on "Get to Know Delaware," a fun fact about neighboring Pennsylvania; Dave's "son" throws a beer bottle at a green room TV; live from Denver, Biff fails to interview DNC Chairman Howard Dean; Olympic gold medalist Bryan Clay tosses a discus and a javelin at a taxi cab; Little Anthony and the Imperials perform "Hurts So Bad."
Episode 168: Amy Sedaris, Kim Kardashian, Brian Regan
Air Date: August 29th, 2008
Summary: Water-balloon fiend Paul Thoresen drops a 55-gallon bomb on a convertable with three "tourists" (mannequins); the Democratic National Convention is over but Biff's still there; Amy Sedaris obsesses over Dave's shoe tassels; Kim Kardashian describes nearly losing her big toe and plugs Disaster Movie; Brian Regan does stand-up and promotes his upcoming TV special.
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