David Letterman bid farewell to the The Late Show after 33 years on Wednesday evening. In his honor, here are the “Top 10” moments from his final show!
Over the past few weeks The Late Show with David Letterman clips began to creep into the morning newsfeed. It was an odd transition to experience people who you just saw play Pyramid on Jimmy Fallon bow graciously to a talk show host down the street.
David Letterman was not the late night host one goes to for a sleepover and to share gossip. He meant business, took flattery with a wave of his hand, and was not shy to show disappointment and fear. He relished awkwardness. He was hard to read and watching guests try to elicit an emotion was a treat. He was not Jimmy Fallon. He was not Jimmy Kimmel. He would not laugh at your jokes. Unless you truly deserve it.
An incredible 6,028 episodes later and David Letterman is officially retired. The final pillar of the old guard in late night is down and the renaissance of the newer, viral late night is here. In honor of Dave’s last episode, we pay homage to everything from his final entrance to his final wave, with our own “Top 10.”
David Letterman’s Retirement Top 10
10. The final opening monologue
After getting the crowd under control, Dave did not hold back from poking fun at himself or his career during the opening of tonight’s farewell. From clips of The Simpsons to a Wheel of Fortune puzzle that read, “Good Riddance David Letterman,” Letterman accepted the applause for each punch line with a huge grin. His plans for retirement? Well, while his son believes Dave will be going to prison, he jibed that he and Paul are adding two white tigers to their duo and hitting the Vegas strip. Well, that or becoming the new face of Scientology.
“Paul Shaffer, everybody! We’ll be right back.”
9. June 17, 1996 and other clips
A true crowd-pleaser was one of Dave’s greatest stints, serving as a Taco Bell drive thru attendant who opens with, “Welcome to Taco Bell, what do you want?” As the hour plus carried on, clips of Dave’s greatest gags and bits played. There were moments like Paul Shaffer reading The Night Before Christmas, dogs solving math equations, and the set accidentally catching on fire during a farewell with sparklers. The inside jokes from the ’80s, ’90s, and now held up their humor as a testament to Letterman and his staff’s comedy.
8. Thanks to staff, crew, and writers
Shows like The Late Show include positions from carpenters to researchers, and they’re locked away with no natural light and given the hardest work. The writers, staffers, and crew get Dave’s highest praise when he says, “I’ve been blessed to work with men and women who are smarter than I am, funnier than I am… These people deserve more credit than I ever deserve.”
7. Foo Fighters: More than just a performance
For Dave’s first show back after open heart surgery he asked if the Foo Fighters would be able to make an appearance.
The tour could wait. The band cancelled their South American leg of the tour to come on the show and perform Dave’s favorite song, “Everlong.” Tonight the band returns for the final time to the show to perform “Everlong” as a reel of the best Dave moments plays over their performance.
6. Family, family, family
David Letterman’s family not only made an appearance on the show tonight, but they are without a doubt the most important part of his life. He talks endlessly about his son and even had a great time embarrassing him in the crowd. “Thank you for being my family. I love you both, and really, nothing else matters, does it?”
5. Colbert encouragement and farewells from others
Rather than focus entirely on himself, an evening in which he rightfully should do so, Dave took a moment to wish Stephen Colbert nothing but the best on his upcoming debut. He said, “I’m very excited. I think he’s going to do a wonderful job.”
Related: The Late Show with Stephen Colbert sets September premiere date
Over on TBS at 11:34 p.m. (the same time Letterman’s show airs), Conan O’Brien asked viewers to record his show, but turn their attention to CBS. Meanwhile, Jimmy Kimmel aired a rerun of Live! on ABC. And in the second time block, behind Letterman, James Corden opened his segment sitting outside of The Late Show with Sting as he sings, “Every Breath You Take,” to pay tribute to the host before stepping into his own monologue honoring the titan of late night.
4. Day in the Life of Dave
Not a gag, not a 30-second joke, this bit was an actual behind the scenes look at life behind The Late Show. He jokes with his staff, has meetings with his writers, goes over the opening monologue, and makes his own suggestions. Every piece of the show has Dave’s personal flare. The biggest take away from the entire segment is the energy his laughter offers as the show goes from arrival into filming.
3.The final ‘Top 10’
Some 6,000 “Top 10” segments later and David Letterman delivered his final one tonight. The topic: “Top 10 Things I’ve Always Wanted to Say to Dave.”
With a little help from friends like Barbra Walters, Peyton Manning, Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Tina Fey, and more, Dave was sent off with a proper amount of self-deprecating humor.
The full list is here:
10. Alec Baldwin: “Of all the talk shows yours is the one most geographically convenient to my home.”
9. Barbara Walters: “Dave, did you know you wore the same cologne as Muammar Gaddafi?”
8. Steve Martin: “Your extensive plastic surgery was a necessity and a mistake.”
7. Jerry Seinfeld: “Dave, I have no idea of what I’ll do when you go off the air… You know, I just thought of something. I’ll be fine.”
6. Jim Carrey: “Honestly, Dave, I’ve always found you to be a bit of an over-actor.”
5. Chris Rock: “I’m just glad your show is being given to another white guy.”
4. Julia Louis-Dreyfus: “Thanks for letting me take part in another hugely disappointing series finale.”
3. Peyton Manning: “Dave, you are to comedy what I am to comedy.”
2. Tina Fey: “Thanks for finally proving men can be funny.”
1. Bill Murray: “Dave, I’ll never have the money I owe you.”
Out of this impressive list, it seems that Peyton Manning was the hit!
2.Final moments with Paul Shaffer
Paul Shaffer and David Letterman go hand in hand. After 33 years and all 6,028 shows together, the only time Paul wasn’t around was the morning show. (Too early for his taste.) His final introduction of Paul had no pomp or circumstance and their banter was just as smooth as it has been over the years. The show came back from commercial for a brief moment to showcase the band rockin’ out, enjoying their final night together. After introducing the band and commending them for their hard work and extraordinary talent, Dave concludes, “As good a friend as you can have on TV, as good a friend you can have in life, a true genius musician, Paul Shaffer.”
1. ‘Thank you and goodnight.’
Late night will carry on, but Dave’s name will never be forgotten.
Stephen Colbert will take over The Late Show on September 8, 2015.
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