From 1978: David Letterman performs

[@romeydall4067]

Who do I have to throw money at to see Michael Shannon starring in next summer's movie blockbuster "The David Letterman Story"?

[@jerres9585]

Hahahaha I swear to God I was looking at him and thinking damn that dude from Boardwalk empire looks like young David Letterman XD

[@Veneer22]

Comedy was way different back then... but I'd say it was how he spoke in general. Especially how he spoke to the interviewer.

[@phahq]

This guy changed talk shows forever. What a genius.

[@Kancerru]

This lady's giving off serious serial killer vibes.

[@drlee2]

Dave should have married this host. She's gorgeous and I think she was kind of into him! lol

[@michaelbinstead2781]

well who was the host?

[@mikestevenson576]

@@michaelbinstead2781 Carole Taylor. And to the original post in this thread, Dave didn't get with gorgeous people. Even at the height of his fame, he was all about 7s in a plaid shirt who were somewhat under his control.

[@shawl777]

Those awkward “hello’s” though...strangely quiet show.

[@semperxian]

if i don't die at least once a year i get cranky!

[@AventuraLuver]

He was so cute

[@GardenGirlD76]

Thanks for sharing this!! Awe!! Some flirting!!! lol

[@Craig144_1]

I loved the DL show but he's really not very funny to me. I wonder how he even got so far.

[@Orf]

11:30 news used to be good journalism

[@miguelvaldez3913]

Wow...he's coked up...

[@marsazorean62]

Carole Taylor and Otto Preminger. Otto @ 9:03 schools Dave. Dave takes it well.

[@Lblu1181]

Blast from the past, fun to watch!

[@michelebryan7353]

..."Like that SHIRT you're wearing!" HA! love it.

[@komalley35]

Those lapels... ginormous

[@marsazorean62]

90 minutes live, a cbc talk show taped in Toronto. Peter Gzowski was the main host.

[@bizzigtv4903]

K.

[@AutomaticSelector]

Man, are those some lapels or WHAT?

[@glennmarshall4693]

don't know who the host is

[@potorrero]

Am I seeing wrong or is that Norm Macdonald in the audience at 1:21 touching his chin.. Looks a lot like him.

[@markhanson8188]

He has said that he saw Letterman perform stand up, but I don't think that's him.

[@Curitive]

Oh snap, idk if it is or if it’s not.

[@KylesYTChannel]

Probably is Norm because he said that he was in the studio audience when this was being taped

[@boozeshmooze6731]

Eh, I think Norm saw Dave on a different show, maybe in Ottawa or Toronto, and the joke that impacted him was about the garbage collectors, which he repeated on his last appearance (as the final stand-up when Dave was going off the air). To paraphrase, or just think it in Dave or Norm's voice... "I remember that a garbage truck had "Do Not Follow" on the back. Just another one of life's simple pleasures ruined by a meddling bureaucracy. Why, I remember when Dad used to load up the station wagon, and we'd spend the day following the garbage truck..."

[@zeekseeks7646]

10:08 That moment women get triggered

[@rezkat6]

lmao I don't know what kind of women your taking to, I'm guessing none, but I found it funny.

[@kanealson5200]

Dave's early stand up wreeks of the 70's style social commentary. Wryly mocking the dumbing down of America and media culture. It's tepid by today's standards and standard fare. It's down right pedestrian! Obviously the guy didn't get a talk show based on this alone but for his abilities to be funny live while interacting with guests. Quick on his feet. Obviously, only a complete moron would think the guy got a talk show from this particular set. I'm wondering who that lovely woman is who's interviewing him. Looks like she has a card up her sleeve. Also Otto there. Who's he? There's no reference here.

[@quincyjoelcahilig]

Jax92 he was invited to perform at the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and he became a hit. Carson loved Letterman's style and he was invited to perform again several times. Letterman also became guest host of the show. NBC noticed his talent and eventually gave him a morning show but the rating was low though it won an award. They put him in a later time slot after the Tonight Show and that was Late Night with David Letterman.

[@thecandyman9308]

Ugh, what a baby boomer