Late Show with David Letterman

Premiering in 1993 on CBS, Late Show with David Letterman is a late-night talk and comedy series built around David Letterman’s sharp, offbeat style. Each episode blends celebrity interviews, comedy monologues, desk bits, and recurring sketches, backed by Paul Shaffer and the CBS Orchestra. With an unpredictable rhythm and a knack for playful banter, the show became a longtime fixture of American late-night television.

Late Show with David Letterman is a long-running American late-night series that brought David Letterman’s distinctive humor to CBS beginning in 1993. Taped before a studio audience, the show follows a familiar talk-show structure while constantly bending it: a brisk opening monologue, desk segments that mix irony with absurdity, and a steady stream of guests from film, television, music, sports, and politics. Letterman’s interviewing style is conversational and unpredictable, often steering away from routine promotion into quick wit and genuine moments. The program’s sound is shaped by Paul Shaffer and the CBS Orchestra, while the announcer and writing staff help drive recurring gags, audience participation, and running jokes that evolve over time. Night to night, the tone can shift from silly to sharp, but it remains anchored by Letterman’s curiosity and comic mischief, making it a defining entry in modern U.S. late-night TV.