Late Show UK

David Letterman celebrates his 30th anniversary in late night tomorrow (1st February).

Letterman started his late night talk show career at NBC on the 1st February 1982 hosting Late Night With David Letterman which aired after The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.

He then left NBC when he didn’t get The Tonight Show hosting job (which of course as we all know went to Jay Leno).

His CBS talk show the Late Show With David Letterman was brought on air on the 30th August 1993 and has run alongside NBC rival show The Tonight Show With Jay Leno ever since (apart from the short stint where Conan O’Brien took over The Tonight Show from Jay).

NY Daily News reports “statisticians at CBS say that by Wednesday, Letterman will have hosted 5,443 shows and welcomed 17,904 guests in three decades”.

To mark the special event friend of the show (and radio broadcaster) Howard Stern will be a guest on the Late Show tomorrow night. This will mark Howard’s 41st appearance on a Letterman show (his 21st appearance on CBS’s Late Show).

Another friend of the show Bill Murray will stop by on tonight’s show (31st January).

NY Daily News – “Howard Stern joins David Letterman as he marks 30th year in late-night TV land”

David Letterman looks set to renew his deal at CBS to keep him with the network through 2014. If this new CBS deal were to go through he would surpass his idol Johnny Carson’s 30-year run on late night TV.

The New York Times reports “according to executives who have been involved in discussions with Mr. Letterman’s production company, Worldwide Pants, a deal to remain on the air until 2014 is imminent. The executives said that CBS had authorized the company to make new agreements with the key members of Mr. Letterman’s staff, his producers and writers”.

It was thought Letterman would step down from the Late Show when his current contract runs out in August this year, but he’s made indications to people on the show that he wants to stay hosting the programme for a while longer.

Craig Ferguson, who hosts the Late Late Show every night following the Late Show, is also thought to be staying with CBS. The Drum says “The Scottish Daily Mail reports that Ferguson, who already earns more than £8million a year, could be involved in a ‘double the money’ multi-million pound deal”.

Ferguson would have to be happy staying in the 12.35am timeslot until 2014 though if he decides to stay at CBS hosting the Late Late Show. Also, there’s the possibility that Letterman changes his mind and leaves in August 2012 after all.

The New York Times reports Craig “does have a clause in his contract that would guarantee him the 11:35 show if Mr. Letterman chose to step down”.

The New York Times – “Deal Would Lead Letterman to a Late-Night Milestone”

The Late Show’s big Christmas spectacular aired on the 23rd December. As always it was packed full of the usual Christmas fare.

Jay Thomas told his Lone Ranger story that we never grow tired of – one of the best anecdotes ever told. This year the story-telling had a bit of a twist with the addition of a video segment at the end of it featuring Dave as the Lone Ranger himself!

Dave and Jay threw footballs at the meatball & pizza on top of the Late Show Christmas tree for the annual Quarterback Challenge.

Darlene Love closed the show with another fantastic rendition of “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)”.

The annual messages from the US troops serving overseas were also a part of the show going into the commercial breaks.

As an added bonus former Frasier actor David Hyde Pierce stopped by to talk about his new theatre show on Broadway.

The only thing missing was Paul Shaffer’s Cher impression, but just look on YouTube and enjoy one from a previous year if you feel inclined.

On a sadder note, it was cameraman Dave Dorsett’s final Late Show as he was retiring after a long career with CBS. He’s been seen in many on-air segments over the years usually involving something happening with the camera (i.e. falling asleep when Dave is talking and having the camera dip down low, or saying he thought it was just a rehearsal and walking out of the theatre). I always loved these little segments with Dave Dorsett and he’ll be missed on the Late Show.

The Late Show Christmas show is always a highlight of the festive season for me. Watch some of the highlights below:

The big Christmas edition of the Late Show airs on Friday.

The usual traditions are expected, with Jay Thomas lined up for the annual Late Show Holiday Quarterback Challenge with Dave, and Darlene Love set to perform another stunning rendition of “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” which gets better every year.

The Late Show Christmas edition is always a festive treat!

23/12/2011 update: David Hyde Pierce has also now been confirmed as a guest for the big Christmas show.

Ratings for the Late Show With David Letterman and the Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson are topping the NBC late night talk show competition, according to the latest stats released by Nielsen.

TV By The Numbers reports the Late Show “posted its largest audience since the week ending April 8, 2011, and its best adults 18-49 rating since the week ending Feb. 4, 2011, according to Nielsen live plus same day ratings for the week ending Nov. 18, 2011″.

They also say the Late Show “delivered 3.580m viewers, up +9% in viewers (from 3.30m), compared to the same week last year… up +18% in adults 25-54 (1.3/05 from 1.1/05) and +25% in adults 18-49 (1.0/04 from 0.8/03), compared to the same week last year”.

The Late Late Show “delivered a 1.3/04 in households with 1.71m viewers, up +3% in viewers (from 1.67m) compared to the same week last year… up +17% in adults 25-54 (0.7/04 from 0.6/04), and +20% in adults 18-49 (0.6/03 from 0.5/03), compared to the same week last year”.

TV By The Numbers – “‘Late Show with David Letterman’ delivers…”

Regis Philbin dropped by the Late Show on Thursday following David Letterman’s visit to Live With Regis & Kelly this week.

It was Regis’s final week of Live With Regis & Kelly shows this week and Dave let him go out in style – surprising him with a present of a Vespa scooter. However Regis did fall off it as he drove off into the sunset – it could only happen to Regis!

Regis’s little mishap was even featured in the London Evening Standard newspaper. Click here to read all about it.

Late Show favourite Regis Philbin hosts his final episode of Live With Regis And Kelly on Friday 18th November.

He’ll appear on the Late Show With David Letterman on the 17th November, and Dave will return the favour and appear on Live With Regis And Kelly on the 16th November.

Live With Regis And Kelly is usually the only other programme you see Dave on other than his own, so it’s a rare treat!