10th Anniversary Special on Letterman, February 6, 1992 (stereo)

Taped at Radio City Music Hall January 18.
“I remember Dave took me up on stage during one of the commercials and we looked out at the audience of 6,000 people, and he said, ‘Gaines, you’re never going to see something like this again’ and, of course, I haven’t.”
- Barbara Gaines, May 19, 1997
First, the interviews:
1. Katie Couric on "The Today Show," aired in two parts on February 5 and 6.
2. Al Roker on WNBC's "News 4 at 5" (previously called "Live at Five") and "News 4 at 11," aired February 6. Others have uploaded a truncated and reduced video version aired on a local affiliated news channel. Here it's full as it originally aired, both the content and video size.
Then the broadcast, featuring Bill Murray and Bob Dylan. There are other uploads of this show, but this version is in stereo. I edited out a short Stevie Wonder clip during the music highlights reel, because his full appearance on another upload had been blocked.
Plus some extras scattered about. Some of them come from previous uploads from others that have since disappeared. I would credit the sources if I knew who they were.
The World's Most Dangerous Band:
Paul Shaffer, keyboards
Sid McGinnis, guitar
Will Lee, bass
Anton Fig, drums
With the All-Star Band:
Piano: Carole King
Guitars: Steve Vai and Chrissie Hynde
Horns: J.B. Horns (Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley, Pee Wee Ellis)
Trumpet: Doc Severinsen
Saxophones: Jim Horn and Edgar Winter
Drums: Jim Keltner
Vocals: Nanci Griffith, Emmylou Harris, Mavis Staple, Rosanne Cash, Michelle Shocked, Carole King, and Chrissie Hynde
Horns Arrangement: Bruce Kapler

[@JohnEDoey]

Feels like this should been THE series finale to the the NBC "Late Night" era.

[@steveconn]

I got in on stand-by to his fifth-to-last show on NBC, summer '93. Intetesting experience; the tininess of the studio, the meanness of the crew not letting me sit on an empty stool in the rear instead of standing the whole time, Dave's utter stone-cold seriousness once they went to commercial, etc.

[@thefifthdementia5231]

When it comes to pure Letterman enjoyment, I always turn to Don Giller to satisfy my taste for Late Show/Late Night. The "official" Letterman youtube channel, with its high-quality clips featuring Dave's talented staff, amazing guests and phenomenal band, is all well and good. But give me two-plus hours of just one running gag, actor or musical artist, and I will sit here playing endless rounds of solitaire as one video after another lights up the screen, until a glance at the clock forces me to drag my sorry ass to bed. Thanks, Don.

[@dongiller]

Thanks!

[@markdaniels7174]

I had this on tape and probably watched it 100 times. Gold!

[@USALeonHeart]

As somebody who grew up with 2000s Dave on CBS, an iteration it was still a joy to watch up until like 2008ish for me, it's great to finally have a good source for what you'd call "prime" Letterman. I guess I'd say around 2008 because once he'd run out of cheap material for Great Moments in Presidential Speeches the ship started to take on water for me, I'm sure that's at least 8 years last the sell by for most folks.

[@alexmolnar417]

I remember telling my mom how much I loved David letterman 25 years ago when I was a kid and she told me she never really liked him that he was a bit of an asshole or how he treated some of the guest....I was actually surprised cuz I'd never seen anything from him but greatness...but I cud see as I got older how he flirted with some of the guest was a little much but so were the times if everyone still over all David Letterman has always been a Legend I really wish I could go back to 1995 to 1997 and just watch David Letterman again...I use to sleep on the couch in the living n stay up late to watch it I remember I was in grade 5 I was tired everyday in class thinking of David Letterman 😁🤣

[@hibob418]

See, what Dave and Paul understood was that the music makes a show like this. The smoking big band going in and out of the breaks, setting up and paying off the bits - truly amazing. They even covered for Bob Dylan and his anemic performance. One of the greatest pieces of network TV ever. Thanks so much for posting with all the additional content!

[@mikedtw]

Just watching this (2023) as a looooongtime Letterman fan but honestly cannot understand one word Dylan is singing. The rest of this vid is awesome amazing!

[@puffinbilly6826]

...Dylan does that on purpose to confound you...

[@johnsjohnson448]

WNBC's Anchor Team became Legendary. They had a realness and chemistry which them enduring. Thanks for sharing.

[@randall-king]

I never saw or heard of this before. It was so good!

[@_PrimetimePranks]

Wow the band was on fire in that 10th Anniversary show!!!

[@user2144]

Thanks, Don.

[@ELMS]

Thanks for this, Don. I’ve never understood how NBC could have looked at this show with these massive, enthusiastic crowds, and picked Leno over Letterman. What I didn’t realize is that when the 10th anniversary show aired, the decision had already been announced.

[@dongiller]

Announced half a year earlier.

[@wizards001]

12,000 people at the 8th anniversary show

[@user-ru6mq5sc5n]

Letterman was good in the 80s. Leno was always funnier and fresher than Letterman though. By the time the 90s came you could tell Letterman just did not care as much as he did in the 80s, and his last ten years were almost unwatchable. I grew up with both in the 80s. Leno had been filling in for Carson on and off for at least 4 years before going full time. There was NEVER any controversy.

[@ajk]

@@user-ru6mq5sc5n I wonder if him not getting The Tonight Show played into that. I'd not be too shocked. But only Dave would know.

[@user-ru6mq5sc5n]

@@ajk Well Dave has done a number of interviews where he said he was upset about not getting the Tonight Show. And he did say recently he wished he would have left 10 years earlier. You can find all these interviews. Also as mentioned Jay was guest hosting for Johnny on and off for at least four years before he became a permanent host. I was very disappointed with Dave back in the 90s when he did a interview ( with maybe Barbara Walters ) being upset. He was a multi millionaire by 92, had the number one show etc. etc. and was complaining!!! I love him but that made a lot of people to not watch him as much and Jay became number one. Jay definitely was more funny overall. Best of luck🙂.

[@gregceltorius4962]

Those first 10, boy oh boy what a show. Thanks Don.

[@swampape201]

was in high school, auto recorded this on vhs to add to my world wide pants collection, great show this was. thanks as always for bringing back what i lost. peace.

[@rockturtleneck]

My brother and I were there, pretty close too. We were on the right side aisle maybe 20 rows back. Great show. The band he put together that night was incredible. Funny, I can't even remember how we got tickets. I guess it was through the mail. Thanks for posting.

[@brucek1448]

I stayed up to 2 watching this last night. Laughed more than I've laughed at any show of any kind for last 5+ years.

[@bestbyte1]

this dude was (I know he’s alive) the best and no one comes remotely close

[@inuichiban6394]

Wow, whatta closer! Thx, Don & Dave!

[@ThisIsAdamB]

I was there! Or was it the rehearsal show. I think it was the rehearsal show.... Thanks, Don!

[@terrywright8731]

I was there at the afternoon rehearsal show. Freezing cold waiting outside in line.

[@ThisIsAdamB]

Terry Wright Yes. Dave was much more considerate starting his CBS show in late August instead of the middle of winter. :-)

[@gilwood7530]

I was at the early show too ! Life was so much fun back then !

[@catdeli]

We froze our asses off in line for hours until they finally opened the lobby and let us all wait inside.

[@LerockJohn]

The Band is out of this world!

[@shuntguy]

If you look back, with the right kind of eyes, you can still see the high water mark.

[@RobLives4Love]

I love how you always add the context of the specials.

[@davidsthubbins176]

Dave said that he doesn't see himself doing it another 10 years. But he did it for 20 more!

[@steveconn]

Money helps!

[@bobdecarlo7778]

Good God Almighty!

[@moaningpheromones]

yeah, but not with NBC. maybe that helped.

[@prmaninla]

1:01:27 Danny showing Dave how tall he is is one of my absolute favorite moments ever. I wish they would have shown more of the reaction.

[@dtonesmith766]

Wow! Thanks for everything

[@andyrose5616]

50:02 Two things about the "giant hammers" bit that I didn't originally notice: Al Maher nearly cuts Biff Henderson with the machete, and Gene Shalit really allowed them to hit him with the giant hammers. (Yes, I know they weren't really hammers, but you can see they were heavy enough to smack his head around.)

[@andyrose5616]

I remember when I first watched this, it seemed as though Mavis Staples was there to serve as Dylan’s gibberish-to-English interpreter.

[@Bill_Woo]

Astute!

[@buttkid3548]

They went way back.

[@gabrielsandoval8968]

Bob please sing the song and not mumble like always man you have carol king kicking ass on the piano mavis staple roseanne cash and the greatest band on televisión and you dont even try to sing it well Ccomon

[@Tripper1075KZL]

Still the best show that's ever been on!

[@buttkid3548]

I remember this well. I saw Dylan live a few days after this aired. His performance was similar to this.

[@LerockJohn]

The SOUNDCHECK!!!!

[@raymondhorton9668]

Fantastic! Thanks!

[@gilwood7530]

DON !!! Thank you !

[@RichardHandal301]

So great. Thanks, Unca Don.

[@steveconn]

Always loved that black-haired model at 44:20 they used over the years. Very distinct and magnetic (the round of boos for Sinead, sad but expected).

[@michaelmcdonald8452]

I feel like some of the dispirited female singers look so because of the ugly booing of a strong rebellious woman they just had to witness.

[@darkchrome7542]

Great video. FYI, just like some other anniversary episodes, this one had TWO live performances, one in the afternoon, and one in the evening. I know, as i was at the afternoon performance (still have my ticket stub!). Which one they chose to broadcast, I don't know.

[@jnadle1]

Commercial set list: Rolling Stones - Bitch (unknown song) Neil Young - All Along the Watchtower Bob Dylan - Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 (Everybody Must Get Stoned) The Beatles - Got to Get You Into My Life

[@QuantumBraced]

I know Bob Dylan is a legend, but that was almost comical. I couldn't make out a single word.

[@jonathanbyron3561]

Think he was pretty drunk

[@HoustonHistoricRetail]

The music cue at 0:05 is the Maroon Cartoon Logo taken from the Who Framed Roger Rabbit soundtrack.

[@lucianofigueiredo4877]

Amo esse cara

[@BookClubDisaster]

I don't care what anyone says. Dylan was a good singer. In the 60's and 70's.

[@steveconn]

By the late 90s sounded like a bullfrog being crushed by a SUV.

[@markdaniels7174]

… but not here, in 1992. Honestly, he’s so bad I thought he was doing a PARODY of himself at the time. Luckily, the band was EXCELLENT.

[@stixnatedogg]

What an epic opening with the Rockettes at 31:19!

[@makeadifference4all]

Letterman was on fire in these interviews. Maybe my favorite moment starts at 17:58

[@sdne1959]

. God Bless Bob Dylan (1:23:45), but I don't know that I could EVER stand seeing a full concert of his, and listening to that thing he calls "singing" all night long !! Hey, the guy's one of the ALL-TIME MUSICAL LEGENDS......I get that........but I just don't know that I could listen to him singing live for more than a song or two..... Now.....Nanci Griffith (if she were still with us), or Carole King, Rosanne Cash, Chrissie Hynde, Mavis Staple, Michelle Shocked, or Emmylou Harris......I would LOVE listening to some/all of these lovely ladies live, ANY Time.......but Dylan.............not so much.... P.S. Thank You VERY MUCH for ALL the effort required to post this here for ALL of us to enjoy !! .

[@markstewart9724]

Love that you included all the extras with this! Were you the one taking video from the audience's viewpoint?

[@dongiller]

I wasn’t. Description.

[@stephengiese7549]

I really miss lettermans craziness! The band sounded fantastic and wish it played more. Better than la law😊

[@chipvdrum]

I can see myself. Front row center. 😂

[@yohei72]

It's slightly disappointing to know that "Today" show bullhorn prank was network-sanctioned. And just for the record, despite Dave's gracious disclaimer, Bryant Gumbel was a whiny punk for holding a grudge over that.

[@dfghdfghuytiu8207]

Katie was a style icon in the 90s

[@adamnedeff3102]

Cannot get over the utter absurdity of Bill Murray's remark about "having every episode on tape." I have a hard time believing somebody would have every episode of Dave's work on video. Come on.

[@dongiller]

Psychotic.

[@karlroth3277]

I'm pretty sure he was making a joke, as BILL MURRAY IS A COMEDIAN.

[@terrywright8731]

The band was so loud you could barely hear Dylan, which turned out to be a good thing. Love Bob, but he was bad at the afternoon taping as well as the aired show.

[@JD-jx6gw]

Terry Wright the drugs had caught up to him long before then

[@steveconn]

@@JD-jx6gw Not drugs, just utter distain for care for his voice and audience.

[@drjj1289]

Was there. Im in audience too. Saw myself ha

[@jaymo8206]

At 10:45 Dave makes a comment that's very applicable to our modern day social media obsessed culture.

[@davidsthubbins176]

Don, if you don't mind me asking, where did you get the the handheld audience video of the band warm up?

[@dongiller]

I found it online years ago.

[@quickies9561]

He was the best

[@TheChrisHype]

One thing that always bothered me was when people would call Dave "mean". David Letterman was never mean. David Letterman poked fun at everyone and everything equally, as much himself as anyone else. If people were too caught up in themselves to think that they were being laughed at then laughed with, then that is their own problem.

[@mikestevenson576]

He was very capable of being mean back then. But it kind of suited the times.

[@billoz]

Where are the other 1000 or so episodes from NBC?❗

[@dongiller]

1,809 plus the second film festival. New here?

[@carolyncostigan6242]

Hi Don!! Letterman and your KZbin channel is life to me. Didn't Dave throw himself on a velcro wall at the end of this anniversary show?

[@dongiller]

That was at the end of the 6th Anniversary show in 1988, also held at Radio City Music Hall. Also uploaded. And thanks!

[@carolyncostigan6242]

@@dongiller Don, we all love you for all you do. You keep our spirits up. God bless you, Sir!!

[@MusicOverMyHead]

I remember watching this when it originally aired. Do you know that Mark Hamill obsessively used to tape David letterman?

[@dongiller]

Yes.

[@Obiter3]

Sue Simmons and Chuck Scarborough, that was my news

[@shawnuel]

For me, a little Bill Murray goes a loooong way so, this particular appearance was right on the money.

[@michaelstein7850]

"The use of cameras or recording devices is prohibited"... (in the theatre) Except the crew. The crew can have these cameras here...

[@whisperingmike9424]

Thank you Don. Have you done a retrospective on musical guests?

[@dongiller]

There’s a Foo Fighters “Everlong” compilation and all of Lou Reed’s and Nanci Griffith’s performances.

[@RaginRonic]

Don, would it be fair for me to say that this night ended up being the single-biggest TV broadcast of Dave's entire tenure at NBC? As in, Dave's version of what WrestleMania is to WWE? o.o

[@dongiller]

Probably, though not having ever watched a televised wrestling match, I’m not qualified to make the comparison.

[@ALIAN18]

Dave Mania

[@skooter6235]

I don’t think Dave talked down to his guests, far from it. If you want proof, look up his interview with Captain Beefheart. A truly odd man, but Dave showed compassion and wanted the audience to listen to what Don (Captain Beefheart) said.

[@steelydan133]

Who is the artist after Elvis Costello?

[@jaymo8206]

Hi Don, you have episodes of LNwDL from 1986? I was in the control room at studio 6A for one but cant remember the guests. What I can remember is the Mets were in the playoffs, during breaks, Dave & some crew members watched it on tv. But in 2009, I was in the studio audience when Joaquin Phoenix was the guest. The weird interview that later was revealed was.an inside joke between both of them. 😆

[@dongiller]

Sounds like October 15, 1986. The guests were Tom Brokaw and Harvey Pekar. Drake Sather was bumped.

[@JD-jx6gw]

Is that THE Air Bud?

[@js2010ish]

Do you know another 4'3" retriever with that kind of finesse in the paint?? 🏀

[@johnathanmcdonald4378]

So they did an afternoon rehearsal show? Then another show?

[@dongiller]

For the last few at Radio City Music Hall (2x) and the L.A. Amphitheater, yes.

[@patrickdepoortere6830]

Not shown but best: while waiting for Colleen on her front stoop he took the mower from the landscaper next door and cut her grass...also, this guy sat on your bed.

[@worsley1]

In stereo!

[@js2010ish]

How did NBC and CBS each get a weatherman with the same build and identical hair?

[@QuantumBraced]

I know Dave had a rocky relationship with NBC execs, yet somehow convinced them to pay for this LOL.

[@20EUR20]

59:53 💚

[@user2144]

43:30 Hi Don, can you name the guitarist, please?

[@dongiller]

Nobody reads my descriptions.

[@riggermorpus]

Steve Vai

[@user2144]

riggermorpus Thanks. I didn’t recognise him. I should have, as I saw him play live (in the last few years), twice!

[@amfm889]

All we need now is to ID the bands/singers in the music montage. Someone want to take a run on it?

[@dplee11]

Here goes - Will Smith, James Brown, George Clinton, Wayne Newton, Black Crowes, Bonnie Raitt, Little Richard, Billy Joel, Sinead O"Connor, REM, John Mellencamp, Chris Isaak, Roy Orbison, Elvis Costello, Hothouse Flowers, The Reverend Al Green, Aaron Neville, Lou Reed, Sly Stone, LL Cool J, Ringo Starr, Fats Domino, Joe Cocker, John Hiatt, Steve Winwood, Phil Collins, Willie Nelson, Van Morrison, Sting, Miles Davis, Sammy Davis Jr., Liberace, Sonny AND Cher, Tony Bennett, Paul SImon, James Taylor, Bob Weir and Jerry Garcia, Mark Knopfler, Eddie Van Halen, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Eric Clapton, Pete Townsend

[@supachaloopa3611]

Was there a 9th Anniversary Show?.....

[@dongiller]

There wasn’t, no.

[@supachaloopa3611]

@@dongiller What was the reason? Were the 2 fighting at this time (Dave and NBC)? I'm no expert on late night shows, but I remember NBC and Dave getting along for years, then towards the end some things started going awry. I definitely remember what resulted after Dave went to CBS, and just about anyone got their own talk show. But I just would like to know why there wasn't a 9th Anniversary show. I'm watching these wonderful collections you have taken such an enormous amount of time to compile, and I know I speak for so many others when I say we appreciate it.

[@dongiller]

@@supachaloopa3611 You hinted here on why. As much time as it took me to put these together, imagine the work it took for Dave and his staff to create these in the first case. He was tired of doing them. Yes, there was one the following year, but because it was a milestone number (the 10th), it was deemed important enough to commemorate. But that was it as far as Dave was concerned. There was no 11th in Late Night’s final year at NBC in 1993.

[@supachaloopa3611]

@@dongiller Thanks for the info, appreciate it.

[@tf692]

Katie Couric was so hot

[@LerockJohn]

Don Giller. Two Words: Smithsonian Museum.

[@broncofun5636]

They could not have done a best of Leno, your they gave him the show.

[@JayDeeIsMyName]

What I wonder: there was no 9th anniversary show?

[@Michael-xe3dn]

There is a clip here of Dave cleaning a gun at his desk, and he shoots Hal. Lyle The Intern was right!

[@steveconn]

Push it through that nose, Bob!

[@NevadaBoss]

Have loved Dave for almost 40yrs now...but...when he says to Katie "he was never mad at NBC about Leno taking over the Tonight Show", he is more full of sh*t than a barn stuffed with well fed horses..or Mar-a-lago during a presidential visit. Still, miss the hell outta his Late Night show.

[@chrisrobinson679]

Ha. That band warmup was pretty good... anyway the Leno thing was a crappy situation, but imho Fallon is considerably worse than him. Oh well these guys get paid. Conan got fairly screwed if I recall

[@jakeradoski6880]

Don Giller knows what the fuck is going on

[@dongiller]

News to me.

[@mattp4079]

04:22, Will Smith behavior.

[@ghoststencil]

I’m a huge Dylan fan but man, his lackluster presence was a waste of space, considering the pedigree backing him. I wish Mavis had taken the lead vocal for the entirety of Like A Rolling Stone. Would have been a much more poignant performance.

[@ghoststencil]

Also the virulent negative reaction to Sinead O’Connor’s appearance during the music montage struck me as ironic. Her controversial SNL appearance and subsequent shaming at Dylan’s anniversary concert must have been right around this time. Her SNL protest was a brave response against sexual abuse in the Catholic Church and the shit she took for that hardened my atheist heart.

[@ghoststencil]

All that being said, another stellar upload Don! Thank you!!

[@dongiller]

Her SNL appearance occurred on October 3, 1992, nearly nine months after this anniversary show was taped.

[@ghoststencil]

Don Giller I stand corrected.

[@cameramanzoomit]

@@dongiller Any backstory on Dylan's appearance, Don? I remember thinking he's either totally out of it or just didn't really want to be there.

[@steveconn]

If only time had stopped back then. The world excepting the Obama years has just gotten progressively worse.

[@jamescurran6277]

Gotten worse BECAUSE of the Obama years.

[@steveconn]

@@jamescurran6277 Yeah, saving the auto industry, preventing a depression, getting Bin Laden, promoting tolerance and healthcare...AWFUL!!! LMAO

[@bobdecarlo7778]

@@steveconn aaah, promoting tolerance?? Oy vey. Only if progressives was a minority.

[@puffinbilly6826]

...is Chris Elliot really eatin dog food ? disgusting,yet hilarious...

[@dongiller]

A prop.