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 6 Episodes
During a segment comparing President Clinton's vacation to Dave's, a stockbroker comes in for a hug.
Dave points out that the show has undergone budget cuts, which might explain the tiny cue cards Tony's holding. Later, …
Dave makes a lenghty rant about ""The Late Shift"" after an audience member asks him for an autograph; Martin Short sing…
Alan Kalter comments on home run record that is being chased by Mark McGwire; Dave announces that CBS ""just don't care …
During CBS Mailbag, Dave and the band play ""Let's Screw with Paul Shaffer's Mind.""
Junior Brown sits in with the band, while Biff reports from Busch Stadium in St. Louis.
Biff makes another report from Busch Stadium, while Dave flirts with Andie MacDowell.
Dave goes on a tirade about the CBS watermark on the lower right hand side of the screen. Later, Dave chats with the gu…
Dave stuggles to grow a beard; Charles Grodin promotes his talk show; Dave chats with the former Washington Senators pit…
During CBS Mailbag, Paul, Tony, Biff and Sid announce that they're going to tour the country as a CSNY-type guitar band.
Dave congratulates the staff on the big Emmy win the previous night, then grills Rob Burnett for not kissing his wife ju…
Dave shows a (bogus) Mastercard ad starring Ken Starr; Biff goes to Chicago for another Home Run Report; Jackie Chan doe…
Biff brings in scissors for a tie trim; Calvert impersonates Hank Williams, Jr.; Bill Cosby plays sax under the alias ""…
Dave apologizes for his affair with Angela Lansbury, while Biff apologizes for his affair with Dave's wife. Shortly aft…
Dave makes another rant pertaining to the CBS Watermark; kid Geography whiz Jonathan Estrada helps out during CBS Mailba…
Dave talks about a Steak House Onion Machine, while Michael J. Fox promotes his sitcom ""Spin City.""
Dave shows a (bogus) ad for ESPN2's ""Xtreme Presidental Perjury,"" while J.Lo promotes ""Antz.""
A gag promo for the TV series ""Biffy, The Umpire Layer"" is declared the worst joke ever seen on the show; an ""Audienc…
Dave makes fun of Inky's summer camp outfit. Later, Howard Stern plays with his gut and strips to his underwear in orde…
A fawn walks onstage during CBS Mailbag; comedian Jon Stewart promotes ""The Daily Show.""
Musical guests Elvis Costello and Burt Bacharach perform ""I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself."" Also, ""newly ele…
Dave lets Inky go on a ""gum break;"" George Clarke is introduced as operator of the Late Show hedge fund; Biff demands …
Warren fills in for Paul (out for Yom Kippur); Kelsey Grammer brings out his dog during his interview.
Dennis, a baseball-bunting pig, waits throughout the show to shag some balls on 53rd Street. He ends up getting bumped …
During CBS Mailbag, Alan promotes ""Alan Kalter's Music To Make Love By,"" which includes two TV theme songs and a doorb…
Dave experiments with how he can give the finger without being censored; Kelly Preston promotes ""Holy Man.""
Tony Mendez does a ""card trick""; Tito Puente contributes drumrolls to the Top Ten list; Dave shows a (bogus) new, impr…
A new segment called ""This Day in Late Show History"" reveals that October 7 was a Saturday in 1994. Biff corrects Dav…
Dave takes a look at Tony's hands, which have marker ink all over them. Later, George Miller comments on the Clinton/Le…
During CBS Mailbag, Tony bares his ass again, and The Foul-Mouthed Scenic Designer (Kathleen Ankers) lives up to her tit…
The calvacade of mediocre crops continues as ""Joe Whitworth"" from Oregon walks onstage with a ""gigantic"" pumpkin; Bi…
It's Dave's 3000th show in late night, so he celebrates by bringing Charles Grodin onstage to break the monotony of chat…
Dave and George Clarke go to Yankee Stadium, where the building engineer hits a home run.
Biff participates in more interviews in part two of his World Series report, while Danny Glover plugs ""Lethal Weapon 4.…
Tony's eye itches, and Dave gives him a hard time for potentially screwing up the cue cards; during CBS Mailbag, Dave in…
Four shirtless guys (spelling ""YANKS"") bring out the Top Ten; Danny DeVito tries to sing.
Dave cons a Joe G's customer into appearing in a bogus campaign ad; Eddie Izzard does stand-up.
Biff shows outtakes from last week's World Series reports, while director Todd Solondz promotes ""Happiness.""
Dave makes several jokes at the expense of septuagenarian spaceman John Glenn; Holly Hunter plugs Living Out Loud.
Dave announces the names of staff members who will run in the New York City Marathon; Biff gives out candy to the audien…
New York Marathon winner John Kagwe runs through during the monologue, and is later followed by women's winner Franca Fa…
Dave gives bogus election results; the outside cam goes to Joe G's for another round of ""Please Stop Calling Me Debbie"…
Dave shows a clip of new Minnesota governor Jesse ""The Body"" Ventura in the movie ""The Running Man""; Senator Chuck S…
Tony gets scolded for chewing gum; shortly after appearing on ""Know Your Current Events,"" an audience member starts si…
Dave chats with Evan Metropoulos, the 17-year-old CEO of the Bumble Bee Tuna Corp.
Dave mentions that Meryl Streep, tonight's scheduled guest and star of the movie ""One True Thing,"" had to cancel at th…
Tom Wolfe promotes his first novel in 11 years, ""The Man In Full.""
Dave accuses Tony Mendez of goosing someone with a cue card; Roma Downey and Kenneth Branagh meet for the first time; Pa…
Jayson Williams of the New Jersey Nets operates one of the cameras; a ""Kid Scientist"" from Naperville, Illinois cracks…
Dave once again takes away Tony's gum, while Paul tries to flirt with Monica Lewinsky and Linda Tripp.
Drew Barrymore plugs ""Home Fries,"" while Celine Dion and Bryan Adams perform a duet.
Todd Rundgren sits in, while Drew Barrymore walks onstage so that she can show what her new dog looks like.
James Cotton sits in; Dave discusses Dr. Kevorkian and the safest handling of a Thanksgiving turkey; the 5th anniversary…
As he does almost every Thankgiving, Kreskin plays for pride in a little game called ""White Meat / Dark Meat."" Tonigh…
Jayson Williams of the Nets comments on the NBA lockout, then drops phony turkeys out the 4th floor window. Later, Gwyn…
Dave warns pedestrians (via his PA system) that the turkey is bad; a guy in the balcony talks to Dave about turning flip…
Dave fusses over his hair, then messes around with it. Later, Salma Hayek plugs ""Dogma.""
It's ""Stewart Night,"" as all the guests share the same last name despite not being related. French Stewart chats with…
Live from Times Square, it's ""Dick Clark's Rockin' December 9 Countdown."" At the stroke of midnight, Greg Kinnear com…
Gerard plays an openly gay man in ""Who Asked For It?""; The Brooklyn Philharmonic plays the ""William Tell Overture.""
Dave compares an electrician that played ""KYCE"" to John Elway. Also, Meg Ryan plugs ""You've Got Mail.""
Tom Brokaw drops by sporting a turtleneck sweater in lieu of his usual two-piece suit, and pretty soon Biff is handing o…
Dave explains the impeachment process; Robin Williams hosts the PBS special ""The Shaffer Campaign: A Look Back,"" which…
In lieu of a giant meatball, a pastrami sandwich is placed on top of the Late Show Christmas Tree; Kreskin guesses if To…
While Paul and the Orchestra perform ""Songs for Pedestrians,"" Dave trims his tie. Also, a ""Welcome Communists"" bann…
Live from sunny Los Angeles, it's ""Dick Clark's Rockin' Countdown to December 18,"" followed by ""Casey Kasem's Countdo…
During Mailbag, Alan gives the audience an unusual egg nog recipe, while Dave answers the question, ""Where did Hanukkah…
The latest roll call mentions ""Gus, who guy who owns property onstage"" and ""Tony Randall as Ricky, the stagehand who …
Dave refunds $50 to an audience lady with a Late Show sweatshirt; a Joe G's customer appears in the hastily-produced fil…
Soon-to-be-traded Yankees pitcher David Wells sits in the audience; the first of tonight's two Top Ten Lists is interrup…
Dave talks about the recent successes of the New York Jets, so Harold Larkin goes outside to alter the ""Jets Suck"" gra…
Bisbee, North Dakota is investigated in the latest edition of ""Biff Henderson's America.""
Throughout the night, Chicago announcer ""Ray Clay"" fills in for Alan, making inane announcements and usurping the Top …
Kamarr the Discount Magician makes one last appearance.
Jon Voight promotes two films, ""Enemy of the State"" and ""Varsity Blues.""
Biff pretends to stand in Times Square again, this time reporting about the weather. Also, Sarah Jessica Parker promotes…
Biff just can't get enough of the green screen in the hallway; tonight's participant in ""Please Stop Calling Me Monty""…
It's time for ""How Many Guys in Mouse Suits Can Fit into a Dunkin' Donuts?"" We never find out the exact number, thoug…
Dave announces the new name of the show will be ""David Letterman's Countdown to the Millennium."" Also, the show profi…
""David Letterman's Countdown to the Millennium,"" Day 2: Paul declares that he will mention a millennium-related fun fa…
Sitting in with the CBS Orchestra tonight: the shirtless guy who was the ""T"" in ""Jets"" at last night's game. Also, …
During ""Small Town News,"" Dave sports a paper mustache.
Tonight's ""Paul Shaffer Millennium Prediction"": health spas will not charge deposits. Upon hearing this, Dave wishes …
William Baldwin promotes ""Virus,"" while Biff rescues Dave's coffee mug after it falls over.
Mailbag: Tony mentions he's taken up acting, then shows two remarkably similar clips from Patch Adams and Shakespeare In…
Dave says a focus group doesn't like his ""Countdown to the Millennium"" segment, so Paul gives one last fact: ""Danny A…
Dave and Paul discuss William Wood Lee Shaffer's diapers. Later, Paul interrupts the ""Shark Week"" segment with anothe…
Biff shows up with a tie for a ""Know Your Current Events"" contestant; Bill Murray promotes Rushmore and serenades Dave…
Dave announces he and Paul are trying to establish a video nexus; during Mailibag, Anton falls down an elevator shaft, w…
It's the seventeenth anniversary of Dave's debut in late night, and what is he going to do to celebrate the milestone? …
Dave mentions that through the wonders of science, Paul Shaffer had another baby over the weekend, and then introduces B…
Dave and Paul spend ten minutes discussing the new and improved ""Late Show"" home site; Dave chats with ""John Elway"" …
Dave reads about Bucknell University for a ""KYCE"" participant; Laetitia Casta is interviewed twice.
Nile Rogers fills in for both Felicia and Will Lee, who are both sick; Martha Stewart has some fun with a batch of pinec…
""Biff Henderson's America"" makes a quick stop in Baker, Nevada. Also, Dave chats with the Reverend and Mrs. John Cobb…
Dave chats with (live via satellite) Al at Prestige Luggage Company in Dallas. Dave is so fascinated by him that the se…
Dave rants about the internet, while Bob Borden literally searches for a valentine.
Orlando Antigua of the Harlem Globetrotters helps out during ""Know Your Current Events,"" while Sandra Bullock promotes…
Dave discusses signature sign-offs and announces his new one will be ""Keep a light coat of oil on it""; during Mailbag,…
Tonight marks the debut of ""Alan Kalter's Secret Word."" Tonight's utterance: ""gristle."" Also, racing star Jeff Gor…
Lou Soloff of Blood, Sweat and Tears sits in with the horn section; Alan's secret word is ""magnesium""; Dave chats with…
The secret word is ""mongoose""; ten West Point cadet presents the Top Ten; Julian Lennon performs The Beatles' ""Don't …
The secret word is ""hydraulic""; Dave gives a photographer in the audience a Polaroid to shoot pictures during the show…
The secret word is ""buttress""; during Mailbag, Dave and Linda Tripp appear on $25,000 Pyramid; ten hot dog vendors pre…
Dave takes five minutes to comment on the sudden death of Gene Siskel, then shows a clip from his last appearance on the…
Alan's secret word is ""bobcat,"" and the jackpot now stands at ""seven hundred damn dollars!"" Also, Kreskin participa…
The secret word is ""barnacle;"" Dave answers a phone call from Sweden; in a segment about the hype surrounding Star War…
The secret word is ""corpuscular."" Meanwhile, Dave chats with Homer Hickam, the NASA shuttle instructor whose life insp…
The secret word is ""combustible,"" and the stakes have been raised to an even thousand; during Mailbag, Harold Larkin s…
The secret word is ""saluki""; live via satellite, the employees of the Unclaimed Baggage Center in Scottsboro, Alabama …
Dave rants about tonight's Barbara Walters/Monica Lewinsky interview; the secret word is ""luggage,"" with the grand pri…
The secret word is ""viscous,"" while George Miller rants about the media.
The secret word is ""melancholia,"" while ""Oprah"" (Pat Farmer) flirts with ""John Travolta"" (Kenny Sheehan).
The secret word is ""lederhosen""; the second-ever ""Alan Kalter's Where Are They Now?"" reveals that Alan Hale, Jr. has…
The secret word is ""Ionosphere,"" with the prize now standing at ""$1700 damn dollars!"" Meanwhile, Gaines awkwardly i…
The secret word is ""shipjack""; Dave shows a meat identification kit, complete with photographs of each form of meat; C…
The secret word is ""bilious,"" which is coincidental because Dave feels under the weather. Also, Elton John and Leann …
Dave bids farewell to Tom Snyder (his last show aired that night), then says get well to Johnny Carson (who had major su…
Dave hollers about 60 Minutes, then claims that somebody won the Secret Word ""contest"" on Friday; tonight's Secret Wor…
The opening sequence is altered; the secret word is ""taconite""; Dave chats with Sister Carol Anne Corley, a nun who's …
The secret word is ""sociopathic,"" while Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn promote the upcoming remake of The Out-of-Towners…
The secret word is ""nemonurwingy,"" but Dave accuses Alan of making it up (which he did), so he changes it to ""balloon…
Charlie Daniels sits in on fiddle; the secret word is ""mahagony""; comedian/commentator Greg Fitzsimmons remarks on dom…
The secret word is ""flange""; Dave holds up a certificate that makes Late Show the ""Official Late Night Talk Show of …
The secret word is ""millipede""; right after the second-ever edition of ""Know Your Cuts of Meat,"" Dave calls one of t…
Throughout the night, local teens with learner's permits parallel park on 53rd Street. At the end of the show, Dave att…
The secret word is ""ischemia,"" while SNL star Molly Shannon promotes Never Been Kissed.
Paul makes his second ""Countdown to the Millennium"" prediction since the designation: ""Everybody's going to take out …
Paul announces celebrities will come by all evening to wish Dave a happy birthday, and for some strange reason Martha St…
The secret word is ""hegemony,"" and Dave doubles the current jackpot from $1100 to $2200; Kathie Lee Gifford sings Dave…
The secret word is ""quadricentennial,"" and after doubling the stakes on last night's show, Dave ""raises"" them to an …
Dave mentions the sudden and untimely death of Bill Wendell; the secret word is ""Melon""; with no clip available, Biff …
A technical difficulty turns Dave's face and tie blue during the monologue; the secret word is ""tubular""; during Mailb…
Dave discusses the various bars and/or grills that have been next door to the theater, and wishes the best of luck to it…
Dave claims there was a secret word winner last night, then brings out Connecticut housewife ""Marlene DiBenedetto""; th…
The secret word is ""boat""; Paul, Felecia, Will, and Sid perform ""Songs for Pedestrians""; Ted Danson lurks in the bac…
The secret word is ""carrot,"" and Dave introduces another supposed winner (writer and Boston native Jay Johnson); to pr…
In honor of tonight's audience, the backdrop is altered to show the skyline of Miami, Florida; Biff visits a retirement …
Dave claims he's filed a $100 million lawsuit against the surgeon general; Dave pays an attractive audience member $200 …
The secret word is ""incinerate""; Paul Fiore tries to parallel-park outside; Dave chats with a twelve-year-old girl who…
The secret word is ""undershirt""; Dave shows (bogus) footage of Roberto Benigni making an ass of himself at the Country…
Cold opening: Jesse Jackson makes an insincere apology to Dave for his tardiness in last night's show. Also, ""Marlene …
In honor of tonight's travel-weary audience (everybody's from Nashville), Biff hangs out at the Grand Ole Opry while Nas…
The secret word is ""ball""; an audience member is stifled by a barbershop quartet in the latest edition of ""Who Asked …
Thirteen-year-old blues phenomenon Ben Robinson sits in; the secret word is ""stick""; Bob Borden walks onstage to hype …
Dave makes a nonsense rant about Barry Manilow; the secret word is ""winky""; during ""Dave's Record Collection,"" Tony …
Dave bring out the seven supposed winners of last night's secret word contest (including Mike McIntee and the Stangel br…
With tonight's audience being from the City of Brotherly Love, Biff heads to Philly to get in training a la Rocky. For …
The secret word is ""molar,"" while Dave measures Julia Roberts' waist.
Dave calls Aloha Meats in Honolulu to see if they answer the phone by saying ""aloha""; the secret word is ""polymer""; …
The secret word is ""turf""; various members of the staff appear in a series of film promos, including Biff in Eyes Wide…
The secret word is ""Alan""; Dave shows a one dollar bill folded so it would be shaped like a ring, courtesy of a ""Know…
Tonight's audience hails from Boston, Massachusetts. The backdrop, as always, is altered to resemble the Beantown skyli…
Dave goes on a fury as to what constitutes the dinners given as prizes during ""Know Your Current Events""; the secret w…
Dave tries calling Hawaii again; the secret word is ""asparagus""; Kate Capshaw tries to call her vacationing husband (S…
Anton is again introduced as Buddy Rich, Jr.; Paul pays $102,000,000 for a ticket to see the new ""Star Wars"" prequel; …
Jay Johnson wins the secret word ""contest"" again; throughout the night, Lou Rawls sits in the green room; tonight's se…
The secret word is ""bituminous""; Lou Rawls continues to lounge in the green room; during Mailbag, ""Billy Blanks"" (Ge…
Tonight's secret word (""emetic"") is now sponsored by a lawn-watering device called ""Hosie Cow""; Biff stands outside …
The Hosie Cow Secret Word is ""escarpment""; Dave plays a new game at Joe G's where a contestant must start a conversati…
The Hosie Cow Secret Word is ""whippy""; last night's winner ""Barbara Sanchez"" (Jude Brennan) is presented with $400 a…
After appearing in an ad for Hosie Cow, Alan announces that the secret word is ""inflammation."" Also, Tony nominee Bri…
Edgar Winter sits in; the Hosie Cow Secret Word is ""dick""; Heather Graham promotes Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged …
The Hosie Cow Secret Word is ""amputation""; the latest roll call introduces Biff's pint-size clone ""Mini-Biff"" and Ca…
The Hosie Cow Secret Word is ""dick"" again, but it's eventually changed to ""bunny."" Also, Dave has another one of hi…
The Hosie Cow Secret Word is ""pigment,"" while Dave chats (and becomes infatuated) with Brandi Chastain of the US Women…
Al Gore appears on ""The Paul Shaffer Show""; The Hosie Cow Secret Word is ""tourniquet""; Mike Myers promotes Austin Po…
Anton is introduced as Buddy Rich Jr., the ""bastard son"" of the legendary jazz drummer; Hosie Cow makes a cameo in the…
The secret word (""rodeo"") is now sponsored by Larry King, whom according to Alan ""looks like an owl""; ""Rita Buttgas…
The Larry King Secret Word is ""gabardine,"" and is followed by stock footage of four baby owls devouring a rat. Also, …
Jimmy Vaughan sits in; the Larry King Secret Word is ""entropic""; after an unusually aimless edition of ""New for Summe…
The Larry King Secret Word is ""linguine."" Also, to counteract with Hillary Clinton's recent decision to run for the U…
The Larry King Secret Word is ""peptide""; Carlos Santana and Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty perform ""Smooth.""
Tonight's Secret Word (""bird"") is brought to you by David Letterman's Women's World Cup Soccer Team, in honor of his l…
The World Cup Soccer Team Secret Word is ""oozing""; Montana park ranger (and past winner) ""Rita Buttgas"" (Jude Brenna…
The Larry King/Women's Soccer Secret Word is ""peripatetic""; a bird caller from Piedmont, California does a drumroll fo…
The Larry King/Women's Soccer Secret Word is ""highoeyazmuhoodhee""; Calista Flockhart's chat with Dave is interrupted b…
The Larry King/Women's Soccer Secret Word is ""pony""; during Mailbag, Biff, Kenny, and Dave Dorsett brag about their la…
Dave shows footage of a taxi literally crashing the staff cookout out on 53rd Street; with temperatures hovering over 10…
An audience member attempts to button Dave's jacket; the Dan Quayle/Larry King/Women's Soccer Secret Word is ""neoprene"…
Dave replies to a Zagat's survey; the Women's Soccer Secret Word is ""pestilence,"" with the Dan Quayle/Larry King Secre…
The Secret Word is ""prick,"" with the stock footage of the baby owls eating the rat joining an already crowded group of…
Dave points out that Paul is dressed from head to toe in white tonight, including a snazzy top hat; during Mailbag, The …
The Larry King/Dan Quayle Secret Word is ""sphygmomanometer""; Dave briefly comments on the passing of JFK Jr.; Dave Mir…
The Dan Quayle/Larry King Secret Word is ""pie""; Dave finally meets the entire U.S. Women's World Cup champion soccer t…
The Hillary Clinton/Larry King Secret Word is ""mommy""; Dave asks a question to Einstein's Brain (voice of Alan Kalter)…
The Hillary Clinton/Larry King Secret Word is ""meehnkee""; Dave ""performs"" at Woodstock '99, then declares that Limp …
Paul asks what the point of the Secret Word is, and after it's revealed (""throb""), Dave replies with ""I'm tired of be…
Paul complains about the heat at Woodstock '99; Dave brags about Max Pappas and Team Rahal (a sign of things to come); T…
Buckwheat Zydeco (nee Stanley Durrell) sits in on accordion; throughout the night, Shark the border collie chases Frisbe…
Biff helps out pedestrians walking on 53rd Street; Dave asks Paul about project identification; Pete Townshend and Eddie…
""Paul Shaffer's Countdown to the Millennium"" makes its triumphant return to the Late Show, and is now sponsered by Hil…
Dave chats with Tour de France winner and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong; Paul's latest prediction: ""No more lox and b…
It's a very special night as Jim Jeter is about to log his one millionth mile on his 1982 Toyota Starlet. After reachin…
Dave takes the outside cam to Joe G's for another round of ""Stop Calling Me Kitty.""
Dave shows the audience some stuff he bought on his recent vacation in a segment called ""Travel Souvenirs."" Later, ""…
Dave repeatedly shows footage of the Taco Bell chihuahua saying ""funkalicious."" Later, Dave and William H. Macy drink…
During CBS Mailbag, Alan punches Dave. Later, Dave's former ""Starland Vocal Band Hour"" co-star Jeff Altman looks back…
Paul refers to Regis as a bastard, only for the ""Millionaire"" host to retaliate.
Kreskin's knowledge of 70's backup singers is tested in a segment called ""Commodore or Pip?"" Later, Smash Mouth perfo…
Dave announces that a crack in the building next door caused a temporary evacuation of the theater. Later, The Maverick…
Dave takes up an offering for a preacher who played ""Who Your Deer Repellants.""
During CBS Mailbag, Inky Mendez announces his candidacy for the US Senate, while Dave chats with ""Hillary Clinton"" (Ge…
A shirtless Vince DeMentri interviews people on the street, asking them what they think of Hillary Clinton. Later, Kati…
Dave announces that tonight, ""We're going to have good old-fashioned fun"": all night, Richard Egan stands on 53rd St. …
Terence Blanchard sits in with the band, while Olympic diver Kathy Pesek does a demonstration for the audience (via tele…
Dave announces that tonight is the premiere of ""Late Show Who Wants to be a Billionaire?"" Tonight's first question: "…
Dave announces that after 6 years and 1,278 shows on CBS, he now wants to be called ""Daddy""; Alan beats up Regis durin…
Cast
