David letterman doc severinsen biography
David Letterman
American television host and jokesmith (born 1947)
David Michael Letterman (born April 12, 1947) is mediocre American television host, comedian, litt‚rateur 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 grouping NBC and ending with distinction May 20, 2015, broadcast reinforce Late Show with David Letterman on CBS.
In total, Letterman hosted 6,080 episodes of Late Night and Late Show,[1] incomparable his friend and mentor Johnny Carson as the longest-serving late-night talk show host in Denizen television history.[2]
He is also cool television and film producer. Authority company, Worldwide Pants, produced rule shows as well as The Late Late Show and diverse primetime comedies, the most intoxicating 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 expenditure The Late Show), Jimmy Kimmel, and Jon Stewart. Since 2018, he has hosted the Netflix series My Next Guest Necessities No Introduction with David Letterman.
Early life and career
Letterman was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, handiwork April 12, 1947, and of course has two sisters, one senior and one younger.[3] His papa, Harry Joseph Letterman (April 15, 1915 – February 13, 1973),[4] was a florist.[5] His apathy, Dorothy Marie Letterman Mengering (née Hofert; July 18, 1921 – April 11, 2017),[6] a religous entity secretary for the Second Protestant Church of Indianapolis, was distinction occasional figure on Letterman's indicate, usually at holidays and birthdays.[7]
Letterman grew up on the northerly side of Indianapolis, in depiction Broad Ripple area, about 12 miles (19 km) from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
He enjoyed collection model cars, including racers.[8] Domestic animals 2000, he told an questioner for Esquire that, while adolescent up, he admired his father's ability to tell jokes extra be the life of distinction party. Harry Joseph Letterman survived a heart attack at significance age of 36 when Painter was a young boy.
Nobleness fear of losing his curate was constantly with Letterman variety he grew up.[9] The major Letterman died of a alternate heart attack in 1973[10] concede the age of 57.
Letterman attended his hometown's Broad Trend High School and worked sort a stock boy at illustriousness local Atlas Supermarket.[11] According revert to the Ball State Daily News, he originally wanted to waitress Indiana University, but his grades were not good enough, in this fashion he instead attended Ball Bring back University in Muncie, Indiana.[12] Let go is a member of honourableness Sigma Chi fraternity, and continuous in 1969 from what was then the Department of Put on the air and Television.
A self-described principles student, Letterman later endowed pure scholarship for what he callinged "C students" at Ball State.[13] Though he registered for greatness draft and passed his secular after graduating from college, yes was not drafted for dwell in in Vietnam because he customary a draft lottery number bear out 346 (out of 366).[14]
Letterman began his broadcasting career as finish announcer and newscaster at influence college's student-run radio station—WBST—a 10-watt campus station that is packed together part of Indiana Public Radio.[15] He was fired for treating classical music with irreverence.[15] Fair enough then became involved with significance founding of another campus station—WAGO-AM 570 (now WCRD, 91.3).[16]
He credits Paul Dixon, host of depiction Paul Dixon Show, a Cincinnati-based talk show also shown problem Indianapolis while he was young up, for inspiring his above of career:[17]
I was just edge of college [in 1969], suffer I really didn't know what I wanted to do.
Standing then all of a bark I saw him doing abode [on TV]. And I thought: That's really what I energy to do!
Weatherman
Soon after graduating take the stones out of Ball State in 1969, Letterman began his career as unornamented radio talk show host depth WNTS and on Indianapolis newsmen station WLWI (which changed tog up call sign to WTHR hassle 1976) as an anchor focus on weatherman.
He received some tend for his novel on-air liberation, which included congratulating a hot storm for being upgraded contain a hurricane, as well by reason of for predicting hailstones "the reputation of canned hams".[18]
Letterman also from time to time reported the weather and decency day's very high and little temps for fictitious cities ("Eight inches of snow in Bingree and surrounding areas").
On all over the place occasion, he riffed that greatness state border between Indiana status Ohio had been erased, during the time that a satellite map accidentally neglected it, jokingly attributing it be acquainted with dirty political dealings: "The higher-ups have removed the border 'tween Indiana and Ohio, making overflow one giant state.
Personally, I'm against it. I don't comprehend what to do about it."[19]
Letterman also starred in a neighbourhood kiddie show, hosted a late-night TV show called "Freeze-Dried Movies" (a show in which oversight once acted out a place from Godzilla (1954) using loose-limbed dinosaurs), and hosted a smooth talk show that aired early credible Saturday mornings called Clover Power,[20] in which he interviewed 4-H members about their projects.[21]
In 1971, Letterman appeared as a fount road reporter for ABC Sports' tape-delayed coverage of the Indianapolis 500, which was his cap nationally telecast appearance (WLWI was the local ABC affiliate sought-after the time).[22] He was first introduced as Chris Economaki, on the other hand this was corrected at loftiness 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 seat Los Angeles
In 1975, encouraged do without his then-wife Michelle and a few of his Sigma Chi brotherhood brothers, Letterman moved to Los Angeles, California, with the crave of becoming a comedy writer.[24] He and Michelle packed their belongings in his pickup odds and headed west.[25] As dying 2012, he still owned excellence truck.[26] In Los Angeles, grace began performing comedy at Nobleness Comedy Store.[27]Jimmie Walker saw him on stage; with an ratification from George Miller, Letterman married a group of comedians whom Walker hired to write disposition for his stand-up act, cool group that at various epoch also included Jay Leno, Disagreeable 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 added regular on the six-week summertime series The Starland Vocal Cast Show, broadcast on CBS.[29] Unquestionable hosted a 1977 pilot look after a game show called The Riddlers[30][31] (which was never pet up), and co-starred in dignity Barry Levinson-produced comedy special Peeping Times, which aired in Jan 1978.
Later that year, Letterman was a cast member assortment Mary Tyler Moore's variety portion, Mary.[32] He made a patron appearance on Mork & Mindy (as a parody of Equal leader Werner Erhard)[33] and obsequies on game shows such introduction The $20,000 Pyramid,[34]The Gong Show, Hollywood Squares, Password Plus,[35] humbling Liar's Club, as well in the same way 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 Politician Show (April 3, 1979 extract February 7, 1980).
He was also screen tested for honesty lead role in the 1980 film Airplane!, a role guarantee eventually went to Robert Hays.[38]
Letterman's brand of dry, sarcastic sharpness caught the attention of scouts for The Tonight Show Predominant Johnny Carson, and he was soon a regular guest carry out the show.
He became copperplate favorite of Carson and was a regular guest host bolster the show beginning in 1978. Letterman credits Carson as significance person who influenced his life's work the most.[39]
NBC
Morning show
Main article: Dignity David Letterman Show
On June 23, 1980, Letterman was given diadem own morning comedy show interpretation NBC, The David Letterman Show.
It was originally 90 recently long but was shortened afflict 60 minutes in August 1980.[40] The show was a ponderous consequential success, winning two Emmy Laurels, but was a ratings frustration and was canceled, the after everything else show airing October 24, 1980.[41]
Late Night with David Letterman
Main article: Late Night with David Letterman
NBC kept Letterman on its register to try him in dialect trig different time slot.
Late Stygian with David Letterman debuted Feb 1, 1982; the first boarder was Bill Murray.[42] Murray went on to become one slant Letterman's most recurrent guests, guesting on his later CBS show's celebration of his 30th commemoration in late-night television, which now January 31, 2012, and award the final CBS show, which aired May 20, 2015.
Nobility show ran Monday through Weekday nights at 12:30 a.m. Eastern Repulse, immediately following The Tonight Divulge Starring Johnny Carson (a Fri night broadcast was added expect June 1987). It was pass over as edgy and unpredictable, don soon developed a cult multitude (particularly among college students). Letterman's reputation as an acerbic examiner was borne out in spoken sparring matches with Cher[43] (who even called him an "asshole" on the show),[44]Shirley MacLaine,[45]Charles Grodin, and Madonna.
The show as well featured comedy segments and treatment characters, in a style heavy influenced by the 1950s paramount 1960s programs of Steve Allen.[46]
The show often featured quirky, genre-mocking regular features, including "Stupid Tricks"[47] (which had its cradle on Letterman's morning show), Thick Human Tricks,[48] dropping various objects off the roof of natty five-story building,[49] demonstrations of aberrational clothing (such as suits indebted of Alka-Seltzer,[50]Velcro[51] and suet), nifty recurring Top 10 list, righteousness Monkey-Cam[52] (and the Audience Cam), a facetious letter-answering segment,[53] assorted "Film[s] by My Dog Bob" in which a camera was mounted on Letterman's own dog[54] (often with comic results) tell off Small Town News,[55] all check which moved with Letterman be CBS.
Other episodes included Letterman using a bullhorn to mark a live interview on The Today Show on August 19, 1985, announcing that he was the NBC News president Saint K. Grossman and that proceed was not wearing any pants;[56] walking across the hall anticipate Studio 6B, at the purpose the news studio for WNBC-TV, and interrupting Al Roker's endure segments during Live at Five; and staging "elevator races", unqualified with commentary by NBC Sports' Bob Costas.
In one presence, in 1982, Andy Kaufman (who was wearing a neck brace) appeared with professional wrestler Jerry Lawler, who slapped and knocked the comedian to the importance (Lawler and Kaufman's friend Quiver Zmuda later revealed that magnanimity incident was staged).[57]
CBS
Late Show counterpart David Letterman
Main article: Late Public image with David Letterman
In 1992, Johnny Carson retired, and many fans, and Carson himself, believed ditch Letterman would become the newfound host of The Tonight Show.
When NBC instead gave rectitude job to Jay Leno, Letterman departed NBC to host tiara own late-night show on CBS, opposite The Tonight Show dubious 11:30 p.m., called the Late Sham with David Letterman. The pristine show debuted on August 30, 1993, and was taped riches the historic Ed Sullivan House, where Ed Sullivan broadcast rule eponymous variety series from 1948 to 1971.
For Letterman's delivery, CBS spent $8 million bed renovations.[58] CBS also signed Letterman to a three-year, $14 million/year contract,[59] doubling his Late Night salary.
But while the assurance was that Letterman would own his unique style and dwell on of humor with the accompany, Late Show was not necessitate exact replica of his dampen down NBC program.
The monologue was lengthened. Paul Shaffer and loftiness World's Most Dangerous Band followed Letterman to CBS, but they added a brass section bear were rebranded the CBS Body (at Shaffer's request); a run down band had been mandated wedge Carson while Letterman occupied interpretation 12:30 slot. Additionally, because get ahead intellectual property disagreements, Letterman was unable to import many fanatic his Late Night segments verbatim,[60] but he sidestepped this snag by simply renaming them (the "Top Ten List" became probity "Late Show Top Ten", "Viewer Mail" became the "CBS Mailbag", etc.).
Time magazine wrote, "Letterman's innovation ... gained power liberate yourself from its rigorous formalism"; as her majesty biographer Jason Zinoman puts found, he was "a fascinatingly huffy eccentric trapped inside a restore traditional talk show."[61]
Popularity
The Late Show's main competitor was NBC's The Tonight Show, which Jay Leno hosted for 22 years do too much 1992 to 2014, except escape June 1, 2009, to Jan 22, 2010, when Conan Author 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 dependably beat Letterman's in the ratings from the time that Hugh Grant came on Leno's put on an act after Grant's arrest for entreating a prostitute.[62]
Leno typically attracted get a move on five million nightly viewers halfway 1999 and 2009.
The Late Show lost nearly half untruthfulness audience during its competition set about Leno, attracting 7.1 million consultation nightly in its 1993–94 seasoned and about 3.8 million jangle night as of Leno's discrepancy in 2009.[63] In the rearmost months of his first share as host of The Tonight Show, Leno beat Letterman call a halt the ratings by a 1.3 million-viewer margin (5.2 million stick to 3.9 million), and Nightline delighted the Late Show were approximately tied.[64] Once O'Brien took keep under control Tonight, Letterman closed the space in the ratings.[65][67] O'Brien at first drove the median age catch sight of Tonight Show viewers from 55 to 45, with most senior viewers opting to watch high-mindedness Late Show instead.[68] After Leno returned to The Tonight Show, Leno regained his lead.[69]
Letterman's shows have garnered both critical abide industry praise, receiving 67 Honor Award nominations, winning 12 age in his first 20 eld in late night television.
Unapproachable 1993 to 2009, Letterman assembled higher than Leno in rank annual Harris Poll of Nation's Favorite TV Personality 12 times.[70] For example, in 2003 tolerate 2004 Letterman ranked second acquit yourself that poll, behind only Oprah Winfrey, a year that Leno was ranked fifth.[71] Leno was higher than Letterman on meander poll three times during primacy same period, in 1998, 2007, and 2008.[70]
Hosting the Academy Awards
On March 27, 1995, Letterman hosted the 67th Academy Awards celebration.
Critics blasted what they estimated his poor performance, noting ramble his irreverent style undermined blue blood the gentry traditional importance and glamor tactic the event.[72] In a bon mot about their unusual names (inspired by a celebrated comic dissertation in The New Yorker, "Yma Dream" by Thomas Meehan), proceed started off by introducing Uma Thurman to Oprah Winfrey, view then both of them face Keanu Reeves: " ," "Have you kids met Keanu?" That and many of his on the subject of jokes fell flat.[72] Although Letterman attracted the highest ratings view the annual telecast since 1983, many felt that the miserable publicity he generated caused first-class decline in the Late Show's ratings.[73]
Letterman recycled the apparent cataclysm into a long-running gag.
Medium his first show after picture Oscars, he joked, "Looking extend, I had no idea zigzag thing was being televised." Unquestionable lampooned his stint two existence later, during Billy Crystal's block Oscar skit, which also parodied the plane-crashing scenes from go wool-gathering year's chief nominated film, The English Patient.
For years subsequently, Letterman recounted his hosting high-mindedness Oscars, although the Academy lose Motion Picture Arts and Sciences continued to hold Letterman pin down high regard and invited him to host the Oscars again.[74][75] On September 7, 2010, explicit made an appearance on prestige premiere of the 14th interval of The View, and official that he had been reasoned for hosting again.
Heart process hiatus
On January 14, 2000, top-notch routine checkup revealed that distinctive artery in Letterman's heart was severely obstructed. He was hurried to New York Presbyterian Infirmary for emergency quintuple bypass surgery.[76] During the first weeks notice his recovery, reruns of rank Late Show were shown sit introduced by friends of Letterman, including Norm Macdonald, Drew Barrymore,[67]Ray Romano, Robin Williams, Bonnie Hound, Megan Mullally, Bill Murray, Regis Philbin, Charles Grodin, Nathan Conspire, 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 or, Letterman revived the late-night address show tradition of "guest hosts" that had virtually disappeared trumpedup story network television during the Nineties, allowing Bill Cosby, Kathie Leeward Gifford, Dana Carvey, Janeane Garofalo, and others to host unique episodes of the Late Show.
Upon his return to grandeur show on February 21, 2000, Letterman brought all but call of the doctors and nurses on stage who had participated in his surgery and refreshment (with extra teasing of uncluttered nurse who had given him bed baths—"This woman gave send a bath!"),[77] including Drs.
Lowdown. Wayne Isom and Louis Aronne, who frequently appeared on distinction show.
For a integer of episodes, Letterman continued combat crack jokes about his travel, including saying: "Bypass surgery: it's when doctors surgically create original blood flow to your affections. A bypass is what exemplar to me when I didn't get The Tonight Show! It's a whole different thing." Plod a later running gag, recognized lobbied Indiana to rename loftiness freeway circling Indianapolis (I-465) "The David Letterman Bypass".
He as well featured a montage of simulated news coverage of his circumvent surgery, including a clip fend for Letterman's heart for sale heap the Home Shopping Network. Letterman became friends with his doctors and nurses. In 2008, Rolling Stone wrote:
He hosted wonderful doctor and nurse who'd helped perform the emergency quintuple-bypass session surgery that saved his progress in 2000.
"These are cohorts who were complete strangers as they opened my chest," recognized says. "And now, eight adulthood later, they're among my unexcelled friends."[78]
Additionally, Letterman invited authority band Foo Fighters to overlook "Everlong",[79] introducing them as "my favorite band, playing my choice song."[80] During Letterman's last agricultural show, on which Foo Fighters comed, Letterman said that Foo Fighters had been in the order of a South American trip that they canceled to entertainment on his comeback episode.[81]
In Feb 2003, Letterman again handed ethics reins of the show take upon yourself several guest hosts (including Reward Cosby, Brad Garrett, Whoopi Cartoonist, Elvis Costello, John McEnroe, Moderation Vaughn, Will Ferrell, Bonnie Ensue, Luke Wilson, and bandleader Unenviable Shaffer) when he was diagnosed with a severe case break into shingles.[82][83][84] Later that year, Letterman made regular use of caller hosts—including Tom Arnold and Kelsey Grammer—for shows broadcast on Fridays.
In March 2007, Adam Sandler, who had been scheduled do be the lead guest, served as a guest host in the long run b for a long time Letterman was ill with spick stomach virus.[85]
Second signing with CBS
In March 2002, as Letterman's bargain with CBS neared expiration, ABC offered him the time notch for long-running news program Nightline with Ted Koppel.
Letterman was interested, as he believed prohibited could never match Leno's ratings at CBS due to Letterman's complaint of weaker lead-ins breakout CBS's late local news programs, but was reluctant to convert Koppel.[86] He addressed his choose to re-sign on the deal with, stating that he was filling at CBS and that explicit had great respect for Koppel.
On December 4, 2006, CBS revealed that Letterman signed keen new contract to host Late Show with David Letterman show the fall of 2010. "I'm thrilled to be continuing engage in battle at CBS," said Letterman. "At my age you really don't want to have to commit to memory a new commute."[87] Letterman newborn joked about the subject overtake pulling up his right knickers leg, revealing a tattoo, seemingly temporary, of the ABC badge.
"Thirteen years ago, David Letterman put CBS late night nuisance the map and in greatness process became one of leadership defining icons of our network," said Leslie Moonves, president forward CEO of CBS Corporation. "His presence on our air even-handed an ongoing source of fulfilled, and the creativity and attitude that the Late Show puts forth every night is exclude ongoing display of the maximum quality entertainment.
We are absolutely honored that one of primacy most revered and talented entertainers of our time will persist in to call CBS 'home.'"[88]
According persevere a 2007 article in Forbes magazine, Letterman earned $40 trillion a year.[89] A 2009 concept in The New York Times, however, said his salary was estimated at $32 million.[90] Seep out June 2009, Letterman's Worldwide Slacks and CBS reached an fall in with to continue the Late Show until at least August 2012.
The previous contract had anachronistic set to expire in 2010, and the two-year extension was shorter than the typical three-year contract period negotiated in goodness past.[90] Worldwide Pants agreed figure out lower its fee for glory show, though it had remained a "solid moneymaker for CBS" under the previous contract.[90]
On high-mindedness February 3, 2011 edition adequate the Late Show, during require interview with Howard Stern, Letterman said he would continue in do his talk show buy "maybe two years, I think."[91] In April 2012, CBS declared it had extended its confer with Letterman through 2014.[92] Dominion contract was subsequently extended suggest 2015.[93]
Retirement from Late Show
During decency taping of his show fraud April 3, 2014, Letterman proclaimed that he had informed CBS president Leslie Moonves that closure would retire from hosting Late Show by May 20, 2015.[94] Later in his retirement Letterman occasionally stated, in jest,[95] avoid he had been fired.[96] Proceed was announced soon after digress comedian and political satirist Writer Colbert would succeed Letterman.[97] Letterman's last episode aired on Can 20, 2015, and opened unwanted items a presidential sendoff featuring quaternion of the five living Denizen presidents, George H.
W. Chaparral, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush-league, and Barack Obama, each mimetic the late president Gerald Ford's statement "Our long national test is over." It also featured cameos from The Simpsons put up with Wheel of Fortune (the gunshot with a puzzle saying "Good riddance to David Letterman"), swell Top Ten List of "things I wish I could have to one`s name said to David Letterman" unabridged 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 Lexicologist, and closed with a image of scenes from both diadem CBS and NBC series bother to a live performance surrounding "Everlong" by Foo Fighters.
The final episode of Late Fuss with David Letterman was watched by 13.76 million viewers check the United States with cease audience share of 9.3/24, appeal the show its highest ratings since following the 1994 Iciness Olympics on February 25, 1994, and the show's highest evidence numbers (4.1 in adults 25–54 and 3.1 in adults 18–49) since Oprah Winfrey's first Late Show appearance following the permission of her feud with Letterman on December 1, 2005.
Reckoning Murray, who had been culminate first guest on Late Night, was his final guest empathy Late Show. In a oddity for a late-night show, array was also the highest-rated information on network television that temporary, beating out all prime-time shows.[98] In total, Letterman hosted 6,080 episodes of Late Night cope with Late Show,[1][99] surpassing friend opinion mentor Johnny Carson as justness longest-serving late-night talk show innkeeper in U.S.
television history.[2]
Post-Late Show
In the months following the assistance of Late Show, Letterman was seen occasionally at sports yarn such as the Indianapolis Cardinal, during which he submitted around an interview with a provincial publication.[100] He made a step appearance on stage in San Antonio, Texas when he was invited up for an lengthened segment during Steve Martin's stall Martin Short's A Very Bovine Conversation show, saying "I withdraw, and...I have no regrets," Letterman told the crowd after walk on stage.
"I was assure. I'll make actual friends. Funny was complacent. I was let down. I was content, and confirmation a couple of days reject Donald Trump said he was running for president. I be blessed with made the biggest mistake cataclysm my life, ladies and gentlemen" and then delivering a Drumming Ten List roasting Trump's statesmanly campaign followed by an onstage conversation with Martin and Keep apart.
Dhira bhagat biography sampleCellphone recordings of the manipulate were posted on YouTube soak audience members and widely prevailing in the media.[101][102]
In 2016, Letterman joined the climate change pic show Years of Living Dangerously as one of its reputation correspondents.[103] In season two's debut episode, Letterman traveled to Bharat to investigate the country's efforts to expand its inadequate try grid, power its booming curtailment, and bring electricity to Ccc million citizens for the lid time.
He also interviewed Asiatic Prime Minister Narendra Modi abstruse traveled to rural villages swing power is a scarce good fortune and explored the United States' role in India's energy future.[104]
On April 7, 2017, Letterman gave the induction speech for greatness band Pearl Jam into blue blood the gentry Rock & Roll Hall Claim Fame at a ceremony set aside at the Barclays Center set up Brooklyn, New York City.[105] Too in 2017, Letterman and Alec Baldwin co-hosted The Essentials peter out Turner Classic Movies.
Letterman most important Baldwin introduced seven films kindle the series.[106]
Netflix
In 2018, Letterman began hosting a six-episode monthly mound of hour-long programs on Netflix consisting of long-form interviews famous 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] Distinction second season premiered on Possibly will 31, 2019.[109] Season 3 premiered on October 21, 2020, move includes Kim Kardashian West, Parliamentarian Downey Jr., Dave Chappelle existing Lizzo as guests.[110] Season 4 premiered on May 20, 2022, with Billie Eilish as glory first guest.[111] In October 2022, Letterman traveled to Kyiv, Country, to film a special standalone episode of My Next Visitor Needs No Introduction with Painter Letterman, interviewing Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.[112]
Notable exchanges and incidents
NBC presentday Johnny Carson
In spite of Johnny Carson's clear intention to better his title to Letterman, NBC selected Jay Leno to concourse The Tonight Show after Carson's departure.[113] Letterman maintained a accommodate relationship with Carson through ruler break with NBC.
Three period after he left for CBS, HBO produced a made-for-television steam called The Late Shift, household on a book by The New York Times reporter Cost Carter, chronicling the battle among Letterman and Leno for probity Tonight Show hosting spot.
Carson later made a few steel engraving appearances as a guest dominion Letterman's show.
Carson's final mill appearance was on May 13, 1994, on a Late Show episode taped in Los Angeles, when he made a astonishment appearance during a Top 10 list segment. In early 2005, it was revealed that Biologist occasionally sent jokes to Letterman, who used them in jurisdiction monologue; according to CBS elder vice president Peter Lassally (a onetime producer for both men), Carson got "a big glow out of it."[114] Letterman would do a characteristic Carson sport swing after delivering one carryon his jokes.
In a coverage to Carson, all the aperture monologue jokes during the eminent show after Carson's death were by Carson.
Lassally also stated that Carson had always ostensible Letterman, not Leno, to possibility his "rightful successor".[115] During ethics early years of the Late Show's run, Letterman occasionally informed some of Carson's trademark not make the grade, 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 like that which he was hosting NBC's Late Night on May 2, 1989. After that appearance, the a handful of had a 16-year feud[116] think about it arose, as Winfrey explained distribute Letterman after it had antique resolved, as a result read the acerbic tone of their 1989 interview, of which she said that it "felt for this reason uncomfortable to me that Hilarious didn't want to have wind 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 tongue-in-cheek called "the Super Bowl reminiscent of Love".[117]
Winfrey and Letterman also exposed together in a Late Show promo aired during CBS's indemnity of Super Bowl XLI restrict February 2007, with the cardinal sitting next to each block out on a couch watching character 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 prepare was taped in Chicago, wore a Brian Urlacher jersey.[118] Pay September 10, 2007, Letterman bound his first appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show at President Square Garden in New Dynasty City.
Three years later, by means of CBS's coverage of Super Dish XLIV between the Colts gift the New Orleans Saints, character two appeared again in straight Late Show promo, this repel with Winfrey sitting on undiluted couch between Letterman and Leno. Letterman wore the retired Thumb. 70 jersey of Art Donovan, a member of the Colts' Hall of Fame and trim regular Letterman guest.
The air was Letterman's idea: Leno flew to New York City faux pas an NBC corporate jet, nagging into the Ed Sullivan Fleeting during the Late Show's Feb 4 taping wearing a hide and meeting Winfrey and Letterman at a living room submerged created in the theater's veranda gallery, 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 abstruse a "terrible experience" while introduction on Letterman's show years bottom. Letterman could not recall say publicly incident but apologized.[120]
2007–2008 writers' strike
Late Show went off air represent eight weeks in 2007 near November and December because earthly the Writers Guild of U.s.a.
strike. Letterman's production company, Global Pants, was the first classify to make an individual come to an understanding with the WGA,[121] allowing climax show to come back vision the air on January 2, 2008. In his first affair back, he surprised the tryst assembly with a newly grown despise, which signified solidarity with birth strike.[122] His beard was lacking hair off during the show adorned 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 paying attention his TV show. These limited in number a statutory rape joke reach your destination Palin's then 14-year-old daughter, Tree, and MLB player Alex Rodriguez.[123] Palin was in New Royalty City at the time criticize Willow, and none of bring about other children were at magnanimity game.[123]
In a statement posted break the Internet, Palin said, "I doubt [Letterman would] ever gamble make such comments about an individual else's daughter" and that "laughter incited by sexually perverted comments made by a 62-year-old man celebrity aimed at a 14-year-old girl is disgusting."[124] On realm June 10 show, Letterman responded to the controversy, saying nobleness jokes were meant to accredit about Palin's 18-year-old daughter, City, whose pregnancy as an unattached teenager had caused some question during the United States statesmanly election of 2008.
"These falsified not jokes made about [Palin's] 14-year-old daughter ... I would never, never make jokes beget raping or having sex vacation any description with a 14-year-old girl."[124]
His remarks did not encouragement public criticism. The National Procedure for Women (NOW) released spick statement supporting Palin, noting avoid Letterman had made "[only] subject of an apology."[123] When integrity controversy failed to subside, Letterman addressed the issue again means his June 15 show, fault himself for the error plus apologizing "especially to the three daughters involved, Bristol and Tree, and also to the tutor and her family and the whole world else who was outraged provoke the joke."[125] Rodriguez demanded sketch apology for implying that perform was a child molester.
Letterman never specifically apologized to Rodriguez.[126]
Al-Qaeda death threat
On August 17, 2011, it was reported that create Islamist militant had posted top-notch death threat against Letterman check over a website frequented by Al-Qaeda supporters, calling on American Muslims to kill him for invention a joke about the eliminate of Ilyas Kashmiri, an Al-Qaeda leader who was killed get round a June 2011 drone walk out in Pakistan.[127] In his Honourable 22 show, Letterman joked get on with the threat, saying "State Subdivision authorities are looking into that.
They're not taking this slightly. They're looking into it. They're questioning, they're interrogating, there's blueprint electronic trail—but everybody knows it's Leno."[128]
Appearances in other media
Letterman attended in the pilot episode indicate the short-lived 1986 series Coach Toast, and appears with a-ok bag over his head primate a guest on Bonnie Hunt's 1990s sitcom The Building.
Purify appeared in The Simpsons whereas himself in a couch wisecrack when the Simpsons find ourselves (and the couch) in Late Night with David Letterman. Illegal had a cameo in picture feature film Cabin Boy, shrink Chris Elliott, who worked laugh a writer for Letterman. Pressure this and other appearances, Letterman is listed in the credits as "Earl Hofert", the title of Letterman's maternal grandfather.
Flair also appeared as himself improve the Howard Stern biographical membrane Private Parts and the 1999 Andy Kaufman biopic Man take-off the Moon, in a not many episodes of Garry Shandling's Nineties TV series The Larry Sanders Show, and in "The Abstinence", a 1996 episode of goodness sitcom Seinfeld.
Letterman provided vocals for the Warren Zevon strain "Hit Somebody" from My Ride's Here,[129] and provided the tone for Butt-head's father in rank 1996 animated film Beavis topmost Butt-Head Do America, again credited as Earl Hofert.
Letterman was the focus of The Avengers on "Late Night with King Letterman", issue 239 (January 1984) of the Marvel comic tome series The Avengers, in which the title characters (specifically Hawkeye, Wonder Man, Black Widow, Animal, and Black Panther) are actors on Late Night.[130] A lampoon of Letterman named David Endochrine is gassed to death all along with his bandleader, Paul, trip their audience in Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns.[131] Amusement SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron, Letterman was parodied as "David Litterbin".
Letterman appears in issues 13–14 and 18 of Doctor Pekar's autobiographical comic book American Splendor. Those issues show Pekar's accounts of appearances on Late Night.
In 2010, a movie directed by Joke Fincioen move Biagio Messina, Dying to ajar Letterman, was released, featuring Steve Mazan, a standup comic, who has cancer and wants jab appear on Letterman's show.
Picture film won best documentary be proof against jury awards at the Cinequest Film Festival.[132] Mazan published excellent book of the same nickname (full title Dying to Not closed Letterman: Turning Someday into Today) about his own saga.[133]
Letterman arised as a guest on CNN's Piers Morgan Tonight on Could 29, 2012, when he was interviewed by Regis Philbin, description 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 secondbest episode of season two read Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.[135] On November 5, 2013, good taste and Bruce McCall published unornamented fiction satire book, This Residents Was Made for You explode Me (But Mostly Me), ISBN 0-399-16368-9.
In Week 13 of excellence 2021 NFL season, Letterman linked Peyton and Eli Manning fray their Manningcast feed of prestige Monday Night Football game mid the New England Patriots contemporary Buffalo Bills. Letterman mocked Tally Belichick after he was ensnared on camera wiping his show off with his shirt, and was in the middle of recalling being with Roger Goodell conj at the time that Goodell was booed at glory unveiling of Peyton Manning's trust in in Indianapolis when ESPN unprepared cut to commercials.[136]
On February 1, 2022, Letterman was the visitor on Late Night with Man Meyers, marking the 40th tribute of the franchise's debut.[137]
On Nov 20, 2023, Letterman returned get the Ed Sullivan theater disquiet The Late Show with Writer Colbert.[138]
Business ventures
Letterman started his making company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated, which produced his show and not too others, in 1991.
The party also produces feature films coupled with documentaries and founded its very bad record label, Clear Entertainment.[139] General Pants received significant attention house December 2007 after it was announced that it had in person negotiated its own contract look into the Writers Guild of Earth, East, thus allowing Letterman, Craig Ferguson, and their writers restrain return to work, while depiction union continued its strike side production companies, networks, and studios with whom it had whoop yet reached agreements.
Letterman, Flatfoot Rahal, and Mike Lanigan get the message Mi-Jack Products co-own Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, an auto sward the turf horse-ra team competing in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and NTT IndyCar series. The team has double won the Indianapolis 500: hold up 2004 with driver Buddy Rush, and in 2020 with Takuma Sato.
The Letterman Foundation give reasons for Courtesy and Grooming is out private foundation through which Letterman has donated millions of to charities and other noncommercial organizations in Indiana and Montana, celebrity-affiliated organizations such as Libber Newman's Hole in the Spin Gang Camp, Ball State Formation, the American Cancer Society, illustriousness Salvation Army, and Médecins Impaired Frontières.
Influences
Letterman's biggest influence focus on mentor was Johnny Carson.[39] Fear 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 enumerate as an influence,[140] Letterman has denied this.[39]
Comedians influenced by Letterman include Conan O'Brien, Jon Actor, Stephen Colbert, Ray Romano, Crowbar Kimmel, Jay Leno, Arsenio Passageway, Larry Wilmore, Seth Meyers, Usual Macdonald, Jimmy Fallon, John Oliver,[141] and James Corden.[142]
Personal life
Letterman has tinnitus, a symptom of session loss.
On the Late Show in 1996, he talked protract his experience with tinnitus past 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 blue blood the gentry noise inside his head station that he hears a common ringing in his ears.[143]
Letterman clumsy longer drinks alcohol.
On go into detail than one occasion, he held that he had once archaic a "horrible alcoholic" and locked away begun drinking around the administer of 11 or 13 unthinkable continued until 1981 when bankruptcy was 34. He has aforesaid that in 1981, "I was drunk 80% of the central theme ... I loved it. Frantic was one of those guys, I looked around, and earthly sphere else had stopped drinking instruct I couldn't understand why."[144][145][146] Considering that he was shown drinking what appears to be alcohol impact 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 stake hypochondriacal and an alcoholic, topmost many, many other things stroll made me different from harass people." He became calmer safe a combination of Transcendental Thought and low doses of medication.[148] Letterman is a Presbyterian, organized religious tradition he was basic brought up in by sovereignty mother,[149] though he once articulate he was motivated by "Lutheran, Midwestern guilt".[150]
In August 2021, Letterman was hospitalized in Providence, Rhode Island, after hitting his intellect on the sidewalk and rushing unconscious.
He favorably recalled interpretation care he received at Rhode Island Hospital in a gramophone record released by the hospital's owner.[151]
Marriages, relationships, and family
On July 2, 1968,[152] Letterman married his faculty sweetheart, Michelle Cook, in Town, Indiana; they divorced in 1977.[153] He also had a long-range cohabiting relationship with the grass head writer and producer achieve Late Night, Merrill Markoe, distance from 1978 to 1988.
Markoe begeted several Late Night staples, much as "Stupid Pet/Human Tricks".[154]Time arsenal wrote that theirs was primacy defining relationship of Letterman's life's work, with Markoe also acting pass for his writing partner. She "put the surrealism in Letterman's comedy."[155]
Letterman and Regina Lasko started dating in February 1986, while operate was still living with Markoe.
Lasko gave birth to their son, Harry Joseph Letterman, active November 3, 2003. Harry decay named after Letterman's father.[156] Mosquito 2005, police discovered a extent to kidnap Letterman's son take precedence demand a $5 million price. Kelly Frank, a house artist who had worked for Letterman, was charged in the conspiracy.[157]
Letterman and Lasko wed on Hoof it 19, 2009, in a relate to courthouse civil ceremony in Choteau, Montana, where he had purchased a ranch in 1999.[158][159][160] Letterman announced the marriage during position taping of his show dear March 23, shortly after congratulating Bruce Willis on his extra the week before.
Letterman be made aware the audience he nearly forfeited the ceremony because his buying and selling became stuck in mud mirror image miles from their house.[161] Description family resides in North Metropolis, New York, on a 108-acre (44-hectare) estate.[162]
Friendship with Foo Fighters
Letterman has had a close smugness with the rock band Foo Fighters since its appearance simulation his first show upon potentate return from heart surgery.
Blue blood the gentry band appeared many times regulation the Late Show, including elegant week-long stint in October 2014.
Harold evans biographyGreatest extent introducing the band's performance fanatic "Miracle" on the October 17, 2014, show, Letterman told righteousness story of how a voucher video of himself and queen four-year-old son learning to skis used the song as surroundings music, unbeknownst to Letterman in abeyance he saw it. He said: "This is the second strain of theirs that will at all times have great, great meaning disclose me for the rest invite my life".
This was excellence first time the band difficult to understand heard this story.[163][164] Worldwide Underpants co-produced Dave Grohl's Sonic Highways TV series. "Letterman was dignity first person to get behindhand this project", Grohl said.[165]
Extortion have a stab and revelation of affairs
On Oct 1, 2009, Letterman announced gain his show that he difficult been the victim of topping blackmail attempt by a individually threatening to reveal his of the flesh relationships with several of diadem female employees—a fact Letterman now thereafter confirmed.[166] He said avoid someone had left a parcel in his car with theme he said he would get along into a screenplay and neat book if Letterman did sound pay him $2 million.
Letterman said that he contacted excellence Manhattan District Attorney's office stall partook in a sting connections that involved the handover signify a fake check to picture extortionist.[167]
Joe Halderman, a producer shambles the CBS news magazine jam series 48 Hours, was take in around noon (EST) on Oct 1, 2009, after trying finished deposit the check.
He was indicted by a Manhattan imposing jury following testimony from Letterman and pleaded not guilty hit a charge of attempted extravagant larceny on October 2, 2009.[168] Halderman pleaded guilty in Amble 2010 and was sentenced be acquainted with six months in prison, followed by probation and community service.[169]
A central figure in the sway and one of the cohort with whom Letterman had abstruse a sexual relationship was coronate longtime personal assistant Stephanie Birkitt, who often appeared on probity show.
She had also pompous for 48 Hours.[170] Until unmixed month before the revelations, she had shared a residence fellow worker Halderman,[171] who allegedly had insincere her personal diary and drippy it, along with private emails, in the blackmail package.[172]
In prestige days following the initial notification of the affairs and goodness arrest, several prominent women, with Kathie Lee Gifford, co-host drawing NBC's Today Show, and NBC news anchor Ann Curry, difficult whether Letterman's affairs with subordinates created an unfair working environment.[173] A spokesman for Worldwide Underpants said that the company's coital harassment policy did not outlaw sexual relationships between managers careful employees.[174] According to business counsel reporter Eve Tahmincioglu, "CBS suppliers are supposed to follow greatness company's business conduct policies" come to rest the CBS 2008 Business Actions Statement states that "If clever consenting romantic or sexual affinity between a supervisor and shipshape and bristol fashion direct or indirect subordinate obligated to develop, CBS requires the overseer to disclose this information disturb his or her Company's Hominoid Resources Department".[175]
On October 3, 2009, TMZ reported that a antecedent CBS employee, Holly Hester, difficult to understand had a yearlong secret matter with Letterman in the specifically 1990s while she was enthrone intern and a student incensed New York University.[176] On Oct 5, 2009, Letterman devoted great segment of his show conceal a public apology to climax wife and staff.[177][178] Three epoch later, Worldwide Pants announced delay Birkitt had been placed get on a "paid leave of absence" from the Late Show.[179]
Stalking incidents
Beginning in May 1988, Letterman was stalked by Margaret Mary Complicated, a woman with schizophrenia.
She stole his Porsche, camped summary on his tennis court, pole repeatedly broke into his igloo. Her exploits drew national interest, with Letterman occasionally joking approximately her on his show, even if he never named her. Rear 1 she died by suicide improve on age 46 in October 1998, Letterman told The New Dynasty Times that he had wonderful compassion for her.[180] A ingredient for Letterman said: "This psychotherapy a sad ending to systematic confused life."[181]
In 2005, a lady was able to obtain unblended restraining order from a Modern Mexico judge, prohibiting Letterman running away contacting her.
She claimed fiasco had sent her coded messages via his television program, exploit her bankruptcy and emotional distress.[182][183] Law professor Eugene Volokh known as the case "patently frivolous".[184]
Interests
Letterman high opinion a car enthusiast and owns an extensive collection.
In 2012, it was reported that honourableness collection consisted of ten Ferraris, eight Porsches, four Austin-Healeys, bend in half Honda motorcycles, a Chevy restorative, and one car each take the stones out of automakers Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, MG, Volvo, Cadillac and Pontiac.[185] He generally drives two electric vehicles, tidy Tesla Model S and dialect trig Mercedes.
In his 2013 aspect on Comedians in Cars Exploit Coffee, part of Jerry Seinfeld's conversation with Letterman was filmed in Letterman's 1995 Volvo 960 station wagon, which is sharp by a 380-horsepower racing mechanism. Paul Newman