Fan Request: Dave Calls His High School Teacher | Letterman

[@stebstebanesier6205]

I would venture to say that phone call was one of the high points of Mr. Ludlow's life. Not because it was Dave, but it was a call from a student expressing gratefulness for a life lesson. I think Mr. Ludlow sounded a little choked up there at the end.

[@dm0065]

As a high school teacher I can tell you that its really an amazing feeling to hear from an old student, to know they thought of you and wanted to say thanks. If you can think of a teacher that you really appreciated, call em up. It'll mean a lot to them.

[@heywilbur]

I sure miss Dave ❤

[@moto_diaries_by_ahmed]

Dave over the phone with his high school teacher was a moment of due respect and gratiude; second occasion where he showed his sweet side, first being Meg Parsont

[@kstepko]

“Well … that’s a cute story.”😂 The perfect quip to break up an awkward moment.

[@prmaninla]

Paul was just brilliant.

[@DaveDallas-sp3se]

Paul and Dave had a great chemistry

[@markread7333]

Mr. Ludlow passed away in 2018 at the age of 90. His obit said in addition to being a man of great integrity, loyalty, and kindness, he was an excellent golfer, regularly shooting his age from his 60s through his 80s, with 14 aces ( two in his 80s)!

[@USALeonHeart]

Hot damn. That's the kinda life plenty of men dream about living.

[@kristinemunholland8980]

How sad to read this after just hearing his lovely interaction with Dave

[@dasuperfansschannel8940]

I don't mind dying that young

[@samlane2]

Nerd alert

[@RobertEllis-e7p]

How do you know all this!

[@johnmyers466]

I was BRHS class of ‘70. Mr. Ludlow was a great man and a great teacher.

[@patriciamurfitt4590]

David Letterman 🥰 American legend and hero 🥰 I've unfortunately had to use facilities at Methodist Children Hospital here in Indianapolis. It's impossible to fathom the amount of money that man has spent and continues spend on that hospital. I will forever be grateful 🥰

[@_Tanasis_]

I always thought he was Superman but now I know .Thank you for that

[@zackcantrell9689]

Man I miss his show! One of the greats!

[@ObsidianXXX]

I would say *THE* greatest. No other talkshow host ever even came close to Dave's warmth, humor, quick wit and intelligence!

[@andreaskohaus9909]

Finally we know the truth, why David didn‘t get the Tonight Show - Robert Ludlow called NBC…

[@assmane999]

It’s all starting to make sense. Jay was his favourite student

[@Rob_Kates]

"Don't blame Conan."

[@TroyTheObtuse]

​@@Rob_Kates This channel needs a “Don’t blame Conan“ playlist. That was an epic time in comedy.

[@tad1980]

hahahaha great comment

[@tinagorelik7282]

Only Dave could spend 10 minutes looking through his high school yearbook and make it hilarious.

[@KSullyvan]

Per my high school radio teacher, who went to college with Dave, during an extra credit session in their class Dave won by a landslide. They were task with reading off a piece of wire copy. The class then had to make that person lose composure. If the student lost it, they were out. Dave’s classmates did everything including setting the piece of paper on fire to get him lose it. Not only did he not lose it he continued on with ad libbing until Dr. Wible said you win and Dave got the extra credit.

[@riodejaneiro664]

No i can make my high school year book hilarious for 10 minutes also.

[@Steve-q6l4v]

Just the haircuts, 20 minutes easy.

[@charlesw9875]

"I think we can work something out" lol.

[@madnessbydesignVria]

This kind of content is why Letterman was the best. Absolute nonsense (from a TV perspective), but endearing and genuinely funny and sweet... :)

[@Soulbrothersunny]

I love this so so so so so much. My father was a middle school music teacher for 40 years in my hometown. He passed away almost 10 years ago. I read his his obituary online 1-2 times a year and he'll still receive new messages on his obituary from students he had decades ago saying how much he made an impact on them and their relationship with music. Teachers are such a special breed.

[@KrisRowberry]

The initial “oh sure it’s THAT guy on the phone, probably going to be the CHP guy” reaction from the audience - only to be shocked that it really WAS him - that’s the brilliance of Dave and his team.

[@larryl212]

NOTHING LIKE IT THEN... AND GOD KNOWS THERE IS NOTHING LIKE IT NOW! So sad how our culture has spun into the "WOKE DITCH."

[@slimydick23]

@@larryl212 wtf are you talking about you're in a media bubble please experience the real world, the rays of the sun, actual human people

[@TitaniumTurbine]

@@larryl212 LMAO what in the hell are you even talking about?!?! Letterman was the most liberal late night host on TV for a very LONG time. If you want to yell random garbage, step out of your room, walk down the hall to your senior living facility’s activity room, and go back to raising your fists and ranting angrily at the clouds while playing bingo.

[@RobMyself]

Why did that get me choked up? Dave can be an eloquent dude.

[@janeltranmer2284]

Epic in its honesty. Equal parts heartbreaking and hilarious. Thanks for this, Dave! Well, at least you were a hall monitor. Nice to see someone, in this case Mr. Ludlow, act with integrity.

[@lisasisk3713]

That's was so funny. I always laugh when I get see the David Letterman Show. No one funnier ever. I really enjoyed the senior photo Dave. Thanks Paul for asking David to show his High PHOTO. That was great. I never thought I see that. You know that teacher probably in his life how you dropped the smoke bomb out of your leg at graduation. Wow!

[@tommybarquinero7242]

The desk chat segments in Act 2 were always the best. Thanks for posting!

[@prmaninla]

This is incredibly sweet. Actually, quite beautiful. A wonderful show of simple humanity.

[@Chambion-z2x]

Oh my gosh. I was born in ‘65 and thought I was old!😂 I LOVE DAVE!

[@lindaf4836]

You are. But I was spawned in 1959, so even older. : S

[@kenrobi1332]

"Story time" with Dave was always the best!

[@Zigidy]

Gold. Sweet kindness-laced-don't-forget-who-you-are gold.

[@scottlarson1548]

Years earlier Jane Pauley brought in his high school year book from his freshman year and pointed out his only activity was "hall monitor". He said, "I was the best damn hall monitor the school had ever seen."

[@nufsed12]

Loved seeing his picture in the yearbook

[@haskellbob]

That was actually quite touching. Dave was really sincere and almost seemed to be speaking from the 17-year-old place inside him when the thanked his old teacher. 8:18. I wonder if it really is something he thinks about every day of his life?

[@DrVVVinK]

I don't now why people did not like later Letterman. I thought the 00's had some of the best comedy bits, like this when Dave told great stories.

[@The_0.5.0]

​@@KokoTheGorilla69Who wouldn't after 30ish years? But even though he didn't move a lot, Dave was STILL sharp as a scalpel and the best late night host ever.

[@The_0.5.0]

Dude, him going high pitched on the first end of a sentence made me laugh and remember how silly, sweet Letterman was.

[@The_0.5.0]

@KokoTheGorilla69 Bored, definitely. But that aloof, disenchanted Dave is what gave his character a removed quality that added to the humor. And it goes to show how funny Letterman was if his half-asssed input was better than everybody else's everything.

[@cactaceous]

@@The_0.5.0I agree. He was always sardonic and irreverent even in his old age. Well, he still is now. The man had a quintuple bypass surgery in 2000, then a few years later his son was born, he got married, that crazy kidnapping/extortion case that ruffled his personal and private life… I mean, cut the man some slack if he was not as fully exuberant while in his 60’s as he was in his 30’s and 40’s for heaven’s sake. The show was great till the end and after 8 years, I miss going over to my couch at 11:34 and turning on the TV to wait for Dave. Something I have not done a single time ever since that day in May 20th 2015 because no other late night host can even reach his ankles. I was a fan since I was 8 years old in 1987.

[@allendracabal0819]

I agree that he became a great storyteller, but I think the best comedy bits mostly all came from the NBC era. His finest moments may have been his first shows back after 9/11 and after his heart surgery, but those were not his finest comedy moments.

[@k.m.slattery6263]

Dave was thinking up comedy ideas from the beginning!!😅👍🏼

[@kristinemunholland8980]

This is hilarious. What a great bit. And remarkable they were able to locate Mr Ludlow while taping the show.

[@cnath3466]

Dave the prankster, back in high school. Love it! Thanks Dave!

[@catherinegigliotti1368]

Ya know what's hysterical??...the guy next to your teacher looks like the young version of Larry "Bud" Melvin.😅😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊❤

[@jerryhamer]

My dad was the guy next to Dave in the yearbook

[@JLKDOOM]

What a handsome dude. If we could all be so lucky to have looks like that

[@TroyTheObtuse]

Robert Lieberman must hate your dad.

[@prmaninla]

@@TroyTheObtuse That made me laugh!

[@markbirchette8740]

Dave, you described high school perfectly. I did smoke bombs in high school as well as skunk oil in class rooms...lol

[@M2KKA]

My Grandmothers in the same book, apparently she was Lettermans girlfriend for a couple months but eventually called it off because Letterman was "too weird" LOL, Good call grandma. She eventually married an Australian, had 2 kids, moved to Perth and lived here for 40 years until she passed away in 2012. RIP Amy Papaila.

[@terri6854]

You should contact the Letterman people. Send some photos etc.

[@KeithCantrell]

My dad tells me this story of an episode where Dave opens a Wichita phone book and calls a random number to help him introduce the next guest. It was my dad’s phone number. Anyone remember this? I’d give anything to see that clip!

[@SidelerMN]

If Don Giller sees this, he may be able to help find the clip.

[@the406seadonkey6]

I vaguely remember it, but couldn't be less of a help. Sorry dude. Good luck because I'd like to see it again! Peace.

[@Salam99-1]

I hope you find it and I can't wait to see it, too!

[@bobhilton2643]

Look in the video description. You can email the show to ask for a clip!

[@balegrand]

I recall as he was flipping through the pages he stopped on a picture of the local CBS affiliate news anchors and made some comment about “Roger and Susan.”

[@DBurgg]

David's snarkiness will never be equaled. I loved the stupid pet tricks.

[@Funkybassplayer]

That guy in the background laughing hard is hilarious. I watched it many times. 😂😂😂

[@TimothyATaylor]

Calling Mr. Ludlow, Mr. Bob Ludlow…what a great memory!

[@zenseed75]

Love this! As usual.

[@savannahm4367]

High school Dave seemed like a cool dude to hangout with!!

[@chriszozaski]

So awesome.

[@soruffsotuff6214]

I did get an Eddie Haskell vibe from Dave high school picture

[@93Jubilee]

Hmm, so Mr Ludlow didn't stay at the high school quite as long as Letterman did! Sounded like a really sweet, kind man.

[@kstepko]

Mr. Ludlow may have been the sponsor of the Lettermen’s Club, but there was one ‘Letterman’ who was not welcome there: Dave Michael Letterman.

[@eric00921]

Mr. Ludlow seemed like a nice man. I had a Mr. Gillick, History teacher he was a tank Sargent in the National Guards, that gave me a break and it taught me to succeed in life and try to pass it on my entire life. Another was Mr. Ledgdar, my algebra teacher.

[@RobertEllis-e7p]

One thing you can say about Dave Letterman. He never took himself too seriously, and his humor was self depricating, which is very disarming!

[@avlisk]

I did something similar in Winslow Smith's history class. It's only been about 54 years now, and I'd like to apologize, too. Sorry about that, Mr. Smith.

[@carlodave9]

Damn! Back when teachers voluntarily took on eight responsibilities in addition to the hard work of teaching.

[@the406seadonkey6]

Don't blame today's teachers. Blame the shit parents and their shit kids. Entitlement is the word of the day nowadays.

[@rshrsh5420]

And NEVER complained about the pay, instead focusing on the end justifying the means!

[@ninestories2]

"Hall monitor" 😹

[@ronj5485]

Deja Vu , Bob , was a Letterman 😂🚬🍻🍻

[@mattd4388]

So good.

[@luf4rall]

Mr. Ludlow knew that Dave wasn't a bad kid and just committed a misguided mistake and his words taught Dave a lesson that he would remember for the rest of his life more than any punishment from the authorities would've.

[@WilliamNast-v1g]

VERY COOL STORY AND ENDING. CLASS ACT ON BOTH PARTS!

[@brittney5903]

Miss this late night tv show so much. David Letterman was the best imo. (🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺).

[@coosoorlog]

the guy next to him on the yearbook looks like Seth McFarlaine.

[@Wes66-143LakePowellProductions]

You see, Mr. Ludlow knew what Cher and Shirley MacLaine would come to realize so many years later.

[@WEPDRabbitEarsTV]

This is amazing.

[@nrusso967]

I miss David Letterman!!!

[@Healthydays-pn4dq]

My good health is something I am grateful for.

[@markread7333]

What a great opportunity to have smoke come out of Dave’s desk! But then, I guess it would have undercut the sweetness of the story…😊

[@TheGamersGrotto]

I am certain he was likely very proud of the man David became :)

[@chrisforeman9949]

Did anyone notice that Mr. ludlow was the head of the Letterman’s Club?

[@EM_ARCHER]

I ever know his middle name 😂😂😂😂👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@peterandolph7628]

Bob Ludlow, jacked you up when the tonight show called for a reference. Smoke bomb Dave got spanked.

[@santoshjs]

I wonder if Mr. Ludlow got a call before Dave was allowed on The Barbara Gaines Show.

[@karenwestern4907]

Mr. Ludlow resembles George Pepperdine.

[@peterschulze491]

Peppard?

[@danielhoward8354]

Did anyone catch even back then Robert Ledlow was the Letterman club sponsor?

[@shellbacksclub]

U know ur old when the pages of ur yearbook are yellowed.

[@saulteanuts-vg8iu]

I cried. lol 🇨🇦

[@mattbarnett4210]

Upon asking for a recommendation moving forward, it would've been hilarious if Mr. Ludlow would've said ... "no, I don't think so."

[@povertyspec9651]

Letterman as a hall monitor

[@milfordcivic6755]

Late night died after Conan and Letterman left.

[@darksid3837]

RELEASE THE STROKES - SOMEDAY PLEASEEEE

[@gianfrancomejia3993]

Man, I didn't remember that The Strokes had played Someday on the show, thanks for giving me a beautiful memory :D

[@derf199]

Dave forgot he was on TV for a few mins there.

[@darrelltiencken9421]

When Dav or Johnny talk to regular people it is so much more interesting than the celebrities pushing their lame latest movie.

[@Opinionated23-g3e]

Ludlow was 38 actually in 1965

[@_Tanasis_]

So it all comes down to the adidas ad? 😢

[@SpeakerGregoryDwyer]

David, do you recall when you called Tom Synder and pretended to be a truck drive?

[@BiffJackson-o4i]

Leno's “Tonight” routinely beat Letterman in the ratings for the vast majority of the time they went head-to-head.

[@mjphoto45]

Letterman Club...lol

[@timothybrennan1979]

What was the name of Daves school?

[@penguin44ca]

Paul the original, cool story bro.

[@lorip.1110]

Tear up the planks! Here, here! It is the sulphuric stench of that hideous smoke bomb!

[@jeffreyjeziorski1480]

Echos of Edgar Allen Poe.

[@colinjames2469]

It is HEAR HEAR.

[@lorip.1110]

@colinjames2469 No, it's not. He can 'hear' the beating heart, but he's pointing to where it's located, in this case 'here,' pointing to a specific location. Hope this helps!

[@EM_ARCHER]

DAVID MICHAEL LETTERMAN

[@brandonbaque5756]

Eh! Ain’t you the fellow from the movie Cabin Boy?!

[@sketchybehavi0r]

I wonder if that Letterman guy was ever able to obtain a decent gig after this.

[@graziemille2454]

Lol. Good one.

[@TheFurreid]

still called him “Mr.” ..

[@KungEMuller]

Hey, Dave still turned out fine. So, what can you do?

[@danyoungrasshopper3008]

God I miss his shows, the garbage now is unbearable.

[@colinjames2469]

Word

[@felixthelmocevallosmorales41]

David Michael Letterman 12 de abril de 1947 76 años.

[@lindaf4836]

'LETTERMEN'S CLUB SPONSOR',. hee hee, so he was still fond of rhe boy! Jk!

[@Themilkmanskid.]

It was a time thing though that Letterman had to prove himself first. Anyway, what was Letterman's Club? No one asked about that.

[@jeffpeters2915]

The Letterman's Club was a school club/group for those students that received a large fabric "letter" (e.g., for being an active member of the varsity sports team) for participating in a school sport. Usually, the sport coaches decided which members of their team team were given a letter at the end of the sport season. Oft times the letters" were distributed to the selected athletes at a school assembly or pep rally, and then the athletes would have the letter sewn on their school "letterman" jacket.

[@Oregontrailblazin]

I had a Mr. Ludlow in Jr. high Vice principal and had a paddleboard .. How many times he tried to get me , we would be running down the halls. I said I get spanked from home dude . chase me there .. I lived near.

[@steve_beatty]

Boy..I sure miss the good old days.When teachers looked like professionals and not circus clowns..🥴

[@ddburrows988]

Is this an Indiana thing? His teacher calls him "David" the same way his mom would.

[@lynnturman8157]

It's an older generation thing.

[@ddburrows988]

​@mellocello187 I'm meaning the way he said it was just like his mother when she calls him David. It was their cadence that was similar.

[@CreachterZ]

Based on the picture, if Bob is 82 here, Dave was around 76. That doesn’t work out.

[@CreachterZ]

@mellocello187 You are obviously a much clearer thinker than me. ;) Thanks.

[@kstepko]

An earlier comment said that Mr. Ludlow died in 2018 at the age of 90. Dave is 76 in 2023, so he would have been 71 in 2018. That means that Mr. Ludlow was 19 years older than Dave. Dave graduated in 1965, according to this video. The math works out that Dave would have been 18 that year. Mr. Ludlow would have been 37 in 1965. It was Paul who made the comment, based on Mr. Ludlow’s appearance, “Look at how young he looks! He was probably only about 21.”

[@Al-po2oh]

When did Paul Shaffer become the co-host to this show? You hear him constantly interrupting Dave with all kinds of comments. Very distracting.

[@soonerwhirle]

Shaffer came when David began Late Night on NBC

[@MarkKanaster-ev6pq]

Dave deserves respect because he was the anti Johnny Carson who all the Gen X watched instead of the Baby Boomers who kissed the feet of Jonny Carson and Jay Leno

[@merricat3025]

I baby boomer hate Jay Leno. I watched Dave

[@ellenr3292]

Nobody like Dave!! The best! Everyone copies him ....

[@botz77]

I member this.🫐🫐🫐