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| David Letterman's final ever Late Show - live! | David Letterman's final ever Late Show - live! |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| 1.01am ET06:01 | |
| And… that's a wrap | |
| Thank you and goodnight -David Letterman #ThanksDave pic.twitter.com/KV9F3CiLZd | |
| As James Corden and Sting sing and “rap”, America needs to get used to a late-night landscape without Letterman. | |
| Corden sounds embarrassed to have that as a lead in, and it’s understandable. That was - in the end - a fitting end to 33 years of late night entertainment from Dave. There was a nice mix of trips down memory lane (even if the top ten was a little bit of a waste), tributes to staff/friends/guests and the Foo Fighters felt like the right band to play him out - if only for the connection he mentioned. | |
| He never came close to getting emotional but I bet viewers did. Stoic and sincere - what a way to go. My colleague Brian Moylan will have a longer review of the show by the time you wake up tomorrow, but for me that it. Thanks for your comments and have a good night. | |
| 12.52am ET05:52 | |
| Oh, a segment dedicated to the times he’s blown stuff up: ok | |
| 12.51am ET05:51 | |
| Is there something else? … | |
| 12.50am ET05:50 | |
| I’ve got to admit: he’s been clever here. The jokes weren’t the sharpest at the start but he’s really let the show do the talking all night, dropping in clips that really communicate how much a part of US television history and contemporary life the show has been. The last piece to camera was moving too, even if Dave didn’t crack. | |
| 12.48am ET05:48 | |
| Oh, it’s not over there’s a montage of his past shows. | |
| 12.47am ET05:47 | |
| “15 years ago I had open heart surgery and these people saved my life,” he says while introducing the Foo Fighters. He wanted them to play his first show back. They were on tour but cancelled so they could play… Everlong. So I | |
| the internet | |
| was right. He signs off with a short: “Thank you and goodnight.” That was very smooth and touching. | |
| 12.45am ET05:45 | |
| He’s discussing his mother now with shades of Stephen Colbert’s tribute to his mum. | |
| Now on to the kids and his wife. He’s still in no danger of cracking here - keeping it very professional. Oh, and I’ve just realised my time keeping was out, we’ve gone well over five minutes. Foos are imminent, however… | |
| 12.42am ET05:42 | |
| Shaffer retorts: “Thanks so much David. You changed our lives.” | |
| 12.41am ET05:41 | |
| He’s talking about Les Moonves, the CBS executive who brought him to the show. He praises his patience with him adding “If this was a printed piece of paper you could underline patient several, dozen, times.” | |
| The biggest thanks goes to the staff at the theatre and at the show, especially the researchers - who work in a “subterranean pit”. Hang on, giant rats. Subterranean pits? Sounds like 1984. | |
| Huge big up for Biff Henderson and the writers, and a big last hurrah for the band. He’s keeping it together well here. | |
| 12.37am ET05:37 | |
| Now he’s discussing the size of the rats that used to inhabit the Ed Sullivan Theatre. They were massive apparently, perhaps like these brutes. | |
| 12.36am ET05:36 | |
| Ever his own harshest critic, he says out of the 6000 plus shows, a great number of those “sucked”. Give yourself a break, Dave. | |
| 12.35am ET05:35 | 12.35am ET05:35 |
| Oh, there’s a hint of emotion from Dave as he talks about his house band, then drops a joke: “I’ve been thinking about this but I could be taller than Peyton Manning”. Now he’s talking about the last six weeks and the tributes. He says it’s been “gratifying”. | Oh, there’s a hint of emotion from Dave as he talks about his house band, then drops a joke: “I’ve been thinking about this but I could be taller than Peyton Manning”. Now he’s talking about the last six weeks and the tributes. He says it’s been “gratifying”. |
| 12.34am ET05:34 | 12.34am ET05:34 |
| Only five minutes left | Only five minutes left |
| There’s one last segment left, so how has it gone so far: | There’s one last segment left, so how has it gone so far: |
| 12.29am ET05:29 | 12.29am ET05:29 |
| Now for a vignette of a “day in the life” of Dave. He turns up to work (with Green Day on the radio); walks the corridors; has a meeting and discusses his children; talks about guests, such as Jack Hanna (“he’s never brought the same animal”). | Now for a vignette of a “day in the life” of Dave. He turns up to work (with Green Day on the radio); walks the corridors; has a meeting and discusses his children; talks about guests, such as Jack Hanna (“he’s never brought the same animal”). |
| It breaks off into an actual real segment of Letterman figuring out the show. This is a nice peak behind the showbiz curtain. | It breaks off into an actual real segment of Letterman figuring out the show. This is a nice peak behind the showbiz curtain. |
| Updated at 12.29am ET | Updated at 12.29am ET |
| 12.22am ET05:22 | 12.22am ET05:22 |
| The Foo Fighters are up next and are reportedly going to play Everlong. You know, the one from the wedding on Friends, where they turned it into an emo instrumental? | The Foo Fighters are up next and are reportedly going to play Everlong. You know, the one from the wedding on Friends, where they turned it into an emo instrumental? |
| It’d be quite fitting with lyrics like these: | It’d be quite fitting with lyrics like these: |
| “If everything could ever feel this real forever/ If anything could ever be this good again/ The only thing I’ll ever ask of you/ You gotta promise not to stop when I say when she sang” | “If everything could ever feel this real forever/ If anything could ever be this good again/ The only thing I’ll ever ask of you/ You gotta promise not to stop when I say when she sang” |
| Tears could start to flow with this one… assuming they actually play it. If they go for Monkey wrench I’ll look like a right fool… here we go | Tears could start to flow with this one… assuming they actually play it. If they go for Monkey wrench I’ll look like a right fool… here we go |
| 12.19am ET05:19 | 12.19am ET05:19 |
| This is funny, but does remind me of our own rubbish (British) version of this from Noel Edmonds and some thing called Mr Blobby. | This is funny, but does remind me of our own rubbish (British) version of this from Noel Edmonds and some thing called Mr Blobby. |
| 12.16am ET05:16 | 12.16am ET05:16 |
| We’re back and Letterman is taking us back to the time he worked at a Taco Bell drive-through… | We’re back and Letterman is taking us back to the time he worked at a Taco Bell drive-through… |
| 12.10am ET05:10 | 12.10am ET05:10 |
| Ok, here we go. Here’s the top ten - in slightly muddled order. That was a little underwhelming. Jim Carrey was very good though (wearing a Spank You t-shirt) and the Julia Louis-Dreyfus line shows that people still aren’t over that Seinfeld finale. | Ok, here we go. Here’s the top ten - in slightly muddled order. That was a little underwhelming. Jim Carrey was very good though (wearing a Spank You t-shirt) and the Julia Louis-Dreyfus line shows that people still aren’t over that Seinfeld finale. |
| Steve Martin: “You’re extensive plastic surgery was a necessity… and a mistake” | Steve Martin: “You’re extensive plastic surgery was a necessity… and a mistake” |
| Chris Rock: “I’m just glad your show is been given to another white guy.” | Chris Rock: “I’m just glad your show is been given to another white guy.” |
| Jerry Seinfeld: “Dave, I have no idea what I’ll do when you go off the air. You know what: I just thought of something. I’ll be fine.” | Jerry Seinfeld: “Dave, I have no idea what I’ll do when you go off the air. You know what: I just thought of something. I’ll be fine.” |
| Tina Fey: “Thanks for finally proving that men can be funny.” | Tina Fey: “Thanks for finally proving that men can be funny.” |
| Barbara Walters: “Dave, did you know you wear the same cologne as Gaddafi? | Barbara Walters: “Dave, did you know you wear the same cologne as Gaddafi? |
| Jim Carrey: “Honestly, Dave. I’ve always found you to be a bit of an over actor.” | Jim Carrey: “Honestly, Dave. I’ve always found you to be a bit of an over actor.” |
| Julia Louis-Dreyfus: “Thanks for letting me take part in another hugely disappointing series finale.” | Julia Louis-Dreyfus: “Thanks for letting me take part in another hugely disappointing series finale.” |
| Peyton Manning: “Dave, you are to comedy, what I am to comedy.” | Peyton Manning: “Dave, you are to comedy, what I am to comedy.” |
| Alec Baldwin: “Of all the talk shows yours is the most geographically convenient to my home.” | Alec Baldwin: “Of all the talk shows yours is the most geographically convenient to my home.” |
| Bill Murray: “Dave, I’ll never have the money I owe you.” | Bill Murray: “Dave, I’ll never have the money I owe you.” |
| Updated at 12.14am ET | Updated at 12.14am ET |
| 12.04am ET05:04 | 12.04am ET05:04 |
| Here’s a reminder of who’ll be on the final top ten list: | Here’s a reminder of who’ll be on the final top ten list: |
| Steve Martin | Steve Martin |
| Chris Rock | Chris Rock |
| Jerry Seinfeld | Jerry Seinfeld |
| Tina Fey | Tina Fey |
| Barbara Walters | Barbara Walters |
| Jim Carrey | Jim Carrey |
| Julia Louis-Dreyfus | Julia Louis-Dreyfus |
| Peyton Manning | Peyton Manning |
| Alec Baldwin | Alec Baldwin |
| Bill Murray | Bill Murray |
| Right now there’s a clip of Andy Kaufman not wiping his nose in 1980. That was possibly the funniest thing so far. | Right now there’s a clip of Andy Kaufman not wiping his nose in 1980. That was possibly the funniest thing so far. |
| 11.59pm ET04:59 | 11.59pm ET04:59 |
| Ok, another break and THEN it’s the top ten list. This is flying by | Ok, another break and THEN it’s the top ten list. This is flying by |
| 11.58pm ET04:58 | 11.58pm ET04:58 |
| A kid’s just admits to pushing another kid down the stairs. When Letterman asks him if there’s a lesson to be learned, he quips: “Yeah, accidents happen”. Hard to argue with that. | A kid’s just admits to pushing another kid down the stairs. When Letterman asks him if there’s a lesson to be learned, he quips: “Yeah, accidents happen”. Hard to argue with that. |
| 11.56pm ET04:56 | 11.56pm ET04:56 |
| Dave is running through some of his interactions with kids. He freely admits the section was a riff on Art Linkletter’s show… | Dave is running through some of his interactions with kids. He freely admits the section was a riff on Art Linkletter’s show… |
| Updated at 11.57pm ET | Updated at 11.57pm ET |
| 11.54pm ET04:54 | 11.54pm ET04:54 |
| Now he’s praising Stephen Colbert, which is nice, especially after he “grilled” him a while back. | Now he’s praising Stephen Colbert, which is nice, especially after he “grilled” him a while back. |
| 11.52pm ET04:52 | 11.52pm ET04:52 |
| Next up is the top ten, which should feature this guy: | Next up is the top ten, which should feature this guy: |
| 11.48pm ET04:48 | 11.48pm ET04:48 |
| Wheel Of Fortune now with an answer consisting of: Good Riddance To David Letterman. Another nice little touch. Presidents and the Simpsons are the winners so far, and… we’re into a break | Wheel Of Fortune now with an answer consisting of: Good Riddance To David Letterman. Another nice little touch. Presidents and the Simpsons are the winners so far, and… we’re into a break |
| 11.47pm ET04:47 | 11.47pm ET04:47 |
| Now some bants with Paul: they’ve got a show in Las Vegas with white tigers, apparently | Now some bants with Paul: they’ve got a show in Las Vegas with white tigers, apparently |
| 11.46pm ET04:46 | 11.46pm ET04:46 |
| Now on to an Ellan Gonzalez joke: “he’s 21 and just announced yesterday he wants to come back to America - should I take it personally?” | Now on to an Ellan Gonzalez joke: “he’s 21 and just announced yesterday he wants to come back to America - should I take it personally?” |
| 11.45pm ET04:45 | 11.45pm ET04:45 |
| Ohhhhhh, a Simpsons segment. That was nice - Homer and Marge talk about how the two shows have been on for almost the same amount of time. | Ohhhhhh, a Simpsons segment. That was nice - Homer and Marge talk about how the two shows have been on for almost the same amount of time. |
| 11.44pm ET04:44 | 11.44pm ET04:44 |
| This feels a bit tepid. I don’t want to be “that guy” but there aren’t that many zingers so far, he’s just going through the motions. We’ll give him the benefit of the doubt though | This feels a bit tepid. I don’t want to be “that guy” but there aren’t that many zingers so far, he’s just going through the motions. We’ll give him the benefit of the doubt though |
| 11.42pm ET04:42 | 11.42pm ET04:42 |
| Next it’s a segment of stuff they would have done on Thursday… if they had a show: a joke about Hilary Clinton’s donations, one on Mad Max and Mike Huckabee | Next it’s a segment of stuff they would have done on Thursday… if they had a show: a joke about Hilary Clinton’s donations, one on Mad Max and Mike Huckabee |
| 11.41pm ET04:41 | 11.41pm ET04:41 |
| Now it’s on to the crew. He’s showing a video to the staff where he says goodbye by appearing as a hologram and blows a kiss at them. That wasn’t very funny. Now he’s making fun of his own poor eyesight and the size of the words on the cue cards. | Now it’s on to the crew. He’s showing a video to the staff where he says goodbye by appearing as a hologram and blows a kiss at them. That wasn’t very funny. Now he’s making fun of his own poor eyesight and the size of the words on the cue cards. |
| 11.39pm ET04:39 | 11.39pm ET04:39 |
| First gag is about the Tonight Show. “I’ve got a feeling I’m not going to get the Tonight Show”. He’s probably still a bit annoyed about it to be fair. Second joke is about scientology: good job they booked Travolta earlier in the run… | First gag is about the Tonight Show. “I’ve got a feeling I’m not going to get the Tonight Show”. He’s probably still a bit annoyed about it to be fair. Second joke is about scientology: good job they booked Travolta earlier in the run… |
| 11.38pm ET04:38 | 11.38pm ET04:38 |
| Obviously the place is packed. “Pleas be seated. I don’t know what to do,” says Letterman as the crowd refuse to sit down. This could go on a while. | Obviously the place is packed. “Pleas be seated. I don’t know what to do,” says Letterman as the crowd refuse to sit down. This could go on a while. |
| 11.38pm ET04:38 | 11.38pm ET04:38 |
| Shaffer and co really did go for it with that intro. That was some Robert Fripp level of wig out. Now the floor is Dave’s… | Shaffer and co really did go for it with that intro. That was some Robert Fripp level of wig out. Now the floor is Dave’s… |
| 11.36pm ET04:36 | 11.36pm ET04:36 |
| Things kick off with a riff on Gerald Ford’s inauguration as all the living presidents repeat: “Our long national nightmare is over… David Letterman is retiring”. Nice touch that. | Things kick off with a riff on Gerald Ford’s inauguration as all the living presidents repeat: “Our long national nightmare is over… David Letterman is retiring”. Nice touch that. |
| Updated at 11.37pm ET | Updated at 11.37pm ET |
| 11.35pm ET04:35 | 11.35pm ET04:35 |
| Ok, we are minutes away now. The CBS news team are just signing off. Apparently, the Rangers had another bad night… | Ok, we are minutes away now. The CBS news team are just signing off. Apparently, the Rangers had another bad night… |
| 11.30pm ET04:30 | 11.30pm ET04:30 |
| What are the other late-night hosts doing tonight? | What are the other late-night hosts doing tonight? |
| It’s pretty hard for the other late night hosts to compete tonight. Indeed, most have either cried off out of “respect” for Dave or have dedicated huge segments of their shows to him. | It’s pretty hard for the other late night hosts to compete tonight. Indeed, most have either cried off out of “respect” for Dave or have dedicated huge segments of their shows to him. |
| Conan O’Brien | Conan O’Brien |
| Conan when for the latter when he recalled the support Letterman gave him after he took over his slot on NBC in 1993 and was hammered by the critics: | Conan when for the latter when he recalled the support Letterman gave him after he took over his slot on NBC in 1993 and was hammered by the critics: |
| “I got the shit kicked out of me. Critics despised me, the ratings were bad, my skin broke out, and my network started to make it clear that I probably wouldn’t be around very long. I honestly have no ill will about that time because, by and large, people were right. I was in way over my head - and with this hair, that’s saying something - and the conventional wisdom was that I should be immediately cancelled.” | “I got the shit kicked out of me. Critics despised me, the ratings were bad, my skin broke out, and my network started to make it clear that I probably wouldn’t be around very long. I honestly have no ill will about that time because, by and large, people were right. I was in way over my head - and with this hair, that’s saying something - and the conventional wisdom was that I should be immediately cancelled.” |
| He added that at his personal low point Letterman offered support: | He added that at his personal low point Letterman offered support: |
| “At one of the lowest points of my life, when I was a 30 year old national punchline, Dave, for reasons I still don’t really understand ---- completely rescued me. I truly believe that simple act of kindness turned everything around and made all the difference.” | “At one of the lowest points of my life, when I was a 30 year old national punchline, Dave, for reasons I still don’t really understand ---- completely rescued me. I truly believe that simple act of kindness turned everything around and made all the difference.” |
| Jimmy Kimmel | Jimmy Kimmel |
| Jimmy Kimmel went for the former, deciding against recording a new show and instead going for a rerun. He told the Hollywood Reporter: | Jimmy Kimmel went for the former, deciding against recording a new show and instead going for a rerun. He told the Hollywood Reporter: |
| “I have too much respect for Dave to do anything that would distract viewers from watching his final show. Plus, I’ll probably be crying all day, which makes it hard to work.” | “I have too much respect for Dave to do anything that would distract viewers from watching his final show. Plus, I’ll probably be crying all day, which makes it hard to work.” |
| Sounds like the worst excuse not to turn up to work ever. | Sounds like the worst excuse not to turn up to work ever. |
| Jimmy Fallon | Jimmy Fallon |
| Fallon isn’t having any of that nonsense. He’s got a full slate of guests including David Duchovny and, er, Pitbull AKA Mr Worldwide. It’s definitely the b-side but, gives me the opportunity to remind everyone about this brilliant sketch by Limmy that tackles the genuinely baffling ubiquity of Pitbull: | Fallon isn’t having any of that nonsense. He’s got a full slate of guests including David Duchovny and, er, Pitbull AKA Mr Worldwide. It’s definitely the b-side but, gives me the opportunity to remind everyone about this brilliant sketch by Limmy that tackles the genuinely baffling ubiquity of Pitbull: |
| Jon Stewart | Jon Stewart |
| The US’s premier political satirist is also taking the night off. He’s got a rerun of his Kristen Wiig episode, which if her appearance at the Grammys is anything to go by might be worth flicking over to every now and then. | The US’s premier political satirist is also taking the night off. He’s got a rerun of his Kristen Wiig episode, which if her appearance at the Grammys is anything to go by might be worth flicking over to every now and then. |
| Right, on with the show. | Right, on with the show. |
| Updated at 12.31am ET | Updated at 12.31am ET |
| 11.20pm ET04:20 | 11.20pm ET04:20 |
| The many sides of Dave | The many sides of Dave |
| The last 24 hours have seen most outlets sum up Letterman’s tenure in the form of lists. We joined in the hoards who wrote pieces about his musical influence. Maura Johnston ran through some of his best musical guests, including the Beastie Boys’ performance in 2004: | The last 24 hours have seen most outlets sum up Letterman’s tenure in the form of lists. We joined in the hoards who wrote pieces about his musical influence. Maura Johnston ran through some of his best musical guests, including the Beastie Boys’ performance in 2004: |
| “The iconic New York hip-hop trio first appeared on Letterman’s show in 1992, and their raunchy reputation back then inspired Dave to pronounce during his monologue that he didn’t “want no trouble, OK?” (Apparently a few years prior, despite not appearing on the show, their presence in 30 Rockefeller Center had included their “terrorizing Sue Simmons”, then anchor of the local news show Live at Five.) Twelve years later, all grown up, they showed the Late Show audience how even though they were older and wiser they still owned the five boroughs’ streets; their performance of the 2004 track Ch-Check It Out opened in a subway entrance and wound its way to the Ed Sullivan Theater, with Letterman greeting them like old friends once they eventually made their way to his desk.” | “The iconic New York hip-hop trio first appeared on Letterman’s show in 1992, and their raunchy reputation back then inspired Dave to pronounce during his monologue that he didn’t “want no trouble, OK?” (Apparently a few years prior, despite not appearing on the show, their presence in 30 Rockefeller Center had included their “terrorizing Sue Simmons”, then anchor of the local news show Live at Five.) Twelve years later, all grown up, they showed the Late Show audience how even though they were older and wiser they still owned the five boroughs’ streets; their performance of the 2004 track Ch-Check It Out opened in a subway entrance and wound its way to the Ed Sullivan Theater, with Letterman greeting them like old friends once they eventually made their way to his desk.” |
| Other versions of Dave that people spoke/wrote about included Sad Dave, with Alan Sepinwall giving his saddest moments of Letterman’s reign: | Other versions of Dave that people spoke/wrote about included Sad Dave, with Alan Sepinwall giving his saddest moments of Letterman’s reign: |
| The Hollywood Reporter’s tv critic Tim Goodman (AKA Bastard Machine) also gave his slightly emotional thoughts about Dave’s departure: | The Hollywood Reporter’s tv critic Tim Goodman (AKA Bastard Machine) also gave his slightly emotional thoughts about Dave’s departure: |
| “I’ve watched these Letterman farewell episodes and done plenty of tearing up in the process. And I’ve marveled not only at his legacy and endurance and influence (all the obvious things we talk about when someone like Letterman retires), but also simply how much people really do love him and will miss him. | “I’ve watched these Letterman farewell episodes and done plenty of tearing up in the process. And I’ve marveled not only at his legacy and endurance and influence (all the obvious things we talk about when someone like Letterman retires), but also simply how much people really do love him and will miss him. |
| If you’ve lived long enough and watched enough television you’ve seen plenty of farewells. If there’s anything notable about the departure of a true ground breaker, it’s the legitimate appreciation on hand. You can’t fake some of the tears and the looks these celebrity guests and friends have given him. With the whole late night talk show circuit built on phoniness – which Letterman spent a career tearing down – it’s especially gratifying to see real, unfettered appreciation and respect.” | If you’ve lived long enough and watched enough television you’ve seen plenty of farewells. If there’s anything notable about the departure of a true ground breaker, it’s the legitimate appreciation on hand. You can’t fake some of the tears and the looks these celebrity guests and friends have given him. With the whole late night talk show circuit built on phoniness – which Letterman spent a career tearing down – it’s especially gratifying to see real, unfettered appreciation and respect.” |
| Emotional stuff. But the “unfettered appreciation and respect” isn’t quite universal. Gawker reminded everyone about Creepy Dave with a supercut of all the awkward things he’s said to female guests. He does go on about legs an awful lot. | Emotional stuff. But the “unfettered appreciation and respect” isn’t quite universal. Gawker reminded everyone about Creepy Dave with a supercut of all the awkward things he’s said to female guests. He does go on about legs an awful lot. |
| Ebony took the time to remind everyone about the eight “blackest Letterman” moments, which included his 2005 pow wow with Oprah, his awkward talk with Janet Jackson and his sit down with Barack Obama. | Ebony took the time to remind everyone about the eight “blackest Letterman” moments, which included his 2005 pow wow with Oprah, his awkward talk with Janet Jackson and his sit down with Barack Obama. |
| So there we have it: there was a David Letterman for just about everyone. | So there we have it: there was a David Letterman for just about everyone. |
| 11.13pm ET04:13 | 11.13pm ET04:13 |
| The long goodbye | The long goodbye |
| Letterman first announced he was going to quit more than a year ago and since then Stephen Colbert has been unveiled as his replacement, and there have been lots of other movements in the late-night world. Craig Ferguson left his position as host of the Late Late Show, where he was replaced by James Corden. Jon Stewart said he was stepping down from the Daily Show in August, when he will be replaced by South African comic Trevor Noah. Elsewhere, the two Jimmys (Fallon and Kimmel) continue to dominate on either coast, while Conan is still the late-night outsider on TBS. | Letterman first announced he was going to quit more than a year ago and since then Stephen Colbert has been unveiled as his replacement, and there have been lots of other movements in the late-night world. Craig Ferguson left his position as host of the Late Late Show, where he was replaced by James Corden. Jon Stewart said he was stepping down from the Daily Show in August, when he will be replaced by South African comic Trevor Noah. Elsewhere, the two Jimmys (Fallon and Kimmel) continue to dominate on either coast, while Conan is still the late-night outsider on TBS. |
| Letterman’s departure, however is by far the most significant due to his influence on not only CBS’s late-night output, but all of the current breed of late-night hosts. Of course, he wasn’t always the biggest deal in late night (arguably he isn’t at the moment as Fallon has much better ratings), and his bête noire was Jay Leno – another possible guest tonight, although no one has seen him so far. | Letterman’s departure, however is by far the most significant due to his influence on not only CBS’s late-night output, but all of the current breed of late-night hosts. Of course, he wasn’t always the biggest deal in late night (arguably he isn’t at the moment as Fallon has much better ratings), and his bête noire was Jay Leno – another possible guest tonight, although no one has seen him so far. |
| The two vied for Johnny Carson’s slot on NBC’s the Tonight Show – Leno prevailed after a protracted battle – and Letterman took a role at CBS after being courted by most of the networks. Bill Carter followed the story and wrote The Late Shift, which was eventually turned into a show on HBO. He wrote for us last week: | The two vied for Johnny Carson’s slot on NBC’s the Tonight Show – Leno prevailed after a protracted battle – and Letterman took a role at CBS after being courted by most of the networks. Bill Carter followed the story and wrote The Late Shift, which was eventually turned into a show on HBO. He wrote for us last week: |
| “Starting as the puckish, peckish, insistently amusing kid brother; he became the commanding comedy perfectionist, before evolving into a cranky curmudgeon over the past decade or so: an on-camera version of the irascible neighbor spraying the garden hose to keep the kids off his lawn. Letterman has lived out a career – and life – in an electronic display window, one that faced directly into American bedrooms. | “Starting as the puckish, peckish, insistently amusing kid brother; he became the commanding comedy perfectionist, before evolving into a cranky curmudgeon over the past decade or so: an on-camera version of the irascible neighbor spraying the garden hose to keep the kids off his lawn. Letterman has lived out a career – and life – in an electronic display window, one that faced directly into American bedrooms. |
| A man of complex temperament, daringly forthright on camera, insecure and reclusive off, Letterman has been a show business original since his first day as talkshow host – on an NBC daytime program in 1980 – the leader of a new generation of American comics, intent on parodying the entertainment world even as they lived in it, and off it.” | A man of complex temperament, daringly forthright on camera, insecure and reclusive off, Letterman has been a show business original since his first day as talkshow host – on an NBC daytime program in 1980 – the leader of a new generation of American comics, intent on parodying the entertainment world even as they lived in it, and off it.” |
| So this is the end of an era, not only for Letterman but for his brand of late night host. Fallon and co have flourished by creating content that works online rather than only on television after 11 o’clock. Before the torch is passed a load of celebs came out to show their love for Dave and wrote funny little jokes on cue cards and then posed for pictures with them. | So this is the end of an era, not only for Letterman but for his brand of late night host. Fallon and co have flourished by creating content that works online rather than only on television after 11 o’clock. Before the torch is passed a load of celebs came out to show their love for Dave and wrote funny little jokes on cue cards and then posed for pictures with them. |
| Here are a few: | Here are a few: |
| John Travolta | John Travolta |
| Will Ferrell | Will Ferrell |
| Bruce Willis (with a wig) | Bruce Willis (with a wig) |
| Scarlett Johansson | Scarlett Johansson |
| Oprah (who had a long-running feud with Letterman because of this) | Oprah (who had a long-running feud with Letterman because of this) |
| George Clooney | George Clooney |
| Clooney’s message gives me a great way to segue into my favourite ever Letterman moment: Weezer playing Say It Aint So in 1995. They’ve never bettered that original line up. Ever. | Clooney’s message gives me a great way to segue into my favourite ever Letterman moment: Weezer playing Say It Aint So in 1995. They’ve never bettered that original line up. Ever. |
| 10.50pm ET03:50 | 10.50pm ET03:50 |
| What can we expect? | What can we expect? |
| So what will the next couple of hours hold? Well, because the show is recorded earlier in the day we’ve actually got a pretty good idea of who is going to turn up. Plenty of people were camped outside the Ed Sullivan Theatre to spot guests and celebrities, and here is the list of everyone who was seen making their way in or out: | So what will the next couple of hours hold? Well, because the show is recorded earlier in the day we’ve actually got a pretty good idea of who is going to turn up. Plenty of people were camped outside the Ed Sullivan Theatre to spot guests and celebrities, and here is the list of everyone who was seen making their way in or out: |
| Steve Martin | Steve Martin |
| Chris Rock | Chris Rock |
| Jerry Seinfeld | Jerry Seinfeld |
| Tina Fey | Tina Fey |
| Barbara Walters | Barbara Walters |
| Jim Carrey | Jim Carrey |
| Julia Louis-Dreyfus | Julia Louis-Dreyfus |
| Peyton Manning | Peyton Manning |
| Alec Baldwin | Alec Baldwin |
| Bill Murray | Bill Murray |
| They add up to ten former Letterman guests and pals who are rumoured to be taking part in a final “Top ten list” where the celebs state the “final thing they would like to say to David Letterman”. Kudos to Bill Murray for turning up two nights in a row. There are more spoilers over at Variety but we don’t want to ruin the fun. | They add up to ten former Letterman guests and pals who are rumoured to be taking part in a final “Top ten list” where the celebs state the “final thing they would like to say to David Letterman”. Kudos to Bill Murray for turning up two nights in a row. There are more spoilers over at Variety but we don’t want to ruin the fun. |
| Also spotted going in to the Ed Sullivan Theatre for Letterman in last 20 mins: Jerry Seinfeld, Tina Fey and Barbara Walters. | Also spotted going in to the Ed Sullivan Theatre for Letterman in last 20 mins: Jerry Seinfeld, Tina Fey and Barbara Walters. |
| Other things we know about include the Foo Fighters being the final ever musical guests (more on that subject shortly), plus recorded messages from Barack Obama and all his living predecessors (again, more on politics and Dave in a bit). | Other things we know about include the Foo Fighters being the final ever musical guests (more on that subject shortly), plus recorded messages from Barack Obama and all his living predecessors (again, more on politics and Dave in a bit). |
| It should be a non-stop celebration of all things Dave, which with that amount of star power, shouldn’t disappoint. | It should be a non-stop celebration of all things Dave, which with that amount of star power, shouldn’t disappoint. |
| 10.31pm ET03:31 | 10.31pm ET03:31 |
| The beginning of the end | The beginning of the end |
| Lanre Bakare | Lanre Bakare |
| Welcome to the live blog for the final ever Late Show with David Letterman. The build up has been all-consuming, the stars have come out in force and just about everyone in America has said how much they’re going to miss good old Dave, so let the emotional outpouring commence! Here’s some needlessly sentimental Jackson Browne to put you in the mood. | Welcome to the live blog for the final ever Late Show with David Letterman. The build up has been all-consuming, the stars have come out in force and just about everyone in America has said how much they’re going to miss good old Dave, so let the emotional outpouring commence! Here’s some needlessly sentimental Jackson Browne to put you in the mood. |
| CBS released footage of Letterman’s final ever entrance to the set of the Late Show earlier today complete with Paul Shaffer’s fairly bonkers keyboard accompaniment: | CBS released footage of Letterman’s final ever entrance to the set of the Late Show earlier today complete with Paul Shaffer’s fairly bonkers keyboard accompaniment: |
| Speaking of videos, we also had a summary of his late night career on the site. Here it is, ICYMI: | Speaking of videos, we also had a summary of his late night career on the site. Here it is, ICYMI: |