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LATE NIGHT WITH DAVID LETTERMAN

Late Night with David Letterman poster

Late Night with David Letterman

Year: 1982 First Air: 1982-02-01
📺 Where can I watch this?
Go to this day in 1982 Open the 1982 capsule
Overview

Late Night with David Letterman is a landmark NBC comedy talk show that reshaped the late-night format from 1982 to 1993. Hosted by David Letterman, each nightly episode blends sharp monologues, offbeat sketches, recurring bits, and celebrity interviews with a distinctly ironic edge. The show’s playful tone, inventive production style, and willingness to experiment made it a defining influence on modern American late-night television.

Synopsis

Airing weeknights on NBC from 1982 through 1993, Late Night with David Letterman brought a fresh, irreverent sensibility to the talk-show desk. David Letterman anchors the hour with a quick monologue and a mix of comedy segments that often poke fun at TV conventions, the studio setting, and pop culture. The series is known for recurring bits, running gags, and a restless, experimental spirit that keeps episodes unpredictable. Celebrity guests stop by for interviews that can turn casually conversational, teasing, or oddly sincere, depending on the moment, and musical performances frequently round out the night. Backed by a lively band and an ensemble of writers and on-air personalities, the show helped establish a new template for late-night humor—smart, self-aware, and sometimes delightfully strange—while remaining accessible to a broad American audience.

Cast
David Letterman — Host
Trivia
Think of an influential late-night desk show famous for oddball running bits and a mischievous sense of humor.
Q1: Which longtime bandleader led the house band on Late Night with David Letterman for much of its run on NBC?
Answer: Paul Shaffer
The bandleader became a key on-screen foil, helping shape the show’s rhythm and comedic interplay beyond the interviews.
Q2: What was the name of Letterman’s deadpan announcer and frequent comedic target on the show?
Answer: Alan Kalter
The announcer’s presence enabled countless running jokes and helped define the show’s self-referential, behind-the-scenes comedy.
Q3: Which recurring segment counted down a themed list of items, becoming one of the show’s best-known comedic staples?
Answer: Top Ten List
The list format became a widely imitated late-night device and a signature piece of the show’s comedy identity.