Late Show With David Letterman

The Late Show with David Letterman is an American late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS. The show debuted on August 30, 1993,[3] 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.

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.[4]

Letterman was previously the host of Late Night with David Letterman on NBC from 1982 to 1993. Shaffer, Wendell, and several members of the band were also with the NBC show.

History

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",[3] 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).

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 responded, "Who would have thought you would ever hear the words 'intellectual property' and 'NBC' at the same time?" In his opening monologue, Letterman said "Legally, I can continue to call myself Dave"[5] but joked that he woke up that morning and next to him in bed was the head of a peacock (while the orchestra played the theme from The Godfather).[6]

In ratings, Letterman's Late Show initially dominated Leno's Tonight Show for its first two years. However, Letterman was more reluctant than Leno's Los Angeles-based show to capitalize on the 1994-1995 OJ Simpson murder case. Finally, Leno pulled ahead on July 10, 1995, starting with a Hugh Grant interview, after Grant's much-publicized arrest for picking up an LA prostitute.[7] Leno also benefitted from the lead-in provided by NBC's popular Must See TV prime time programs of the mid- to late 1990s. At times Late Show even came in third in its timeslot (behind Nightline, most recently in November, 2008), once prompting Letterman 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.

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.[citation needed] Such jokes usually refer to The Tonight Show's consistent 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".

When John McCain announced he was running for president, he said that the "official" announcement would come later. Shaffer then remarked that he was "saving it for Leno".

From November 11, 2002 to February 14, 2003, the show was simulcast on several CBS-owned radio stations.[8] The show's Top Ten List continues to be syndicated as a short-form feature.[citation needed]

On June 1, 2009, Conan O'Brien (who had succeeded Letterman as host of Late Night in 1993) took over as host of The Tonight Show - an event Letterman referenced in his own show's Top Ten List on that night - and Letterman's "feud" with Leno temporarily ceased. In 2008 Letterman told Rolling Stone that he would welcome Leno on his show once Leno's tenure ended.[9] Letterman said on competing with O'Brien, "I still find it hard to believe that Jay won’t be there."[9] The interview was held prior to Leno announcing his return to NBC for The Jay Leno Show.[9] The Letterman/Leno feud was revived in the wake of the 2010 Tonight Show host and timeslot conflict, which saw Letterman side with O'Brien.[10] However, Leno would appear in a Late Show promo with Letterman and Oprah Winfrey aired on CBS during Super Bowl XLIV.

In the second week after Letterman and O'Brien began their opposing broadcasts, viewer ratings for Tonight began to slip and Late Show was poised to beat Tonight for the first time in over ten years,[9][11] a fact pointed out by Letterman's guests on air (Howard Stern and Julia Roberts).[11][12] Letterman quickly tried to change subject in the interviews and tried to avert a new rivalry.[11][12] In fact, the June 9, 2009 episode of Late Show featuring Roberts rated better than Tonight with a 3.4 household rating nationally to O'Brien's 2.9.[11][13]

Letterman is under contract with CBS until the end of 2010.[9] He is reportedly close to a contract extension that will keep him with CBS through 2012.[14]

Production

Same-day tapings

When Letterman is not on vacation (which he takes roughly ten weeks per year[15]), he and his crew work four days per week, taping Friday's show earlier in the week.[4] For a while, Friday's show was taped on Thursdays, but since 2004 Friday's show has been taped on Mondays.[4] For Friday's show, the Late Show monologue topics, sketches, and audience participation games are chosen for their lack of topicality, with few if any references to current events or any subject which would run the risk of seeming dated.

Episode structure

On rare episodes, the show begins with a cold open with Letterman in a baseball cap interacting with a celebrity. The show's opening credits feature a series of shots of New York City as the CBS Orchestra performs the Late Show theme (a livelier variation of the more jazzy Late Night theme). The announcer presents the names of that night's guests, as well as Paul Shaffer and the CBS Orchestra, then introduces Letterman.

Letterman then walks out on the show stage to perform his stand-up monologue, which often begins with an inside reference to something an audience member said to him during the pre-show Q&A. The jokes are based on pop culture, current events, and politics. He then introduces one or two video jokes such as a running gag or fake commercial/public service announcement. The monologue is followed by Letterman's introduction of Shaffer and the CBS Orchestra. Letterman will then go to commercial and when he returns 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.

Letterman reads the Top Ten List at this point before turning to guest interviews with a celebrity, politician, or public figure. On most episodes, 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.

Following the first guest is a short segment to bridge two commercial breaks sequentially. In earlier episodes, Letterman would return to his running gag during this break, or retry a failed stunt from earlier in the show. Later episodes include a brief comedy announcement from announcer Alan Kalter while showing the audience cheering.

The final segment consists of a live musical performance, a comedian performing a stand-up routine, or another lesser-known guest interview. The CBS Orchestra frequently assists musical guests in performing their songs. Episodes usually conclude with Letterman recommending viewers stay tuned for 'Craig Ferguson', then he waves to the camera, saying, "Good night everybody!"

Regular sketches

The Late Show has various repeated absurdist segments, including those involving cast members' and audience participation. The show will also take a camera crew into the Hello Deli to show games such as "What's on the iPod?" and "Beat the Clock," or onto 53rd Street or the roof to record various stunts there.

Staff

Announcer Bill Wendell retired and left the show on August 18, 1995.[16] He was replaced by Alan Kalter on the show's next episode which came after a two-week hiatus.

In 1996, long-time producer Robert Morton left and head writer Rob Burnett was promoted to executive producer.[citation needed]

Director Hal Gurnee and producer Peter Lassally left the show soon after to pursue other interests.[citation needed] 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.[17]

Lassally, who had served as an executive producer for Johnny Carson on ...   More