Late Show with David Letterman
David Letterman uses mature humor to appeal to his audience in this weeknight series, which gets its music from a house band led by Paul Shaffer. Among the show's most-famous segments are the Top Ten List and Stupid Pet Tricks, the latter of which subsequently led to an additional recurring segment called Stupid Human Tricks.
Season 5 Episodes
Dave shows highlights from the annual Labor Day staff cookout on 53rd Street; Terry Bradshaw and stagehand Corky Ramirez…
Warren is caught watching tennis on TV; Dave harasses teen talk show host John Hall; Beck performs ""Devil's Haircut.""
Viewers at home receive the rare opportunity to see the new audience orientation tape (starring Leonard Tepper). Later,…
On Warren's last night filling in for Paul, he receives a ""Deputy of Comedy"" badge. Later, Sugar Ray performs ""Fly."…
Paul returns from filming ""Blues Brothers 2000"" with a shaved head. Meanwhile, Dave, Biff, Regis, Al Roker, and Bob B…
Dave calls the pay phone island outside so that an unsuspecting tourist could participate in a comedy skit. When nobody…
Dave is so fascinated by Paul's shaved head (introduced last night) that he has to talk about it at the beginning of the…
Paul writes a song for a trucker who participated in ""Know Your Current Events,"" while Dave chats with WNBA MVP Cynthi…
Dave chats with CBS star ""Steve Urkel"" (Gerard), while Star Jones plugs ""The View.""
Dave listens to the philosophies of second-graders in ""Dave Talks to Kids""; George Clooney promotes ""The Peacemaker."…
Biff delivers a housewarming gift to a Hooters franchise that just opened, and they send back buffalo wings. Later, an …
Dave discusses aerosol cheese with last minute guest Chef Michael Lomonaco who says, ""It's great when you're driving, a…
Richard Simmons interupts ""Know Your Current Events""; Drew Carey presents ""Top Ten Signs You Work in a Bad Office""; …
In a return to the popular theme nights of yore, the entire LATE SHOW audience consists of freshmen from NYU. During th…
Dave shows some of his favorite remotes, segments, and comedy clips from the first four years of ""The Late Show.""
Bob Borden finally gets to meet Jaleel ""Urkel"" White, while Paul composes a musical number about pastries that resembl…
Dave gives a local named Tom Worzall ten seconds of air time, then chats with Wonderbra model Sarah O'Hare.
Cameron Diaz promotes ""A Life Less Ordinary,"" while the famed contortionist Veniamin does a demonstration.
Dave comments on the Yankees playoff chances, then chats with new ""Today"" co-host Matt Lauer.
Dave shows (bogus) NASA footage of Mir; the Dutch Mariachis sing ""Happy Birthday"" to Biff.
Dave and Paul visit the ""International Hair Forum""; Dan Aykroyd promotes ""Soul Man"" and plays the harmonica.
Joe G. stars in the new crime drama ""Joey Ventura,"" and clips from the show are scattered throughout the night; Dave g…
Dave watches leaves turn and nails dry, and an audience member's receives and smokes his first cigar.
Throughout the night, Leonard plugs his new show, ""Leonard Tepper's Hidden Video."" Later, Jim Belushi promotes ""Tota…
""Dr."" Bill DeLace comments on seasonal allergies; Mark Wahlberg promotes ""Boogie Nights.""
1997: Stagehand and accomplished thespian Kenny Sheehan is seen in clips from ""The Today Show,"" ""Guiding Light,"" ""C…
After Dave shows clips of past bunny antics, the Late Show presents ""How Many Guys in Bunny Suits Can Get in the Times …
Paul introduces this year's National League champions, the Atlanta Braves, until Dave tells him that the Florida Marlins…
Dave presents ""The Story Behind the Story: The Rolling Stones,"" which looks at the dramatic and emotionally draining p…
WCBS-TV presents a skit about a pancake that looks like Paul. Later, Robert Pastorelli promotes his new drama ""Cracker…
Dave shows (bogus) footage of businessmen jumping out of windows on Wall Street; we take a look at ""What Dave Did with …
Following yesterday's sell-off on Wall Street, Dave shows footage of deceased stockbrokers ascending back through window…
Biff plays ""Let's Scare the Crap Out of Rupert Jee,"" while Dave interviews Bobby Bonilla of the World Series Champion …
Lee Marek helps Dave out with a sextet of Kid Scientists.
In honor of the new movie ""Boogie Nights,"" Dave shows bogus clips of Paul and Nadine Hennelly in 70's-era porno films.…
Dave shows a picture of production associate Tara Callahan, who ran in the New York Marathon; John Travolta plugs Face-O…
1997: We go to Joe G.'s in search of a political candidate, and we find an unsuspecting patron named Lee Holt. Later in…
Dave, Paul, Alan, Calvert, and Anton (as ""Buddy"") star in ""Late Show: The Movie."" Also, Rudy Guiliani (poorly) disg…
Dave shows a fake ad for a PBS documentary about the band KISS. Later, a lady in the audience who Dave accidentally thr…
Casey Kasem introduces the ""Late Show Chair of Mystery."" Also, BB King and Tracy Chapman perform a soulful duet.
""Master Mentalist"" Pat Farmer does a demonstration on Kenny Sheehan; singer-restaurateur Naomi Judd cooks a family rec…
Dave makes a bad phone call for an audience member, then comments on Marv Albert's legal troubles.
The greatest six minutes in Late Show history: When the Top Ten card is missing, Dave runs out of the theater, is hit by…
Live from the Edwards Air Force Base, Bruce Willis and Billy Bob Thornton race to earn the title of ""World's Fastest Mo…
During Mailbag, Gerard performs a Broadway-style number about the possibility of him getting fired. Also, Heather Graha…
Dave plugs the new CD ""Live on Letterman,"" then goes door-to-door offering to rake leaves.
It's another ""Quarterback Challenge"" as Pittsburgh Steelers field general Kordell Stewart and Dave aim footballs at a …
Dave (supposedly) calls the Butterball Turkey Handling Hotline, while two mailmen (Leonard and Gerard) present a U.S. Po…
Tony Mendez interrupts Dave, pointing out that he's missing a cue card. It turns out it was with Tony Randall all along…
Dave shows a (bogus) ad for a Clinton phone sex hotline, while Kirstie Alley plugs ""Veronica's Closet.""
Paul leaves the show to hosts his own spinoff chatfest; comedian Bill Irwin; the cast of ""Stomp"" performs.
Dave brings in cab driver Carlos Andrede, who becomes the master of ceremonies in the hastily-produced ""Carlos Andrede …
A high school marching band from Memphis storms through the audience after ""Know Your Current Events.""
It's time for another call to Dave's mom to play ""Guess the Pies""; tonight, she's baked coconut butterscotch pecan pie…
During Mailbag, Dave bags groceries. Also, in spoof of those high-related FOX specials, Dave and Paul reveal one of the…
Grover Washington, Jr. sits in; Dave shows a Sing and Snore Ernie that he bought yesterday, and it's head tragically com…
The outside cam reveals Buddy (Bill Clinton's dog) trying to get inside Hooters. Also, Nathan Lane sings a brief song a…
During Mailbag, Dave and Paul give birth to septuplets. Also, child actor Alex D. Linz plugs ""Home Alone 3.""
Dave and Tony go to Giants Stadium so Tony can be a kicker, with a little help from Giants coach Jim Fassel, plus kicker…
A plastic Statue of Liberty, a giant meatball, and a pile of bagels are placed on top of the Late Show Christmas Tree. …
Dave annoys Paul with his impersonation of John Wayne speaking French: ""Bonjour, mon ami.""
Dave shows a (bogus) clip of him as a 50's-era child actor, while Biff receives Foster's Lager ® from an Australian audi…
""James Bond"" (Tom Manino) comes up from the audience at Dave's insistance. Later in the show, Pierce Bronson and his …
In honor of the week's top-grossing film, Titanic, the stage floods with water. Also, Rupert introduces ""Rudolph, the …
It's ""Holiday Tradition Night"" on the Late Show: Another Darlene Love/Bette Sussman performance of ""Christmas (Baby P…
During Mailbag, ""The Biff Henderson Celebrity Telephone Interview"" interrogates a man claiming to be Dick Clark. Late…
David Sanborn sits in; Ms. Markey's kindergarten kids in Bowie, MD each write an essay titled ""If I Could Have One Wish…
Dave talks about his plans for New Year's.
Like he does every year, Dave regales us with another one of his far-fetched New Year's stories. After Leon Pendarvis b…
Leon's still here; a customer from Joe G's stars in the quickie movie ""Titanic: Death Boat ‘98""; the outside-cam rev…
Recently deposed ""Weekend Update"" anchorman Norm MacDonald vents his anger to Dave; daredevil dance group Streb perfor…
Marc Anthony and the Broadway cast members perform a song from Paul Simon's new musical ""The Capeman.""
CBS Mailbag: Chris Schmitt of Ottawa, Kansas asks why Biff has a scowl on his face. Biff comes onstage as a lobster is h…
Mick Fleetwood sits in, and later he plays drums for tonight's musical guests, fellow Fleetwood Mac members Stevie Nicks…
Mick Fleetwood sits in again, now joined by pianist Allen Toussaint. Also, tonight's ""May We See Your Photos, Please?"…
""Dave Sucks"" is spray-painted onto the World Trade Center, while ""The Masked Magician"" (Pat Farmer) performs a dange…
Biff has hot towels for the audience, while the Spice Girls perform ""Stop.""
Mailbag: Biff stars in the Swedish sitcom knockoff ""Mjørk and Minde."" Also, famed session keyboardist Chuck Leavell s…
Dave finds three girls in the audience that have never slept with President Clinton; Bob Borden covers the Super Bowl, s…
Dave brings out his top intern Duane, who might be a Chippendale dancer on the side. Also, Dave complains about Late Sh…
John Popper sits in; Dave does the first of his many all-Clinton monologues.
Ruth Brown sits in, while Dave makes crepes with child cooking prodigy Justin Miller.
Paul performs a song promoting Tom Selleck's appearance next week, while Dave and Merrill Markoe pretend to flirt.
Throughout the week, guitarist Mike Campbell fills in for Felicia, who has the flu; Dave mentions that yesterday was the…
Anton introduced as Prince Randusi of Senegal; Mike Campbell is still here; ten interns present the Top Ten; John Goodma…
Dan Aykroyd promotes Blues Brothers 2000, which, might I add, co-stars Paul Shaffer. Also, Duncan Sheik performs ""Ever…
Dave chats Pam Amba and ""Honeymoon,"" the pig that saved her life.
It's the opening of the Winter Olympics, so Dave announces miniature Ski-Jumping Dogs in the backdrop. Also, live via sa…
Throughout the night, ski-jumping dogs perform in the backdrop; Felicia returns; Dorothy Letterman makes her first repor…
Remote: Dave goes door-to-door in New Jersey again, this time to ask about the Winter Olympics. Also, to promote their …
Jonny ""Big Air"" Moseley, Gold-medal winner for Mogul Skiing, shows off the large pieces of whitebread being served to …
While playing ""Know Your Current Events,"" a soon-to-be unemployed stewardess for United Airlines tells Dave, ""Passeng…
Live via satellite, it's Dave's mom at the Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, where she introduces a skiing monkey. She …
Live via satellite in Nagano, Japan: Dorothy's feeling under the weather, Biff and his wife Carolyn chat with Winter Oly…
Mike Myers chats with (live via satellite) his mother, while Dorothy interrogates Picabo Street.
Regis, Paul, Mujibur and Sirajul help Dave learn how to skate a la Kristi Yamiguchi, while Dave and Jerry Foley observe …
Almost halfway into the show, Dave suddenly leaves and gets into a cab that drives to Mexico, then San Francisco. Dave t…
In ""Day in New York City with Olympic Judges,"" the one female judge gives Dave's performance in bed a 2.8; during Stup…
Paul Newman drops by to annoy Dave; outtakes from last week's ""Olympic Hopefuls"" piece are shown; Dave persuades a les…
Dave points out that Rob Burnett made a cameo on last night's episode of Cosby; the editors of the Sports Illustrated Sw…
David ""Fathead"" Newman sits in on sax; Bob Borden reports from the Grammys; Dave shows an ad for ""Saddam's Beret Baza…
As usual, Dave cheats in his annual competition with the World Grocery Bagging Champion. This years' sucker: Frank Urban…
In the latest ""Kid Scientists"" segment, Lee Marek and his prodigies demonstrate the concept of heat. Also, Richie Sam…
Biff's latest celebrity interview involves a fat, bald guy claiming to be Leonardo DiCaprio.
Gerard hosts ""The Making of the Top Ten,"" a short documentary that reveals more about the writers' animosity towards D…
Mailbag: Dave and his bodyguard (Bill DeLace) have a falling out. Also, Dave chats with 12-year-old inventor/entreprene…
Dave wears glasses for the duration of the show (a sign of things to come); Sean Pelton fills in for Anton, whom Dave du…
It looks at first like the studio is being filled with green beer, but it turns out that one of the camera lenses have b…
Dave shows a (bogus) ad for British Airways that is bursting with disclaimers; Laurie Diamond milks a cow backstage; ano…
Biff hangs with the New York Yankees during Spring Training, while everybody in the audience gets free tickets to fly on…
Paul is introduced as ""Ramone Conde""; Dave introduces Mishi, the world record holder for smallest man alive, and later…
Paul is introduced as Al Roker; throughout the night, Pat Farmer throws basketballs from the roof and into a bathtub on …
Biff reports on Yankees Spring Training, where he follows/stalks Paul O'Neill. Also, Steve Miller performs ""Fly Like A…
Paul is introduced as Cubby O'Brien; Heather Graham meets The Guy on Fire; Alec Baldwin helps Heather in a weird April F…
Bruce Willis is live via satellite in Idaho from the set of his upcoming film ""Breakfast of Champions."" All night long…
Tom Hanks interrupts the monologue because he and Dave are dressed alike; throughout the night, spelling bee champ Edmun…
Dave appears in student films as a side income, while Bob Borden runs throughout the city searching for Leonardo DiCapri…
Clint Black sits in; Dave comments on the hot new drug Viagra, then shows a bogus ad for The Teletubbies.
Throughout the night, Bob Borden tries to set off car alarms directly outside the theater; Dave announces that The Guy o…
After mentioning a minor disagreement from earlier today, Dave announces his ""blood feud"" with director Jerry Foley; M…
During CBS Mailbag, a viewer asks if Dave has any plans to air his show from the space shuttle. Somehow as a response, …
Dave announces the birth of Jerry Foley's son; after showing footage from last year of Rob Burnett unwittingly scaring h…
The Guy Not on Fire announces that he is now available for commercials and endorsements, and later in the show he is see…
The Guy Not on Fire appears in his first paid ad (for Elite Computers); a chat with Jason Alexander is interrupted by an…
""Know Your Current Events"" is interrupted so that The Man Not on Fire can pitch the Biore® self-heating mask. Later i…
Amongst the festivities of ""Chicago Night"": Jerry Springer's bouncers stand on opposite sides of the stage; The Man N…
Dave persuades an audience member named Gary to shave off his beard; The man who was on fire, then wasn't and is now on …
Willie ""Blue Moon"" Watts sits in on pedal guitar; Dave announces that there have been some technical difficulties they…
The latest roll call suggests that The Guy on Fire has officially sold out when he runs across the stage (in flames, of …
A monkey assumes power in the control room, while the Top Ten is interrupted by Antoine's Po' Boys and Deli spokesperson…
Tonight's ""Stupid Human Tricks"": Richard Anthony of Ontario reaches back over his shoulder and gives himself a wedgie;…
Maynard Ferguson sits in again; Paul runs the Kentucky Derby; Dave shows a microphone plaque he got from the staff.
The cast of the faux musical ""Homecoming"" performs a show-stopping number. Also, Trisha Yearwood performs ""Never Let …
Biff tries out tobacco juice spin art; Dave shows a clip from last night's show in which he mixed up ""Viagra"" with ""N…
Dave promotes his new talk show summer camp, while Green Day performs ""King for a Day.""
Biff goes to Texas to learn to be a cowboy, and to make tonight's audience (residents of Houston) feel more at home, Lyl…
Dave visits a group of sailors on the audience, and one of them does a push-up onstage; Dave shows the audience today's …
Dave shows another bogus ""Family Circus"" cartoon; Paul is discovered cheering on Hanson with a small army of teenybopp…
Dave notices the standby audience really has nothing to do, so makes them do a jigsaw puzzle. When they finish it at t…
Dave gripes about the eight-minute late start for the show tonight due to golf coverage. Rapidly becoming despondent, h…
Continuing a sweeps period trend of having the audience represent a different city, Dave greets 700+ residents of New Or…
The outside cam peers through the window of Dave's office to show the world a very hideous billboard promoting the sitco…
The outside cam returns to the Friends ad that Matthew Perry wrecked last night, and Dave explains why he shouldn't be s…
Biff reports from a Bulls-Pacers playoff game; teen actress Scarlett Johansson promotes The Horse Whisperer; Rob Burnett…
A hairstylist that appeared in tonight's ""Know Your Current Events"" cuts Dave's hair for twenty bucks. He later give…
A parody of VH-1's ""Behind the Music"" features Paul Shaffer's rise and fall and rise again, with testimonials from Kri…
Dave updates his map of the various locales in which he has received speeding tickets; Dave mentions that the son of Dav…
All night long, animals lick the camera lens. Included are a pot-bellied pig, lemur, a skunk, a miniature horse, and a g…
Sarah Jessica Parker promotes her new HBO comedy Sex and the City, while ""Paul Shaffer's Chair of Mystery"" reveals the…
After being bumped the last two nights, Late Show intern Jeremy Weiner finally gets his moment in the sun in ""Dave Hang…
Live via satellite at the Beverly Hills Hotel in sunny Southern California, Walter Matthau gets a haircut. Also, Lusciou…
Tonight's remote: Delivery guys deliver stuff to Dave's ""apartment"" in Flushing Meadows; items include a tree, a clown…
Dave tries to call Merv Griffin, but ends up chatting with his clueless receptionist; Dave shows a subpoena caddy he cla…
A Starbucks is opened inside the band section, while actor-comedian Dane Cook makes his television stand-up debut.
Dave obsesses over some new words in the Merriam Webster Dictionary, and then reads definitions from an advance copy to …
Live from the Beverly Hills Hilton, Casey Kasem arm wrestles bellhops; Dave and Tony look for the best steak restaurant …
The outside cam reveals the long line of people waiting with anticipation to see the next ""Charts and Graphs"" segment …
An audience member walks out in disgust when Dave reminds everyone that the next ""Charts & Graphs"" segment in not for …
Dave promotes the overhauled Late Show site, while Tony Randall brags about having a baby (his second) at age 78 with hi…
Overexcited soccer commentator Andres Cantor presents the Top Ten; Sean Lennon performs ""Home.""
The Piedmont Bird Callers, once a favored act on Johnny Carson's show, make their third-ever appearance on Letterman. A…
Al Norwood stirs Dave's coffee with the boom mike; Biff attempts to play the sax; Dave shows a clip of his supposed came…
Tony gives Dave the finger, while up-and-coming singer/actress Jennifer Lopez promotes Out of Sight.
Inspired by watching an episode of Wall Street Week where the panelists sit at a coffee table, Dave asks Biff to ""host"…
Mailbag: Paul goes to desperate measures in order to get a raise, while Mujibur and Sirajul go on a wild goose chase for…
Throughout the night, Pat and Kenny throw stuff off the roof, including two 5-gallon water jugs, a pinball machine, twen…
After several weeks of hype, hoopla, and anticipation, Dave finally does a ""Charts and Graphs"" segment; Dave claims th…
Thinking that it's robbing him of half of his audience, Dave shows phony clips of the X-Games competition being aired on…
In honor of Independence Day, Biff does a report from Colonial Williamsburg; Ben Stiller promotes There's Something Abou…
During Mailbag, various staffers show the audience their baby pictures; Dave introduces a musical comedy troupe called "…
Dave points out an audience member that resembles Rupert; Dave gives a little league baseball team a pep talk; Cherry Po…
Soul singer Chuck Jackson sits in; Dave shows the audience what a laugh track looks like; the audience is forced to sit …
Some guy in a kimono sits in with the band; in honor of Antonio Banderas' new movie, Rob doodles on a legal pad to show …
Know Your Current Events: the husband of one of tonight's contestants volunteers to be put to sleep by hypnotist Dr. Nei…
The ""Top Ten Cool Ways the Government Could Spend $63 Billion"" is followed by an investigation by WCBS reporter David …
Live out on the street, we see the traffic ""congestion"" created by New York hosting the Goodwill Games; Dave changes h…
In the latest roll call, Dave signs ""Zorro"" (Anton), an audience member with an enormous cold sore, and ""Lynette the …
Biff stands on the sidewalk in 95 degree heat as he tries to determine once again whether a Popsicle® or a Fudgesicle® w…
Biff visits Branson, Missouri, while Marilu Henner unsuccessfully tries to persuade Dave into doing some calisthenics.
A new feature debuts, as Dave announces #3 on the Top Ten List at the start of the show; Mujibur and Sirajul lose their …
Dave has a lengthy discourse on an article he read in Martha Stewart Living; ""Late Show Meteorologist"" Skip Hopson rep…
A softball game between Late Show staffers and the cast of Miss Saigon is rigged by Dave; Anton goes into ""Buddy Rich, …
Dave shows a personal ad from the Washington Post that looks like it was written by President Clinton; Alan fantasizes a…
Dave chats with Jennifer Ringley, the Seattle-based college student best known for operating the voyeuristic website Jen…
Dave points out an audience member who looks like Kenny Rogers; during ""Late Show en espanol,"" Tony walks out in a sui…
During a segment in which he shows real and doctored Clinton and Gore news articles, Dave announces that his pants are t…
Paul and Anton Fig participate in a game called ""Average Television Viewer vs. Late Show Television Viewer.""
During the annual ""New for Summer"" segment, Mujibur and Sirajul are declared ""Late Show Prom King and Queen."" Later…
Dave feels highly suspect of the audience's intelligence during ""Know Your Current Events""; John Popper sits in with t…
John Popper is still sitting in with the band, while Doris Roberts promotes ""Everybody Loves Raymond.""
Biff goes outside to annoy people with a bullhorn. Later, Dave meets David Roth, a noted coin magician.
Throughout the show, stockbrokers jump out of a fifth-story window.
""Riverdance"" performs live via telephone from Cincinnati. Later, Liz Phair promotes her new album, ""WhiteChocolateSp…
Paul and somebody named ""Mary Beth"" host a spoof of ""Regis & Kathie Lee"" with Inky Mendez playing Gelman. Regis sud…
Wesley Snipes promotes the movie ""Spawn.""
Cast
