Late Show with David Letterman
Season 1
TV-PG
David Letterman's comedic talk-show after moving to a new television network. He retains largely the same format as the previous 'Late Night with David Letterman.'
Where to Watch Season 1
219 Episodes
- Debra Winger, Soul AsylumE5
Debra Winger, Soul AsylumDave has fun with a car phone, calling in bogus traffic reports to 1010 WINS radio; Casey Kasem presents ""Top Ten Favorite Numbers Between 1 and 10;"" after showing a clip from an old ""Wonder Woman"" episode, Debra Winger strips to her old Wonder Girl outfit. - Jerry Lewis, Sparky Mortimer, Rod StewartE23
Jerry Lewis, Sparky Mortimer, Rod StewartEd Sullivan's ghost introduces juggler ""Andy Head;"" Paul & the CBSO play Jerry Lewis out with the coda from Count Basie's ""April In Paris"" (a Lewis signature tune); Dave gives Jerry his take on ""Beavis and Butt-head,"" then Jerry runs around the set and gooses a cameraman; budding sports reporter Sparky Mortimer makes his first appearance; Rod Stewart performs. - Connie Chung, Mary Chapin CarpenterE30
Connie Chung, Mary Chapin Carpenter""Celebrities in the Audience"" makes its first appearance on the new show, as guests from previous shows are introduced in the crowd -- Glenn Close, Sylvester Stallone, Jerry Lewis, Jimmy Carter, Siskel & Ebert and Bob Borden. - Mary Tyler Moore, Jackson Browne, Rita RudnerE53
Mary Tyler Moore, Jackson Browne, Rita RudnerMary Tyler Moore treats Late Show viewers to a video clip of Dave from her 1978 variety show, ""Mary,"" in which she smashes a grapefruit in Dave's face. Also, Dave, Biff, Gaines, Anton and Laurie Diamond get their teeth cleaned. - Marilu Henner, Heart, Father Guido SarducciE61
Marilu Henner, Heart, Father Guido Sarducci""Meet the Neighbors,"" conclusion: The outside cam goes to K & L's Rock America to see Mujibur Rahman and Sirajul Islam, and Dave has them round up Bart Dadon, Fern Chapnick, Rupert Jee, Alexandra Mitsakis and Charlie Levy from the nearby stores and businesses. - Chris Elliot, Itzhak Perlman, Cokie RobertsE88
Chris Elliot, Itzhak Perlman, Cokie RobertsChris Elliott performs the title song from ""Cabaret;"" legendary violinist Itzhak Perlman follows with a rendition of ""Danse Espagnole."" After Perlman's performance, Dave wants to go backstage and slap Chris. - Kevin Kline, Placido DomingoE130
Kevin Kline, Placido Domingo""New Pharmaceuticals"" include ""Hot 'n' Spicy Tylenol,"" ""L'eggs Metal Pipe Resistant Pantyhose,"" and ""Nipsey's Own Anti-Bacterial Ointment."" Regis interrupts the segment to tell Dave he's not even trying anymore. Also, during her annual Oscars special, Barbara Walters makes Dave cry. - Martin Short, Sammy Hagar, Mary Stuart MastersonE133
Martin Short, Sammy Hagar, Mary Stuart Masterson""Can a Guy in a Bear Suit Get into the Hard Rock Cafe?"" Apparently, he can do it with ease, but ""Can a Guy in a Bear Suit Get into the Russian Tea Room?"" Without hesitation, our hero gets a table for one. - Madonna, Counting CrowsE134
Madonna, Counting CrowsDave watches a live feed of himself watching the show at home while he's taping the show in the theater. Shots include toasting waffles, crying to Kenny Rogers music, milking a goat, and bothering Dan Rather. Also, Madonna drops by to plug her new album, spews profanities with aplomb, then refuses to leave. - Charles Grodin, Elvis Costello & The AttractionsE135
Charles Grodin, Elvis Costello & The AttractionsA day after Madonna arouses/grosses out the American viewing public by, among other things, offering Dave her underwear, Charles Grodin comes on the show tonight to offer his. Later, musical guest Elvis Costello and the Attractions perform ""13 Steps Lead Down,"" and the nerd-rocker gives Dave his sock. - Billy Crystal, Ray CharlesE156
Billy Crystal, Ray CharlesDave takes his show to LA for the first time since 1985. Dave throws a pencil into a wading pool that's behind his desk, and a dog retrieves it. Dave then gets into the pool to give the pencil to the dog. Later, another pencil is retrieved from the pool by Billy Crystal; ""Mayor Richard Riordan"" (Calvert) presents the Top Ten; Ray Charles performs ""What'd I Say?"" - James Cahn, David Copperfield, Julia Louis-DreyfusE158
James Cahn, David Copperfield, Julia Louis-DreyfusLA, Day 3: Dave ends the show early, and then flies back to New York. Paul finds him working the cashier at K&L Rock America, so they bring Mujibur and Sirajul to CBS Television City. Also, Richard Simmons sabotages the Top Ten list because he thinks it's insulting. - Candice Bergen, Elvis Costello & The Attractions, Magic JohnsonE159
Candice Bergen, Elvis Costello & The Attractions, Magic JohnsonL.A., Day 4: It's time for ""Los Angeles Souvenirs,"" including a Fabio Lawn Gnome, Record Industry Weasel Magazine, and a Honk-If-You've-Slept-with-Madonna bumper sticker. ""Madonna"" (Calvert) walks by to tell Dave he's/she's offended, and slaps him. - Jeff Goldblum, Sonic Youth, James CarvilleE162
Jeff Goldblum, Sonic Youth, James CarvilleDave finally has his photos from LA developed, and an audience guys helps him display the photos on the Times Square Jumbotron. Later in the show, all of tonight's guests (Slash, James Carville, and Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth) also have their photos taken for the Jumbotron. - Stupid Pet Tricks, Carol Burnett, Emmylou HarrisE163
Stupid Pet Tricks, Carol Burnett, Emmylou HarrisIt's time for more celebrities in the audience, including Michael J. Fox, Jerry Seinfeld, Paul Shaffer, Kathie Lee Gifford, and Bill Cobsy. Also, Carol Burnett promotes her made-for-TV movie Seasons of the Heart. - Kevin Pollak, Chris Isaak, Jacques PepinE168
Kevin Pollak, Chris Isaak, Jacques PepinDave finds a sports reporter from Indianapolis outside and invites him in; Dave launches ""Top Ten Plus,"" the quicker and more efficient Top Ten list; after Dave mocks a magazine with the headline ""Sweat with Fabio,"" the male model drops a sandbag on the desk, and Dave throws him out of the theater. - Reggie Miller, Spike Lee, Tony Randall, Tony Toni ToneE171
Reggie Miller, Spike Lee, Tony Randall, Tony Toni ToneDave escorts the Stand-by Audience (all 40 of 'em) to a restaurant a few blocks away from the Ed Sullivan Theater. He later invites sailors in the audience to visit FlashDancers across the street. - Macaulay Culkin, Randy Newman, Mona FreyE174
Macaulay Culkin, Randy Newman, Mona FreyAn audience member plays a staged version of ""The Price is Right,"" and wins a can of flour. Also, Michael Buffer fills in for Billy Wendell, announcing tonight's guests (not to mention Paul and the flour guy) with his distinct baritone. - David Brenner, Johnny Cash, Keanu ReevesE175
David Brenner, Johnny Cash, Keanu ReevesMujibur and Sirajul begin their Coast-to-Coast Tour, leaving NYC on a private jet; Keanu Reeves promotes Speed; Dave interviews David Brenner about his new radio show, and oddly enough, Dave will be David's first guest on his radio show premiere the next day. - Jeremy Irons, Chris Rock, Hakeem OlajuwonE176
Jeremy Irons, Chris Rock, Hakeem OlajuwonOn their first leg of the Coast-to-Coast Tour, Mujibur and Sirajul report from Niagra Falls, saluting the US flag. Paul says the idea ""looked great on paper."" Also, Dave chats with Hakeem Olajuwon of the NBA Champion Houston Rockets. - Julia Roberts, Stone Temple Pilots, Jake JohannsenE183
Julia Roberts, Stone Temple Pilots, Jake JohannsenAfter a technical error prevents it from being performed the previous night, Dave presents the rest of the ""NBA Finals Quiz."" Now feeling a little queasy due to all the stress of the past two nights, Dave points out that he has a body double that will stand in for him when the time comes for him to get medical attention. Also, Dan Rather sings ""Wreck of the Old 97."" - Siskel & Ebert, Tom Jones, Sam Cassell, Trisha YearwoodE185
Siskel & Ebert, Tom Jones, Sam Cassell, Trisha YearwoodOn their latest stop, Mujibur and Sirajul get serenaded by Tom Jones in Las Vegas. Wondering who's been operating K&L Rock America while they've been gone, Dave finds Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert running the shop in their place. - Siskel & Ebert, Andrea Martin, Indigo GirlsE188
Siskel & Ebert, Andrea Martin, Indigo GirlsIn a spoof of Home Shopping Network, Dave sells ""Dave and Paul Collection Plates,"" giving out the phone number of head writer Rob Burnett. Also, Dave invites Megan and Tim, a couple from Kansas City, in from the storm, gives them towels to dry off, and offers them seats by the spiral stairway, where they stay throughout the show. - Neil Diamond, Richard SimmonsE190
Neil Diamond, Richard SimmonsDave takes a cue card from Tony Mendez, re-reads a joke and then has the cue card passed around the audience. Later, Calvert DeForest dresses up as Barbra Streisand and performs ""The Way We Were,"" and guest Richard Simmons sings a patriotic medley. - Tom Hanks, Toad the Wet SprocketE193
Tom Hanks, Toad the Wet SprocketThe Runaway Camera is roaming the streets of New York City, getting squeegied, hit by a bike, down a manhole, running into Rupert Jee, and going into ""Cats"" and ""Flashdancers."" Later, in dueling clips, Dave shows embarassing clips of Tom Hanks from ""The Love Boat,"" ""Taxi,"" and ""Happy Days."" Tom retaliates with an embarassing clip of Dave from ""Mork and Mindy."" - Buzz Aldrin, Susan Sarandon, Midnight OilE195
Buzz Aldrin, Susan Sarandon, Midnight OilDave returns to outside the Today Show set and displays his sign: ""Happy 100th Birthday, Willard""; in honor of the 25th anniversary of the moon landing, we see Dave accomplishing the same feat; Midnight Oil performs ""Sometimes.""
