DAVID BIANCULLI

Founder / Editor

ERIC GOULD

Associate Editor

LINDA DONOVAN

Assistant Editor

Contributors

ALEX STRACHAN

MIKE HUGHES

KIM AKASS

MONIQUE NAZARETH

ROGER CATLIN

GARY EDGERTON

TOM BRINKMOELLER

GERALD JORDAN

NOEL HOLSTON

 
 
 
 
 
1982: Late Night Meets David Letterman
February 1, 2021  | By David Bianculli  | 15 comments
 
On this day in 1982, NBC introduced Late Night with David Letterman. In 1980, two years before this late-night show was launched, NBC presented a daytime talk series called The David Letterman Show. Letterman pointed cameras out on the streets of New York City, did stupid stunts, played host to occasional pets who performed tricks, visited various stores and conventions in and around town, and joked with whichever celebrities and "civilians" could be persuaded to visit the set that day. In terms of ratings, the show was an immediate flop, and NBC canceled it after four months. Yet in those four months, Letterman already had forged a style, and found an audience, that would reap major dividends down the road.

On the penultimate daytime David Letterman Show, Letterman began by announcing, "There are two people in my life that I've always respected and admired, and these are people who make me laugh really hard. One of them is Johnny Carson, and the other one is here this morning: Steve Allen." In hindsight, it's a fascinating show to watch, because the mutual admiration society revealed Letterman's past influences as well as his future direction. During the interview, he asked Allen about such Tonight! and Steve Allen Show stunts as the time he dressed as a "Human Tea Bag," and pointed a TV camera outside to watch pedestrians pass by, and so on. "I've been a big fan of yours forever," Letterman told Allen, who in turn told Letterman he was impressed with the particular demographics of his midmorning studio audience. "They are all hip young people," Allen noted, "out of work." Letterman, with less than two shows to go before cancellation, grinned at Allen and replied, "I can sort of relate to that."

But NBC kept paying Letterman, and eventually dumped Tom Snyder and Tomorrow in favor of Late Night with David Letterman, where Carson's Tonight Show served as Letterman's lead-in, and Letterman's loyal audience of "hip young people" made him a campus and cult hit.

—Excerpted from Dictionary of Teleliteracy: Television's 500 Biggest Hits, Misses and Events


 
 
 
 
 
Leave a Comment: (No HTML, 1000 chars max)
 
 Name (required)
 
 Email (required) (will not be published)
 
MLUUW
Type in the verification word shown on the image.
 
 
 Page: 1 of 1  | Go to page: 
15 Comments
 
 
I read your blog frequently and I just thought I’d say keep up the amazing work!
Nov 10, 2024   |  Reply
 
 
Took me time to read all the comments, but I really enjoyed the article. It proved to be Very helpful to me and I am sure to all the commenters here! It’s always nice when you can not only be informed, but also entertained!
Oct 27, 2024   |  Reply
 
 
I was looking at some of your posts on this website and I conceive this web site is really instructive! Keep putting up..
Oct 26, 2024   |  Reply
 
 
Thanks For sharing this Superb article.I use this Article to show my assignment in college.it is useful For me Great Work.
Oct 12, 2024   |  Reply
 
 
I can set up my new idea from this post. It gives in depth information. Thanks for this valuable information for all,..
Oct 12, 2024   |  Reply
 
 
The audio will be awesome. You might have several extremely skilled performers. My partner and i want an individual the most effective regarding accomplishment.
Oct 9, 2024   |  Reply
 
 
Great survey, I'm sure you're getting a great response.
Oct 7, 2024   |  Reply
 
 
d&d
I am happy to find this post very useful for me, as it contains lot of information. I always prefer to read the quality content and this thing I found in you post. Thanks for sharing.
Sep 23, 2024   |  Reply
 
 
All the contents you mentioned in post is too good and can be very useful. I will keep it in mind, thanks for sharing the information keep updating, looking forward for more posts.Thanks
Sep 7, 2024   |  Reply
 
 
Thank you regarding offering latest revisions about the problem, My partner and i enjoy examine a lot more.
 
 
Thanks for a wonderful share. Your article has proved your hard work and experience you have got in this field. Brilliant .i love it reading.
Aug 27, 2024   |  Reply
 
 
Positive site, where did u come up with the information on this posting?I have read a few of the articles on your website now, and I really like your style. Thanks a million and please keep up the effective work.
Aug 24, 2024   |  Reply
 
 
It is and so wonderful in addition to resourceful. I just now appreciate this colorings in addition to the person who obtains the item from the send will likely be happy.
 
 
Bless you in the blog post and even very good strategies.. possibly even As i moreover think 6-pack abs is without a doubt a very important facet of gaining achieving success.
Aug 18, 2024   |  Reply
 
 
mark isenberg
What Dave learned early on is not to hog the spotlight but find contributors like Larry Bud Melman and later,the world's oldest page at CBS or the guy at Hello Deli,etc. He had Terri Garr take a shower. He had the football toss at the meatball with Jay Thomas. He has never been brilliant as in Johnny brilliant but he even figured out how to get his Mom in Indianapolis to open the frig full of beer. Priceless.
Feb 1, 2020   |  Reply
 
 
 
 Page: 1 of 1  | Go to page: