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Late Show with David Letterman

  • TV Series
  • 1993–2015
  • TV-PG
  • 1h
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
15K
YOUR RATING
David Letterman, Regis Philbin, Barbara Gaines, Biff Henderson, Alan Kalter, and Paul Shaffer in Late Show with David Letterman (1993)
The Late Show With David Letterman
Play trailer0:22
1 Video
99+ Photos
ComedyMusicTalk Show

The Late Show with David Letterman is an hour-long weeknight comedy and talk-show broadcast by CBS from the Ed Sullivan Theater on Broadway in New York City.The Late Show with David Letterman is an hour-long weeknight comedy and talk-show broadcast by CBS from the Ed Sullivan Theater on Broadway in New York City.The Late Show with David Letterman is an hour-long weeknight comedy and talk-show broadcast by CBS from the Ed Sullivan Theater on Broadway in New York City.

  • Creator
    • David Letterman
  • Stars
    • David Letterman
    • Paul Shaffer
    • Alan Kalter
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.0/10
    15K
    YOUR RATING
    • Creator
      • David Letterman
    • Stars
      • David Letterman
      • Paul Shaffer
      • Alan Kalter
    • 53User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 9 Primetime Emmys
      • 16 wins & 127 nominations total

    Episodes6696

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    Videos1

    The Late Show With David Letterman
    Trailer 0:22
    The Late Show With David Letterman

    Photos342

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    Top cast99+

    Edit
    David Letterman
    David Letterman
    • Self - Host…
    • 1993–2015
    Paul Shaffer
    Paul Shaffer
    • Self - Musical Director…
    • 1993–2015
    Alan Kalter
    Alan Kalter
    • Self - Announcer…
    • 1995–2015
    Biff Henderson
    • Self - Stage Manager…
    • 1995–2015
    Regis Philbin
    Regis Philbin
    • Self…
    • 1993–2015
    Barbara Gaines
    • Self - Executive Producer…
    • 2004–2015
    Tony Mendez
    • Self - Cue Card Boy…
    • 1994–2012
    Stephen Colbert
    Stephen Colbert
    • Self - Host…
    • 2005–2015
    Al Chez
    • Self - Horn Section Yay-Sayer #2…
    • 1997–2011
    Jack Hanna
    Jack Hanna
    • Self…
    • 1993–2015
    Rupert Jee
    • Self…
    • 1995–2015
    Tom Malone
    Tom Malone
    • Self - Horn Section Yay-Sayer #1…
    • 2005–2015
    Bruce Kapler
    • Self - Horn Section Yay-Sayer #3…
    • 1993–2011
    Pat Farmer
    • Self - Stagehand…
    • 1997–2011
    Johnny Dark
    • Stanley Cronkite…
    • 2006–2010
    Chris Elliott
    Chris Elliott
    • Self - Guest…
    • 1993–2015
    Jeff Altman
    Jeff Altman
    • Self…
    • 1994–2014
    Joe Grossman
    • Self - Staff Writer…
    • 2008–2015
    • Creator
      • David Letterman
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews53

    7.014.5K
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    Featured reviews

    Poivoroinen

    Dave is the man.

    I recently watched the Late Show when Janet Jackson was the guest. She had a very toppish top on that kind of embarrassed Dave. I laughed like never before. Despite him being embarrassed, he deliverd some lines that were simply perfect. "Need help with the zipper?" "I'm 54, I'm not used to these kind of things." Paul: "You have always loved fast women, Dave."

    Well, Dave cracks Leno everytime. He is just more personal than mr standup.
    jmatrixrenegade

    Best Late Night Host

    Upfront, I will say that I enjoyed him more in the past, especially when he was on at 12:30 ... he mellowed some, but after twenty years, he still is quite good. Dave may not have been able to fulfill his dream and take over from Johnny on CBS, but in a sense, he has ... he is the comfortable veteran, someone you feel good ending your night watching (unless you are into news ... then, you check out Ted Koppel). And, he still shows his edge at times, especially sometimes when he has those little monologues such as when he decided to try to get a parkway named after him (lol).

    The CBS Mailbag feature is still funny, he interacts with the audience pretty good (I don't care for those segments, but I got to admit he connects with them), and the announcer is hiliarious. Other amusing, though getting a bit old things ... the "will it float" and "is this anything" segments -- that grinder girl is amusing. Stephany ... "did you see or touch any monkeys" ... is great too, her sarcastic voice at times reminds one of a young female Dave. The crew also has some good bits. The deli bits are getting tired though and go too long. Paul? People seem to love to dis him, but one gets the idea that he is a perfect fit for Dave, and finding a new guy would be damn hard.

    It might be a generational thing (it's also regional ... Jay has higher rating, and is more popular in the heartland), but I don't understand why people are saying Conan is better than Dave. Now, Conan has some better comic bits and is decent overall, but he's really no match to Dave. Dave might seem bored during some interviews (but when he isn't, he really connects ... e.g. Drew Barrymore, Lisa Presley, Regis Philbin, Kelly Ripa, and others), but he surely is a better interviewer than Conan -- even after Conan has had years of on the job training. Also, Conan does not have good monologues ... many are actually pretty lame, and he even jokes about the lack of reaction (doesn't make it any less lame). Finally, his bits often go too long. So, really, Dave might be older and at times seems a bit tired, but he still beats Conan imho. Jay? Smarmy in my opinion ... and I used to like the guy.

    It is amusing to note that David Letterman has many credits, especially before his talk show stint. I wonder if someone did a collection to highlight that fact. Oh well ... I check when the guests are good, but even when they are not, he has a good 1/2 hr more often than not.

    -j
    7mazunderscore

    Good late night entertainment

    As far as American talk show hosts go, I find David Letterman the least pretentious and the least fake out of all of them. He seems to mostly say what he thinks and not JUST for the sake of being shocking or funny.

    Letterman is mostly a likable guy and can at times be very witty, and of course satirical, which is something about him (as indeed his writers) that I enjoy. Yes I know, he is at times cocky and a bit of a show pony, but he's a talk show host and he's meant to have a personality and in my opinion he's the best there is.

    I enjoy the little sketches like "Great Presidential Speeches" and "Will it Float?," I always enjoy watching Biff Henderson's little adventures and of course hearing from the always wonderful, Alan Kalter.

    It's a nice little piece of late night entertainment and while some episodes are obviously going to be better than others depending on the guests - you know you're always going to have a bit chuckle.
    swat611

    Letterman is king of Late Night.

    David Letterman is the king of Late Night TV. On the air now for 21 years, apporching 10 years as host of the "Late Show" on CBS. Leno is no match to Letterman, nor is Jimmy Kimmel on ABC. I feel like the "Late Show" has more class then other late night talk shows, though you might think not it at times. When Dave retires he will leave BIG shoes to fill.
    jENNA007

    WOW, The best talk-show EVER ~!

    David Letterman is a smart and insanely funny man. He's brought us this amazing show that has about a thousand unforgettable moments and a mouth-full of witty remarks. The thing I love about his show the most is that it has such an unpredictable-feel to it, its much much better than Leno, and any other talk-show I've seen. Letterman is great at being a talk-show host, its like he was born to do it. I also love Paul Shaffer, he is an awesome music director and a lot funnier than any other music director i have ever seen! I hope this show keeps going forever!! I LOVE IT I LOVE IT I LOVE IT ~!!

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Many, including rival talk show host Jay Leno, whom NBC chose over David Letterman as Johnny Carson's The Tonight Show (1962) successor in a bitter competition between the two, saw Carson's Late Show with David Letterman (1993) cameo appearance as a signal that Carson preferred Letterman over Jay.
    • Quotes

      [David is working at McDonald's]

      David Letterman: Welcome to Mc Donald's.

      Customer: Get me a cheeseburger.

      David Letterman: Your order is a cheeseburger?

      Customer: Yep.

      David Letterman: Are you busy right now?

      Customer: I gotta head to work. Why?

      David Letterman: Could you swing by the grocery store and get us a bag of onions?

      Customer: A bag of onions?

      David Letterman: Yeah. We're running low.

      [Later, David takes new customer]

      David Letterman: United 16957, 727. This is Kennedy Ground Control. What's the problem? Power it on in.

      Customer: I have your onions here.

      David Letterman: What?

      Customer: The ten-pound bag of onions.

      David Letterman: You're got the onions? All right. Come on through. We really appreciate it. Thanks for helping out.

    • Connections
      Edited into The Hamster Factor and Other Tales of Twelve Monkeys (1996)

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    FAQ20

    • How many seasons does Late Show with David Letterman have?Powered by Alexa
    • Why is it always daytime during the outdoor scenes?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 30, 1993 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official Instagram
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Late Show Backstage
    • Filming locations
      • Ed Sullivan Theater - 1697 Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
    • Production company
      • Worldwide Pants
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby

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