David letterman doc severinsen biography
David Letterman
American television host and humorist (born 1947)
David Michael Letterman (born April 12, 1947) is principally American television host, comedian, man of letters and producer. He hosted late-night television talk shows for 33 years, beginning with the Feb 1, 1982, debut of Late Night with David Letterman gesture NBC and ending with nobleness May 20, 2015, broadcast make a rough draft Late Show with David Letterman on CBS. In total, Letterman hosted 6,080 episodes of Late Night and Late Show,[1] unrivalled his friend and mentor Johnny Carson as the longest-serving late-night talk show host in Earth television history.[2]
He is also out television and film producer. Rule company, Worldwide Pants, produced shows as well as The Late Late Show and a handful primetime comedies, the most flourishing of which was the CBS sitcomEverybody Loves Raymond. Several late-night hosts have cited Letterman's command, including Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers (each of whom succeeded Letterman on Late Night), Stephen Colbert (his successor likeness The Late Show), Jimmy Kimmel, and Jon Stewart. Since 2018, he has hosted the Netflix series My Next Guest Fundamentals No Introduction with David Letterman.
Early life and career
Letterman was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, rebirth April 12, 1947, and blooper has two sisters, one major and one younger.[3] His father confessor, Harry Joseph Letterman (April 15, 1915 – February 13, 1973),[4] was a florist.[5] His surround, Dorothy Marie Letterman Mengering (née Hofert; July 18, 1921 – April 11, 2017),[6] a creed secretary for the Second Protestant Church of Indianapolis, was public housing occasional figure on Letterman's subdivision, usually at holidays and birthdays.[7]
Letterman grew up on the northerly side of Indianapolis, in justness Broad Ripple area, about 12 miles (19 km) from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He enjoyed heap model cars, including racers.[8] Flimsy 2000, he told an questioner for Esquire that, while maturation up, he admired his father's ability to tell jokes keep from be the life of birth party. Harry Joseph Letterman survived a heart attack at representation age of 36 when Painter was a young boy. Primacy fear of losing his pop was constantly with Letterman significance he grew up.[9] The older Letterman died of a alternative heart attack in 1973[10] dear the age of 57.
Letterman attended his hometown's Broad Purl High School and worked on account of a stock boy at picture local Atlas Supermarket.[11] According assign the Ball State Daily News, he originally wanted to be at Indiana University, but his grades were not good enough, inexpressive he instead attended Ball State of affairs University in Muncie, Indiana.[12] Oversight is a member of picture Sigma Chi fraternity, and tag in 1969 from what was then the Department of Air and Television. A self-described visit student, Letterman later endowed great scholarship for what he baptized "C students" at Ball State.[13] Though he registered for high-mindedness draft and passed his sublunary after graduating from college, without fear was not drafted for letting in Vietnam because he orthodox a draft lottery number model 346 (out of 366).[14]
Letterman began his broadcasting career as block up announcer and newscaster at say publicly college's student-run radio station—WBST—a 10-watt campus station that is immediately part of Indiana Public Radio.[15] He was fired for treating classical music with irreverence.[15] Type then became involved with excellence founding of another campus station—WAGO-AM 570 (now WCRD, 91.3).[16]
He credits Paul Dixon, host of glory Paul Dixon Show, a Cincinnati-based talk show also shown have as a feature Indianapolis while he was in the springtime of li up, for inspiring his pick of career:[17]
I was just lay off of college [in 1969], suffer I really didn't know what I wanted to do. Extort then all of a retort I saw him doing perception [on TV]. And I thought: That's really what I yearn for to do!
Weatherman
Soon after graduating be bereaved Ball State in 1969, Letterman began his career as elegant radio talk show host sweettalk WNTS and on Indianapolis impel station WLWI (which changed sheltered call sign to WTHR fall to pieces 1976) as an anchor refuse weatherman. He received some look after for his novel on-air delivering, which included congratulating a figurative storm for being upgraded in all directions a hurricane, as well reorganization for predicting hailstones "the bulk of canned hams".[18]
Letterman also requently reported the weather and justness day's very high and bearing temps for fictitious cities ("Eight inches of snow in Bingree and surrounding areas"). On choice occasion, he riffed that ethics state border between Indiana spreadsheet Ohio had been erased, conj at the time that a satellite map accidentally not done it, jokingly attributing it communication dirty political dealings: "The higher-ups have removed the border mid Indiana and Ohio, making socket one giant state. Personally, I'm against it. I don't know again what to do about it."[19]
Letterman also starred in a nearby kiddie show, hosted a late-night TV show called "Freeze-Dried Movies" (a show in which purify once acted out a landscape from Godzilla (1954) using shapable dinosaurs), and hosted a covering show that aired early titivation Saturday mornings called Clover Power,[20] in which he interviewed 4-H members about their projects.[21]
In 1971, Letterman appeared as a excavation road reporter for ABC Sports' tape-delayed coverage of the Indianapolis 500, which was his regulate nationally telecast appearance (WLWI was the local ABC affiliate main the time).[22] He was at or in the beginning introduced as Chris Economaki, however this was corrected at interpretation end of the interview (Jim McKay announced his name although Dave Letterman). Letterman interviewed Mario Andretti, who had just crashed out of the race.[23]
Move persist Los Angeles
In 1975, encouraged by way of his then-wife Michelle and assorted of his Sigma Chi crowd brothers, Letterman moved to Los Angeles, California, with the longing of becoming a comedy writer.[24] He and Michelle packed their belongings in his pickup buying and selling and headed west.[25] As persuade somebody to buy 2012, he still owned blue blood the gentry truck.[26] In Los Angeles, operate began performing comedy at Magnanimity Comedy Store.[27]Jimmie Walker saw him on stage; with an approval from George Miller, Letterman linked a group of comedians whom Walker hired to write raillery for his stand-up act, uncomplicated group that at various era also included Jay Leno, Missioner Mooney, Robert Schimmel, Richard Jeni, Louie Anderson, Elayne Boosler, Poet Allen, Jack Handey, and Steve Oedekerk.[27][28]
By the summer of 1977, Letterman was a writer gleam regular on the six-week summertime series The Starland Vocal Guests Show, broadcast on CBS.[29] Unquestionable hosted a 1977 pilot rag a game show called The Riddlers[30][31] (which was never flavour of the month up), and co-starred in birth Barry Levinson-produced comedy special Peeping Times, which aired in Jan 1978. Later that year, Letterman was a cast member impression Mary Tyler Moore's variety event, Mary.[32] He made a visitor appearance on Mork & Mindy (as a parody of Look forward to leader Werner Erhard)[33] and formalities on game shows such despite the fact that The $20,000 Pyramid,[34]The Gong Show, Hollywood Squares, Password Plus,[35] boss Liar's Club, as well despite the fact that the Canadian cooking show Celebrity Cooks (November 1977), talk shows such as 90 Minutes Live (February 24[36] and April 14, 1978),[37] and The Mike Politico Show (April 3, 1979 focus on February 7, 1980). He was also screen tested for depiction lead role in the 1980 film Airplane!, a role digress eventually went to Robert Hays.[38]
Letterman's brand of dry, sarcastic funny side caught the attention of scouts for The Tonight Show Prima ballerina Johnny Carson, and he was soon a regular guest ecstasy the show. He became clever favorite of Carson and was a regular guest host hold the show beginning in 1978. Letterman credits Carson as description person who influenced his job the most.[39]
NBC
Morning show
Main article: Representation David Letterman Show
On June 23, 1980, Letterman was given top own morning comedy show marriage NBC, The David Letterman Show. It was originally 90 transcript long but was shortened border on 60 minutes in August 1980.[40] The show was a carping success, winning two Emmy Bays, but was a ratings set-back and was canceled, the mug show airing October 24, 1980.[41]
Late Night with David Letterman
Main article: Late Night with David Letterman
NBC kept Letterman on its amount to try him in uncut different time slot. Late Untrue with David Letterman debuted Feb 1, 1982; the first lodger was Bill Murray.[42] Murray went on to become one have possession of Letterman's most recurrent guests, guesting on his later CBS show's celebration of his 30th outing in late-night television, which golden January 31, 2012, and tenderness the final CBS show, which aired May 20, 2015. Representation show ran Monday through Weekday nights at 12:30 a.m. Eastern Disgust, immediately following The Tonight Slice Starring Johnny Carson (a Weekday night broadcast was added family tree June 1987). It was deviant as edgy and unpredictable, opinion soon developed a cult masses (particularly among college students). Letterman's reputation as an acerbic interrogator was borne out in uttered sparring matches with Cher[43] (who even called him an "asshole" on the show),[44]Shirley MacLaine,[45]Charles Grodin, and Madonna. The show too featured comedy segments and physically possible characters, in a style weightily laboriously influenced by the 1950s allow 1960s programs of Steve Allen.[46]
The show often featured quirky, genre-mocking regular features, including "Stupid Mammal Tricks"[47] (which had its babyhood on Letterman's morning show), Dense Human Tricks,[48] dropping various objects off the roof of span five-story building,[49] demonstrations of nonconformist clothing (such as suits idea of Alka-Seltzer,[50]Velcro[51] and suet), unmixed recurring Top 10 list, integrity Monkey-Cam[52] (and the Audience Cam), a facetious letter-answering segment,[53] a number of "Film[s] by My Dog Bob" in which a camera was mounted on Letterman's own dog[54] (often with comic results) fairy story Small Town News,[55] all blame which moved with Letterman obviate CBS.
Other episodes included Letterman using a bullhorn to sprinkle accentuate a live interview on The Today Show on August 19, 1985, announcing that he was the NBC News president Laurentius K. Grossman and that appease was not wearing any pants;[56] walking across the hall yearning Studio 6B, at the interval the news studio for WNBC-TV, and interrupting Al Roker's indisposed segments during Live at Five; and staging "elevator races", recede with commentary by NBC Sports' Bob Costas. In one invention, in 1982, Andy Kaufman (who was wearing a neck brace) appeared with professional wrestler Jerry Lawler, who slapped and knocked the comedian to the labor (Lawler and Kaufman's friend Float Zmuda later revealed that authority incident was staged).[57]
CBS
Late Show sound out David Letterman
Main article: Late Signify with David Letterman
In 1992, Johnny Carson retired, and many fans, and Carson himself, believed digress Letterman would become the fresh host of The Tonight Show. When NBC instead gave position job to Jay Leno, Letterman departed NBC to host her highness own late-night show on CBS, opposite The Tonight Show cultivate 11:30 p.m., called the Late Slice with David Letterman. The additional show debuted on August 30, 1993, and was taped scornfulness the historic Ed Sullivan Performing arts, where Ed Sullivan broadcast circlet eponymous variety series from 1948 to 1971. For Letterman's newcomer, CBS spent $8 million impossible to differentiate renovations.[58] CBS also signed Letterman to a three-year, $14 million/year contract,[59] doubling his Late Night salary.
But while the apprehensiveness was that Letterman would grip his unique style and passivity of humor with the propel, Late Show was not stop off exact replica of his insensitive NBC program. The monologue was lengthened. Paul Shaffer and probity World's Most Dangerous Band followed Letterman to CBS, but they added a brass section see were rebranded the CBS Federate (at Shaffer's request); a in short supply band had been mandated infant Carson while Letterman occupied greatness 12:30 slot. Additionally, because pounce on intellectual property disagreements, Letterman was unable to import many imbursement his Late Night segments verbatim,[60] but he sidestepped this precision by simply renaming them (the "Top Ten List" became depiction "Late Show Top Ten", "Viewer Mail" became the "CBS Mailbag", etc.). Time magazine wrote, "Letterman's innovation ... gained power its rigorous formalism"; as enthrone biographer Jason Zinoman puts overtake, he was "a fascinatingly huffy eccentric trapped inside a additional traditional talk show."[61]
Popularity
The Late Show's main competitor was NBC's The Tonight Show, which Jay Leno hosted for 22 years stay away from 1992 to 2014, except wean away from June 1, 2009, to Jan 22, 2010, when Conan Writer hosted. In 1993 and 1994, the Late Show consistently gained higher ratings than The Tonight Show. But in 1995, ratings dipped and Leno's show uniformly beat Letterman's in the ratings from the time that Hugh Grant came on Leno's change things after Grant's arrest for impetration a prostitute.[62]
Leno typically attracted memorandum five million nightly viewers amidst 1999 and 2009. The Late Show lost nearly half closefitting audience during its competition become infected with Leno, attracting 7.1 million audience nightly in its 1993–94 stint and about 3.8 million record night as of Leno's discrepancy in 2009.[63] In the in response months of his first term as host of The Tonight Show, Leno beat Letterman regulate the ratings by a 1.3 million-viewer margin (5.2 million tip off 3.9 million), and Nightline instruct the Late Show were almost tied.[64] Once O'Brien took appeal Tonight, Letterman closed the aperture in the ratings.[65][67] O'Brien primarily drove the median age acquisition Tonight Show viewers from 55 to 45, with most elderly viewers opting to watch loftiness Late Show instead.[68] After Leno returned to The Tonight Show, Leno regained his lead.[69]
Letterman's shows have garnered both critical be proof against industry praise, receiving 67 Laurels Award nominations, winning 12 era in his first 20 period in late night television. Pass up 1993 to 2009, Letterman row on row higher than Leno in distinction annual Harris Poll of Nation's Favorite TV Personality 12 times.[70] For example, in 2003 trip 2004 Letterman ranked second extract that poll, behind only Oprah Winfrey, a year that Leno was ranked fifth.[71] Leno was higher than Letterman on range poll three times during dignity same period, in 1998, 2007, and 2008.[70]
Hosting the Academy Awards
On March 27, 1995, Letterman hosted the 67th Academy Awards acclamation. Critics blasted what they alleged his poor performance, noting divagate his irreverent style undermined blue blood the gentry traditional importance and glamor duplicate the event.[72] In a witticism about their unusual names (inspired by a celebrated comic proportion in The New Yorker, "Yma Dream" by Thomas Meehan), no problem started off by introducing Uma Thurman to Oprah Winfrey, ride then both of them everywhere Keanu Reeves: " ," "Have you kids met Keanu?" That and many of his following jokes fell flat.[72] Although Letterman attracted the highest ratings simulate the annual telecast since 1983, many felt that the sonorous publicity he generated caused clever decline in the Late Show's ratings.[73]
Letterman recycled the apparent rout into a long-running gag. Adaptation his first show after rendering Oscars, he joked, "Looking at this time, I had no idea become absent-minded thing was being televised." Oversight lampooned his stint two duration later, during Billy Crystal's air Oscar skit, which also parodied the plane-crashing scenes from divagate year's chief nominated film, The English Patient.
For years afterwards, Letterman recounted his hosting character Oscars, although the Academy tablets Motion Picture Arts and Sciences continued to hold Letterman keep in check high regard and invited him to host the Oscars again.[74][75] On September 7, 2010, unwind made an appearance on rectitude premiere of the 14th opportunity ripe of The View, and inveterate that he had been accounted for hosting again.
Heart process hiatus
On January 14, 2000, unornamented routine checkup revealed that break off artery in Letterman's heart was severely obstructed. He was nippy to New York Presbyterian Shelter old-fashioned for emergency quintuple bypass surgery.[76] During the first weeks signify his recovery, reruns of say publicly Late Show were shown meticulous introduced by friends of Letterman, including Norm Macdonald, Drew Barrymore,[67]Ray Romano, Robin Williams, Bonnie Result, Megan Mullally, Bill Murray, Regis Philbin, Charles Grodin, Nathan String, Julia Roberts,[67]Bruce Willis, Jerry Seinfeld, Martin Short, Steven Seagal, Mountaineer Clinton, Danny DeVito, Steve Comedian, and Sarah Jessica Parker.
Later, while still recovering from operation, Letterman revived the late-night flannel show tradition of "guest hosts" that had virtually disappeared zest network television during the Decade, allowing Bill Cosby, Kathie Player Gifford, Dana Carvey, Janeane Garofalo, and others to host original episodes of the Late Show. Upon his return to interpretation show on February 21, 2000, Letterman brought all but rob of the doctors and nurses on stage who had participated in his surgery and repair (with extra teasing of neat as a pin nurse who had given him bed baths—"This woman gave out of this world a bath!"),[77] including Drs. Dope. Wayne Isom and Louis Aronne, who frequently appeared on significance show.
For a back issue of episodes, Letterman continued cut short crack jokes about his edge, including saying: "Bypass surgery: it's when doctors surgically create in mint condition blood flow to your item. A bypass is what exemplification to me when I didn't get The Tonight Show! It's a whole different thing." Tabled a later running gag, significant lobbied Indiana to rename say publicly freeway circling Indianapolis (I-465) "The David Letterman Bypass". He further featured a montage of imitation news coverage of his outdo surgery, including a clip imitation Letterman's heart for sale propensity the Home Shopping Network. Letterman became friends with his doctors and nurses. In 2008, Rolling Stone wrote:
He hosted fine doctor and nurse who'd helped perform the emergency quintuple-bypass interior surgery that saved his sure of yourself in 2000. "These are create who were complete strangers like that which they opened my chest," sharptasting says. "And now, eight period later, they're among my clobber friends."[78]
Additionally, Letterman invited birth band Foo Fighters to chapter "Everlong",[79] introducing them as "my favorite band, playing my pet song."[80] During Letterman's last agricultural show, on which Foo Fighters emerged, Letterman said that Foo Fighters had been in the mean of a South American trip circuit that they canceled to segment on his comeback episode.[81]
In Feb 2003, Letterman again handed blue blood the gentry reins of the show assail several guest hosts (including Account Cosby, Brad Garrett, Whoopi Cartoonist, Elvis Costello, John McEnroe, Arrest Vaughn, Will Ferrell, Bonnie Haunt, Luke Wilson, and bandleader Thankless Shaffer) when he was diagnosed with a severe case criticize shingles.[82][83][84] Later that year, Letterman made regular use of company hosts—including Tom Arnold and Kelsey Grammer—for shows broadcast on Fridays. In March 2007, Adam Sandler, who had been scheduled brave be the lead guest, served as a guest host from the past Letterman was ill with calligraphic stomach virus.[85]
Second signing with CBS
In March 2002, as Letterman's hire with CBS neared expiration, ABC offered him the time track for long-running news program Nightline with Ted Koppel. Letterman was interested, as he believed illegal could never match Leno's ratings at CBS due to Letterman's complaint of weaker lead-ins let alone CBS's late local news programs, but was reluctant to convert Koppel.[86] He addressed his choose to re-sign on the gully, stating that he was satisfy at CBS and that loosen up had great respect for Koppel.
On December 4, 2006, CBS revealed that Letterman signed precise new contract to host Late Show with David Letterman corner the fall of 2010. "I'm thrilled to be continuing speedy at CBS," said Letterman. "At my age you really don't want to have to end a new commute."[87] Letterman newborn joked about the subject infant pulling up his right bloomers leg, revealing a tattoo, by all accounts temporary, of the ABC emblem.
"Thirteen years ago, David Letterman put CBS late night give up the map and in character process became one of significance defining icons of our network," said Leslie Moonves, president standing CEO of CBS Corporation. "His presence on our air pump up an ongoing source of self-esteem, and the creativity and belief that the Late Show puts forth every night is turnout ongoing display of the paramount quality entertainment. We are indeed honored that one of greatness most revered and talented entertainers of our time will last to call CBS 'home.'"[88]
According succeed a 2007 article in Forbes magazine, Letterman earned $40 packet a year.[89] A 2009 feature in The New York Times, however, said his salary was estimated at $32 million.[90] Appoint June 2009, Letterman's Worldwide Knickers and CBS reached an compensation to continue the Late Show until at least August 2012. The previous contract had archaic set to expire in 2010, and the two-year extension was shorter than the typical three-year contract period negotiated in birth past.[90] Worldwide Pants agreed disdain lower its fee for glory show, though it had remained a "solid moneymaker for CBS" under the previous contract.[90]
On decency February 3, 2011 edition exhaustive the Late Show, during chaste interview with Howard Stern, Letterman said he would continue detonation do his talk show fit in "maybe two years, I think."[91] In April 2012, CBS proclaimed it had extended its confer with Letterman through 2014.[92] Diadem contract was subsequently extended collect 2015.[93]
Retirement from Late Show
During loftiness taping of his show poser April 3, 2014, Letterman declared that he had informed CBS president Leslie Moonves that take steps would retire from hosting Late Show by May 20, 2015.[94] Later in his retirement Letterman occasionally stated, in jest,[95] consider it he had been fired.[96] Rush was announced soon after think it over comedian and political satirist Writer Colbert would succeed Letterman.[97] Letterman's last episode aired on Hawthorn 20, 2015, and opened resume a presidential sendoff featuring combine of the five living Earth presidents, George H. W. Herb, Bill Clinton, George W. Fanny, and Barack Obama, each copycat the late president Gerald Ford's statement "Our long national suffering is over." It also featured cameos from The Simpsons put forward Wheel of Fortune (the attempt with a puzzle saying "Good riddance to David Letterman"), dinky Top Ten List of "things I wish I could own acquire said to David Letterman" faultless by regular guests including Alec Baldwin, Barbara Walters, Steve Actor, Jerry Seinfeld, Jim Carrey, Chris Rock, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Peyton Manning, Tina Fey, and Bill Philologue, and closed with a collage of scenes from both sovereign CBS and NBC series put to a live performance forfeiture "Everlong" by Foo Fighters.
The final episode of Late Put-on with David Letterman was watched by 13.76 million viewers breach the United States with erior audience share of 9.3/24, inheritance the show its highest ratings since following the 1994 Chill Olympics on February 25, 1994, and the show's highest manifestation numbers (4.1 in adults 25–54 and 3.1 in adults 18–49) since Oprah Winfrey's first Late Show appearance following the immoderation of her feud with Letterman on December 1, 2005. Reward Murray, who had been reward first guest on Late Night, was his final guest firm Late Show. In a one-off for a late-night show, detach was also the highest-rated info on network television that of the night, beating out all prime-time shows.[98] In total, Letterman hosted 6,080 episodes of Late Night skull Late Show,[1][99] surpassing friend charge mentor Johnny Carson as representation longest-serving late-night talk show assemblage in U.S. television history.[2]
Post-Late Show
In the months following the summit of Late Show, Letterman was seen occasionally at sports rumour such as the Indianapolis Cardinal, during which he submitted command somebody to an interview with a community publication.[100] He made a astound appearance on stage in San Antonio, Texas when he was invited up for an stretched segment during Steve Martin's significant Martin Short's A Very Dimwitted Conversation show, saying "I withdraw, and...I have no regrets," Letterman told the crowd after prosaic on stage. "I was pacified. I'll make actual friends. Unrestrained was complacent. I was sad. I was content, and next a couple of days pursuing Donald Trump said he was running for president. I maintain made the biggest mistake replica my life, ladies and gentlemen" and then delivering a Head Ten List roasting Trump's statesmanlike campaign followed by an onstage conversation with Martin and Accordingly. Cellphone recordings of the presence were posted on YouTube get by without audience members and widely ongoing in the media.[101][102]
In 2016, Letterman joined the climate change infotainment show Years of Living Dangerously as one of its fame correspondents.[103] In season two's opening episode, Letterman traveled to Bharat to investigate the country's efforts to expand its inadequate vigour grid, power its booming cost-cutting, and bring electricity to Ccc million citizens for the extreme time. He also interviewed Amerindic Prime Minister Narendra Modi instruction traveled to rural villages disc power is a scarce boom and explored the United States' role in India's energy future.[104]
On April 7, 2017, Letterman gave the induction speech for probity band Pearl Jam into loftiness Rock & Roll Hall Discover Fame at a ceremony restricted at the Barclays Center diminution Brooklyn, New York City.[105] Likewise in 2017, Letterman and Alec Baldwin co-hosted The Essentials industry Turner Classic Movies. Letterman meticulous Baldwin introduced seven films divulge the series.[106]
Netflix
In 2018, Letterman began hosting a six-episode monthly pile of hour-long programs on Netflix consisting of long-form interviews flourishing field segments.[107] The show, My Next Guest Needs No Unveiling with David Letterman, premiered Jan 12, 2018 with Barack Obama as its first guest.[108] Authority second season premiered on Hawthorn 31, 2019.[109] Season 3 premiered on October 21, 2020, nearby includes Kim Kardashian West, Parliamentarian Downey Jr., Dave Chappelle stomach Lizzo as guests.[110] Season 4 premiered on May 20, 2022, with Billie Eilish as nobleness first guest.[111] In October 2022, Letterman traveled to Kyiv, Land, to film a special standalone episode of My Next Customer Needs No Introduction with Painter Letterman, interviewing Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.[112]
Notable exchanges and incidents
NBC innermost Johnny Carson
In spite of Johnny Carson's clear intention to token his title to Letterman, NBC selected Jay Leno to landlord The Tonight Show after Carson's departure.[113] Letterman maintained a accommodate relationship with Carson through break with NBC. Three existence after he left for CBS, HBO produced a made-for-television called The Late Shift, home-produced on a book by The New York Times reporter Tally Carter, chronicling the battle mid Letterman and Leno for blue blood the gentry Tonight Show hosting spot.
Carson later made a few wood appearances as a guest divide up Letterman's show. Carson's final hustle appearance was on May 13, 1994, on a Late Show episode taped in Los Angeles, when he made a stagger appearance during a Top 10 list segment. In early 2005, it was revealed that Environmentalist occasionally sent jokes to Letterman, who used them in tiara monologue; according to CBS older vice president Peter Lassally (a onetime producer for both men), Carson got "a big go out of it."[114] Letterman would do a characteristic Carson sport swing after delivering one befit his jokes. In a make stronger to Carson, all the rent monologue jokes during the premier show after Carson's death were by Carson.
Lassally also described that Carson had always considered Letterman, not Leno, to put in writing his "rightful successor".[115] During position early years of the Late Show's run, Letterman occasionally encouraged some of Carson's trademark leavings, including "Carnac the Magnificent" (with Paul Shaffer as Carnac), "Stump the Band", and the "Week in Review".
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey appeared on Letterman's show as he was hosting NBC's Late Night on May 2, 1989. After that appearance, the join had a 16-year feud[116] consider it arose, as Winfrey explained hitch Letterman after it had back number resolved, as a result dear the acerbic tone of their 1989 interview, of which she said that it "felt fair uncomfortable to me that Distracted didn't want to have avoid experience again". The feud seemingly ended on December 2, 2005, when Winfrey appeared on CBS's Late Show with David Letterman in an event Letterman facetiously called "the Super Bowl show Love".[117]
Winfrey and Letterman also attended together in a Late Show promo aired during CBS's reporting of Super Bowl XLI bolster February 2007, with the cardinal sitting next to each beat on a couch watching authority game. Since the game was played between the Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears, the Indianapolis-born Letterman wore a Peyton Manning jersey, while Winfrey, whose be adjacent to was taped in Chicago, wore a Brian Urlacher jersey.[118] Proclamation September 10, 2007, Letterman finished his first appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show at President Square Garden in New Royalty City.
Three years later, significant CBS's coverage of Super Confuse XLIV between the Colts abstruse the New Orleans Saints, nobleness two appeared again in spruce up Late Show promo, this gaining with Winfrey sitting on practised couch between Letterman and Leno. Letterman wore the retired Negation. 70 jersey of Art Donovan, a member of the Colts' Hall of Fame and systematic regular Letterman guest. The come into being was Letterman's idea: Leno flew to New York City feasible an NBC corporate jet, covert into the Ed Sullivan Transient during the Late Show's Feb 4 taping wearing a obscure and meeting Winfrey and Letterman at a living room setting created in the theater's terrace, where they taped their promo.[119]
Winfrey interviewed Letterman in January 2013 on Oprah's Next Chapter. They discussed their feud and Winfrey revealed that she had challenging a "terrible experience" while showing up on Letterman's show years formerly. Letterman could not recall nobleness incident but apologized.[120]
2007–2008 writers' strike
Late Show went off air keep an eye on eight weeks in 2007 nearby November and December because break into the Writers Guild of U.s. strike. Letterman's production company, Oecumenical Pants, was the first bevy to make an individual consent with the WGA,[121] allowing show to come back make fast the air on January 2, 2008. In his first affair back, he surprised the encounter with a newly grown disregard, which signified solidarity with glory strike.[122] His beard was smooth on top off during the show preference January 7, 2008.
Palin joke
On June 8 and 9, 2009, Letterman told two sexually themed jokes about a daughter (never named) of Sarah Palin idiosyncrasy his TV show. These fixed a statutory rape joke anxiety Palin's then 14-year-old daughter, Tree, and MLB player Alex Rodriguez.[123] Palin was in New Royalty City at the time release Willow, and none of disgruntlement other children were at righteousness game.[123]
In a statement posted sham the Internet, Palin said, "I doubt [Letterman would] ever throw down the gauntlet make such comments about at one else's daughter" and that "laughter incited by sexually perverted comments made by a 62-year-old 1 celebrity aimed at a 14-year-old girl is disgusting."[124] On dominion June 10 show, Letterman responded to the controversy, saying righteousness jokes were meant to aptly about Palin's 18-year-old daughter, City, whose pregnancy as an spinster teenager had caused some interrogation during the United States statesmanlike election of 2008. "These drain not jokes made about [Palin's] 14-year-old daughter ... I would never, never make jokes induce raping or having sex sell like hot cakes any description with a 14-year-old girl."[124]
His remarks did not purйe public criticism. The National Systematizing for Women (NOW) released far-out statement supporting Palin, noting turn this way Letterman had made "[only] burden of an apology."[123] When honesty controversy failed to subside, Letterman addressed the issue again sock his June 15 show, shift himself for the error delighted apologizing "especially to the four daughters involved, Bristol and Tree, and also to the guide and her family and each person else who was outraged coarse the joke."[125] Rodriguez demanded toggle apology for implying that crystalclear was a child molester. Letterman never specifically apologized to Rodriguez.[126]
Al-Qaeda death threat
On August 17, 2011, it was reported that book Islamist militant had posted shipshape and bristol fashion death threat against Letterman take five a website frequented by Al-Qaeda supporters, calling on American Muslims to kill him for fabrication a joke about the passing of Ilyas Kashmiri, an Al-Qaeda leader who was killed insipid a June 2011 drone pulsate in Pakistan.[127] In his Revered 22 show, Letterman joked get your skates on the threat, saying "State Wing authorities are looking into that. They're not taking this emphatically. They're looking into it. They're questioning, they're interrogating, there's mediocre electronic trail—but everybody knows it's Leno."[128]
Appearances in other media
Letterman attended in the pilot episode be unable to find the short-lived 1986 series Coach Toast, and appears with ingenious bag over his head orangutan a guest on Bonnie Hunt's 1990s sitcom The Building. Illegal appeared in The Simpsons chimpanzee himself in a couch muffle when the Simpsons find yourselves (and the couch) in Late Night with David Letterman. Pacify had a cameo in picture feature film Cabin Boy, observe Chris Elliott, who worked restructuring a writer for Letterman. Unfailingly this and other appearances, Letterman is listed in the credits as "Earl Hofert", the term of Letterman's maternal grandfather. Lighten up also appeared as himself overlook the Howard Stern biographical pick up Private Parts and the 1999 Andy Kaufman biopic Man succeed the Moon, in a hardly episodes of Garry Shandling's Decade TV series The Larry Sanders Show, and in "The Abstinence", a 1996 episode of picture sitcom Seinfeld.
Letterman provided vocals for the Warren Zevon at a bargain price a fuss "Hit Somebody" from My Ride's Here,[129] and provided the utterance for Butt-head's father in glory 1996 animated film Beavis predominant Butt-Head Do America, again credited as Earl Hofert.
Letterman was the focus of The Avengers on "Late Night with Painter Letterman", issue 239 (January 1984) of the Marvel comic emergency supply series The Avengers, in which the title characters (specifically Hawkeye, Wonder Man, Black Widow, Critter, and Black Panther) are enterprise on Late Night.[130] A align of Letterman named David Endochrine is gassed to death vanguard with his bandleader, Paul, captivated their audience in Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns.[131] Be glad about SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron, Letterman was parodied as "David Litterbin". Letterman appears in issues 13–14 and 18 of Medico Pekar's autobiographical comic book American Splendor. Those issues show Pekar's accounts of appearances on Late Night.
In 2010, a pic directed by Joke Fincioen stand for Biagio Messina, Dying to dance Letterman, was released, featuring Steve Mazan, a standup comic, who has cancer and wants feign appear on Letterman's show. Character film won best documentary plus jury awards at the Cinequest Film Festival.[132] Mazan published precise book of the same designation (full title Dying to Payment Letterman: Turning Someday into Today) about his own saga.[133]
Letterman attended as a guest on CNN's Piers Morgan Tonight on Can 29, 2012, when he was interviewed by Regis Philbin, nobility guest host and Letterman's longtime friend. Philbin again interviewed Letterman (and Shaffer) while guest-hosting CBS's The Late Late Show (between the tenures of Craig Ferguson and James Corden) on Jan 27, 2015.[134] In June 2013, Letterman appeared in the superfluous episode of season two outline Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.[135] On November 5, 2013, unwind and Bruce McCall published uncluttered fiction satire book, This Insipid Was Made for You perch Me (But Mostly Me), ISBN 0-399-16368-9.
In Week 13 of depiction 2021 NFL season, Letterman linked Peyton and Eli Manning triumph their Manningcast feed of loftiness Monday Night Football game mid the New England Patriots direct Buffalo Bills. Letterman mocked Cost Belichick after he was beguiled on camera wiping his poke with his shirt, and was in the middle of recalling being with Roger Goodell what because Goodell was booed at authority unveiling of Peyton Manning's model in Indianapolis when ESPN a split second cut to commercials.[136]
On February 1, 2022, Letterman was the caller on Late Night with Man Meyers, marking the 40th ceremony of the franchise's debut.[137]
On Nov 20, 2023, Letterman returned say nice things about the Ed Sullivan theater depress The Late Show with Author Colbert.[138]
Business ventures
Letterman started his making company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated, which produced his show and a number of others, in 1991. The gathering also produces feature films ground documentaries and founded its mollify record label, Clear Entertainment.[139] Universal Pants received significant attention condensation December 2007 after it was announced that it had on one`s own negotiated its own contract hostile to the Writers Guild of Usa, East, thus allowing Letterman, Craig Ferguson, and their writers be determined return to work, while honesty union continued its strike break the rules production companies, networks, and studios with whom it had distant yet reached agreements.
Letterman, Officer Rahal, and Mike Lanigan designate Mi-Jack Products co-own Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, an auto stimulate team competing in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and NTT IndyCar series. The team has in pairs won the Indianapolis 500: conduct yourself 2004 with driver Buddy Fee, and in 2020 with Takuma Sato.
The Letterman Foundation fail to appreciate Courtesy and Grooming is top-hole private foundation through which Letterman has donated millions of wallet to charities and other not-for-profit organizations in Indiana and Montana, celebrity-affiliated organizations such as Unpleasant Newman's Hole in the Fortification Gang Camp, Ball State Routine, the American Cancer Society, rectitude Salvation Army, and Médecins Defective Frontières.
Influences
Letterman's biggest influence mushroom mentor was Johnny Carson.[39] Blot comedians who influenced Letterman were Paul Dixon,[17]Steve Allen, Jonathan Winters, Garry Moore,[39]Jack Paar, Don Rickles, and David Brenner. Although Ernie Kovacs has also been physique as an influence,[140] Letterman has denied this.[39]
Comedians influenced by Letterman include Conan O'Brien, Jon Thespian, Stephen Colbert, Ray Romano, Lever Kimmel, Jay Leno, Arsenio Vestibule, Larry Wilmore, Seth Meyers, Standard Macdonald, Jimmy Fallon, John Oliver,[141] and James Corden.[142]
Personal life
Letterman has tinnitus, a symptom of get-together loss. On the Late Show in 1996, he talked reposition his experience with tinnitus cloth an interview with William Shatner, who has severe tinnitus caused by an on-set explosion. Letterman has said that he was initially unable to pinpoint magnanimity noise inside his head highest that he hears a rocksolid ringing in his ears.[143]
Letterman cack-handed longer drinks alcohol. On extend than one occasion, he articulated that he had once back number a "horrible alcoholic" and locked away begun drinking around the have an effect on of 11 or 13 flourishing continued until 1981 when sharp-tasting was 34. He has alleged that in 1981, "I was drunk 80% of the delay ... I loved it. Raving was one of those guys, I looked around, and everybody else had stopped drinking most recent I couldn't understand why."[144][145][146] What because he was shown drinking what appears to be alcohol dig up the Late Show, it was actually apple juice.[147]
In 2015, Letterman said of his anxiety: "For years and years and years—30, 40 years—I was anxious see hypochondriacal and an alcoholic, beginning many, many other things ditch made me different from regarding people." He became calmer say again a combination of Transcendental Musing and low doses of medication.[148] Letterman is a Presbyterian, smashing religious tradition he was at the outset brought up in by her highness mother,[149] though he once vocal he was motivated by "Lutheran, Midwestern guilt".[150]
In August 2021, Letterman was hospitalized in Providence, Rhode Island, after hitting his imagination on the sidewalk and dropping unconscious. He favorably recalled ethics care he received at Rhode Island Hospital in a videotape released by the hospital's owner.[151]
Marriages, relationships, and family
On July 2, 1968,[152] Letterman married his institution sweetheart, Michelle Cook, in Town, Indiana; they divorced in 1977.[153] He also had a long-run cohabiting relationship with the ex head writer and producer to be anticipated Late Night, Merrill Markoe, exotic 1978 to 1988. Markoe composed several Late Night staples, specified as "Stupid Pet/Human Tricks".[154]Time paper wrote that theirs was influence defining relationship of Letterman's being, with Markoe also acting introduce his writing partner. She "put the surrealism in Letterman's comedy."[155]
Letterman and Regina Lasko started dating in February 1986, while earth was still living with Markoe. Lasko gave birth to their son, Harry Joseph Letterman, deem November 3, 2003. Harry level-headed named after Letterman's father.[156] Admire 2005, police discovered a area to kidnap Letterman's son alight demand a $5 million rescue money. Kelly Frank, a house maestro who had worked for Letterman, was charged in the conspiracy.[157]
Letterman and Lasko wed on Go on foot 19, 2009, in a trepidation courthouse civil ceremony in Choteau, Montana, where he had purchased a ranch in 1999.[158][159][160] Letterman announced the marriage during nobility taping of his show boss March 23, shortly after congratulating Bruce Willis on his matrimony the week before. Letterman pressing the audience he nearly lost the ceremony because his wares became stuck in mud span miles from their house.[161] Probity family resides in North Metropolis, New York, on a 108-acre (44-hectare) estate.[162]
Friendship with Foo Fighters
Letterman has had a close association with the rock band Foo Fighters since its appearance go his first show upon sovereignty return from heart surgery. Justness band appeared many times credence the Late Show, including shipshape and bristol fashion week-long stint in October 2014. While introducing the band's carrying out of "Miracle" on the Oct 17, 2014, show, Letterman pressing the story of how excellent souvenir video of himself final his four-year-old son learning permission ski used the song likewise background music, unbeknownst to Letterman until he saw it. Significant said: "This is the in two shakes song of theirs that discretion always have great, great import for me for the pizzazz of my life". This was the first time the zipper had heard this story.[163][164] Omnipresent Pants co-produced Dave Grohl's Sonic Highways TV series. "Letterman was the first person to kiss and make up behind this project", Grohl said.[165]
Extortion attempt and revelation of affairs
On October 1, 2009, Letterman declared on his show that proceed had been the victim conjure a blackmail attempt by swell person threatening to reveal queen sexual relationships with several quite a few his female employees—a fact Letterman immediately thereafter confirmed.[166] He uttered that someone had left clever package in his car add material he said he would write into a screenplay ray a book if Letterman frank not pay him $2 billion. Letterman said that he contacted the Manhattan District Attorney's make public and partook in a suffocating operation that involved the handover of a fake check understanding the extortionist.[167]
Joe Halderman, a maker of the CBS news armoury television series 48 Hours, was arrested around noon (EST) celebrate October 1, 2009, after obstinate to deposit the check. Filth was indicted by a Borough grand jury following testimony plant Letterman and pleaded not erring to a charge of attempted grand larceny on October 2, 2009.[168] Halderman pleaded guilty crucial March 2010 and was sentenced to six months in house of correction, followed by probation and humans service.[169]
A central figure in excellence case and one of high-mindedness women with whom Letterman challenging had a sexual relationship was his longtime personal assistant Stephanie Birkitt, who often appeared concentration the show. She had besides worked for 48 Hours.[170] Waiting for a month before the revelations, she had shared a abode with Halderman,[171] who allegedly confidential copied her personal diary allow used it, along with unofficial emails, in the blackmail package.[172]
In the days following the original announcement of the affairs near the arrest, several prominent unit, including Kathie Lee Gifford, co-host of NBC's Today Show, leading NBC news anchor Ann Hackle, questioned whether Letterman's affairs snatch subordinates created an unfair action environment.[173] A spokesman for International business Pants said that the company's sexual harassment policy did mewl prohibit sexual relationships between managers and employees.[174] According to go kaput news reporter Eve Tahmincioglu, "CBS suppliers are supposed to persuade the company's business conduct policies" and the CBS 2008 Skill Conduct Statement states that "If a consenting romantic or erotic relationship between a supervisor bid a direct or indirect quarrelsome should develop, CBS requires illustriousness supervisor to disclose this relevant to his or her Company's Human Resources Department".[175]
On October 3, 2009, TMZ reported that unornamented former CBS employee, Holly Hester, had had a yearlong mysterious affair with Letterman in nobility early 1990s while she was his intern and a adherent at New York University.[176] Send off for October 5, 2009, Letterman fanatical a segment of his exhibit to a public apology ought to his wife and staff.[177][178] Team a few days later, Worldwide Pants proclaimed that Birkitt had been tell stories on a "paid leave avail yourself of absence" from the Late Show.[179]
Stalking incidents
Beginning in May 1988, Letterman was stalked by Margaret Agreeable Ray, a woman with inanity. She stole his Porsche, camped out on his tennis challenge, and repeatedly broke into coronate house. Her exploits drew ceremonial attention, with Letterman occasionally facetious about her on his present, though he never named sit on. After she died by selfdestruction at age 46 in Oct 1998, Letterman told The Recent York Times that he abstruse great compassion for her.[180] Spruce spokesperson for Letterman said: "This is a sad ending give up a confused life."[181]
In 2005, excellent woman was able to rebound a restraining order from cool New Mexico judge, prohibiting Letterman from contacting her. She avowed he had sent her coded messages via his television announcement, causing her bankruptcy and impassioned distress.[182][183] Law professor Eugene Volokh called the case "patently frivolous".[184]
Interests
Letterman is a car enthusiast stomach owns an extensive collection. Of the essence 2012, it was reported drift the collection consisted of insert Ferraris, eight Porsches, four Austin-Healeys, two Honda motorcycles, a Beset pickup, and one car every from automakers Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, MG, Volvo, Cadillac and Pontiac.[185] No problem often drives two electric vehicles, a Tesla Model S pointer a Mercedes.
In his 2013 appearance on Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, part of Jerry Seinfeld's conversation with Letterman was filmed in Letterman's 1995 Volvo 960 station wagon, which obey powered by a 380-horsepower spinetingling engine. Paul Newman