After almost three decades on TV, David Letterman brings a perfect close to one of the most loved late-night shows.
[dropcap size=small]O[/dropcap]n May 20th, one of TV’s most popular late-night talk show hosts held the final show of his decorated career. David Letterman began hosting his late-night show in February of 1982 on NBC before moving to CBS in 1993, where he stayed for the rest of his career. Although many were saddened that this was in fact the last episode of his show, Letterman kept things lighthearted and funny. “We’ve done over 6,000 shows … and I was here for most of them, and I can tell you a pretty high percentage of those shows just absolutely sucked,” Letterman said to the audience during the final episode. He went of to add, “And also, in light of all of this praise, merited or not, do me a favor: Save a little for my funeral.” Letterman made sure that whenever anything began to become excessively sentimental, he would crack a joke and continue on with the broadcast.
The last show was a celebrity fest to put it plainly. Almost everyone wanted to be on the last episode of Late Show. Some of the most impressive guest appearances were from five US Presidents, four of whom seemed to be filmed just for this episode saying that “Our long national nightmare is over,” because Letterman is retiring. The final top 10, where the topic was 10 things they have always wanted to say to Dave, was also star studded and included Jerry Seinfeld, Bill Murray, Chris Rock, and Peyton Manning among others. You can see the full top 10 video below.
The list is hilarious. When Julia Louis-Dreyfus said, “Thanks for letting me take part in another hugely disappointing series finale,” the look on Jerry Seinfeld’s face was priceless. Almost all of the people on the list were considered regulars to the show, so it was fitting that they all were there for the final episode.
The musical guest, Foo Fighters, were frequently on the show. Letterman talked about how much the band’s song Everlong helped him through the recovery of his quintuple bypass operation a few years ago. The band played the song towards the end as images from the show’s history were displayed.
The show ran 18 minutes past its allotted hourlong time slot which allowed Letterman to say a few words thanking all the people that helped him over the years. He went on to thank everyone in the band, including long time leader and good friend of Letterman’s Paul Shaffer, everyone involved with the production of the show and his wife, Regina, and son, Harry. Lastly, Letterman thanked the viewers saying, “The people who watch this show, there’s nothing I can do to repay you. Thank you for everything. You’ve given me everything.”
At the end of the show, Letterman said his famous ending statement with a bit of a change, “For the last time on a television program … thank you and good night.” He looked completely all right; there was no stutter or hesitation in his voice or any hint of tears in his eyes. The full video of the final sign-off can be seem below.
David Letterman was a late-night show genius and one of the most influential TV show hosts of our time. He had one of the most impressive careers of any other late-night show host because he had his own sense of humor and was not afraid to be silly with his guests but could also be completely serious with them. He left TV the same way he came in, with his own way and on his own terms.
