Late Show with David Letterman
Format	Talk show Variety show
Starring	David Letterman Paul Shaffer and the CBS Orchestra Bill Wendell (1993-1995) Alan Kalter (1995-Present)
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	2,823 (as of October 2, 2007)
Production
Executive producer(s)	Robert Morton (1993-1996) Rob Burnett (1996-Present) Barbara Gaines (2000-Present) Maria Pope (2000-Present) Jude Brennan (2003-Present)
Location	Ed Sullivan Theater New York City, New York The Best Bits of The Late Show: Champagne Edition (DVD) The Late Show was a popular Australian comedy show, which ran for two seasons on the ABC from 18 July 1992 to 30 October 1993. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (960x541, 742 KB) Summary Cleaned Late Show Title Card; screenshot from the 23 February 2006 episode with Amanda Peet and Jack Hanna Licensing This image is a screenshot of a copyrighted television program or station ID. As such, the copyright for... A talk show (U.S.) or chat show (Brit. ... A variety show is a show with a variety of acts, often including music and comedy skits, especially on television. ... David Michael Letterman (born April 12, 1947, in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.) is an award-winning American comedian, late night talk show host, television producer, philanthropist, and IRL IndyCar Series car owner. ... Paul Allen Wood Shaffer (born November 28, 1949 in Fort William (now Thunder Bay), Ontario, Canada) is a Jewish-Canadian-American musician, actor, voice actor, author, comedian and composer currently seen as the bandleader on the Late Show with David Letterman. ... Paul Shaffer and the CBS Orchestra The CBS Orchestra is the band that plays for David Lettermans CBS late-night talk show, The Late Show with David Letterman. ... Bill Wendell (born 22 March 1924 died 14 April 1999) was an NBC staff announcer. ... Alan Kalter on the Late Show with David Letterman Alan Kalter, or Big Red, began his stint as the voice of The Late Show with David Letterman on September 5, 1995. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... is the 275th day of the year (276th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Robert Morty Morton is an American television producer most notable for his work as a producer and later co-executive producer of the NBC program Late Night with David Letterman. ... Rob Burnett is an Emmy Award winning producrer, director and writer, best known for being the executive producer of shows such as Ed, Late Show with David Letterman, and the new ABC comedy The Knights of Prosperity. ... Barbara Gaines, a 1975 graduate of George W. Hewlett High School and 1979 graduate of Ithaca College, is Executive Producer of The Late Show with David Letterman. ... Ed Sullivan. ... New York, New York redirects here. ...
Running time	01:02:30
Broadcast
Original channel	CBS
Picture format	NTSC (480i), 1080i (HDTV)
Original run	August 30, 1993 – Present, renewed through Fall 2010
External links
Official website
IMDb profile
TV.com summary

The Late Show with David Letterman is a multiple Emmy Award-winning hour-long weeknight comedy talk show broadcast by CBS from the Ed Sullivan Theater on Broadway in New York City. The show debuted on August 30, 1993. It is hosted by David Letterman and is produced by Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated. The show's music director and bandleader of the house band, the CBS Orchestra, is Paul Shaffer. The head writers are brothers Justin Stangel and Eric Stangel. The announcer is Alan Kalter, who replaced Bill Wendell in 1995. This article is about the broadcast network. ... NTSC is the analog television system in use in Canada, Japan, Mexico, the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, the United States, and some other countries, mostly in the Americas (see map). ... 480i is the shorthand name for a video mode. ... 1080i (pronounced ten eighty eye) is shorthand name for a category of video modes. ... High-definition television (HDTV) means broadcast of television signals with a higher resolution than traditional formats (NTSC, SECAM, PAL) allow. ... is the 242nd day of the year (243rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... An Emmy Award. ... A comedy is a dramatic performance of a light and amusing character, usually with a happy conclusion to its plot. ... A talk show (U.S.) or chat show (Brit. ... This article is about the broadcast network. ... Ed Sullivan. ... A view of Broadway in 1909 Broadway, as the name implies, is a wide avenue in New York City. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... is the 242nd day of the year (243rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The year 1993 in television involved some significant events. ... David Michael Letterman (born April 12, 1947, in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.) is an award-winning American comedian, late night talk show host, television producer, philanthropist, and IRL IndyCar Series car owner. ... Worldwide Pants Incorporated is a television production and film production company owned by comedian and talk show host David Letterman. ... The title of music director is used by many symphony orchestras to designate the primary conductor and artistic leader of the orchestra. ... A bandleader is the director of a band of musicians. ... Paul Shaffer and the CBS Orchestra The CBS Orchestra is the band that plays for David Lettermans CBS late-night talk show, The Late Show with David Letterman. ... Paul Allen Wood Shaffer (born November 28, 1949 in Fort William (now Thunder Bay), Ontario, Canada) is a Jewish-Canadian-American musician, actor, voice actor, author, comedian and composer currently seen as the bandleader on the Late Show with David Letterman. ... Justin Stangel is one of the head writers and producers of The Late Show with David Letterman. ... Eric Stangel is one of the head writers and producers of The Late Show with David Letterman. ... Alan Kalter on the Late Show with David Letterman Alan Kalter, or Big Red, began his stint as the voice of The Late Show with David Letterman on September 5, 1995. ... Bill Wendell (born 22 March 1924 died 14 April 1999) was an NBC staff announcer. ... This is a list of television-related events in 1995. ...

In most American markets the show airs at 11:35 pm Eastern/Pacific time, but is recorded Mondays at 4:30 PM and 7:00 PM, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 5:30 PM, and Thursdays at 4:30 PM. The second Monday episode usually airs on Friday of that week (the show had previously recorded the Friday episodes on Thursdays). Each show is recapped in The Wahoo Gazette by production coordinator Mike McIntee on CBS.com's Late Show page.

Letterman was previously the host of Late Night with David Letterman on NBC from 1982 to 1993. The show was co-produced by Carson Productions, Worldwide Pants Incorporated, and NBC Productions. Shaffer, Wendell, and several members of the band were also with the NBC show. Late Night with David Letterman was a nightly hour-long comedy talk show on NBC hosted by David Letterman. ... This article is about the television network. ... The year 1982 in television involved some significant events. ... The year 1993 in television involved some significant events. ... Carson Productions is a television production company established by Johnny Carson in the early 1980s to primarily produce The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson from 1980 to 1992 and Late Night with David Letterman from 1982 to 1993. ... Worldwide Pants Incorporated is a television production and film production company owned by comedian and talk show host David Letterman. ... NBC Universal is a media and entertainment conglomerate formed in May 2004 by the combination of General Electrics NBC with Vivendi Universal Entertainment, part of Vivendi Universal. ...

Transition from NBC to CBS

Letterman's decision to leave NBC was largely provoked by the network's decision in 1992 to have comedian Jay Leno succeed Johnny Carson as host of The Tonight Show. Letterman, Carson, and many others had long assumed that Letterman's years of service to NBC would be sufficient to result in him becoming the new host, but NBC ultimately chose Leno, likely due to Letterman's consistent public mockery of NBC executives in the past, as well as a belief that Leno would have more mainstream appeal.^{[citation needed]} James Douglas Muir Jay Leno (born April 28, 1950) is an Emmy-winning American comedian who is best known as the current host of NBC televisions long-running variety and talk program The Tonight Show. ... For other persons named John Carson, see John Carson (disambiguation). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Many erroneously still refer to Letterman's current show as Late Night, often resulting in Letterman or fans pointing out that while Late Night still exists, it airs on NBC and is hosted in its current incarnation by Conan O'Brien, whom Letterman has often publicly supported as his successor (Late Night is now co-produced by Lorne Michaels' Broadway Video and O'Brien's Conaco). Conan Christopher OBrien (born April 18, 1963)[1] is an Emmy-winning American comedian, writer and television personality best known as host of NBCs late-night talk/variety show Late Night with Conan OBrien. ... Lorne Michaels (born Lorne Michael Lipowitz on November 17, 1944) is an Emmy-winning Canadian-born television producer, writer and comedian best known for creating and producing Saturday Night Live and producing the various film and TV projects that spun off from it. ...

Letterman on the Late Show interviewing actor George Clooney

When Letterman moved to CBS and began the Late Show, several of Late Night's long-running comedy bits made the move with him. Letterman renamed a few of his regular bits to avoid legal problems over trademark infringement (NBC cited that what he did on Late Night was "intellectual property" of the network). "Viewer Mail" on NBC became the "CBS Mailbag", and Larry "Bud" Melman began to use his real name, Calvert DeForest. Paul Shaffer's "World's Most Dangerous Band" became "The CBS Orchestra," a not-so-subtle jab at NBC regarding the show's new home, and a play on the NBC Orchestra of the long running The Tonight Show. Letterman's signature bit, the Top Ten List, was perfunctorily renamed the "Late Show Top Ten List" (over time it was simply referred to again by its original name). Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... George Timothy Clooney (May 6, 1961) is an American actor, director, producer and screenwriter who gained fame as one of the lead doctors in the long-running television drama, ER (1994–99), but is best known for his subsequent rise as an A-List movie star in contemporary American cinema. ... “(TM)” redirects here. ... For the 2006 film, see Intellectual Property (film). ... Calvert DeForest (born July 23, 1921 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American actor and comedian. ... The Tonight Show Band is the band which plays on the American television variety show, the Tonight Show. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A top 10 list is a generic term used to indicate a list of items, usually ten in number, which are considered to be best, worst, or notable in some other way, typically a record chart. ...

After Letterman was introduced on the Late Show's very first episode, NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Brokaw accompanied him on stage and wished him luck "within reason". As part of a pre-arranged act, Brokaw then proceeded to retrieve a pair of cue cards while stating that "These last two jokes are the intellectual property of NBC!" After he carried them off stage, Letterman then responded, "I never thought I'd hear the words 'intellectual' and 'NBC' in the same sentence!" NBC Nightly News is the flagship evening news program for NBC News and broadcasts from the GE Building, Rockefeller Center in New York City. ... Thomas John Brokaw (born February 6, 1940 in Webster, South Dakota) is a popular American television journalist, Previously working on regularly scheduled news documentaries for the NBC television network, and is the former NBC News anchorman and managing editor of the program NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw. ... Cue cards are placards with words written on them that help actors and speakers remember their lines. ...

Ratings-wise, Letterman's Late Show would enjoy a consistent domination over Leno's Tonight Show in its first few years. Leno won the audience back during the summer of 1995 however, starting with the famous Hugh Grant interview, after Grant's arrest for picking up an LA hooker. ^[1]

At times Letterman would even come in third in the late night timeslot behind Ted Koppel's Nightline, prompting him at one point to arrange for a Manhattan billboard proudly declaring himself and his show to be "#3 in Late Night," aping an older, nearby billboard which promoted Leno and The Tonight Show as #1. Despite ratings, the Late Show remains one of CBS's most profitable programs. Photo by Bob DAmico/ABC Ted Koppel, anchor of the ABC News program Nightline. ... Nightline is a late-night hard and soft news program broadcast by ABC in the United States, and has a franchised formula to other networks and stations elsewhere in the world. ... For other uses, see Manhattan (disambiguation). ... Billboard can refer to: Billboard magazine Billboard (advertising) Billboard antenna In 3D computer graphics, to billboard is to rotate an object so that it faces the viewer. ...

In recent years, Letterman and the Late Show have openly made jokes in reference to Leno, although it is often done in a self-deprecating manner. Such jokes usually refer to The Tonight Show's consistent (and perhaps frustrating) lead in the ratings, a common example being where a guest presenter of the Top Ten List will use one of the entries to declare his or her preference for Leno, resulting in Letterman feigning humiliation or surprise. In a "What Things Cost" sketch in 2000, Letterman explained that it cost $10,000 to keep an open phone line with actor Leonard Nimoy. Upon thanking Nimoy for his help, Nimoy tersely admitted that he was unable to talk because "I'm watching Leno." Leonard Simon Nimoy (born March 26, 1931) is an American actor, film director, poet, musician and photographer. ...

From November 11, 2002 to February 14, 2003, the show was simulcast on several CBS-owned radio stations.^[2]

Production

Episode structure

Act 1/Introduction

Early shows included a cold open, which featured Letterman in a baseball cap interacting with a celebrity. This practice was revived, albeit irregularly, in the summer of 2006. It often features Letterman in the green room, without a jacket on, talking to a Late Show staffer — usually former writer Gerard Mulligan or executive producer Jude Brennan — with Letterman being the butt of a joke.

The show's opening credits feature a series of shots of New York City (which have changed over the years) as the CBS Orchestra performs the Late Show theme (a livelier variation of the more jazzy Late Night theme). Announcer Alan Kalter proclaims "From New York: the greatest city in the world! It's the Late Show with David Letterman!" He announces the names of that night's guests, as well as Paul Shaffer and the CBS Orchestra. Kalter finally introduces Letterman with a humorous modification, such as "And now, the one-stop shop for all your bridal needs: David Letterman!"

Letterman then walks out on the show stage to perform his monologue, which often begins with an inside reference to something an audience member said to him during the pre-show Q&A; the scripted monologue jokes are usually based on pop culture, current events, and politics. The monologue is followed by Letterman's introduction of Shaffer and the CBS Orchestra, who then perform briefly. On most nights, Letterman will walk to his desk where he then chats with the audience and Shaffer, relating an unscripted personal story, discussing his anticipation of a particular upcoming guest, or continuing a running gag. He then explains who the scheduled guests are.

The show usually then transitions to a series of brief sketch comedy bits, which often consist of humorous commercials, disclaimers, video clips, or props. lately the skits have been "Great Moments in Presidential Speeches" that display FDR and Kennedy making speeches, then George W. Bush making a mistake in his speech. They are then followed by a more elaborate live or pre-taped skit, although lately, the skit (such as "Small Town News" and "Fun Facts") has been preceded by a commercial break.

Act 2

After returning from a commercial break, Letterman often reads the Top Ten List at this point before turning to guest interviews with a celebrity, politician, or public figure. On some nights Act 2 is instead dedicated to another comedy segment involving guest participants, such as Stupid Pet Tricks or Kid Scientists.

Act 3

On most nights, the first guest stays on through the commercial break and continues the interview, especially if he or she is a more well-known figure. In other instances, a second guest is brought out at this point.

Act 4

This segment is sometimes dedicated to a second scheduled guest. Occasionally, this guest is actually carried over from Act 3 and given two segments, with the first guest only being given one. On other nights, Act 4 will instead be dedicated to Letterman presenting either a Top Ten List or comedy bit involving a crew member.

Act 5

This segment often consists of an "audience sweep," where a camera pans across the applauding audience from side to side. A brief comedy bit or announcement, usually involving Kalter, is then superimposed over the sweep.

Act 6

The final guest of the show is usually featured here. In most instances, this consists of a live musical performance, although it may instead be dedicated to another interview, or a guest comedian performing a stand-up routine on the stage. The CBS Orchestra frequently assists musical guests in performing their songs.

Act 7

The episode concludes with Letterman at his desk, who then will often comment to Shaffer on the final guest, or that night's episode in general. He will then thank all the guests who appeared before announcing the next night's guests. Letterman then ends the show, usually saying "Good night everybody!" As the CBS Orchestra is seen performing the Late Show theme, a truncated closing credit sequence consisting of only copyright and ticket information is presented. On rare occasions when time allows, a full credit sequence listing the show's entire crew is shown. After the closing, a Worldwide Pants production logo is displayed with an authoritative but non-sequitur voice-over, such as "Mmm... waffles."

A cold open (also referred to as a teaser) in a television program or movie is the technique of jumping directly into a story at the beginning or opening of the show, before the title sequence or opening credits are shown. ... A baseball cap worn with the bill at the front, shading the eyes A baseball cap is a type of soft cap with a long, stiffened and curved peak and it is worn by men, women and children. ... For other uses, see Celebrity (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Summer (disambiguation). ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For the music studio, film or online magazine named The Green Room, see The Green Room A green room is a room in a theater, studio, or other public venues for the accommodation of performers or speakers when not required on the stage. ... 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. ... Opening credits, in a television program, motion picture or videogame, are shown at the beginning of a show and list the most important members of the production. ... A monologue, pronounced monolog, is a speech made by one person speaking his or her thoughts aloud or directly addressing a reader, audience, or character. ... For frequently asked questions about Wikipedia, see Wikipedia:FAQ FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) are a series of questions and answers all pertaining to a certain topic. ... Popular culture, or pop culture, is the vernacular (peoples) culture that prevails in a modern society. ... The running gag is a popular hallmark of comic and serious forms of entertainment. ... Sketch Show redirects here. ... In general terms, a Top Ten List is an ordered ranking of ten items in order of preference. ... Stupid Pet Tricks, and, subsequently, Stupid Human Tricks, are well-known segments on Late Night with David Letterman, and, later, The Late Show with David Letterman. ... Richard Pryor hits the money line A stand-up comedian or stand-up comic is someone that performs in comedy clubs, usually reciting a fast paced succession of amusing stories, short jokes and one-liners, typically called a monologue. ... Paul Shaffer and the CBS Orchestra The CBS Orchestra is the band that plays for David Lettermans CBS late-night talk show, The Late Show with David Letterman. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Non sequitur is Latin for it does not follow. ... A French-style waffle. ...

Regular sketches

Main article: Sketches on Letterman

The Late Show is well known for its repeated absurdist segments, often taking the form of competitions or audience participation. The charm of these segments is often that they are completely pointless, yet are taken seriously by Letterman and all involved. The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... Absurdism is a philosophy stating that the efforts of humanity to find meaning in the universe will ultimately fail (and, hence, are absurd) because no such meaning exists, at least in relation to humanity. ...

Currently, the show's regularly scheduled segments consist of "Small Town News" on Mondays (coincidentally and possibly competing with Leno's similar segment, "Headlines") and "Fun Facts" on Fridays. Thursdays often feature a rotating set of three audience participation segments: "Know Your Current Events," "Stump the Band," and "Audience Show and Tell."

Letterman will also take a camera crew into the Hello Deli on a near-weekly basis. There he will often conduct a game with Rupert Jee and a contestant selected from the crowd of gatherers outside (Jee, perhaps at the request of Letterman, almost always selects a young, attractive female). Such games are rarely repeated in subsequent episodes, but those that have been often repeated include "What's on the iPod?" and "Beat the Clock." Rupert Jee (b. ... Rupert Jee at his Hello Deli Exterior of the Hello Deli Rupert Jee (born July 16, 1956) is an American entrepreneur and television celebrity who has gained fame through frequent appearances on The Late Show with David Letterman. ... iPod is a brand of portable media players designed and marketed by Apple and launched in October 2001. ...

"Stupid Pet Tricks" and "Stupid Human Tricks," two of Letterman's trademark bits from Late Night, continue to be presented on the Late Show, albeit on a rare basis.

A segment that is a fan-favorite but is also rarely featured consists of random items (such as paint and super balls) being thrown off of a roof several stories high by a team led by Late Show stagehand Pat Farmer, often with spectacular results. SuperBall (originally Super Ball) is a toy, invented by Norman H. Stingley, and manufactured by Wham-O in 1965. ...

On a random basis, Letterman will present one of several kinds of "desk comedy" sketches. Some will consist of a series of props, such as "Rejected FDA Items" and "Summer Reading." Others will consist of a series of visuals and captions, such as "Thanksgiving Parade Quiz" and "A Day in the Life of..." “FDA” redirects here. ...

With the exception of the Top Ten List, many segments that have been featured on a near-daily basis have come and gone over the years. Such regularly recurring segments currently include "Great Moments in Presidential Speeches", "The Reagan Diaries", and "Will It Float?"

Staff

Announcer Bill Wendell retired and left the show in 1995. He was replaced by Alan Kalter on the show's next episode which came after a two-week hiatus. This is a list of television-related events in 1995. ...

In 1996, Letterman reluctantly fired long-time producer Robert Morton as the result of various professional disputes, including an apparent botched attempt to move the show to ABC in place of Nightline. Head writer Rob Burnett was promoted to executive producer. This is a list of television-related events in 1996. ... Robert Morty Morton is an American television producer most notable for his work as a producer and later co-executive producer of the NBC program Late Night with David Letterman. ... The American Broadcasting Company (ABC) operates television and radio networks in the United States and is also shown on basic cable in Canada. ... Nightline is a late-night hard and soft news program broadcast by ABC in the United States, and has a franchised formula to other networks and stations elsewhere in the world. ... Rob Burnett is an Emmy Award winning producrer, director and writer, best known for being the executive producer of shows such as Ed, Late Show with David Letterman, and the new ABC comedy The Knights of Prosperity. ...

Director Hal Gurnee and producer Peter Lassally left the show soon after to pursue other interests. Gurnee was replaced by Jerry Foley. Burnett was absent from the day-to-day operations from 2000 to 2004, and was replaced by Barbara Gaines and Maria Pope, both of whom continue to serve as executive producers, with Gaines currently acting as on-air producer. In 2003, producer Jude Brennan was added to the team of executive producers. Hal Gurnee is an American television director who directed all of the television shows hosted by David Letterman on NBC. Gurnee directed the Emmy award-winning but short-lived NBC daytime program The David Letterman Show, then moved with Letterman to Late Night with David Letterman in 1982. ... Peter Lassally is a former Carson Productions executive who served as the executive producer of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Late Night with David Letterman, and the Late Show with David Letterman. ... Barbara Gaines, a 1975 graduate of George W. Hewlett High School and 1979 graduate of Ithaca College, is Executive Producer of The Late Show with David Letterman. ... The year 2003 in television involved some significant events. ...

Lassally, who had served as an executive producer for Johnny Carson on the Tonight Show, was invited back to the Late Show in January 2005 as a guest to discuss the recent death of Carson. Lassally currently serves as executive producer for Worldwide Pants' Late Late Show (dating back to its years under original host Tom Snyder) as well as the Tony Mendez Show, an online webcast featuring the Late Show's "cue card boy." 2005 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December- → Deaths in January • 29 Ephraim Kishon • 25 Philip Johnson • 23 Johnny Carson • 22 Parveen Babi • 20 Jan Nowak-Jeziorański • 17 Virginia Mayo • 17 Zhao Ziyang • 15... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... A webcast is a live media file distributed over the Internet using streaming media technology. ... Cue cards are cards that help a person to remember. ...

High-definition broadcasts

The show began broadcasting in HDTV on Monday August 29, 2005. About two weeks later, Tim Kennedy, the show's Technical Director, commented on the transition in the show's official newsletter: Projection screen in a home theater, displaying a high-definition television image. ... is the 241st day of the year (242nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The year 2005 in television involved some significant events. ...

The biggest challenge in the HD conversion was to renovate and upgrade our old control room, audio room, videotape room, and edit room while still doing five shows a week... This entailed pulling a remote production truck on 53rd Street running somewhere in the neighborhood of 50,000 feet of video and audio cable just to tie the truck to the existing technical plant...

The coolest piece of equipment is our new control room Virtual Wall. We have done away with the conventional monitor for every video source and replaced it with four 70-inch rear projection screens and within those screens we can "virtually" place as many video images as we want, anywhere we want them, and when we want it. This is a comparison of various properties of different display technologies. ...

Kennedy and his crew won an Emmy Award for "Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video for a Series" during the nearly-four-month-long transition to HDTV. An Emmy Award. ...

Host

Main article: David Letterman

David Michael Letterman (born April 12, 1947, in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.) is an award-winning American comedian, late night talk show host, television producer, philanthropist, and IRL IndyCar Series car owner. ...

Physical comedy

Letterman himself is known for his quirky physical comedy, which he has used in varied degrees throughout the years. Examples are throwing his blue note cards through the prop window behind him or throwing pencils at the camera (always followed with a sound effect of shattering glass), pausing to take a long drink of his coffee, exaggeratedly loud coughing and clearing his throat, showing the inside lining of his suit, showing his receding hairline, long awkward moments to organize his note cards on his desk, flipping pencils upward and trying to catch them one-handed (à la Johnny Carson), wiggling his tie, adjusting the height of his chair, stirring his guests' coffee with a pencil before they arrive, and pausing to clean his glasses. Sound effects or audio effects are artificially created or enhanced sounds, or sound processes used to emphasize artistic or other content of movies, video games, music, or other media. ... For other persons named John Carson, see John Carson (disambiguation). ...

Though Letterman is typically well-attired and neat; a common 'Dave gag' is pretending to eat or drink excessive amounts of both edible and non-edible items, for instance, eating mayonnaise straight from the jar, allowing it to slop onto his face and onto the front of his suit. During a cooking segment with Martha Stewart there was a table set up with ingredients to demonstrate how to prepare some sort of meal. Letterman feigned clumsy disinterest, measuring the wrong amounts, throwing raw eggs at the band, gulping down bottles of wine, eating half a stick of butter, and generally wreaking havoc in an attempt to fluster his guest. Stewart tried to nonchalantly continue her cooking presentation, until finally, in an apparent "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" moment, succumbed to the fun, taking a big bite of butter herself. A similar situation occurred during a cooking segment featuring British chef Jamie Oliver, beginning with Letterman eating raw onions and resulting in he, Oliver and the episode's first guest Tom Cruise, and later Paul Shaffer all drinking from a bottle of olive oil. Martha Stewart (born Martha Helen Kostyra on August 3, 1941) is an American business magnate, author, editor and homemaking advocate. ... For other uses, see Chef (disambiguation). ... This article is about the TV chef. ... For the parody newspaper, see The Onion. ... Tom Cruise (born Thomas Cruise Mapother IV on July 3, 1962) is an Academy Award-nominated, Golden Globe Award-winning American actor and film producer. ... For the Popeye character, see Olive Oyl. ...

One-liners

Another Letterman trademark is his penchant for odd, non-sequitur one-liners. Often they come from obscure sources with little to no explanation and appear to be mostly used for Letterman's own amusement. Some of the one-liners seem to derive from experiences in Letterman's personal life, random lines he heard on TV, or favorite lines used by his comedian friends. Others are exaggerations of typical talk-show patter, in keeping with Letterman's ironic take on his own television genre. Shaffer will often laugh at the jokes, although this is usually due to the repetition and familiarity of them, rather than the nature of the jokes themselves. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... A one-liner is a joke that is delivered in a single line. ...

Some of the many one-liners during the Late Show years include:

• "And down the stretch they come!!" Mimicking the signature call of horse racing announcer Dave Johnson.
• "...And free balloons for the kids!"
• "Are you cookin' beans?"/"Is Zorro on?"/"What time is it?" Said in a Southern accent, Letterman has attributed this to a Jim Varney routine.
• "Hi, Bob. Hi, Stan. How's the go going?" Bob and Stan were Letterman's beloved German Shepards.
• "Hold on to your wigs and keys!"
• "I am nothing if not contemplative and introspective." Often preceding an observational monologue joke of a simple-minded nature.
• "I hope they're not neglecting their studies." Used in reference to a group of youths, often rock bands.
• "I'll handle the jokes!" Often used when a contestant gets in a funny line during one of the audience participation segments.
• "I'm being told he's all right."
• "I'm high on coffee, cheap speed and donuts!"
• "...In my pants!"
• "It opens in selected cities... And I pray to God that your city has been selected."
• "It's more fun than humans should be allowed to have."
• "Ladies and gentlemen, please check yourself for ticks."
• "My doctor... Dr. Vinnie Boom-batz!" From a Rodney Dangerfield routine.
• "Not a match, the board goes back." From Concentration, usually after a joke fails.
• "Please do not attempt to approach the desk." When going into a "trance" to predict what kind of pies his mother has made for Thanksgiving.
• "Something from the meat case, Linda?"
• "There is no off position on the genius switch."
• "There's not a man, woman, or child alive today who doesn't enjoy a lovely beverage."
• "They don't give these shows to chimps."
• "This is only an exhibition, this is not a competition. Please... no wagering." From Stupid Pet/Human Tricks.
• "This is the only thing on CBS right now."
• "Turn out the lights and call the cops!"
• "Wake the kids and call the neighbors!"
• "Wash it; Gas it; Give me the keys."
• "Will you be there when the big door swings open?"
• "We like to keep our comedy fresh." A standard reply when a guest comments on the cold temperature of the Ed Sullivan Theater.
• "What is this, Vassar?"
• "I wouldn't give that guy's problems to a monkey on a rock!"
• "May a bizarre holy man tape your sister shut!" Now more often used by Shaffer, particularly during audience segments
• "Well guess again, Chester!"

Dave Johnson is an American announcer and sportscaster, best known for his work in horse racing with ABC Sports and at various race tracks in New York and New Jersey. ... This article is on the plant. ... For other uses, see Zorro (disambiguation). ... James Albert Varney Jr. ... The German Shepherd Dog or Alsatian (See History), is a breed of dog. ... Rodney Dangerfield (November 22, 1921 – October 5, 2004), born Jacob Cohen, was an American comedian and actor, best known for the catchphrase I dont get no respect and his monologues on that theme. ... Concentration was a TV game show based on the childrens memory game of the same name. ... Vassar College is a private, coeducational, liberal arts college situated in Poughkeepsie, New York, USA. Founded as a womens college in 1861, it was the first member of the Seven Sisters to become coeducational. ...

Self-deprecation

Letterman will often poke fun at himself in a wide variety of ways, ranging from the content of his show (such as admitting when a joke is not particularly funny), his personal life (portraying himself as a reclusive loner), his physical appearance (his hair or "advanced age"), and his staff's supposed frustration with him (being forced to work on holidays). Such jokes will be made through impromptu remarks made by Letterman, or even in scripted material presented by Letterman or various staff members. In one episode, foreigners would appear on stage one by one, hurling a flurry of insults at Letterman in their native languages. Another more common gag consists of audience members finding ways to leave the show to Letterman's embarrassment.

"Friends of the Late Show"

Many frequently invited guests have gone on to become favorites of the show, displaying an on-air friendship with Letterman that sets them apart from the more typical interview subjects. Perhaps most prominent among these are Charles Grodin and Regis Philbin, who will often playfully bicker with Letterman about their respective personal relationships. Philbin has made more appearances on the Late Show than any other guest in the show's history. Grodin on The Charles Grodin Show Charles Grodin (born April 21, 1935 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is an American actor and former cable talk show host. ... Regis Francis Xavier Philbin (born August 25, 1931) is an Emmy Award-winning American television personality best known for his roles as a talk show host, game show host, and presenter at various events. ...

Other notable guests include Bonnie Hunt (with whom Letterman co-produced two short-lived sitcoms), Bill Murray (who has the distinction of appearing on the first episodes of both Late Night and the Late Show), Marv Albert (who had the most Late Night appearances), musical group Foo Fighters (whom Letterman had personally requested to perform during his first show after heart bypass surgery in 2000), and Warren Zevon (who was featured as the only guest in his final appearance prior to his death in 2003). Bonnie Lynn Hunt (born September 22, 1961)[1] is an Emmy, Golden Globe and SAG Award-nominated American actress, comedian, writer, director and television producer. ... William James Bill Murray (born September 21, 1950) is an Academy Award-nominated, Emmy-winning and Golden Globe-winning American comedian and actor. ... Marv Albert (born Marvin Philip Aufrichtig on June 12, 1940, in Brooklyn, New York) is an American television and radio sportscaster, honored for his work as a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame and is commonly referred to as the voice of basketball. ... This article is about the band. ... Warren William Zevon (January 24, 1947 – September 7, 2003) was an American rock and roll musician and songwriter. ...

Some guests, particularly Murray, Tom Hanks, Steve Martin, and Bruce Willis, will often take the effort to accompany their appearances on the show with a pre-arranged routine or bit (such as when Willis put dots on his face to satirize Dick Cheney's recent hunting incident and Hanks' wearing one of Letterman's sport jackets and a pair of his loafers, claiming his wife was to blame for the accidental clash of fashions), or will appear elsewhere in the show in a skit. Martin Short will often conclude his interviews with a comedic musical number on stage. Thomas Jeffrey Hanks (born July 9, 1956) is an American two-time Academy Award-winning film actor, Emmy-winning director, voice-over artist and movie producer. ... For other uses, see Steve Martin (disambiguation). ... Walter Bruce Willis (born March 19, 1955 in Idar-Oberstein, Germany) is an American actor and singer. ... Richard Bruce Dick Cheney (born January 30, 1941), is the 46th and current Vice President of the United States, serving under President George W. Bush. ... A sportcoat, also called a sport coat, sport jacket, or blazer is a tailored coat for men. ... Loafers or penny loafers are low, leather step-in shoes usually with moccasin construction, with broad flat heels. ... Rita Wilson (born October 26, 1956)[1] is an American actress and producer. ... Martin Hayter Short, CM (born March 26, 1950) is a Canadian/American comedian, actor, writer, and producer. ...

Other favorite guests who have frequently appeared include Drew Barrymore, Matthew Broderick, Tom Brokaw, Harry Connick, Jr., Penn & Teller, Elvis Costello, Billy Crystal, Jack Hanna, Jennifer Lopez, Paul Newman, Sarah Jessica Parker, the late Tony Randall, Julia Roberts, Ray Romano, Isabella Rossellini, Amy Sedaris, Jerry Seinfeld, Martha Stewart, Howard Stern, and Robin Williams. Drew Blyth Barrymore (born February 22, 1975) is an American actress and film producer, the youngest member of the Barrymore family of American actors. ... Matthew Broderick (born March 21, 1962) is a Tony Award-winning American film and stage actor who is perhaps best known for his role as the title character in Ferris Buellers Day Off. ... Thomas John Brokaw (born February 6, 1940 in Webster, South Dakota) is a popular American television journalist, Previously working on regularly scheduled news documentaries for the NBC television network, and is the former NBC News anchorman and managing editor of the program NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw. ... ‹ The template below (Taginfo) is being considered for deletion. ... Penn & Teller at the 1988 Emmy Awards Penn & Teller are Las Vegas headliners whose act is an amalgam of illusion and comedy. ... Elvis Costello (born Declan Patrick McManus August 25, 1954) is an English musician, singer, and songwriter. ... For the American political commentator, see William Kristol. ... Monkeys on the Interstate, 1989, by Jack Hanna Jack Hanna (b. ... For the meteorologist of The Weather Channel, see The Weather Channel (United States). ... This article is about the American actor and race team owner. ... Sarah Jessica Parker (born March 25, 1965) is an American actress producer, with a portfolio of television, movie, and theater performances. ... Tony Randall (February 26, 1920 – May 17, 2004) was an American comic actor. ... Julia Fiona Roberts (born October 28, 1967) is an Academy Award-winning American film actress and former fashion model. ... Raymond Romano (born December 21, 1957 in Queens, New York) is an Emmy Award-winning and Golden Globe-nominated, American actor and comedian best known for his starring role on the sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond. ... Isabella Fiorella Elettra Giovanna Rossellini (born June 18, 1952 in Rome, Italy) is an Italian actress, filmmaker, author, philanthropist, and former supermodel. ... Amy Sedaris (born March 29, 1961, in Endicott, New York) is an American actress, author, and comedian. ... This article is about the comedian. ... Martha Stewart (born Martha Helen Kostyra on August 3, 1941) is an American business magnate, author, editor and homemaking advocate. ... This article is a biography of Howard Stern as an individual; for information regarding his radio show see The Howard Stern Show. ... For other persons named Robin Williams, see Robin Williams (disambiguation). ...

Some of Letterman's personal comedian friends who have often appeared on the show include Jeff Altman, Tom Dreesen, the late George Miller, Bob Sarlatte, Jimmie Walker, and John Witherspoon. Jeff Altman (born in Syracuse, New York, August 13, 1951) is a comedian who has appeared as a guest on The Late Show with David Letterman 36 times. ... George Miller (born March 3, 1945) is an Australian film and television screenwriter, film director and producer. ... For other persons named James Walker, see James Walker (disambiguation). ... John Witherspoon John Witherspoon (born January 27, 1942) is an African-American comedy actor best known for his roles in Boomerang (1992), Friday (1995) and the 1990s WB sitcom The Wayans Bros. ...

R.E.M., who were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March 2007, made their international television debut on Late Night on October 6, 1983, just three years into their career. To date, they have appeared on Letterman's show six times. R.E.M. is an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia in 1980 by Bill Berry (drums), Peter Buck (guitar), Mike Mills (bass guitar), and Michael Stipe (vocals). ... This page is a partial list of inductees of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, taken from the list on the Hall of Fames website. ... is the 279th day of the year (280th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ... R.E.M. made their international television debut[1] on Late Night with David Letterman on October 6, 1983. ...

Yearly traditions

Halloween

For Halloween, Letterman stands in a house-like set on stage, where he answers a door and greets a series of trick-or-treaters dressed in elaborate, humorous costumes (a recent example being a gas station sign with changeable prices). The children are then given "treats" which have consisted of unusual items such as Lipitor, useless Yankees World Series tickets, and a Late Show with David Letterman tote bag. Trick or treat redirects here. ... In medicine and pharmacology, atorvastatin (Lipitor® or atorvastatin calcium) is a member of the drug class of statins, used for lowering cholesterol and thereby preventing cardiovascular disease. ... Major league affiliations American League (1901–present) East Division (1969–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 23, 32, 37, 44, 49 Name New York Yankees (1913–present) New York Highlanders (1903-1912) Baltimore Orioles (1901-1902) (Also referred to as... For other events named World Series, see World Series (disambiguation). ...

Thanksgiving

Every Thanksgiving, Letterman visits his mother (Dorothy Mengering) at her Indiana home via satellite, and tries to guess the two pies she has baked for her family dinner. Letterman will also show footage of that year's company Thanksgiving party, which often includes a particular clip from a previous party in which Letterman serves food while dressed in a pilgrim costume. Dorothy Mengering (b. ... This article is about the baked good, for other uses see Pie (disambiguation). ... Monument to pilgrims in Burgos, Spain This article is on religious pilgrims. ...

Christmas

Since 1986, Letterman has invited musician Darlene Love to perform "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" on the final new episode of the Late Show with David Letterman before Christmas. The song is always performed with Paul Shaffer and the CBS Orchestra, with the band being augmented by additional strings and other instruments, as well as a full choir. Love first performed the song on Late Night with David Letterman in 1986. Letterman has stated that the annual performance is his favorite part of Christmas, and that Love's rendition is " the only Christmas song anyone needs." Letterman will often dedicate a segment to toy expert Shannon Eis, who demonstrates many of the newer toys that will be available during the upcoming season. The main appeal of the segment is Letterman's tendency to engage in horseplay with the various toys on display. Darlene Love (born Darlene Wright, 26 July 1941, Los Angeles, California) is an American popular music singer. ... Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) is a song by Darlene Love from the 1963 Christmas compilation album, A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector. ... For other uses, see Christmas (disambiguation). ...

Paul Shaffer will often perform a brief rendition of Cher singing "O Holy Night" from an episode of her 1970s variety show. Shaffer sets up the bit with a straight-faced introduction before breaking into a humorous impersonation. This has been performed on-and-off since the Late Night years. This article is about Cher, the entertainer. ... O Holy Night (Cantique de Noël) is a well-known Christmas carol composed by Adolphe Adam in 1847 to the French poem Minuit, chrétiens by Placide Cappeau (1808-1877), an accomplished amateur. ...

Letterman will also have local pizza-maker Joe G, gift shop proprietors Mujibur & Sirajul, and Hello Deli proprietor Rupert Jee top the Late Show Christmas tree with a pizza, Statue of Liberty miniature, and meatball, respectively. For other uses, see Pizza (disambiguation). ... For other monuments to freedom, see Monument of Liberty. ... For other uses, see Meatball (disambiguation). ...

On a later episode, Letterman and comedian Jay Thomas will then throw footballs at the tree from across the stage, attempting to knock down its top. This tradition began in 1998 when Letterman and NFL quarterback Vinny Testaverde threw footballs at a pastrami sandwich from the top of a tree but failed repeatedly. This prompted Thomas - who had been a guest earlier - to run out and take a shot, succeeding on his first try. Jay Thomas (born Jon (or John) Thomas Terrell on July 12, 1948 in Kermit, Texas) is an American actor and disc jockey. ... United States simply as football, is a competitive team sport that is both fast-paced and strategic. ... NFL logo For other uses of the abbreviation NFL, see NFL (disambiguation). ... Navy quarterback Aaron Polanco sets up to throw. ... Vincent Frank Testaverde (born November 13, 1963 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American football quarterback for the National Football Leagues New England Patriots. ... Pastrami Pastrami is a popular deli meat made from chiefly red meat. ...

Notable guests

Bill Hicks

On October 1, 1993, Bill Hicks was to appear on the Late Show for the first time (he had appeared on "Late Night" 11 times), but his appearance at the live taping was somewhat controversially edited out of the show that went on the air. At the time, Hicks was doing a routine about pro-life organizations, where he encouraged them to "lock arms and block cemeteries" instead of medical clinics, which was part of his set that was cut from the show. In its place, a stand-up segment performed by staff writer Bill Scheft from a previously unaired show was edited in. Both the show's producers and CBS denied responsibility for the cut, but the reason appeared obvious to many during the following week's Letterman show when a commercial for a pro-life organization was aired. Hicks felt betrayed, and wrote a 32-page letter of complaint. Less than five months later, Hicks died of pancreatic cancer. After his death, a somewhat somber Letterman expressed regret at the way Hicks had been handled, when interviewed for the special It's Just A Ride: A Tribute to Bill Hicks. The episode that Hicks' appearance was removed from was the only episode ever to feature David Letterman doing the voice-over for the show introduction. Regular announcer Bill Wendell had gone home for the day before the decision was made to remove Hicks' appearance, so Letterman filled in when the introduction was edited. is the 274th day of the year (275th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The year 1993 in television involved some significant events. ... This Section does not cite any references or sources. ...

Madonna

Main article: Madonna on Letterman

In March 1994, pop star Madonna appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman. The unofficial 'Queen of Pop', who is known for controversy, infamously swore thirteen times throughout the interview and refused to leave at the end. Letterman, who asked her questions on various topics including her nose ring, music and love life was soon branded a 'sick fuck', after he suggested Madonna kiss a member of the audience. Madonna went on to ask if Letterman was wearing a 'rug', whether he wanted to smell a pair of underwear she brought on the show, or whether he thought the microphone was sexually big. In between this, Madonna often swore and referred to sexual themes including her vagina, saying: 'Did you know it's good to pee in the shower?' Eventually, she swore so much that the producers went to commercials and showed comedic monologues of Madonna. At the end of the interview, when Madonna refused to leave, Letterman cut to a break, and when they returned, Madonna was gone. Letterman has since stated, in USA Today: 'I'm not pleased with the way I handled it. I should have said, "You say that word one more time and you're gone. That's it. Adios." And I didn't.' Madonna appeared days later on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Although she appeared briefly at the stroke of midnight on Valentine's Day, 1995 to present Dave with a bouquet of roses, her return to the show as a guest was not until 2000, while promoting her album Music. During that interview, and other subsequent interviews on the show, Dave joked that he still had the panties that she gave him. When Madonna appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman in March 1994, her coarse language, including thirteen uses of the word fuck, made the episode the most censored in American network television talk-show history; it also resulted in some of the highest ratings of Lettermans late-night... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... This article is about the American entertainer. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The vagina, (from Latin, literally sheath or scabbard ) is the tubular tract leading from the uterus to the exterior of the body in female placental mammals and marsupials, or to the cloaca in female birds, monotremes, and some reptiles. ... USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. ... May 26, 2006 opening monologue of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno The Tonight Show with Jay Leno is the full name of NBCs The Tonight Show hosted by Jay Leno, debuting on May 25, 1992. ... The year 2000 in television involved some significant events. ... Alternate cover One of the four special edition album covers Alternate cover The Australian Tour Edition album cover features a larger cover art Music is the eighth studio album and fourteenth recording by singer Madonna, released in 2000 (see 2000 in music). ...

During the September 1994 MTV Video Music Awards, Madonna was a presenter and was escorted onstage by Letterman who kissed her hand and stated, "I'll be in the car. Just... watch your language.", and walked off stage to applause.

Johnny Carson

On May 13, 1994, Johnny Carson was lured out of his retirement to make a rare television appearance on the Late Show during a week of episodes taped in Los Angeles. That week, as a running gag, Calvert DeForest brought out each night's Top Ten list after being introduced as a random A-list star. The final night, he was introduced as Carson. After DeForest delivered his usual insult to the audience and left, Letterman announced he was given the wrong card and asked "Johnny" to bring the right one. The real Carson then came out to a thunderous and prolonged standing ovation from the audience. During the ovation, Letterman gleefully insisted Carson take his seat behind the desk while Letterman sat in the guest's chair. Carson was apparently supposed to deliver a joke when the crowd finally settled down, but perhaps feeling he couldn't top that moment, said "no" and left the stage to another ovation. Carson later blamed laryngitis for his lack of a joke. Carson had not appeared on TV since his departure from The Tonight Show in 1992 and was rarely seen in public afterwards. For other persons named John Carson, see John Carson (disambiguation). ... Calvert DeForest (born July 23, 1921 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American actor and comedian. ... Laryngitis is an inflammation of the larynx. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Drew Barrymore

In a 1995 Late Show episode, as a birthday present, actress Drew Barrymore stood on Letterman's desk and flashed her breasts, as part of an erotic dance. (The cameras only showed her from the back, during the flash). The dance shocked the usually unflappable Letterman; it was reportedly a gift from Barrymore, for his birthday. Letterman later said, 'I couldn't have been more pleased.' A later skit on The Late Show entitled "The David Letterman Story" referenced the incident where Letterman claimed his most memorable and favorite moment on the show was "when Drew Barrymore got on the desk and took her shirt off." This is a list of television-related events in 1995. ... Drew Blyth Barrymore (born February 22, 1975) is an American actress and film producer, the youngest member of the Barrymore family of American actors. ...

Anna Paquin

In 1996, an appearance by then-13-year-old actress Anna Paquin made headlines due to an apparent misunderstanding. Earlier in the episode, a man was given a chance to win $10,000 by making a three-point shot but he missed. After a tense interview with an "uncommunicative" Paquin, Letterman offered her a chance to make a shot from up close.^[3] She made the shot and Letterman jokingly handed her the $10,000. When the producers took the money away from Paquin backstage, her parents told the local newspapers that their daughter should be allowed to keep it. The local press referred to the incident as "Paquin-gate".^[3] Two nights later, Paquin returned to the show and a visibly bothered Letterman gave her the $10,000 as a donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He later looked in the camera and said "Get over it! Alright?" Letterman recalled in an interview: Anna Helene Paquin (born July 24, 1982) is an Academy Award-winning and Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated Canadian actress. ... In basketball, a three-point field goal, three-pointer, three-point shot, or, simply, three is a field goal made from beyond the three point line, a designated semi-ellipsoid arc radiating from the basket. ... Following the U.S. Watergate scandal in the 1970s, in which presidential prerogatives of the Nixon administration collided with the U.S. Constitution in a genuinely important crisis, the suffix -gate has been used to name various other scandals, some of which were distinctly minor affairs, as the following list... Make-A-Wish Foundation logo The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that grants wishes to children (2. ...

Hypocrisy is the act of condemning or calling for the condemnation of another person when the critic is guilty of the act for which he demands that the accused be condemned. ...

Farrah Fawcett

The former model and 1970s sex icon Farrah Fawcett made headlines on June 5, 1997 when she notoriously appeared on Letterman's show appearing confused and disoriented. At the end of the show, Letterman thanked Fawcett for "almost being here." Farrah Fawcett (born February 2, 1947) is an American actress. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ...

Warren Zevon

Warren Zevon was a frequent guest and occasional substitute bandleader on Letterman's television shows since Late Night first aired in 1982. In 2002, he was diagnosed with lung cancer. On October 30, 2002, Zevon was featured on the show as the only guest for the entire hour. Appearing very underweight and weakened, Zevon performed and spoke at length about his illness. It was this show where Zevon offered his insight on facing death: "enjoy every sandwich." He performed three songs (his last ever before an audience): "Genius", "Mutineer" and "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner." Zevon regarded Letterman as "the best friend my music ever had." He died on September 7, 2003. Warren William Zevon (January 24, 1947 – September 7, 2003) was an American rock and roll musician and songwriter. ... Late Night with David Letterman was a nightly hour-long comedy talk show on NBC hosted by David Letterman. ... The year 1982 in television involved some significant events. ... Lung cancer is the malignant transformation and expansion of lung tissue, and is the most lethal of all cancers worldwide, responsible for 1. ... is the 303rd day of the year (304th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The year 2002 in television involved some significant events. ... Enjoy Every Sandwich: Songs of Warren Zevon is a tribute album released in 2004 to the late Warren Zevon by many famous musicians. ... Mutineer is an album by American singer/songwriter Warren Zevon, released in 1995. ... Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner is a song composed by Warren Zevon and David Lindell and performed by Zevon. ... is the 250th day of the year (251st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Courtney Love

In March 2004, rock singer Courtney Love flashed Letterman six times — once while standing on his desk. 2004 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December Deaths • 08 Abu Abbas • 20 Queen Juliana • 28 Peter Ustinov • 30 Alistair Cooke More March 2004 deaths Ongoing events EU Enlargement Exploration of Mars: Rovers Haiti Rebellion Israeli-Palestinian conflict Occupation of Iraq Same-sex marriage in... Courtney Love[1] (born Courtney Michelle Harrison on July 9, 1964) is an American rock musician. ...

Oprah Winfrey

Letterman and daytime talk show host Oprah Winfrey have had a peculiar public relationship. Although Winfrey appeared twice on Letterman's Late Night show in the 1980s, she had never appeared on the Late Show, and Le