The Airport Show on Letterman, October 21, 1988

[@ganderman1]

Don, please don't ever stop posting these. You are a one-man treasure trove for Letterman fanatics like me. Thank you so much.

[@exiles_dot_tv]

Wow, I thought it was going to be green screen shenanigans but that maniac actually broadcast from an airport. Classic days of Late Night.

[@subtractivemusic]

Exiles Of The Underground the absolute madman did it

[@KiddBloo86]

Just like his Cresco, Iowa morning show episode!

[@JoseTwitterFan]

Can't do that in a post-9/11 world nowadays!

[@TowGunner]

Different time and different Letterman

[@harryshuman9637]

and Conan did his show on a boat

[@that90skid72]

What's extraordinary: this was shot inside JFK's IAB terminal, of which there are barely any pictures today. Amazing.

[@johncornell3665]

This is incredible. No one did, or will ever do this. Dave is the best!

[@kcinks]

Classic Letterman, skits were always over the top.....unmatched comedy!

[@trueknowledgeispower]

Letterman always surprised us with his show,.....this rare production at JFK airport was a stroke of creative genius.

[@toupac3195]

I remember this only as an early teen on my b&w TV in my bedroom. Fortunately I was raised to love cringe comedy...along with the 360° rotating episode 😂

[@_PrimetimePranks]

I miss Dave from his NBC days. These were the best. A true broadcasting genius. Thank you for posting.

[@CinemaDemocratica]

He was absolutely hilarious on the daytime show, too -- I was ten years old and I cried when he aired the last episode of that one because I thought we'd never get to see him again. :D :D :D

[@prairiegirlist]

I can't express how much I love what you've done. I watched Dave from the morning show to his retirement,and the NBC days are gold. Thank you.

[@dongiller]

Thanks!

[@dannythegaminggeek]

@@dongiller I was too young for his NBC days, but I got into him right at the beginning of his CBS show. I would record them on my VCR and watch last night's episode after school. These NBC shows are new to me and I love that there's more Dave to watch.

[@XavierMarciano]

@@dongiller You probably don't check replies anymore but can you recommend any particular episodes? Wasn't alive when these came out and the few eps I've watched so far haven't been big hits for me. Looking for episodes that fans consider prime Letterman.

[@dongiller]

@@XavierMarciano For Late Show, this always stood out for me (despite Bill Cosby’s presence) - kzbin.info/www/bejne/jILKdZibr6eprbc For Late Night, It’s first suggest the anniversary shows, all of which are on this channel.

[@patton303]

Easily the best band that ever played in an airport lounge.

[@MichaelLasotaMusic]

We won't see anything like this again..... Lovely.

[@KowankoMusic]

OMG - the fearless genius of Letterman's Late Night years. It's impossible to imagine something like this playing out on a network talk show now. Late Night really felt like an experimental basement broadcast sometimes, perpetrated by a bunch of irreverent wise-asses. I live for these old episodes, thank you for posting!

[@duroxkilo]

take a glimpse at the guy right after mr Letterman (mr Ferguson) as they take this fascinating concept to the next level. i've learned that all this was possible in part because mr Letterman's production company "owned" the time-slots for the two shows by contract (from a time when nbc literally had nothing profitable to air at those hours of the night). so in a way they were in a Very special situation, it was their "time" and could do whatever they pleased w/ the 2 shows.

[@hankkingsley9300]

Love they didn't clean the confetti off during the break

[@Sloozen1]

Everytime I go to an airport since 1988 I've used that line about 2 guys slow dancing in the tower.

[@allegrad7132]

Amazing to watch, anyone else think Paul and the band were just nailing it that night? They sounded great

[@MichaelJohnson5.0]

The extreme, unending awkwardness is hilarious

[@JayBirdsChannel]

Dave was THE BEST! Damn he was perfect!

[@FloatingAppleProductions]

How did I not know Late Night did a show at an airport? This is FANTASTIC.

[@tombittikoffer412]

He actually did a show from a 747 as well.

[@MJBYouTubeNetwork]

And from a hotel suite in New York City - that Helen Hayes suite.

[@teriowen5744]

I, too, didn't know about this episode. It truly is great early Letterman. Thanks Don for posting.

[@spuzzlightyeartoo]

My god. Probably was dismissed by Dave when this aired, but absolutely classic Letterman television nowadays. Thanks for this.

[@dongiller]

Thanks; I have such a warped perspective on all these shows. Having spent the last two years digitizing them (I'm currently up to early 1989), they're so familiar to me now, and I keep forgetting that they're not to everyone else.

[@shanecollis4207]

Please keep up your wonderul, essential work.

[@AudioRumble]

Great television!

[@yonahmusicemporium5787]

Funny, all these years I remembered Rodney Crowell having HIS feet up on the table but it was Will Lee (bass). Great show and nice performance by Rodney and the band.

[@daytonasayswhat9333]

Were they actually stuck there by accident or was this planned? I'm assuming the latter.

[@jamesten]

This was from that happy era when the show situated itself in unglamorous surroundings (like the C+ Carter Hotel on Times Square) and that particular lounge at JFK. It was an embodiment of the Bob&Ray philosophy of comedy that pomposity often stemmed from mediocrity, or something like that. At any rate, I always loved these one-off episodes. This one even I taped. Thanks for posting it to the highway.

[@JimmySand9]

Fun fact: Dr. Trager is still a practicing dentist; and he's since opened up a location at LaGuardia, as well.

[@michaelknapp8961]

Boy I thought I saw every Dave episode there was but I never saw this one before!!! Thanx for posting!!!

[@billfletcher7602]

A perfect example of why Dave and Late Night was the best of the best.

[@duroxkilo]

when you feel adventurous check out the other lunatic right after mr Dave... whatever craziness was started by mr Dave and the crew, mr Ferguson took it and ran with it.

[@hankkingsley9300]

Daytime and NBC was way better than CBS

[@toddvanfleet8576]

Thanks for the upload. Letterman is sanity survival.

[@rma6070]

I never got to see this back in the day I never knew it existed I remember him doing a show on an actual airplane while it was in flight. But this was also gold as usual from Dave! 👍

[@emilegeorge6225]

Kimmel: "I felt allmost like it somehow happened just for me. Like the heavens had opened up. It seemed just such a waste of network television time. I loved it!" Amen. I felt EXACTLY the same. Thank you Dave! You are the best!

[@galvanaut7119]

This one is a work of art. Thanks for posting this.

[@Tom-yd1ur]

Thanks for uploading these early shows, the 11:30-12:30 shows were my favs. I agree with one of the comments below, Dave probably wasn't thrilled with this one, but that's part of the charm. Best line of the show, "Actually my dentist is at the bus terminal."

[@civlyzed]

Great memories from my first year of college. Thanks again for posting these!

[@jessierain3950]

If Dave did this type of show when he was older he would have really enjoyed it.

[@TheJeremyminer]

Yeah. He was grouchy in this one and it came through. But if he had a little more perspective at the time I think he would’ve really appreciated it on a pure broadcast innovation level.

[@yohei72]

@@TheJeremyminer I've heard he was always super-critical and anxious about the show, including his own performance, and made himself miserable that way as a matter of routine. Knowing that, this was a bit painful to watch.

[@AsherGrace7]

I have absolute zero recollection of an airport episode. If you'd asked me, I would have told you I never saw it. I watched the whole thing and still don't remember it. But then he got to letter #5 and I instantly remembered the letter, because it came from my University. I remember the letter and the forehead bit, but my memory put it all in the studio. Memory is so odd.

[@nedwart]

8:51 Dave: Letter number one. Paul: Letter.. number one. Dave: Thanks, Ed. He's the best for a reason, folks.

[@mrjasonwhite73]

Good grief. He actually did this. Amazing.

[@daytonasayswhat9333]

"He tried to pre-board a flight attendant." Ah, the good ole days...

[@storiedworlds6261]

Airport Dentist would be a great show.

[@vjstv0101]

I don't get bored of Letterman.

[@GeoffNelson]

6:08 Dave: "Also, people with giant vegetables" Paul: "that's good"

[@JohnRoland]

One of my favorite Letterman shows

[@amernice]

this is proof that dave can put on a good show just about anywhere

[@JCO2002]

Letterman unplugged. Brilliant.

[@galvanaut7119]

Freaking brilliant. Thank you, Don Giller.

[@danielpoitras1858]

wonderful... simply wonderful

[@danieldougan269]

I really doubt this would even be possible today with all of the airport security rules. In other words, this would never fly today. Also, I really enjoyed the JFK / Dan Quayle comparison in the intro. This was shortly after Lloyd Bentsen had told Dan Quayle, "You're no Jack Kennedy."

[@aquariusrizing]

This is great stuff. Thank you.

[@rhesreeves5339]

It's almost like they didn't know this was going to be seen again lol. Don you're doing God's work. This one thing is worth the internet existing.

[@Idontwanttopickahandletoday]

Thanks for the uploads ,big ol' school Letterman .Did not.remember this one.

[@untexan]

They must have picked the International Arrivals Building on purpose. If they did it anywhere else in the airport, a bunch of Letterman fans would have gathered and the show wouldn’t have been so fantastically awkward.

[@that90skid72]

Quite so. Doing this in say T5 would have been impossible

[@nkeighren]

Thanks for sharing. These were silly fun days

[@TopStrikerMaverick]

I WAS AT THAT AIRPORT ON THAT VERY DAY IN 1988. AT 12:00 AM THOUGH. Probably why they weren’t there.

[@holton345]

1. If you need a reason to do something pointless then dammit, this is not the America I know and love.

[@tbx59]

Dave choose to go to the airport and do the other things, not because it was funny, but because it was silly.

[@mikewatt8706]

Kennedy

[@Exileonbackroad]

Love the Uncle Floyd reference, he was a huge influence on early Letterman.

[@wejpasadena1]

Almost 33 years ago….wow time flies…this is the zany Dave many of knew and loved…

[@Hammer332]

He tried to pre-board a flight attendant. 😂 The dead crowd adds to the whole thing.

[@joshuaparham88]

thank you for sharing !!!!WOW

[@TighelanderII]

When the Jet engines interrupted Dave, it reminded me of an Elvis Costello concert I was at in 1993. It was at Balboa Park in San Diego, and it was directly under the landing path of the airport that was a mile away.

[@JimmySand9]

Tired: Doing a late night show at an airport. Wired: Doing a late night show at an airport with your own confetti launcher.

[@randall-king]

It was great seeing Rodney Crowell perform on the show. He did a great job here!

[@katiezee2]

This brought to mind the funny JFK ground traffic controller called Kennedy Steve, he's a hoot ! Lots of youtube videos of his funny conversations w/ pilots and others 1990-2017

[@brucehanson6427]

I love Kennedy Steve. I have just discovered him

[@danieldougan269]

How delightfully strange to broadcast a talk show from an airport.

[@RageTVHTX]

that was the idea, In true Dave fashion

[@chukwudiilozue9171]

Conan Remotes are kind of an extension of this.

[@seosamhrosmuc]

"Oslo,Sweden" Paul Shaffer

[@ylette]

Reminds me of Die Hard: "Helsinki, Sweden."

[@shahoccalifornia7392]

lol 😂 He was close

[@pronemanoldbutyoung5548]

I love air ports. I love Letternab. I am so satisfied now.

[@Sarcastro_78]

Back when World Series games 7 wasn't on Christmas Eve. Grew up watching Carson and discovered Letterman when I got older. Kind of like being raised on the Beatles and discovering Metallica.

[@toupac3195]

Fun fact: Lincoln, Nebraska is where the roller skating hall of fame is. It's a great museum. 😁

[@DerekGiesbrecht-e6d]

Don, you are a rockstar for posting these!

[@CreamedCheesed]

Wow they really weren’t afraid to mix up back in the early days of late night!

[@gregfujita2582]

awww, taped on my mom's 48th bday....cool

[@WizardGlik]

And my 19th!

[@DinoHF79]

Great show Dave. Those vegies were unreal.

[@brynwaddell8698]

The best television host ever.

[@MarkAhrens-HeritageFilms]

Great stuff.

[@v8vrooooom]

This one show is faaaar better than any of the Sajak shows (the bizzaro last one before cancellation came close)

[@johnsheldon7716]

Ya gotta admire the guts of a man who can have a late show at an airport and just die for an hour

[@donaldsmith7077]

Wonderful! I like that they didn't bring in a special desk for Dave.

[@andyb811]

I remember The Pat Sajak Show. I sampled a few episodes. He was very low key and subdued. I guess he came after Merv and before Dave. CBS for years aired reruns and movies at 11:30

[@timlabell]

The truly amazing part of all of this is the camera at the airport . 📸📸📸📸 without any incodents. The KZbin public photography (non issue) today show so many of these people loosing their minds over someone with their cellphone taking a picture.💯🤷🤦🙃🤬

[@allendracabal0819]

For those who are wondering... Pat Sajak mentions NBC searching for his replacement for host of the daytime version of Wheel of Fortune. NBC would eventually choose former football player Rolf Benirschke for the gig, but he would only end up doing it for five months, as NBC cancelled the show. CBS would later pick up the show, but use a different host.

[@Edmonchuck]

Wow. a gem. I never saw this when it came out...but now I am nostalgic for the Cold War, laughing at Pat Sajack's show...and Dave when he gave a damn. :)

[@Edmonchuck]

@@ejflor1313 Wow. Holy triggered by a comment from 3 years ago Batman! Letterman even admitted he was phoning it in during the last few months, so seriously calm down! Maybe the COVID fatigue is getting you. Have a nice glass of something you enjoy, kick back, breathe, and stop giving a damn about a celebrity you don't know and a show you enjoyed. I guarantee you have far bigger fish to fry than getting hurt over an ancient Letterman Show... like tying your shoelaces, or breathing in and out, or farting without follow-through.

[@brucehanson6427]

@@Edmonchuck as in Edmonton?

[@Edmonchuck]

@@brucehanson6427 yup

[@browserhound]

Liked the way the band was kicked back and still sounded great as always

[@davesillys8344]

Thanks Don..our Mr Humidity

[@Ultra_Dark_MAGA_Man]

It's 2021. This aired in 1988. Unbelievable that 33 years later, Pat Sajak still hosts Wheel of Fortune. Hope Pat has many more successful years on the show.

[@nodivisionjustunity4364]

I would love to have seen the sound man's face or the sound department's faces when they found out they would be shooting at the airport! Ha ha!

[@tomryan4968]

19:20 I liked Pat Sajak’s Mary Frann reference that only an old Chicagoan would get.

[@nlocher]

love it. Look at all the obsolete airplanes that used to be so bad ass

[@ezelizer]

Love this.

[@Maria-cq7qz]

I wish Dave would make some roadtrip appearances. I would pay to see him

[@lauraenright5639]

That's what we're missing form late night now. People with large vegetables!

[@catherinerosa-baker2937]

The bartender kept filling up his drink every time Dave complimented the place. Then when he insulted it the bartender threw away his drink 😂😂🤣😅😆😁

[@scott1lori282]

Classic. I miss 1988.

[@Maria-cq7qz]

Good Times. I was sad when he left NBC. I liked his NBC show

[@ShaunFailure]

You rule, uploader.

[@Longshot_NYC]

There was a definite "Uncle Floyd Show" vibe, haha.

[@JCSAXON]

Perfectly droll. Love it!

[@floofytown]

"Hi, can you hear me?" "Yes I can hear you." "I can't hear you." "...That's your problem."

[@danielcarlson7516]

Brilliant.

[@promeitheus]

"Lady with giant squash insisted on it." Now that's funny

[@bradhamilton3157]

Pat sajak is still going strong on wheel of Fortune.

[@rwdplz1]

Needed more airport gags, like Elvis at the buffet. Maybe someone riding the baggage carousel, how many Spidermen can you fit in the book store...

[@AaronBowley]

one of the coolest things ever

[@pescitheman]

Letterman Show at it's best!

[@anthonygordon9483]

Reminds me of when Conan did a show on a boat. Conan took a lot of Lettermen's bits. But he called his The Boat Show.

[@pagmatic]

oh, that 80s airport furniture.