Bill Wendell interview with David Letterman

[@TheRSteinway]

Bill Wendell was a legend. I love him and no one can match that energetic, muscular voice. Thank you for posting.

[@RobertFerguson1974]

I grew up watching Carson's Tonight Show & Late Night with David Letterman. I never knew his name back then, but I loved listening to Wendell's Late Night intros. Recently I've caught reruns here on KZbin, and I have gotten to learn who he was. I think it's a shame that they didn't use him as much onscreen as they did his successor, Alan Kalter. I haven't noticed in the comments here if this has already been addressed, but I learned today that Wendell announced those iconic Old Navy commercials in the 90s. Great announcer, right up there with Don Pardo. Thanks for posting this interview. Just awesome!

[@observerguy5031]

Bill Wendell was one of NBC's famed "in-house announcers" (along with Don Pardo). He was assigned to announce Dave's morning show in 1980. Dave requested Bill be assigned to announce for Late Night in 1982. Bill retired from NBC in 1993, but Dave asked Bill to announce for Late Show on CBS on a free-lance basis. He retired completely in 1995 and was succeeded by Alan Kalter.

[@Noveltooner]

Bill was also the announcer of the original "Sale of the Century" with Jack Kelly and, later, Joe Garagiola. I loved his audience warm-ups. He had originally retired as a longime NBC staff announcer following the end of f"Late Night with David Letterman," but he was persuaded by Dave to come out of retirement to help him launch "The Late Show." I used to catch him playing tennis at the New York Athletic Club's summer home at Travers Island near New Rochelle.

[@charlesmeadows6285]

In addition,among other things Bill Wendell joined fellow NBC staff announcers-besides Matt Thomas in substituting for (behind the mike) Mel Brandt in the award-winning General Electric College Bowl.

[@johnnysama]

Additionally, Wendell left Letterman's show in 1995, two years after the move to CBS.

[@johnpelletier7641]

Golden age.

[@mitchweiner]

Was he also the unseen announcer on the original " Dark Shadows " ?

[@3zy]

Died in 1999 actually. His obit was in the NY Times. :(

[@videoarchives1000]

@bobszvetics1 Retired, according to the wikipedia page on him

[@dallasbrubaker6054]

When was this in 1982?

[@oafleming]

Did he say back with Arsenio Hall?