In 2010, a documentary directed by Joke Fincioen and Biagio Messina, Dying to do Letterman, was released, featuring Steve Mazan, a stand-up comic, who has cancer and wants to appear on the Letterman show. [12] The elder Letterman died of a second heart attack in 1973,[13] at the age of 57. The show's music director and leader of the house band, the CBS Orchestra, was Paul Shaffer. On more than one occasion, he said that he had once been a "horrible alcoholic" and had begun drinking around the age of 13 and continued until 1981 when he was 34. [175], On October 3, 2009, a former CBS employee, Holly Hester, announced that she and Letterman had engaged in a year-long secret affair in the early 1990s while she was his intern and a student at New York University. [161] A spokesperson for Letterman said: "This is a sad ending to a confused life. "[91] In April 2012, CBS announced it had extended its contract with Letterman through 2014. This week, David Letterman ’s Netflix series makes a comeback and HBO’s “ The Undoing ” makes an entrance. Letterman appeared in the pilot episode of the short-lived 1986 series Coach Toast, and appears with a bag over his head as a guest on Bonnie Hunt's 1990s sitcom, The Building. [41] Other comedians that influenced Letterman were Paul Dixon,[20] Steve Allen, Jonathan Winters, Garry Moore,[41] Jack Paar, Don Rickles, and David Brenner. In a rarity for a late-night show, it was also the highest-rated program on network television that night, beating out all prime-time shows. [182] Letterman's emotional speech touched on his struggles as a college student and his late father, and also included the "top ten good things about having your name on a building", finishing with "if reasonable people can put my name on a US$21 million building, anything is possible. A self-described average student, Letterman later endowed a scholarship for what he called "C students" at Ball State. Carson later made a few cameo appearances as a guest on Letterman's show. The show also featured comedy segments and running characters, in a style heavily influenced by the 1950s and 1960s programs of Steve Allen.[48]. The episode earned an Emmy nomination. [141] In 2005, police discovered a plot to kidnap his son and demand a ransom of US$5 million. [96] It was announced soon after that comedian and political satirist Stephen Colbert would succeed Letterman. They're not taking this lightly. It was seen as edgy and unpredictable, and soon developed a cult following (particularly among college students). [129] In SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron, Letterman was parodied as "David Litterbin". David Letterman : Bullseye with Jesse Thorn This week, our guest is David Letterman. In early 2005, it was revealed that Carson occasionally sent jokes to Letterman, who used them in his monologue; according to CBS senior vice president Peter Lassally (a onetime producer for both men), Carson got "a big kick out of it. On his first show after the Oscars, he joked, "Looking back, I had no idea that thing was being televised." ", "America's Favorite Television Personality", "For Third Year in a Row Oprah Retains Her Position as America's Favorite TV Personality", "Dave vs. Dave: Forget Leno & Koppel — Letterman May Be His Own Worst Enemy", "Artery Blocked, Letterman Has Heart Bypass Surgery", "Dave at Peace: The Rolling Stone Interview", "Foo Fighters To Welcome Letterman Back To, "The top 10 reasons David Letterman's heart bypass operation was a good thing", "David Letterman says goodbye after 33 hilarious years", "Letterman is Ill, so Guest Takes Over Late Show", "Remembering the Ted Koppel interview when his mask came off", "CBS Signs David Letterman As Host Of The 'Late Show' Through Fall 2010", "Letterman Reaches a Deal With CBS to Extend 'Late Show, "Is David Letterman Ready to be Done with the Late Show? [42] The show was a critical success, winning two Emmy Awards, but was a ratings disappointment and was canceled, the last show airing October 24, 1980. [121] His beard was shaved off during the show on January 7, 2008. [104] In season two's premiere episode, Letterman traveled to India to investigate the country's efforts to expand its inadequate energy grid, power its booming economy, and bring electricity to 300 million citizens for the first time. [2], In the months following the end of Late Show, Letterman was seen occasionally at sports events such as the Indianapolis 500, during which he submitted to an interview with a local publication. [157], Letterman shares a close relationship with the rock and roll band Foo Fighters since their appearance on his first show upon his return from heart surgery. ", "Jay Leno And Jimmy Fallon Win the Late-Night Week of April 27 – May 1 – Ratings", "David Letterman: Julia Roberts helps him beat Conan O'Brien for first time; Denzel Washington, Jonas Brothers visit Thursday", "Who's loyal to Leno, O'Brien, and Letterman? ", Shirley Maclaine on Late Night (1988) (Part 1 of 2), Late-Night with David Letterman Stupid Pet Tricks, Stupid Human Trick on David Letterman 1–1987, David Letterman answers viewer mail in person, Daniel D'Addario, "Biography A TV traditionalist with a weird streak,", TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time, My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman, Second Presbyterian Church of Indianapolis, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, United States presidential election of 2008, Learn how and when to remove this template message, The Letterman Foundation for Courtesy and Grooming, Outstanding Writing in a Variety Or Music Program, Outstanding Variety, Music Or Comedy Program, Outstanding Variety, Music Or Comedy Series, Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing in a Variety Or Music Program, Outstanding Writing for a Variety Or Music Series, Outstanding Writing in a Variety, Music or Comedy Program, Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety Or Music Program, "David Letterman signs off after 33 years and 6,080 shows", "CBS Extends David Letterman Contract Through 2015", "David Letterman's 1984 Playboy Interview. 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