Letterman, David

(1947– ) television comedian; born in Indianapolis, Ind. He studied radio and television at Ball State University (Muncie, Ind.) (B.A. 1970), then worked as a television weatherman and radio talk-show host in Indiana before coming to New York to write comedy material for several major television comedians and specials. He became well known as a brash guest host for Johnny Carson on the Tonight Show during the 1978–80 seasons. His own weekly David Letterman Show on NBC-TV in 1980 failed to take off, but in 1982 NBC-TV gave him the time slot following Johnny Carson: Late Night with David Letterman soon became popular with young people by mixing the usual talk-show ingredients of celebrity guests and music with his irreverent manner and zany comic stunts. After NBC-TV rejected him as the replacement for the retiring Johnny Carson, in 1993 he moved to CBS-TV to host the Late Show with David Letterman.

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References in periodicals archive

But this year, he had a special company- American television host David Letterman!

David Letterman joins Shah Rukh Khan for Eid

Shah Rukh Khan, who engaged in a candid interview with American talk show host David Letterman, says he was thrilled and honoured to share his story with one of the most famous talk show personalities.

Shah Rukh Khan to appear on David Letterman's show

Larson now is extending his crusade to the likes of NBC talk show host David Letterman.

That's Schaumburg with a U, Dave

(AP) -- Former President Jimmy Carter and comedian David Letterman have helped launch a Habitat for Humanity building blitz in northern Indiana.

David Letterman and Jimmy Carter launch Habitat project

NEW YORK -- In her latest interview with American television host David Letterman, Malala Yousafzai spoke about fighting militancy with education.

Malala talks about fighting militancy with education in Letterman interview

NEW YORK -- Youngest ever Nobel Prize winner Malala Yousafzai was seen leaving after taping of David Letterman's new talk show.

Malala to appear in David Letterman's new show

Pakistan's Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai will be appearing on David Letterman's new television show.Malala was spotted by celebrity news website TMZ leaving the set of Letterman's show.

Malala to appear on David Letterman's new show

Among the recent class of late-night TV talk show lightweights in the U.S., which include such names as Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers, David Letterman stands as the closing act of a bygone generation of TV jokesters.

How TV giants are made: David Letterman's fall and rise to late night

r he Late Show e DAVID Letterman never made me smile much when he hosted The on US TV but he's had me grinning ear-to-ear this week.

with the DAVID NEVER LETTS ME DOWN

While Fallon resumed his usual late-night dominance beginning with Colbert's second night, CBS is still thrilled with Colbert, who is drawing a younger, more advertiser-friendly audience than predecessor David Letterman (median age of the Colbert Report's audience was 42 last year, a full 18 years younger than Letterman's Late Show median age before he stepped down in May) and is embracing brands in a way that his predecessor never did: Colbert's opening show featured a witty integration with Sabra hummus.

Colbert makes a splash

For the final episode, which aired on June 23, 1995, Stewart invited late night legend David Letterman, who had hosted the 67th Academy Awards just months before.

Watch Jon Stewart Interview David Letterman as His Final Guest in 1995

Al Franken has urged David Letterman to run for the U.S.

Funny business: Al Franken urges gabber David Letterman to run for US Senate