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 16
Episode 3: Robin Williams, Shannen Doherty, Duffy
Air Date: September 4th, 2008
Summary: Following the previous night's acceptance speech, Dave admits to underestimating Gov. Sarah Palin; Andy Kindler makes his last report from the GOP convention in Minneapolis; Robin Williams throws in his two cents on the election; Shannen Doherty plugs the new 90210 and describes surviving the Southern California mudslides; Duffy performed "Warwick Avenue."
Episode 9: Meg Ryan, Ricky Gervais
Air Date: September 12nd, 2008
Summary: Throughout the night, Olympic high-jumpers strut their stuff out on 53rd Street; Dave reads from the "Late Show Fun Facts" book, in stores next week; in her first LSDL appearance in seven years, Meg Ryan plugs The Women and shares an anecdote about her daughter; Ricky Gervais promotes Ghost Town and describes doing press junkets for the movie.
Episode 11: Julianne Moore, Tom Dreesen & Tim Reid, Kings of Leon
Air Date: September 23rd, 2008
Summary: Lyle the Intern fails to convince Dave to join his latest scam; Julianne Moore discusses her trip to Brazil and plugs Blindness; Tim Reid and Tom Dreesen do stand-up; Kings of Leon performed "Sex on Fire."
Episode 19: Brian Williams, Tim Robbins
Air Date: October 3rd, 2008
Summary: Dave comments on the previous night's vice-presidential debate, which is followed by a string of Unfair Edits; NBC anchorman Brian Williams also throws in his two cents; Tim Robbins talks baseball, shares a story about Paul Newman, and plugs City of Ember.
Episode 21: Debra Messing, John Carter, Tegan & Sara
Air Date: October 7th, 2008
Summary: Dave presents the (fake) opening credits of the second presidential debate, which closely resemble Magnum P.I.; Debra Messing plugs "The Starter Wife" and takes a jab at Sarah Palin; Alan's tour of the Late Show control room is sabotaged; Alianca da Terra founder John Carter discusses the plight of the Amazon rainforest; Tegan and Sara performed "Call It Off."
Episode 24: Jeremy Piven, Elizabeth Banks, Lou Reed
Air Date: October 10th, 2008
Summary: Tonight on "Late Show Green Tips," Chris and Gerard show off their new hybrid; Jeremy Piven discusses winning his third Emmy; Alan has a few words to say to Gov. Sarah Palin; Elizabeth Banks plugs W.; Lou Reed performed "Caroline Says, Part 2."
Episode 33: Ashley Olsen, Paul Rudd, John Legend
Air Date: October 30th, 2008
Summary: "New Halloween Costumes" include Sarah Palin's passport, the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Amy Winehouse's hair, and an oversized copy of the Fun Facts book; Cole Hamels of the World Champion Philadelphia Phillies reads the Top Ten; John Legend performed "I Love, You Love."
Episode 38: Natalie Portman, Artie Lange, Brad Paisley
Air Date: November 7th, 2008
Summary: Alec Baldwin endorses the Fun Facts book; Natalie Portman discusses campaigning for President-elect Obama; Bill Scheft begs the new president to make an ass of himself; Artie Lange plugs his new book; Brad Paisley performed a cover of The Cars' "Good Times Roll."
Episode 40: Don Rickles, Amy Brenneman, Alicia Keys
Air Date: November 11st, 2008
Summary: Dave shows a clip of King Tut's mummy appearing on Maury; NFL superstar Terrell Owens presents the Top Ten; the legendary Don Rickles plugs his new book and riffs on marriage and growing old; Alicia Keys performed "The Thing About Love."
Episode 45: Carla Bruni Sarkozy, Jack Hanna, Cold Hard Cash
Air Date: November 18th, 2008
Summary: With First Lady of France Carla Bruni Sarkozy on the show, Dave wonders if he'll accidentally start an international incident; Lyle the Intern and his pal "Rudy" (Joe Grossman) promote their internet show; Jack Hanna brings out a baby kangaroo, an aardvark, and a macaque; on Day 2 of Tribute Band Week, The Cold Hard Cash Show performed "Folsom Prison Blues."
Episode 50: Reese Witherspoon, Harry Connick Jr.
Air Date: November 25th, 2008
Summary: Dave calls out Tony for making him read the same monologue joke twice; after President Bush pardoned 14 convicted felons that week, Dave and Alan grant clemency to an audience member; Reese Witherspoon relives her 2005 Oscar win and plugs Four Christmases; Harry Connick Jr. performs "It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year."
Episode 53: Tom Arnold, Faith Hill
Air Date: November 28th, 2008
Summary: Bruce Willis promotes the Fun Facts book, declaring the tome "Yippee-ki-larious, mother****er!"; Tom Arnold laments the failure of his third marriage and plugs Gardens of the Night; Dave chats with a grouchy CBS Store employee (Johnny Dark); Faith Hill and the Morgan State University Choir performed "Little Drummer Boy."
Episode 66: Tracy Morgan, Matt Braunger
Air Date: December 26th, 2008
Summary: Dave shows a (phony) clip of Larry King interviewing the shoe that was thrown at President Bush; Tracy Morgan jokes about his recent legal troubles; Dave asks Paul about how he spent his Christmas; "MADtv" star Matt Braunger makes his television stand-up debut.
Episode 67: Kate Hudson, Glasvegas
Air Date: January 5th, 2009
Summary: Kate Hudson; and Glasvegas.
PLUS: CNN Clip of the Night; Great Moments in Presidential Speeches; Homeland Security USA; Changes in the Late Show 2009; the President defends his record; Regis in high-def; a top ten list; Dave's resolutions; and Biff still celebrating.
Episode 68: Kevin James, Becky Quick, Erin McCarley
Air Date: January 6th, 2009
Summary: Dave delivers a pizza to an audience member, but she's too excited to eat it; Dave reads the "Top Ten Questions"; Kevin James plugs Paul Blart: Mall Cop and discusses his weight problem; another chat with CBS store employee "Stanley Kronkite" (Johnny Dark); "Squawk Box" host Becky Quick analyzes the Bernie Madoff controversy; Erin McCarley performed "Love, Save the Empty."
Episode 69: Ricky Gervais, Rose Byrne, Okkervil River
Air Date: January 7th, 2009
Summary: Ricky Gervais; Rose Byrne; and Okkervil River.
PLUS: Great Moments in Presidential Speeches; Ball State at the GMAC Bowl; what's popular on the Monkey Channel; the White House lunch; a top ten list; and the guy who was hanging bare-assed from a ski lift.
Episode 71: Kiefer Sutherland, Wendy Liebman
Air Date: January 9th, 2009
Summary: Kiefer Sutherland; and Wendy Liebman.
PLUS: Great Moments in Presidential Speeches; a monkey sneezing; a squid sneezing; Dick Cheney Lie Count; Governor Bill Richardson; Late Show Fun Facts; Alan Kalter's Guide to the Inauguration; and a top ten list.
Episode 73: Salma Hayek, Jimmie Walker
Air Date: January 13rd, 2009
Summary: Salma Hayek; and Jimmie Walker.
PLUS: Great Moments in Presidential Speeches; phone call for David Letterman; little known things about the Bush Administration; Dave's Cocoa Guy; a message from Late Show writer Bill Scheft; and a special Top Ten from baseball's newest Hall of Fame inductees, Jim Rice and Rickey Henderson.
Episode 75: Kyra Sedgwick, Gwen Ifill
Air Date: January 15th, 2009
Summary: Kyra Sedgwick; and Gwen Ifill.
PLUS: Great Moments in Presidential Speeches; George W. Bush cleaning his glasses; Inauguration Day Plans; filling in for Osama bin Laden; and Chris Elliott and Gerard Mulligan drop in uninvited.
Episode 76: Zach Braff, Arj Barker, The Airborne Toxic Event
Air Date: January 16th, 2009
Summary: Zach Braff; Arj Barker; and The Airborne Toxic Event.
PLUS: Great Moments in Presidential Speeches; "Bride Wars"; Mystery Sound in Space; Alan Kalter's How It Works; and a Late Show Farewell to Great Moments in Presidential Speeches.
Episode 110: Billy Crystal, Kara DioGuardi, a Top Ten List presented by Owen Wilson
Air Date: March 19th, 2009
Summary: After discussing Bruce Willis' wedding at length, Dave mentions that he married his longtime girlfriend in a private ceremony this past weekend, than explains all the obstacles he faced on the way to the courthouse; an update on George Clarke and the Late Show Weight Loss Challenge; Hugh Laurie plugs Monsters vs. Aliens; Sarah Paulson does impressions; Bloc Party performed "One Month Off."
Episode 111: David Spade, Richard Zoglin, David Sanborn and Sam Moore
Air Date: March 20th, 2009
Summary: Via videotape, Osama bin Laden congratulates Dave on his marriage to Regina; tonight on "At Home with the Madoffs," Bernie and Ruth watch TV; Mary Tyler Moore plugs her autobiography and shares an embarassing story about Ed Asner; Blake Lively talks about her maltipoo; White Lies performed "To Lose My Life."
Episode 115: Seth Rogen, Tom Dreesen, Adele
Air Date: March 30th, 2009
Summary: Following the monologue, two goons walk off with Tony, claiming he's been adopted by Madonna; in lieu of Biff, Andy Kindler makes the annual trip to Yankees Spring Training; champion grocery-bagger Francisco Palacios puts Dave to shame in a face-off; Marg Helgenberger talks about her first job; Ray LaMontagne performed "You Are The Best Thing."
Episode 163: Danny DeVito, Bear Grylls, Phoenix
Air Date: June 18th, 2009
Summary: Dave welcomes the star of the FX network comedy, "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia", Danny Devito. Topics include Danny's now infamous Youtube moment when it appeared he was drunk on the set. He claims he wasn't.
Later, star of the Discovery Channel/Science Channel series, "Man vs. Wild", Bear Grylis stops by to discuss his series upcoming episode with superstar Will Farrell.
Phoenix is the Musical Guest.
Episode 164: Jada Pinkett Smith, Michael Cera, the Sounds
Air Date: June 19th, 2009
Summary: Jada Pinkett-Smith discusses her new role as a doctor in the TnT Tuesday night drama, "Hawthorne" and her oldest son, Jaden's new role in the Karate Kid remake, "Kung Fu Kid". Jada noting that the the family will be living in Hong Kong during the film's production.
Michael Cerra discusses his role in the new film, "Year One", also starring Jack Black.
Swedish Rock band, The Sounds, are the musical guests.
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