Late Show UK

On this page we look back at some of the memorable moments and notable episodes from the talk shows. This page was last checked for broken video links in June 2008.

17th September 2001 - The first show back after 9/11 attacks

David Letterman was the first chat show host to return to the airwaves following the attacks. The first show back after 9/11 started with an opening shot of the American flag, which then went to a very quiet Ed Sullivan Theatre. There were no opening titles to this show. Dave started the show from behind his desk - not the usual monologue standing position. Throughout the monologue, and throughout the entire show, Dave was very emotional and the show had a very different feel to it. Dave monologue - “The reason we were attacked, the reason these people are dead, these people are missing and dead. They weren’t doing anything wrong, they were living their lives, they were going to work, they were traveling, they were doing what they normally do. Er as I understand it, and my understanding of this is vague at best, another smaller group of people stole some airplanes and crashed them into buildings. And we’re told that they were zealots fueled by religious fervor - religious fervor. And if you live to be a thousand years old, will that make any sense to you? Will that make any goddamned sense?” Ever since September 2001, the Late Show has been introduced as “From New York - the greatest city in the world” - the opening titles were also changed as they used to feature the World Trade Center. Dan Rather, Regis Philbin and Tori Amos were the guests on this 17th September show. Dan Rather was also very emotional, and he asked Dave to go to a commercial break before he broke down on air. Dave did mention “thank God Regis is here so we have something to make fun of” and there was a dulled laugh from the audience. A clip from the 17th September show can be seen below.

1st December 2005 - The Oprah Winfrey interview

This was the reunion we had all been waiting for - Oprah Winfrey and David Letterman. Dave called it the “Superbowl of love”. There had been a rumoured ‘feud’ between Dave and Oprah for many years since around 1995 - the year Dave hosted the Oscars ceremony and did the infamous “Uma, Oprah” routine. Oprah is reported to have been “completely uncomfortable” as the punchline for many of Dave’s jokes in the 1990s. This reunion in 2005 seems to have ironed out any problems and they are now best of friends. The show was a huge ratings success as well. In the clip below, it shows the end of the interview - including when Dave walked Oprah across the street to the opening of her new Broadway show The Color Purple. Dave has also since appeared as a guest on Oprah’s show, which is a very rare thing for him, as he doesn’t usually appear on other people’s shows.

Richard Simmons returns to the Late Show

In 2006, fitness guru Richard Simmons returned to the Late Show to promote his new steamer. Richard hadn’t been on Dave’s show for some time - he used to be a bit of a regular on there going out to do on-location segments and other things, but I think Dave got a little irritated by him so he stopped being on the Late Show. In this return in 2006, Richard had brought a demo model of his new steamer to show everyone, but little did he know something was about to go wrong - check out the clip below.

Michael Richards apologises for racial slur

Seinfeld actor Michael Richards appeared on the Late Show in 2006 to apologise for an alleged racial slur that happened at one of his standup gigs. His former co-star Jerry Seinfeld was a guest on the Late Show when they introduced Michael Richards live via satellite.

28th September 2007 - Paris Hilton

Following her short stint in prison, she’s a guest on the Late Show. Dave wants to keep talking about her prison sentence, but Paris doesn’t seem too keen. The interview was hilarious - Dave at his best. It was very uncomfortable, but great to watch. Someone in the audience shouted out they loved Paris and Dave asked her if it was someone from prison. Watch the clip below.

Dave working at the McDonalds drive-thru

Dave would pose as a McDonalds employee for people going through the drive-thru with some hilarious responses. Letterman asked some people if they could go out and get some more onions - as they were running a little low - and some ground beef. Video clip below.

Warren Zevon’s last appearance on the Late Show

Musician Warren Zevon’s last appearance before his death, was a poignant show. Warren was the only guest on the Late Show that evening. The show was broadcast on 30th October 2002. Warren spoke about his illness and said he should have got checked out sooner, and he also performed several songs. The famous phrase “Enjoy every sandwich” came from this episode when Dave asked Warren if he had any advice for us. Part 1 of the interview is below, and the rest can be found on YouTube.

David Letterman’s heart surgery

On the 21st February 2000 show, Dave returned to the air following his quintuple heart bypass surgery. In the leadup to this date, there were several guest hosts for the Late Show whilst Dave recovered. Guest host included Drew Barrymore, Ray Romano, Robin Williams, Megan Mullally, Bill Murray, Regis Philbin, Charles Grodin, Nathan Lane, Julia Roberts, Bruce Willis, Jerry Seinfeld, Martin Short, Danny DeVito, Steve Martin and Sarah Jessica Parker. Dave also helped Regis Philbin out when Regis had his heart surgery a few years later.

Guest hosts in 2003

Dave had a severe case of shingles in February 2003. Guest hosts took over the show for Letterman. These guest hosts included Bill Cosby, Brad Garrett, Elvis Costello, John McEnroe, Vince Vaughn, Will Ferrell, Bonnie Hunt, Luke Wilson. Tom Arnold and Kelsey Grammer - as well as other hosts - guest hosted Friday shows for several weeks following Dave’s return.

March 2007 - Adam Sandler guest hosts

Dave was feeling ill, so Adam Sandler - who had been scheduled as a guest on the show - was asked to take over hosting duties for one night only. It was the first time Adam Sandler had hosted a TV show and he was a little nervous. He brought his dog Matzoball with him. He interviewed Don Cheadle on this show, who was also scheduled as a guest like Adam. A clip from the monologue segment is below and if you want to see Matzoball in action, please click here.

31st January 2005 - The first show back since Johnny Carson passed away

The former host of The Tonight Show - Johnny Carson - passed away in January 2005 and the first show back after his death was very emotional for Dave. Johnny was Dave’s idol and mentor, and it was often thought Johnny wanted Dave to take over The Tonight Show from him and not Jay Leno. Johnny appeared on Letterman’s show several times, but never appeared on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno. Dave also appeared several times on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. As a tribute to Johnny Carson, some of the jokes in tonight’s Late Show monologue were written by Johnny. Dave said many things about Johnny in this show - “The way that you know that Johnny was such a tremendous part of your life was when there was a guest host. You would be waiting all day to see Johnny and you’d tune in and there would be a guest host”. They also included the theme tune from The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson after the monologue. A clip from the start of the Late Show episode is below - the rest can be found on YouTube.

31st March 1994 - Madonna’s appearance on Letterman

Madonna’s controversial interview aired in March 1994. She swore 13 times and she was being awkward throughout the interview. Producers of the show had to cut to commercials and show filler rmaterial because she swore so much. At the end of the interview, Madonna refused to leave but, when they came back from the break, she was gone. Madonna also appeared on the Late Show in 2005 and 2007. A clip from the March 1994 episode can be seen below.

Bill O’Reilly on the Late Show

When Bill O’Reilly came on the show, Dave grilled him on his views about Weapons Of Mass Destruction, Iraq and George W. Bush. Dave said to Bill “”60% of what you say is crap”. There’s a clip from this infamous interview below. Bill O’Reilly also came back for another show soon after this one.

George W. Bush on Letterman

George W. Bush appeared on the Late Show just before he was elected as US President in 2000. At one point in the interview - just as they were on commercial break - George Bush seemed to clean his glasses on Barbara Gaines’s (Late Show producer) clothes. George also did the Top Ten list. Maybe he can get himself a job in late night in 2009. There’s a clip below.

2nd January 2008 - The first show back after the WGA writers strike

After two months of reruns due to the WGA writers strike in 2007-2008, Dave had reached a separate deal with the writers, meaning the Late Show could return to the air with new episodes. The deal also meant the Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson could return, as this is also made by Letterman’s production company - Worldwide Pants Inc. Dave returned to the air with his ’strike beard’ and he made several references to it throughout the show. Robin Williams and Ellen Page were guests on this show. Robin Williams made several jokes about Dave’s beard as well. Hillary Clinton also made a pre-recorded appearance briefly saying it has been two long months but Dave’s back and that all good things must come to an end. Dave mentioned the writers strike - which was still going on - throughout the show and said he fully supported it. A clip from the 2nd January show can be seen below.

14th May 2004 - The 4am Show

Amy Sedaris, rat expert Robert Sullivan and musicians Modest Mouse were guests on a special edition of the Late Show, which was taped at 4am for broadcast the next evening in the usual timeslot. The idea came about when Rob Burnett said “things seem funnier when you’re really, really tired”. Amy Sedaris wasn’t in the Theatre building for her interview, but was out in her neighbourhood to give us a tour to show what it’s like there at 4am. Click here for the Wahoo edition for that show and click here to watch a video of Amy Sedaris on the show.

2004 - The Tonight Show on the set of ‘Friends’

To mark the broadcast of the final episode of ‘Friends’, The Tonight Show took place on the set of ‘Friends’. The whole show came from there and the ‘Friends’ cast were interviewed, and the show also featured clips from ‘Friends’ and cameo appearances from - for example - Homer Simpson.

September 2000 - California power crisis

An entire episode was broadcast using candles and flashlights for lighting and no studio lights. This was in response to the power crisis in California at the time.

September 2001 - The first show back after the 9/11 attacks

The first episode back started similarly to the Late Show With David Letterman’s first show back, with the American flag which then went to Jay’s monologue. There were no opening titles for this show. Jay Leno paid tribute to the firefighters, rescue workers and police for their response to the 9/11 attacks in New York.

Hornymanatee.com

This featured on Late Night many times and the website does actually exist - it’s run by the official Late Night team. There’s a clip below.

20th September 2001 - The first show back after 9/11 attacks

This was the first episode after the 9/11 attacks in New York, and Jon Stewart returned to the air with a special monologue. A clip from this show is below.

29th January 2007 - Bill Gates interview (Part 1)

Bill Gates stopped by The Daily Show to promote the launch of Windows Vista. Part one of the the interview below.

29th January 2007 - Bill Gates interview (Part 2)

Bill Gates stopped by The Daily Show to promote the launch of Windows Vista. Part two of the the interview below. The interview ends a bit oddly when Bill walks off straight away.

Craig Ferguson pays tribute to his dad

After the passing of Craig’s father, he gives a moving tribute to him on the Late Late Show. The video is below.