Late Show with David Letterman
Synopsis
David Letterman uses mature humor to appeal to his audience in this weeknight series, which gets its music from a house band led by Paul Shaffer. Among the show's most-famous segments are the Top Ten List and Stupid Pet Tricks, the latter of which subsequently led to an additional recurring segment called Stupid Human Tricks.
Season 1 Episodes
EP 1
Tom Brokaw shows up to take back some NBC ""intellectual property;"" Dave shows off the renovated Ed Sullivan Theater and chats with Bill M…
EP 2
Dave's worst moment on last night's debut: his fake tooth fell out (the video is repeated several times in slow motion); a four-year-old ge…
EP 3
A very pregnant Demi Moore is given the honor of throwing the first pencil through the backdrop windows of the Late Show.
EP 4
The ghost of Ed Sullivan (who haunts Dave throughout the first week) introduces a plate spinner; Andy Dick makes his first appearance as ""…
EP 5
Dave has fun with a car phone, calling in bogus traffic reports to 1010 WINS radio; Casey Kasem presents ""Top Ten Favorite Numbers Between…
EP 6
Dave continues pestering locals with the new hands-free car phone: WINS radio, a car wash, Dial-a-Mattress and Jackson Hole Restaurant, whe…
EP 7
EP 8
EP 9
Dave takes a cab to help out at Yankee Stadium and later makes fun of Tony Randall; Lenny Kravitz performs ""Are You Gonna Go My Way.""
EP 10
EP 11
EP 12
The Mars Observer crashes into the studio; Mike Ditka promotes ""NFL on NBC;"" John Hiatt performs ""Perfectly Good Guitar.""
EP 13
Jerry Garcia sits in with the band; Dave makes several jokes at the expense of Yassir Arafat.
EP 14
EP 15
EP 16
EP 17
David Sanborn sits in with the band; Dave does part of the show from his ""house"" in Connecticut.
EP 18
EP 19
EP 20
EP 21
EP 22
EP 23
Ed Sullivan's ghost introduces juggler ""Andy Head;"" Paul & the CBSO play Jerry Lewis out with the coda from Count Basie's ""April In Pari…
EP 24
EP 25
EP 26
Dave's high-rise buddy Meg Parsont (at a different building) makes her first and only appearance on CBS -- giving a description of her boyf…
EP 27
Johnny Cash sings ""Don't Take Your Guns to Town.""
EP 28
Dave looks at new books for fall; Andy Dick returns as ""Donnie ... the CBS Page Who Likes to Suck Up.""
EP 29
EP 30
""Celebrities in the Audience"" makes its first appearance on the new show, as guests from previous shows are introduced in the crowd -- Gl…
EP 31
EP 32
EP 33
EP 34
EP 35
EP 36
EP 37
EP 38
EP 39
EP 40
EP 41
EP 42
EP 43
EP 44
EP 45
EP 46
EP 47
EP 48
EP 49
Natalie Merchant - ""Because the Night""
EP 50
EP 51
EP 52
EP 53
Mary Tyler Moore treats Late Show viewers to a video clip of Dave from her 1978 variety show, ""Mary,"" in which she smashes a grapefruit i…
EP 54
EP 55
EP 56
EP 57
EP 58
EP 59
EP 60
EP 61
""Meet the Neighbors,"" conclusion: The outside cam goes to K & L's Rock America to see Mujibur Rahman and Sirajul Islam, and Dave has them…
EP 62
EP 63
EP 64
Throughout the night, Calvert reports from the parade; as he does every year, Dave guesses what pies his mother made this Thanksgiving; Gab…
EP 65
EP 66
In ""Bad Phone Call,"" Dave calls the father of Michelle Polikas to tell him she's living with Bob Howard. Also, Dave takes two suckers aw…
EP 67
Mandy Patinkin drops by (along with Tony Randall), and asks for rehearsal time. Before Dave gets a chance to say no, Mandy and the CBS Orch…
EP 68
EP 69
Dave buys Paul a fake Rolex off the street; Chris Elliott is on hand for the world premiere of his surrealist art film ""The Traveling Poet…
EP 70
EP 71
EP 72
EP 73
EP 74
EP 75
Dave visits some handwriting analysts; Rush Limbaugh promotes his new book.
EP 76
EP 77
EP 78
EP 79
EP 80
EP 81
EP 82
Dave comments on FOX taking away CBS' NFL coverage; strongman Dennis ""Mighty Mite"" Rogers lifts weights.
EP 83
EP 84
EP 85
EP 86
EP 87
EP 88
Chris Elliott performs the title song from ""Cabaret;"" legendary violinist Itzhak Perlman follows with a rendition of ""Danse Espagnole.""…
EP 89
EP 90
EP 91
The ghost of Ed Sullivan introduces trampoline star Tom Boleen; Troy Aikman throws footballs into cabs on Broadway, and later, from a tramp…
EP 92
EP 93
George Carlin promotes his new sitcom; Calvert drops by as ""The Guy Who Thinks Dave's Name is Randy.""
EP 94
EP 95
EP 96
EP 97
Dave gets dragged by a cab; the cast of ""Cats"" runs into the Ed Sullivan Theater to take a bow.
EP 98
EP 99
EP 100
Concrete Blonde – ""Mexican Moon""
EP 101
EP 102
Dave comments on the upcoming Winter Olympics in Norway; staff members Debbie Drimmer, Rick Scheckman and John Beckerman tell all about the…
EP 103
EP 104
Peter Frampton sits in; Dave discusses Clinton's health care plan with a group of cab drivers; seven-year-old sheep handler Amanda Archilet…
EP 105
EP 106
EP 107
EP 108
EP 109
EP 110
EP 111
James - ""Laid""
EP 112
Throughout the night, champion canines from the Westminster Dog Show walk across the stage; Dorothy does a little shopping in Lillehammer.
EP 113
Dorothy interviews Tommy Moe; Phil Hartman promotes Greedy.
EP 114
David Sanborn sits in with the band; Dave surveys residents of Scotch Plains, NJ about the Olympics; Bebe Neuwirth promotes ""Damn Yankees"…
EP 115
Dave proposes marriage on behalf of an audience member; UB40 performs ""Higher Ground.""
EP 116
EP 117
Two guys pretending to be Dave and Paul ice skate; Laurence Fishburne promotes Searching for Bobby Fischer.
EP 118
EP 119
Dorothy recaps her two weeks in Lillehammer; Michael J. Fox promotes Greedy.
EP 120
EP 121
EP 122
EP 123
EP 124
EP 125
EP 126
EP 127
EP 128
Dave shows an anonymous gift (Jonathan Estrada, maybe?) of a block of cheese shaped like Oklahoma. Also, up-and-coming singer-songwriter S…
EP 129
Ten cabbies present the Top Ten; Diane Sawyer sneaks in footage of Dave from his weatherman days; Chris Elliott shows a clip from his new m…
EP 130
""New Pharmaceuticals"" include ""Hot 'n' Spicy Tylenol,"" ""L'eggs Metal Pipe Resistant Pantyhose,"" and ""Nipsey's Own Anti-Bacterial Oin…
EP 131
New York native Gurnek Basanti drives his cab into the theater; Dave devours an entire tub of I Can't Believe It's Not Butter.
EP 132
Dave brags about the birth of his nephew; Buck Henry promotes his new book.
EP 133
""Can a Guy in a Bear Suit Get into the Hard Rock Cafe?"" Apparently, he can do it with ease, but ""Can a Guy in a Bear Suit Get into the …
EP 134
Dave watches a live feed of himself watching the show at home while he's taping the show in the theater. Shots include toasting waffles, cr…
EP 135
A day after Madonna arouses/grosses out the American viewing public by, among other things, offering Dave her underwear, Charles Grodin com…
EP 136
Dave can't seem to remove his shoe, and with no shoehorn available, he runs outside and asks a cab driver to run over his foot.
EP 137
EP 138
Paul Newman jumps out of the audience, claiming to take a powder when he learns that Madonna won't be on. Instead, he walks across Broadwa…
EP 139
Shortly after a baseball-themed Top Ten, Dave goes on a brief rant about how overpaid the players are.
EP 140
Tonight marks the Late Show debut of ""The Strong Guy, the Fat Guy, the Genius,"" which pits three men of said traits against each other in…
EP 141
Mujibur and Sirajul make a visit to Mickey the barber, and they promptly receive free haircuts. Soon afterwards, Don Rickles goes in for a…
EP 142
""Rejected FDA Items"" include Medicated Pringles, Tic-Tacs with Real Ticks and Tacks, Deodorant with Raisins, Milk with Adjustable Dates, …
EP 143
During Mailbag, Dave discusses a certain much-publicized divorce with ""Roseanne Arnold"" (Gerard). Later, he chats with Boston Marathon w…
EP 144
Dave names Jimmy Johnson as the new head coach of the show; Ellen DeGeneres promotes ""These Friends of Mine.""
EP 145
Future Dave lead-in Tom Snyder promotes his new (and ultimately doomed) Larry King-style cable talk show.
EP 146
Dave notices an empty seat in the third row, so he brings in a guy from outside to fill it.
EP 147
Dave finds a stray blue card on his desk and returns it to Regis and Kathie Lee. Also, Gin Blossoms perform ""Hey Jealousy.""
EP 148
Donny Osmond and Calvert star in the Late Show's version of the Menendez Brothers' life story.
EP 149
Dave tries to wake up and gets soaked with Gatorade; Tony Randall helps Mandy Patinkin practice a musical number; Dave ""grills"" seven-yea…
EP 150
Dave harasses hotel doormen, and later he chats with NFL draft pick Dan Wilkinson.
EP 151
The outside cam heads to Times Square, during which Dave invites passerby Amy Butler in to co-host. Later in the show, Dave and Amy reflec…
EP 152
Dave gets a parking ticket; Robin Williams promotes ""Comic Relief VI.""
EP 153
Throughout the night, we have an assortment of ""Happy Endings,"" providing a satisfying coda to unusual situations. Also, Dave shows a sa…
EP 154
Dave brings out 70 cases of Gatorade that were received after the stunt in Show #149. Later, he goes up to his office to watch the CBS Eve…
EP 155
Dave discusses politics with a bunch of cabbies; Chris Farley demonstrates his physically demanding comedy routine; Sharon Stone waltzes wi…
EP 156
Dave takes his show to LA for the first time since 1985. Dave throws a pencil into a wading pool that's behind his desk, and a dog retrieve…
EP 157
L.A., Day 2: Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda is seen gulping down Slim-Fast; Dodgers pitchers Orel Hershiser, Roger McDowell, Tom Candiotti a…
EP 158
LA, Day 3: Dave ends the show early, and then flies back to New York. Paul finds him working the cashier at K&L Rock America, so they brin…
EP 159
L.A., Day 4: It's time for ""Los Angeles Souvenirs,"" including a Fabio Lawn Gnome, Record Industry Weasel Magazine, and a Honk-If-You've-S…
EP 160
A very special guest presents the Top Ten (see recap); Bette Midler performs ""Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.""
EP 161
Travis Tritt performs ""Foolish Pride,"" while Harvey Pekar actually censors himself, much to Dave's chagrin.
EP 162
Dave finally has his photos from LA developed, and an audience guys helps him display the photos on the Times Square Jumbotron. Later in t…
EP 163
It's time for more celebrities in the audience, including Michael J. Fox, Jerry Seinfeld, Paul Shaffer, Kathie Lee Gifford, and Bill Cobsy.…
EP 164
Dave quizzes the audience on last week's trip to LA.
EP 165
Dave freshens up by walking outside the theater, towards a hot dog vendor, and washing his face in the dirty hot dog water. Also, Creepy D…
EP 166
Dave makes another bad phone call for an audience member; Rick Moranis promotes The Flintstones, and his interview is interrupted by co-sta…
EP 167
Dave is missing his opening ""billboard"" card with tonight's guests listed on them, so he leaves the theater, goes to the NBC Nightly News…
EP 168
Dave finds a sports reporter from Indianapolis outside and invites him in; Dave launches ""Top Ten Plus,"" the quicker and more efficient T…
EP 169
Jets take off at JFK Airport; Rosie O'Donnell promotes The Flintstones.
EP 170
Dave helps Nancy Agostini find an apartment in the city; The Pretenders perform ""Night in My Veins.""
EP 171
Dave escorts the Stand-by Audience (all 40 of 'em) to a restaurant a few blocks away from the Ed Sullivan Theater. He later invites sailors…
EP 172
Dave hands out ""Warning Label"" props to the audience; another ""CBS Special Report"" finds Alan Richardson reporting on his socks.
EP 173
Dave's coffee is cold, so he goes out and warms it himself with a taxi battery; George Miller comments on today's solar eclipse; Dave picks…
EP 174
An audience member plays a staged version of ""The Price is Right,"" and wins a can of flour. Also, Michael Buffer fills in for Billy Wend…
EP 175
Mujibur and Sirajul begin their Coast-to-Coast Tour, leaving NYC on a private jet; Keanu Reeves promotes Speed; Dave interviews David Brenn…
EP 176
On their first leg of the Coast-to-Coast Tour, Mujibur and Sirajul report from Niagra Falls, saluting the US flag. Paul says the idea ""loo…
EP 177
Dave selects two audience members to receive tickets to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Marv Albert hands out the tickets and shows a ho…
EP 178
Three members of the 1994 Stanley Cup Champion New York Rangers drop by, and later they let Morty take a picture of the Cup.
EP 179
Jon Lovitz laments the demise of ""The Critic;"" Sandra Bullock promotes Speed.
EP 180
Stone Temple Pilots – ""Vasoline""
EP 181
EP 182
EP 183
After a technical error prevents it from being performed the previous night, Dave presents the rest of the ""NBA Finals Quiz."" Now feelin…
EP 184
John Mellencamp – ""Wild Night""
EP 185
On their latest stop, Mujibur and Sirajul get serenaded by Tom Jones in Las Vegas. Wondering who's been operating K&L Rock America while t…
EP 186
Barbra Streisand walks on the set and gives Dave two tickets to her show at Radio City Music Hall. Dave gives them away to a woman in the …
EP 187
""Coast to Coast with Mujibur and Sirajul"" -- tonight, they're fly-fishing in Madison Valley, Montana, with their teaching guide, Craig.
EP 188
In a spoof of Home Shopping Network, Dave sells ""Dave and Paul Collection Plates,"" giving out the phone number of head writer Rob Burnett…
EP 189
EP 190
Dave takes a cue card from Tony Mendez, re-reads a joke and then has the cue card passed around the audience. Later, Calvert DeForest dres…
EP 191
EP 192
Dave leaves the show after the monologue and heads upstairs to read Wresting Magazine with his face in a mud mask, and Paul retrieves him. …
EP 193
The Runaway Camera is roaming the streets of New York City, getting squeegied, hit by a bike, down a manhole, running into Rupert Jee, and …
EP 194
EP 195
Dave returns to outside the Today Show set and displays his sign: ""Happy 100th Birthday, Willard""; in honor of the 25th anniversary of th…
EP 196
Ricki Lake promotes her supporting role in the upcoming Cabin Boy; Gary Sinise plugs Forrest Gump.
EP 197
""Can a Guy in a Bear Suit Say Hello on a N. Y. C. Pay Phone?"" The answer? Mais oui! Also, one of the all-time great Stupid Pet Tricks m…
EP 198
Cold opening: Kenny Rogers tells Dave when to hold ‘um and when to fold ‘um. Dave also stops the show midway through to just kick back…
EP 199
EP 200
Dave fills up a pothole outside the studio with joke cards; Jim Carrey's limo is towed away.
EP 201
The pothole Dave filled up with blue joke cards the previous night is sealed by none other then Mayor Guiliani; the pothole is danced upon …
EP 202
A severed head perks out of the pothole; a doctor stands in the backdrop in case Dave suddenly becomes sick during the show; Sirajul asks a…
EP 203
Dave comments on Tony's cue card work, then makes a bad phone call for an audience member with mother issues.
EP 204
EP 205
EP 206
Dave attends the Whitewater Hearings; up-and-coming starlet Cameron Diaz promotes ""The Mask""; Dave finally chats with Stevie Nicks (whose…
EP 207
The show is interrupted all night long by (bogus) CBS News special reports by anchor Alan Richardson, who sings, is beaten up by a bus driv…
EP 208
After Dave sings a horrible rendition of ""Oklahoma,"" Paul demands to hear a better version. Soon after, John and Bonnie Raitt come on st…
EP 209
EP 210
Dave and model Inna Mirovich toss back some vodka. Later, Howard Stern admits that he had to drop out of the New York governor's race beca…
EP 211
EP 212
Dave looks at ""What's On Other Channels;"" the Smothers Brothers perform.
EP 213
EP 214
EP 215
EP 216
Rupert brings soup to tonight's guests; Dave reflects on the Michael Jackson-Lisa Marie Presley wedding.
EP 217
EP 218
EP 219