8th Anniversary Special on Letterman, February 1, 1990

Taped January 24, 1990, at the L.A. Universal Amphitheatre.
Preceded by a satellite interview and an Al Roker search for Dave.
Featuring Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers performing "A Face in the Crowd."
And a Larry "Bud" outtake that aired at the end of the following 12:30 am broadcast..

[@jedblaugrund597]

I was there for the first taping! Such a fabulous memory and an honor to see the who’s-who of Late Night (and Stevie Ray Vaughn) live.

[@davedrd8829]

Me too, the show was full of Toms- Tom Petty, Tom Hanks, Tom Selleck & of course SRV!!

[@dashfatbastard]

Me too! Wow! I was at the first performance. We were herded into different areas in the adjacent parking lot. I decided to nap, and when I woke up, Fritz Coleman was looking over me with a Mike and a camera. He asked, "How long have you been here?," and I groggy responded, "Well...what time is it?" He got pissy and cut tape. His A.D. said, "He wants to be the one to gets the laughs."

[@jamessechrist7540]

Sad part I haven't heard him say anything about the Greatest Axe man to ever walk the earth 😢

[@MsEpilady]

I went to that first taping with my brother; I mentioned it to him recently and he didn't even remember going! 🤔😑😆. Good times!

[@agitatedmongoose]

Wow that's awesome. That is quite a flex for a Letterman fan. I went to quite a few tapings. A few for Late Night and the Late Show. But I was only in grade 8 when it first came on and didn't start watching faithfully until 84 but then didn't miss an episode after that (caught quite a few of the first 2 years in its short time on A & E repeats though too).

[@suzannemowat6167]

Man I can’t believe I missed all this fun through the years . I’m glad someone taped it. No one has ever been able to replace David Letterman’s’ sense of humor.

[@andyinoregon]

The live music retrospective starting at 43:50 is proof that Letterman was rock and roll's best friend on network television during the decade of the 1980s. Then we get Tom Petty performing his stunning songwriting collaboration with ELO's Jeff Lynne "A Face In the Crowd."

[@alcapone5876]

Thank's Don! You are a rare gem on youtube, just doing this for the love of the Legend himself, you have a hart of gold I love you!

[@alcapone5876]

@@baldersackthethird768 Agree. Perhaps a backup channel? The cultural significance of this archive footage can not be overstated.

[@tomogrady1092]

are you a bot?

[@user-hf1bk7jt2b]

6:43 The shouts of people exploding at the beginning of music and video footage gives me goose bumps.

[@antlerking69]

The Boston Terrier attacking the vacuum, had me crying! Thanx Don!

[@PaulMeyer]

When the camera pans the audience at the beginning of the show, I'm the letter "D". lol

[@229BlackHat]

On a scale of 1-100000000 how fantastic was this show live

[@z20000z]

Hi Don, Thank you so much for making these great shows and Dave moments available to us. They really bring quite a bit of joy into my life these days. In the 80s it was my favorite show. I was a viewer from the daytime show era until just into the CBS era, when I was too busy and Dave did not have the same jovial demeanor. Thanks again! Vic

[@dongiller]

Thanks, Vic!

[@z20000z]

@@dongiller You're welcome Don! I forgot to say that I appreciate the hard work that you put into these videos! Stay safe and well! Best, Vic

[@pamsawyer6615]

March 2021. Wow I miss these shows! Rotary phones, corny commercials, and unity in our nation. Wheres a time machine when u need one?

[@johnsjohnson448]

I love this Era of Television. From News to Late Night, it was a great time to watch Television! Thanks for sharing.

[@ericw3964]

I was there, what a great memory, an honor to be there.

[@qthelost]

The energy in that place just looked incredible.

[@user-uw6gk5yl6n]

Thank you for posting all this stuff. I really enjoy watching old Letterman shows.

[@randall-king]

This is my favorite of the anniversary specials that I’ve seen so far. Thanks, Don!

[@RogerDeforest]

I was at the taping of the show, in the middle near the stage. It was great fun. Before the show, my friend and I hopped the fence and made our way behind the venue where guys were wrangling the white horse, so I knew that horse was coming up on the show. We asked if they had any cue cards or mementos of the show they could give us and they just told us to leave. Ha! Didn't even call security. Those were different times, I guess.

[@DirtyFrank68]

I was there with my friends and it was great fun!! The Ovation lasted forever!

[@muckrak3r]

It's so difficult to remember now, but this really truly was breakthrough entertainment. There was only scripted garbage on all 3 or 4 channels. And then this show.

[@AndrewHunterMusic]

yes! i recorded this when it aired. watched it so many times on vhs...haven’t seen in decades but this is all burned into my ROM. now i know where i got the “knee deep in hookers and gin” phrase i’ve used many times. And i always thought the “pancake jack” should have been called “the flap jack”!

[@randyj420]

Watching Dave was a huge part of the/my 80s. And look at that amazing flashback of music guests! This was a particularly great special. Thanks! I'm kind of upset I didn't figure out a way to attend this at Universal. I used to go to so many shows there.

[@johnmac4020]

SRV is in the band! Play it Stevie!!

[@1970borntorun]

Thank you so much for these David Letterman Anniversary Specials, Don !! I used to have this Anniversary Set from Time-Life on VHS back in the 90s, and lost them lol

[@TANTRUMGASM]

19:26 WOW .. The Great Stevie Ray Vaughan sitting in !! always could use Some Skylark though

[@ArchRivalsCo]

That’s Deborah Norville.

[@TANTRUMGASM]

@@ArchRivalsCo ..you are correct Sir..got My TV hostesses mixed up,..

[@scenevision356]

@@TheAdamfee Exactly ! Skylark carried the Letterman show and probably the network during the "lean years". He sacrificed his gig at the silver slipper for Dave, he gave the people what they want...."alot of shakin....alot of thiIss. "

[@qthelost]

And sad to think that SRV would die later that year. So good to see him.

[@cowmix]

This was the only episode I saw live. Pretty amazing.

[@aaronwestendorp7352]

Didn't realize they used the Cheers cold open for more than just the final show on NBC, and riding the horse into the sunset too

[@dongiller]

Both clips from the final show taken from here.

[@user2144]

Thanks, Don.

[@joemuggs100]

Letterman, at the height of his powers!

[@jjhamel30]

I was there

[@FlockOfHawks]

Top of the Tube - i love the pregnant lady at 55:08 , but she's only one of the thousand highlights of the show - thanx a million , Don !

[@bbqnetwork8536]

Thanks Don

[@yohei72]

47:46 - That's it! I *demand* to see the full footage of Larry Bud as Orbison!

[@dongiller]

All here - kzbin.info/www/bejne/hGmamqJ5l8Rpl8U

[@randyj420]

@@dongiller thanks - I was going to look that up ;)

[@mackdaddyg321]

Thanks for posting this, Don. Lots of great memories watching these specials back in the day. I had forgotten about the Connie Chung segment. Have you posted the full piece already? If not, will you please add it to your already long list of requests?

[@dongiller]

I haven’t yet. Will whenever. :)

[@dhpbear2]

51:26 - Wasn't Rose also working at 'Just Shades'? :)

[@ziggystardust911]

@ Don Giller... ..seeing SRV on this 8th Anniversary special reminded of one of the many reasons I've always admired Dave... ..Dave helped the careers of guys like Warren Zevon and Elvis Costello to go from 'cult' status to a much larger following... ..when I saw SRV joining the band, I couldnt help but wonder if Dave -- and/or his staff -- ever tried to invite Irish legendary guitarist/vocalist Rory Gallagher to perform (and be interviewed) on the show... ..even though Rory once toured with Rush, he never became as famous as he should have in the USA.. ..had Rory been invited to perform, he would've "brought the house down", the same way James Brown did ! ..he gave SO MUCH energy to each performance, you couldnt help but love him and be 'in awe' !!! 😮 ..I was fortunate enough to see Rory in St. Louis in August of 1979, just before he came out with 'Top Priority' in September of '79... ..even though Rory spent nearly all of his time on the road -- worldwide -- do you have ANY idea if Dave and/or his staff EVER invited him to be a guest on Late Night ? ..with Dave's knowledge of music and musicians such as Warren Zevon, Elvis Costello, and Wes Montgomery (when Stan Jordan was a guest on Late Night), it just seems logical that Dave would be a fan of Rory Gallagher, and try to invite him on as frequently as possible ! ..had Rory appeared on Late Night, he'd most likely gone from a 'cult' following (in the US), to a much larger, nation-wide following, such as Warren Zevon and Elvis Costello... ..any idea if Dave and/or his staff ever invited Rory Gallagher to be a guest..!?? 🤔

[@dongiller]

Not a clue why he never appeared on any of Dave’s shows (I checked).

[@aaronz7056]

Sadly we would lose Stevie Ray Vaughn later that same year....

[@davedrd8829]

In attendance that evening at the UA !!

[@michaelmcdonald8452]

"Totally lost it on the question of ... marriage." This is a perfect example of how Dave gets painted as difficult and a jerk simply for not having some phony "cheerful" persona. That was not only a mild response, I would consider that friendly.

[@joelhenderson4646]

Did they literally just use Koyaanisqatsi footage in that intro?

[@orangemanok5800]

Connie Chung really seems like a fun date.

[@DVincentW]

1:03:39 Thats my favorite Dave Letterman moment.

[@paulcalder2792]

The Late Show anthem never sounded as good as when Jerry Vale sang it on this anniversary show. The 8th anniversary show was arguably the peak of Late Night.

[@michaelgeorge5981]

What a great show! Thanks for posting. Does anyone know what the song is that they’re playing at 27:41 I’ve heard it on several Late Night shows but don’t know what it is

[@dongiller]

Wow - it’s at the tip of my tongue. Will return to this.

[@michaelgeorge5981]

My friend knew the song it’s Them Changes by Band of Gypsies. Thanks again for posting that songs been driving me crazy 😎

[@dongiller]

@@michaelgeorge5981 Excellent! Thank you.

[@andyrose5616]

39:10 I’m going to assume this was not the first attempt at that taping to make the shaving cream dog work.

[@dongiller]

It failed during the dress show earlier that day, which explains Dave’s comments and surprise that it worked for the evening taping.

[@andyrose5616]

@@dongiller Dave was always a little wary when the dog was coming up. No wonder he pulled the hell out of that cable. kzbin.info/www/bejne/h6augYqdgaeinNU I remember watching the special and laughing at the patch job they had to make of Calvert's appearance. I had hoped they would eventually show the outtake, and they didn't disappoint.

[@dongiller]

Andy Rose Calvert’s outtake occurred in the evening taping, so the afternoon dress was used in its place. (Yes, I have the afternoon dress.)

[@andyrose5616]

@@dongiller It's easy to spot the splice between the two shows since Calvert left the torch in the cauldron too long and burned up the paper "flame." Once they cut to the afternoon taping, the flame is intact again.

[@jedblaugrund597]

@@dongiller Can you PLEASE post it? I would love to see the one I attended.

[@carlharrison9503]

How did you ever get all these stars on on stage?

[@Mois52]

Hi Don (and everyone else), do you happen to know who the artist playing the keyboard at 47:17 is? He's the only one I've been unable to identify.

[@dongiller]

The great Sly Stone. His appearance is complete on another upload.

[@Mois52]

@@dongiller Many thanks!

[@michaelmcdonald8452]

Poor SRV only had six months left

[@richardyoon4209]

I think the production of the 8th anniversary special was a big headache for Dave as there was not a 9th anniversary special and they came back for 10.

[@AudioFileZ]

Love Dave...especially before he got a bit snarky to quote a Chris Farley-ism.

[@UpstateMediaNY]

Hey Don...any chance of digging up the night with the camera races as seen in the news report near the beginning? Keep up the masterful work, sir!

[@dongiller]

Sure. In time. :) And thanks!

[@davidmatthews3131]

That musical guest retrospective had more shameful hairdos per minute than any screen should endure.

[@timmcleaners1987]

Gene Shalit fucking aced that.

[@chrisrobinson679]

Take it like a man, Regis lololol

[@DLPugh]

SRV!!

[@carlharrison9503]

SRV !!!!!!!!

[@pibly7784]

Anniversaries are usually celebrated in fives. Lol. No problem. Love Paul’s vest !

[@wannabe4668]

Larry bud Melman

[@johnsjohnson448]

1:04:20 LOL! EPIC!