Late Night with David Letterman

Late Night with David Letterman

Himself - Host (338 episodes, 1982-1993)

In September 1991, with The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) being pushed back from 11:30 p.m. to 11:35 p.m., Late Night began starting at 12:35 a.m., at the request of NBC affiliates who wanted more advertising time for their profitable late newscasts.

NBC ordered Letterman to do a short monologue and to not have brass instruments in his band in order to differentiate the show from The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962). Letterman later did a longer monologue and had brass instruments on Late Show with David Letterman (1993).

At least three people called David Letterman "an asshole" on this show. Cher was the first: Late Night with David Letterman: Episode dated 22 May 1986 (1986). Shirley MacLaine was the second: Late Night with David Letterman: Episode dated 4 October 1988 (1988). Calvert DeForest, aka Larry 'Bud' Melman, was the third in August 1989.

Himself - Host: [speaking via megaphone] I'm not wearing pants!

Larry "Bud" Melman: Good evening. Certain NBC executives feel it would be a little unkind to present this show without just a word of friendly warning. We're about to unfold a show featuring David Letterman, a man of science who sought to create a show after his own image -- without reckoning upon God. It's one of the strangest tales ever told. I think it will thrill you. It may shock you. It might even horrify you. So, if any of you feel that you don't care to subject your nerves to such a strain, now's your chance to...well, we've warned you.