LNwDL, August 26, 1988, Full, Stereo

By request from someone who was in the audience: The complete show, with guests Paul Harvey and Jerry Seinfeld, and a performance of "Living for You" by Joan Armatrading.
Plus Viewer Mail with "Robert Wright" (Elmer Gorry), Biff Henderson, and a call from "Jack Nicholas" (Jeff Martin).
And Bridget Jackson's last Nest Egg appearance.*
And a Cold Close with Dave Rygalski as the Amish asking for help.
*The full Bridget Jackson Late Night collection is here: • The Bridget Jackson Co...

[@ELMS]

Love these full episodes. Each show has its own unique vibe. The way jokes and references “circle back” over the program. Thanks Don.

[@allendracabal0819]

In comedy, the term for that is "callback". That's a technique that Letterman loves and uses a lot.

[@an3ony]

jeez. the episodes really make me long for older times. I remember having a little b&w TV in my bedroom and I'd sneak this show at night. I'd be luggage at school the next day but it was worth it

[@daveidmarx8296]

This aired on my 18th birthday! Woo-hoo! I got an '85 Camaro. Fun times...

[@DkpProductions]

Spoiled brat huh?

[@ablebaker1275]

I really enjoy seeing the old David Letterman shows.

[@robertdavis4192]

I really appreciate how natural Letterman was on camera, maybe I'm naive to think it, but I feel like what you see on the show is who Dave really is.

[@ObscuredByTime]

You're so awesome, Don. Thanks for all of it!

[@FromTheRoomOfLittleEase]

This was a perfect episode of Late Night; exactly right, perfectly balanced. It's not so much a "stand out", but a perfect specimen. The lights going out, the tension with Seinfeld, the confetti, the beer commercial skit at the end, and the excellent, if mostly forgotten in America, "adult contemporary R & B" pop performance which showcased the programs predilection for adult, intelligent critically well regarded fare in a gentle subtle way rather than the usual "hip old timer" or young alternative act that would usually be what most of us were anticipating on the average night. Instead we get a British songwriter of note reflecting another, more eclectic side, of Late Night that gave the show that credibility and depth that isn't mentioned much but was certainly the heart of the thing. From the humor to the overall production it is that effortless intellect and reluctantly cosmopolitan foundation that makes the silly droll banter and self consciously unscripted shtick so effective. No, I can't say this is my "favorite episode" nor would it be the first episode I'd introduce to a neophyte...and that's exactly what I like about it.

[@nedwart]

As they say in radio, this one is "middle-of-the-road".

[@annstevens6223]

I sensed tension between Dave and Jerry too. Wasn’t sure if it was just me or not.

[@USALeonHeart]

"Platonic ideal" is the complimentary phrase you're looking for.

[@waynekennedy8710]

That’s my grandfather Elmer Gorry playing Robert Wright ha

[@dongiller]

Wayne, I plan to put together a collection of all of your grandfather’s appearances on Dave. Tell me more about him, that you remember, at least. All I know of him is that he was a Production Manager, and that he passed away in August 2006. I loved the characters he played on the show.

[@daveidmarx8296]

I love @6:45 when Paul spoils Dave's jokey top-ten category. Dave's "uh-HUH!" reaction is priceless.

[@iansg75]

26:27 is a great one too!

[@marcovanzola884]

"SB and M married to SP" = Sandra Bernhard and Madonna married to Sean Penn. I'm a real Colombo aren't I?

[@RozarSmacco]

At 1:05 Cool finger tapping licks on the guitar !

[@Rattlehead930]

Man oh man, I love these full episode uploads. Thanks a lot, Don! By the way, does anybody know the name of the tune Paul and the band plays when Robert C. Wright enters? :-)

[@dongiller]

Paul actually announces the tune when cueing the band: "Once in a Lifetime." From the stage musical "Stop the World --- I Want to Get Off," written by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse, and made popular by Shirley Bassey in 1965, heard here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l5qlg39ufMeMatE

[@erickziglar7967]

I seem to recall Bob Costas being on the show after one of the first Stereo broadcasts & he & Dave were joking about the all-star game in baseball being broadcast in stereo. Dave said something like I saw a foul ball & I had to duck away because the sound was so good.

[@OuterGalaxyLounge]

The World's Most Dangerous band > The CBS Orchestra. I loved it when the band was funky.

[@mikestevenson576]

Yes! I think some of it had to do with the size of the room. Everything about Letterman was better in the TV studio confines than a big theater with a high ceiling.

[@FromTheRoomOfLittleEase]

The world's most dangerous band on Late Night was THE best TV band ever! Letterman came on the scene with a ROCK BAND instead of a jazz ensemble! Acting like the whole crew just showed up to the studio and where broadcasting a show unbeknownst to NBC or something! Like they got the wrong schedule the first day of school and just continued attending the wrong class anyway. It was the best late night television show of all time! Carson at his height was the only thing that ever came close.

[@arobsz]

Best cold close of all time ... my favorite anyway. Cold closes were rare since it was usually unclear how much time would be available at the end. There was another where Dave gathered everyone around the desk and they all wore guns in holsters on their shoulders. Dave then went into detail about how he solved the "murder" of that night's guest. This was bumped 2 or 3 times before finally having the time to air and it had to be re-shot each time to fit the show. Who was the guest that was finally "murdered?"

[@dongiller]

December 22, 1987 (taped Dec. 2). Dave, Paul, Anton, and Sid discuss how Dave solved that night's murder: Irma Dreifuss had bumped off, you guessed it, Donald Trump. Sincere question -- how do you know the concept had been bumped on previous shows?

[@arobsz]

Wow, Don. Of all the people it could have been. Amazing it was Trump! Eerie with the JFK files being released tomorrow...(be sure to keep an eye out for anything on Stanley R. Zamka) This anecdote was in Joe Toplyn's book as he was the author of the bit also. A lot of good stuff in there about Dave and Late Night. Thanks again for your knowledge and the videos! -- Zach Robertson

[@dongiller]

Ahhh -- I have his book but haven't gotten around to it yet. Thanks!

[@cleavitt303]

Thanks Don!

[@MikeSmith-en5lu]

Wow! I just saw this! What a show! Thanks Don. Two of my favorite legends on the same show..Paul Harvey and Jerry Seinfeld. Plus the bits were great! Speaking of which, does anyone know the song that Paul plays after the Biff Henderson bit going into and then coming out of that commercial break? It’s kind of a circus music feel. I’ve heard him play it a lot but never knew what it was.

[@dongiller]

“Life” - Sly and the Family Stone. Here’s their original version- kzbin.info/www/bejne/kJm4qHmDhLaLqLc

[@MikeSmith-en5lu]

Don Giller Thank you so much Don! Very much appreciated! I’ve been binge watching your channel here ever since I discovered it. I can’t thank you enough for all the hard work and wonderful memories from the show!

[@dongiller]

Thanks!!

[@MikeSmith-en5lu]

Don Giller Do you happen to have the “Too tired to do a show” show on here? I’m sure you have it but wasn’t sure what to search it under.

[@dongiller]

Mike Smith I have every show. I haven’t uploaded this one yet, but others have. Here’s one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r5Oqh6eGgZ2FbqM

[@timharrod]

35:45 The "Denver" story! That's turned up in some biographies of Dave.

[@LeeKav]

Do you know what song the band plays just after the 22 minute mark? It's on the tip of my tongue and it's killing me. I want to say it's by Blind Faith?

[@LeeKav]

Oh! It's 'In the Presence of the Lord', nevermind

[@NicePete]

The night before my wedding!

[@mansmithlegend1]

Okay, Don. I need your help again. What's the song playing at 17:15? I've heard this one in a number of clips.

[@dongiller]

“Life” - Sly and the Family Stone. Original version here - kzbin.info/www/bejne/emiUh4lpZbKMpck

[@mansmithlegend1]

@@dongiller Amazing. Thanks, Don. You're the best.

[@MrSean03839]

Did they say the writers we're back for this show? LoL.

[@Bradley5221]

What’s the song that concludes the top ten list??

[@dongiller]

“This Boy” - Beatles. Lennon/McCartney composition arranged as the instrumental “Ringo’s Theme” in their 1964 debut film “A Hard Days Night.”

[@KowankoMusic]

Ah, Will Lee's much-ballyhooed mullet perm era!

[@okay8094]

Who wrote Letterman’s opening remark jokes other than himself I would assume? And he always told them as though he wrote them and are reminiscent of his style of humour. They always seemed to have a similarly-odd quirk to them, almost anti jokes.

[@PatTheBatmanFan]

Hey Don, ever been to the Old Town Bar from the opening sequence?

[@dongiller]

I’ve walked by it but never stepped inside.

[@PatTheBatmanFan]

Don Giller Shocking! 😬

[@AtomicPunk23]

In the intro, did anyone else feel a pang of sadness when the camera panned through a floor in the world trade center?

[@OmarAli-gm5lx]

AtomicPunk23 no

[@tvbarn]

And a Dan Quayle joke for the 29th night in a row

[@tvbarn]

TWO jokes

[@OuterGalaxyLounge]

Lost it when he drilled Paul's head...

[@glen1ster]

Paul Harvey, Jerry Seinfeld, and Joan Armatrading

[@PatTheBatmanFan]

Hey! That movie “Yesterday” stole the “Hey Dude” joke!

[@mikestevenson576]

People are hacking on Joan Armatrading here but I really like this song and performance. I don't know anything about her or her music but this is in my pop wheelhouse and of course Paul's band gives everything a bit more life.

[@jeffstrainer1471]

Anton fig is a beast

[@marcelhaik8035]

I didn't like the swipe they took at Ringo on top 10 position number one; Ringo was very talented -you would have to be a drummer to understand.

[@debbie2027]

Joan Armatrading ....yikes