David Letterman Intro Compilation

[@michaelcrennan7856]

14:16 was my childhood staying up late to watch him run across stage behind the screen, come out, turn his back to the audience and pose for the nightly pic and then crazy arm movements for Paul Chafer to go crazy with the music....it was a simpler time

[@Rob_Kates]

Excellent compilation. Dave and Johnny Carson are my two favorite late night hosts. They left their mark on the genre. They were two pros. Not everyone can do late night, but the two of them set the standard. We miss you Dave!

[@IMunlucky]

That big old B3 and leslie of Paul's always puts a smile on my face. Thanks for posting.

[@Arduex2020]

Every intro is fantastic...Makes NY look like a very magical place with a certain romance... makes me feel some type of way...

[@SchlaflosDELUXE]

Gosh, I love this synth-sound at the beginning of the old intros :D

[@ozthewerewol4]

I loved the one-off jokes that Alan Kalter used to do just before Letterman walked on stage. "AOL's customer of the year" killed me 😂

[@southwriter]

The mid '80's version with the shot of the helicopter going into the World Trade Towers and through them I fondly remember, and it is chilling.

[@ericm242910]

That's a great way to trigger flashbacks. Very creepy after the events of 9/11, but very cool back then.

[@ericm242910]

It's crazy that may have been the last sight for a few people before they died.

[@chattiermike140]

Textbook definition of “aged poorly”

[@punchline43]

Doesn't really have to be a helicopter, coulda been Superman for that matter.

[@lorettariley7420]

STILL THE BEST LATE NIGHT THEME SONG ON THE PLANET. PAUL SHAFFER AND THE CBS ORCHESTRA WERE UNTOUCHABLE. 🎶❤❤❤❤❤❤❤🎶

[@MJBYouTubeNetwork]

So were Paul Shaffer and the World's Most Dangerous Band. They both were untouchable.

[@cmburke7]

I remember the early CBS days and waiting standby on a cold winters day. Was always a fun time.

[@Bryanw1027]

Before my first time going to NYC at 18, his intro was my impression of the city. I miss this time.

[@JordanTaylorvision]

Nicely put together, and great informative blurbs for each intro. Amazing how many variations there were and so many changes, from minor tweaks to huge overhauls. Nice work and a great tribute! Still hard to believe Dave's off the air. He is greatly missed.

[@brianreed31]

R.i.p Alan Kalter

[@ProdigyBowlersTour]

I miss Dave. Awesome tribute. A real trip down Memory Lane. Love the information you provided for each intro. I would echo what someone else wrote when they mentioned the different intros for Dave's road trips to Chicago and LA. And I didn't even remember him doing weeks in London and Las Vegas, but apparently he did. Anyway, nice work on this. I didn't even notice there being so many changes to the open, but in watching this video, I remembered every single one of them. What a run Dave had. He is sorely missed.

[@mr.blackwell5423]

After Letterman moved his business to CBS he finally got the long end of the stick! Eventually, Dave's show was the No.1 show for me! Much thanks to Alan Kalter! What a cool voice! I miss both David Letterman & Jay Leno! The Magnificent Two! I MISS the 90's so much!

[@christopherkotsopoulos701]

This is fantastic! I'd really love to see something like this done for all the different SNL intros

[@patton303]

The reason they eventually returned to the original theme song after years of not being able to play it at CBS is because NBC screwed up the ownership rights contract and it was voided after 5 years. The ownership rights returned to Paul.

[@samsticka]

I never understood why Dave would run backstage from one end to the other, then come out. He started doing that in the early 2000's. Why?

[@johnking5174]

It goes back some years, when they felt Dave should come out to greet the audience from the right side of the entrance (our right side when we watch it on screen) and the only way Dave could get there is to run across to get to the other side. However, Dave's time keeping was not great and on some occasions he was caught on camera running across and so they decided to make this a bit, and it became a tradition. The reason why he always then turns round and taps his watch is to his stage managers'(Biff Henderson) rude insistance when Dave was close to running late at the start of a show. Biff had been nagging Dave (by tapping his watch to Dave), insisting that he was going to mess up the shows' timing by being unprepared to start the show. Dave has been doing this show for many years (30?) and he found Biff's remark a bit overbearing - so now - as kind of a dig - he turns to Biff and taps his watch.

[@nick56677]

​@@johnking5174who tf does biff think he is? Dave found him on the street amd he has thst audacity? I never found thst biff guy funny anyways. More of a forced annoyance.

[@joshpritt2146]

13:48 this version of the intro and this version of the theme for far I know used as early as June 6, 2006.

[@robjackson5245]

The opening with the trumpet is popping

[@look4shows]

This show was so good.... It was an original for it's time, as a late night talk show. More a variety hour. I was in my mid-twenties back then and both the fantastic theme song and intro totally were what New York City was and still is. Notice how everyone was dressed up in the audience in the 80's. More respect then.....I saw the show live and Dr. Ruth Westiemer was a guest.

[@mongoslade22]

Thanks for posting> Very entertaining.

[@aozorahaou2643]

I miss watching his show as a kid growing up in the late 90s and 2000s

[@danieldougan8613]

My favorite is "Available as a four-door and sporty coupe."

[@joejoerunya8908]

I always loved how the band would go nuts in the beginning

[@coasterdude407]

Thanks for the walk in time. Interesting to see how the sets changed.

[@TownieGirl1974]

And at 2:00 a legend is born. God I miss Letterman. Thank goodness he's coming back with a new show on Netflix. We need him more than never right now.

[@cylon6]

The theme 10 minutes in is my favourite. Wish they kept it longer.

[@johnsjohnson448]

I liked the original CBS Version and believe that the feeling of the show opens changed once Mr. Wendell was no longer announcing "LIVE" versus pre-recorded. He was also no longer performing audience warm-up either. Mister Wendell was simply the best.

[@MJBYouTubeNetwork]

And now, a man, who knows only too well that science can be used for both good and evil, David Letterman!

[@danieldougan8613]

It's so eery to see the World Trade Center in so many of these intros.

[@andyengle]

Will Lee's bass line though.

[@gbc6480]

12:43 I started from here..as high school kid watching from Asia

[@gchsbus]

I ALWAYS LOVED him coming out and bending over to touch his toes then opening his jacket on one side, then the other. Would crack me up every single time !!!

[@bryansarracino8623]

Oh man that 89 intro going into the World Trade. The band sounded tight!!!

[@ChrisJMoreno]

I used to work the second shift back in 1984 and would always wind down watching the show. The theme at 2:38 is burned into my psyche.

[@TommyVarekai]

6:38 really showcases the bass

[@bruhcolli5220]

I miss Allan Kalter, he's like Leslie Nielsen of Late Night

[@danieldougan269]

Don't forget Bill Wendell, who did it first!

[@zufgh]

@@danieldougan269 Wendell's voice just fits the whole Letterman aesthetic better. It's old-timey and slightly caricature and it's just perfect. Kalter was okay, but I always thought his voice sounded too classy and slick for the classic Late Night vibe. It definitely wouldn't have worked fit in during Letterman's 80s era.

[@dasefxrob]

I absolutely miss the "world's most dangerous band"

[@assignmentearth2899]

No doubt. Paul, the best in the business.

[@YogsenForfoth]

Without question. The best house band for any late night talk show. Paul is simply unbeatable.

[@megamanj2004X]

When did David Letterman began wearing his glasses more prominently? It seems like he only wore glasses for off-camera interviews and on a few occasions on set but not as frequently as he would towards the very end of the ‘90s onward.

[@johnking5174]

It was around the millennium, 1999 where he gradually chose to wear them more often. Dave had some eye problems, including getting eye floaters and flashes in his eye. Wearing the glasses helped him, and he didn't want to wear contact lenses, so he just kept wearing the glasses, saved time.

[@GeekGameCulture]

12:42 Does anyone know the name of the substitute announcer?

[@jnadle1]

+JD Shadow It sounded like John Cramer.

[@anthonyh9930]

Very good!

[@tellyhennessey5422]

Dam!! I always watched Dave since I was 13.... I ALWAYS had a crush on him... He has a "BIG DICK"😍😍😋😋😋😋... You can see his crotch b4 he buttons his jackets... I don't think he wore underwear... I would have loved to open his pants and totally find out

[@tellyhennessey5422]

Oh god I would have loved to sleep with him

[@tellyhennessey5422]

I went on his show twice... That theatre REALLY REALLY is cold

[@kalelc1996]

That GMC RTS @ 13:11 tho.... (sighs) the good ole days, well at least we still got the TMC and NovaBus RTSs plyin the streets of NYC! #TransitBuffProblems

[@feggyduss6463]

The ending is Epic! Just like Dave! Great job with the editing! I love it! Thanks for sharing.

[@evalambert8868]

my family loves this show!!! ohh

[@Mac1Camp]

Eva Lambert why

[@jnadle1]

There was an episode where the CBS Orchestra was joined by a full-range orchestra of other horns and strings. It was most likely in April of 2000 or 2001, the guests included Carson Daly and CBS Mailbag.

[@logofilm8644]

Jason Nadle can you upload it

[@salehbinjasseral-aulaqi-2n296]

David Letterman (1993-2015) Stephen Colbert (2015-Now)

[@RoherDaCrusher_YT293]

It Came out in 2005 they have an HD Intro 13:48

[@YnotNomis]

Love them all but nothing was better than the classic NBC openng back in the early 80s.

[@willdeboer4071]

Saw the intro from 11/10/11. Do you have the show from five days later, 11/15/11? Dave does this Top Ten list about the name "Newt" and his banter with Paul is some of the funniest I've ever heard. Thanks!

[@KevinMeno2008]

The Brooklyn Bridge model is now at The Chris Gerhart Show on Fusion.

[@robertcotter8128]

Love the looks at old, gritty New York City before they Disneyfied it.

[@connarcowanakacliffordoneo9095]

you need to put the la and the london episodes. also the NBC ones from chicago, la and las vegas would be cool too

[@JasonDelarosa2000]

I grew up with _Paul Shaffer and the CBS Orchestra_ plus, Brooke Shields AND her beauty are ageless... 😏💗

[@gameshowguy2000]

On the 1996 intro, when did they switch out the set with the doors to the set with the "curtain" (I don't know what to call that thing that rises and falls)?

[@Owl321-b1c]

What is that theme i know its letterman but is diffrent at 16:07

[@johnking5174]

It is just a jazzed up version of the Letterman theme, thats all

[@matthewlee9576]

Hell yeah

[@matthewlee9576]

How about that band?

[@BenBrislawn]

Alan Kalter had nothing on Bill Wendell. Wendell made him sound like an amateur high teenager in speech class.

[@bruhcolli5220]

Ben Brislawn Allan Kalter has more bits, and I think he's the best

[@outsidethewaxbox]

The way Kalter downshifts Dave's first name and turns it into three syllables is legendary. I was too young to watch the NBC iteration of Letterman, so listening to Kalter over Wendell really says "late night" to me. Almost in the same way that I preferred Joel Godard over Andy Richter..

[@MrFairfax40]

February 2,1982 December 31,1986 January 1,1987 January 1,1992

[@jparchive296]

13:48

[@wongleebruce]

Bud Melman stange but perfect for the show nice intro

[@timjones9128]

The one at 10:15 is my favorite

[@MrFairfax40]

August 30,2006 April 2,2013

[@MrFairfax40]

August 30,1993 November 1,1993 December 1,1995

[@MrFairfax40]

April 22,2013 May 20,2015

[@MrFairfax40]

March 30,1999 August 31,2001

[@vinniemystery563]

Still don't understand why Dave didn't call it CBS MOST DANGEROUS BAND ? 🤔

[@johnking5174]

He called it the CBS Orchestra as a homage to the Tonight Show of Johnny Carson, as NBC always referred to them as the NBC Orchestra, so Dave, always looked up to Johnny, decided to call it the CBS Orchestra.

[@markjackson6431]

@@johnking5174also NBC owned the name “The Worlds Most Dangerous Band” at the time

[@markjackson6431]

@@johnking5174it was fitting to call his musical accompaniment the “CBS Orchestra” because they were allowed to have a horn section. something that Johnny forbid during their Late Night run

[@MrFairfax40]

January 1,1992 May 3,1993

[@MrFairfax40]

September 1,2001 August 29,2005

[@theresamcpherson9676]

7:17

[@canaldovinhetas5234]

10:17

[@canaldovinhetas5234]

11:41

[@canaldovinhetas5234]

12:42

[@DaniboyBR2]

I can see why he was into the interns, meow.

[@harveyfantas954]

They had me until 11:00 "and now...infulential (name your party) fundraiser". Why did talk show hosts decide to ruin their shows by taking a position on politics?

[@danieldougan269]

It was just a silly, throwaway intro line. Don't make too much out of it. As it turns out, Letterman is a liberal, as were Johnny Carson, Jay Leno, and virtually every other late-night host, but this wasn't about that. Colbert is #1 in the ratings in large part because so many of us hate Donald Trump.

[@zufgh]

@@danieldougan269 I wouldn't brag about loving a show simply because it feeds into your political bias lol. That's not something to be proud of tbh.

[@michaelcrennan7856]

When David Letterman retired, that was the end of late night comedy. Now It’s all filled with “comedians” that want to be late night political wannabe talk show hosts.

[@robertmusgrave9236]

Michael Crennan if it wasn’t that way Craig Ferguson should have taken over instead over Colbert.

[@zufgh]

In fairness, Letterman himself started to fall into that a little during his later years. I don't like him as much when the show's in its twilight years and he seems overly curmudgeonly and basically just an angry lib. I love his shtick in the 80s/90s period though. Letterman was young, insanely cool, and most importantly, utterly hilarious at that time.

[@theresamcpherson9676]

7:17