Late Show with David Letterman, May 20, 2015

The last show.

[@ZachJenkins]

Paul Shaffer gets his much deserved appreciation from Dave and immediately gestures to the band and says "How about that band?" Such class and humility!

[@dongiller]

It was the very first thing he said when his mic was finally turned on in February 1982 and the very last thing he said on camera in May 2015.

[@ZachJenkins]

@@dongiller Awesome! Thank you, sir.

[@markdavies9117]

I get choked up when Paul tells Dave he changed their lives and they loved every second of it. That's because we all know it's true. What a gift to be on a joy filled ride like that for 33 years.

[@sudsysutherland359]

As a 🇨🇦 myself i always found it cool & have always been proud of fellow Canadian Paul Shaffer from Thunder Bay,Ontario,Canada 🤙

[@ThecrazyJH96]

Shaffer was annoying to me 😂

[@eltonjohn3236]

I’m grateful I got to watch Dave, Johnny, Jon Stewart, Craig Furguson, and Tom Snyder. It was such w great era in late night television. Thank you Don Giller for have such a vault of material.

[@patricias5122]

Agree! Dave Letterman was superb. And Johnny Carson had a sweetness and humility that wasn't always evident. A lot of people (myself included) didn't realize how great he really was, until he was gone. He was so moved by K.D. Lang's singing, when she appeared on his show, he actually had tears in his eyes.

[@Shan2TheBoner1987]

Certainly a fan of white men I see...cool...lol

[@thetamimi]

@@Shan2TheBoner1987 I am an Arab, currently residing in Saudi Arabia and I like Craig Ferguson and Conan. To me it’s nothing to do with the host race, gender, or skin color if he/she is entertaining.

[@craigjgomez]

Well, the late night era is far from over. Certainly, Dave's successor, Stephen Colbert is continuing quite dutifully. Jimmy Kimmel a close second place. You have left out Conan O'Brien who has been around a long time is deserving of a mention in late night tv history. The era hasn't ended, it is much alive and will no doubt last forever.

[@samsungtelevision695]

@@thetamimi I am born and raised in America and what you said resonates perfectly with me as exactly what it’s supposed to be about. Your race gender etc are incidental and what matters is supposed to be about thing that are choices you make not circumstances of birth. The past few years has seen a twisted reversal and turn towards segregation from the “left”. Scare quotes because I am what was considered “left” in the 90s. Basically taking MLK at face value about color of skin vs content of character will get you called racist now.

[@markdavies9117]

When I think of Dave and his show, I think of two words. The first is "glee". I had watched the morning show and knew Dave was different and so funny. When the NBC show debuted, I would get home from my college job at 12:30 and watch the show. I was so happy for a show for my generation and was rewarded for watching Monday thru Thursday nights. When Dave started at CBS, I was thrilled to root for the underdog - and for an earlier time slot. As I rewatched this last show - with sadness that there aren't any new ones coming - the second word is "iconic". There were countless moments, guest visits, and neighborhood folks that stand out as comedy classics - perhaps for all time! I'm so glad I got in on the Dave shows from the very beginning. My humor became infused with his - not always to the pleasure of my friends (which made it more fun). It's helped me look at the world around me differently - and laugh! Thank you, Mr. Letterman. To echo Paul, you've changed our lives - maybe not to the extent you changed his, but you have. And I'm grateful.

[@Heres_Johnny.]

I worked nights at a hospital for a while during Late Night. I'd always be sure to leave on time so I could get home to watch. Sometimes I'd go to a friend's house and drink coffee, smoke cigarettes (yes, we both quit though) and watch Dave. It was he thing to do.

[@salvationbordercountry3800]

His appreciation speech was incredible, a humbleness we never knew about. I guess that's why he was so good at his craft: A real guy, a real gentleman.

[@sealj]

I love that Letterman running at the very start of the episode is legit a "running gag".

[@dianewinters8628]

Love to you Dave, Paul & the CBS Orchestra, & all the staff for all those wonderful years. I can't put into words how much the shows meant to me.

[@markevans7937]

Jesus Christ, it's New Years Eve 2020 and I'm watching this and STILL getting teary eyed. Dave was my late night hero. No one can replace him.

[@NocyMusic]

Agree 100%

[@Eaglearm95]

The best. I miss waiting til he came on. We are lucky

[@michaelhaniotes5104]

Let him be

[@hinthegroove9740]

Irreplaceable David Letterman. Thank you so much.

[@mrbee15]

This show was such a staple in my life. No matter what was going on in life, 11:30 pm on weeknights had this constant.

[@earnietaylor8527]

As a kid and young adult, I spent way too much time in front of a TV set. Thank God this show made up a lot of that time. I just watch this again for the first time in years. Tears welled up in my eyes. The show was such a huge part of our culture. God bless, Dave!

[@rwdplz1]

I remember watching this live, was SO upset Dave was retiring, late night became a wasteland. Dave was the best.

[@sillygoose635]

i wouldn't say wasteland, colbert and noah get it done.

[@badger509]

I'm still not over it. Probably never will be.

[@AlonzoMarquisGraychipmonk]

@@sillygoose635 Fallon and cordon are ok too.

[@AlonzoMarquisGraychipmonk]

Also John Oliver (kind of)

[@michaelreardon3958]

Will Kimmel's monologue is funny. But yes, it is a wasteland. Not the same without Dave.

[@Ernie1978]

To me, Letterman and Conan are the greatest of all time. Letterman is missed for sure!

[@jordanmorris5827]

For me Letterman will always be my favorite. I'm not saying he was better than Carson, but because I was born in 1991 I never got the opportunity to watch Carson when he was still on air. I started watching Letterman with my dad when I was about 10 years old. It was always a treat when he let me stay up with him to watch.

[@MaximusX67]

You nailed it ... they are legends! They, to me, are up there with Carson - the 3 best EVER! They are THE Mount Rushmore of Late Night (sorry Leno lovers - he just doesn't cut it). I like KImmel and he's got a good show .... I'd still put him a notch or two below these legends though. And Craig Ferguson was amazing and so funny! I like Cobert a lot; but I was surprised Ferguson was passed over for Letterman's show. I don't care what he says publicly, THAT is the reason he decided to end his Late Late show! It was almost (but not quite) as bad as NBC passing Dave over for Jay Leno on The Tonight Show!

[@MaximusX67]

@@jordanmorris5827 Letterman is the TRUE successor to Carson ... forget the network or name of the show. David Letterman truly took over for Johnny Carson and HIS show - The Late Show with David Letterman, became the REAL successor to Johnny Carson's Tonight Show. They just gave Leno his own show and called it The Tonight Show - but Letterman was the new KING of late night. Even if the ratings leaned towards Jay for much of the time (which I never understood ....) David Letterman is a true legend, was Carsons actual successor in Late Night, and he and Johnny Carson, along with Conan (in my opinion) are 3 heads of the Late Night Talk Show Mount Rushmore!!

[@bobbiewallace4008]

I agree. I miss Dave so much. Now Conan? Why why

[@cairoyehuda4582]

You all probably dont care but does anybody know of a tool to get back into an Instagram account?? I stupidly lost my login password. I would love any assistance you can give me

[@littlesleek]

This is fabulous! I never did get to see the original airing of this. This is the first time I have watched it. It brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for preserving this memory.

[@bobyale6159]

That Everlong montage always warms my heart.

[@jonnaking3054]

Like someone else here said, I started crying about when Dave drove the cupcake into the tree

[@DaDitka]

I am SO glad that in the final montages, they included a few pics of Larry "Bud" Melman. He was a HUGE reason why I was a fan of Letterman. Glad to see him get some seriously deserved props. Miss you, Larry!

[@Eggmanontheair]

There is still a vast number of people who will never in a million years understand the sheer amount of work this montage took. Kudos to Barbara.

[@martinnoskey]

it was lame

[@Eggmanontheair]

@@martinnoskey so are you.

[@slapshot01j]

It makes me feel emotional every time. The sole imperfection to me, is that Stephanie Birkitt (very understandably) couldn't appear in it. In the mid-2000's, she was a big part of the show.

[@natemccollum3731]

I was thinking about that…. It was amazing. Surprised there was ZERO Terri Garr in it tho

[@GR_BackingTracks]

@@natemccollum3731 I feel like Teri and Dave had an be actual falling out...

[@Veronique487]

Saw it again, laughed again, cried again. Wonderful! 🎇✨Thanks Dave, thanks Don Giller.😊

[@Loisjean8]

Watched AGAIN ~ still tear up ... Thanks The Donz !

[@dongiller]

Your name rings a bell. :)

[@creamcitysista1970]

When I saw this, I needed Kleenex. A lifetime of late night TV fun ended that night.

[@mikecoomler7593]

The best late night show an host there ever was. From seymour indiana

[@pantelisvassiliou6808]

Johnny Carson? .Dave letterman idol

[@sudsysutherland359]

I always find myself coming back to this final episode & still get chocked up 😢😃 For so many years at 11:35pm i would turn on “Late Night With David Letterman” & sometimes a cold Canadian beer 🍺 when i was on the afternoon shift & done at 11pm & rush home to shower & make sure I’d catch the very start of the show because it was always a very special feeling for myself when they would be announcing the guests & musical guests & of course Dave’s famous jog across the stage before officially came out to make us laugh & forget our problems 😃 I still keep having hope that David Letterman will come out of retirement to do the show again even though i know it won’t happen. Anyways cheers to my great American 🇺🇸 friends & i have nothing but the utmost respect for your lovely beautiful country 🤙 America entertains us Canadians more than i think Americans actually know meaning your professional sport teams,musicians,movies,news,TV shows Etc. I live in Windsor,Ontario,Canada which is right across the river from Detroit & i can look out my kitchen window & see the Detroit GM Building & other downtown Detroit buildings & all the cool big ships that go down the Windsor/Detroit river. Cheers from 🇨🇦 🤙 😆

[@makrocker1000]

Con l'avvento della TV satellitare ho potuto godermi il Letterman per vent'anni, ora lo guardo ancora grazie ad internet...Dave ci sarà sempre ad intrattenerci e farci ridere!

[@scollier4450]

Miss Dave so much! I'm one of the people who watched him from the very beginning...his morning show. Now I follow him on Netflix, but nothing will ever compare to his late night genius. Love you Dave! ❤💋

[@dragonfly4484]

7 years on, and I'm still missing it. Life has not been the same

[@dongiller]

Nine. :)

[@mhoney7899]

What a celebration of youth his last show was! To all the good times we had growing up

[@conorlynch2879]

I always cry when I watch this and for some reason it always happens when Dave drives the cupcake into the Christmas tree at 55:29. Something about the extended bridge of the song and how much fun that middle aged man is having.

[@Ice_24isthegoat]

Johny Carson and Conan are amazing, but for me Letterman is the best!

[@kanejacobs1889]

mee too

[@nobruga]

I´m not from America so I haven´t watched Johny Carson. But yes, Conan and Letterman are amazing

[@hollygarnish2925]

I could watch him all night, espically if he needs a sitter now. Absolutly the Best.

[@wecantfightgravity]

This is the true transition of The Tonight Show hosts: From Johnny to Dave to Conan.

[@colwilliamnoydb4134]

I had the honor of seeing him when i was In NYC to see him when he was at NBC. It was great and the show was great. When I was deployed, my wife would tape shows and send them to me. Just this show. He made me and my men laugh. That's all I wanted. Dave did his part to perfection, and I did my part for my guys. I truly miss him. I even drove out of my way to Muncie Ind to go to Ball State. It's a nice town in the middle of No Where.

[@lindaszi9501]

Loved it,miss it tons- how can any tonight or late show compare to him!?! When Johnny Carson retired and later Letterman - there just has never been anything remotely close. Both were one of a kind!

[@judydoyle1124]

The last day Dave shaved...

[@stevekay1925]

That might be true lol

[@patriciamooney928]

🤣 To show up again with a full beard.

[@calmthemonster]

Had the pleasure to attend a show in 2011 and hung around outside taking photos of all the action during the last two days.

[@hulaGUNZ]

Still the saddest day in television history.

[@davidsonlankford1168]

Glad to see him go. Wife cheater and intern abuser. Should be in prison.

[@Smetkowski24]

@@davidsonlankford1168 Nobody is perfect

[@hulaGUNZ]

@@davidsonlankford1168 that's frickin hilarious, you should have replaced him

[@davidsonlankford1168]

@@Smetkowski24 I guess when you set the bar low. I bet your mother still folds your laundry.

[@markevans7937]

@@davidsonlankford1168 if you don't like it, then why the fuck are you here? You people are just fucking miserable. Go cry elsewhere and leave every one else alone.

[@joemam12]

Anyone notice the US turn to crap since Dave left Late Show? That outro..the best

[@Yakitibin]

been watching this multiple times year on year - watching it again ! never get tired of this -it's hilarious!

[@coffeehigh420]

when Dave retired, that was it in my book of the REAL tonight shows. Wishing you all the best in retirement life.

[@brianallen2358]

I don't know why I keep watching this. It is very bittersweet and requires from me many tears.

[@mkl5448]

That was a very well put together video, excellent work.

[@YuChiGongG]

AMAZING, Dude, Man! Time passed far too quickly. Where did it go, the good times, I mean.

[@randyj420]

Cheers to Dave for all the amazing entertainment and laughs and incredible interviews.

[@michiganjfrog366]

I would've loved to have seen the lovely Teri Garr and Amy Sedaris in the top 10 countdown. I remember their appearances from the (early days), especially Teri's .. I always looked forward to them and they always delivered

[@steveeasy2]

Likewise on Teri Garr, but my guess is she would have declined, MS has affected her significantly. Heart-wrenching, as she was always the epitome of class, beauty, and wit.

[@pamsawyer6615]

Heartbreaking when he said in an interview when asked if he woupd.come back to visit... "I don't want to see other people living our lives"

[@ac9559]

I pretty much lost interest after he left NBC but I am grateful for those years and to you for all the great content you share!

[@timothythompson6343]

Thank you for posting this!

[@DCfromBC]

Aa staple of my formative years, and a tragedy what Clobert has done with this show. Letterman was king.

[@ArmHeavySoCal]

I do remember the early days of Late Night with David Letterman (1982-1993) on NBC, and then The Late Show with David Letterman on CBS (1993-2015) what a great run.

[@keiththomas6690]

The Best tomfoolery ever! Thanks Dave we miss you, TV just isn't the same.

[@BaccarWozat]

I will never remember... no, wait, I mean I will never forget... em... I can never forget about the... um... He will always be remembered.

[@jonnaking3054]

I cried and laughed through the whole show.... No matter what was going on in life, from 10: 30-11: 30 on week nights you could just forget it for an hour and have a laugh

[@asteverino8569]

Thanks for this great last show! At the time, I wasn't watching TV. (A misunderstanding with the Cable company). Their fault. Anyway, I watched Dave for all the years he was late night. I loved the montage at the end. So many memories. That's all.

[@boppob1343]

I agree with David when he said on Conan's podcast that he probably should have left earlier, mainly because I think his comedy bits/writers had gone downhill big time after the early 2000s or even the late 90s. But holy shit no one did a monologue like David Letterman even today. I think Stephen and Kimmel come close(Stephen the most), and don't get me wrong, Conan is my favorite late night host of all time, but his monologue's always felt out of place in his first show and TBS show. The Tonight Show monologues were always great though for him. But man, David was the last of the great opening monologues' performers of late night TV hosts. So fucking natural and nothing feels forced. Although, I would have LOVED to have him for at least a couple more years just for his monologue jokes about Trump. Dave was the king of eviscerating him on Late Night Television every time they had Trump on.

[@markdavies9117]

I agree that late in his tenure, sometimes Dave looked tired of the grind. But Dave at his "worst" was still better than the others at their best.

[@DinoHF79]

Love you Dave miss your innovative entertainment!

[@clifftanton8385]

Man i miss him used to watch his show on NBC all the time in the80s

[@danmuscutt8639]

A friend opined that there are two kinds of people, Letterman people and Leno people, because there aren't many people who like both. She was correct. I'm a Dave guy since his day show when I was in the Army. Never thought Leno was funny. (or Chevy Chase for that matter.)

[@ThatOpalGuy]

i watched this. I loved daves shows on cbs and nbc.

[@sandrasalas9813]

He made sure everyone got a good look at Norm. Dave and Norm, loved the two together

[@ronachten2902]

God bless, Normie.

[@ineedausernamenow999]

The weight of Norm breaking up a little is heartbreaking 😢😢

[@pieterprinsloo007]

Dave is a legend, the network got it wrong with Colbert though, really dissapointing

[@jonnaking3054]

I just couldn't get into Colbert. There will never be another Dave.

[@unknown-kh7dg]

Stephen Colbert on his old Comedy Central cable show "The Colbert Report" was trying to be like conservative talk show host Wally George who he was not and never will be. On his current CBS late night talk show "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert", he's trying to be like Johnny Carson, another man he will never be.

[@donnyestee]

Dude imagine that green room before the Top 10.

[@Eaglearm95]

This man defined my life. I Love this man

[@NocyMusic]

After Johnny Carson retired David letterman was the best late show on TV no one can replace him everything now is fake with no passion

[@mikeflower4091]

The last time late night tv had a decent talk show. So much better than todays fluff.

[@saaketh83]

She’s gone already chief 😂😂😅

[@sandy3482]

Thanks Dave !

[@oceanwoods]

My heart is still broken.

[@JohnDoe-uu6jl]

AMAZING!!

[@brandongaming1049]

21:43-22:14 RIP Barbara Walters

[@nevillede-hoedt6520]

I use to (also) watch the Late Show with David Letterman over the years since it's beginning, yes I did miss quite a few, but most of the time I would watch it. It was a good show, they had some great guests on over the years, many came on quite regularly, people such as Bruce Willis, Richard Simmons, the guy who had the Deli next to the Ed Sullivan Theatre, who would come on with food for David, sometimes he and David would go out in the public and have the Deli owner talk to people in the street, while David told him what to ask folk's, or say, was always a bit of fun. I enjoyed the animal handler, Jack Hannah, it was the same when he had Steve Erwin on, these guys are definately on another planet, so very serious about their passion for the wild. I have never been able to watch Steven Colbert, a bit too dry, or too much politics, his impersonation of Donald Trump was too much, night after night, un natural, will never be another Letterman, and I know he is trying to give the show his own personality, but not as entertaining as David Letterman. I don't think his band are a shadow of Paul Shaffer's band, not in the same league, might be a good band, but may get there in the long run, as Paul's band did, after many years. They too were very green at first. David Letterman was an already established stand up comedienne, as can be seen on Johnny Carson, all those years ago, before David had a show. David has a casual approach (or so it seems) to how he delivers the cue card prompts, but delivers it as if it is coming from within him. As David said, he had a great team of people around him, who made it all possible, great writer's, some of these people were comediennes in their own right, on shows like 'Everyone Loves Raymond', as it was the same team who were instrumental in David Letterman's 'Late Show'. Since David's 'Late Show', quite a few more similar shows have risen, some quite good, Craig Ferguson, James Condlon, and I know there are a lot of different type of these shows, but somehow, David Letterman was the standout 'lateshow', and here where we live, it was on Late. They had some great acts on, bands, but a lot of the time, if his guest's were able to hold their own, then a band wasn't needed. David Letterman is missed, but the man needs to have a life outside of the dedication it takes to deliver a show day after day. He deserves (his) time now. An absolute lovely down to earth man, will never be another like him. We wish he and his family all the very best, in whatever their future holds. Regards.

[@cesarmadero05]

Did David ever mentioned the #3 in Late Night billboard during the show? That is really a great move.

[@byronlloydvonpriebe7197]

1. David Letterman 2. Jack Paar 3. Johnny Carson

[@joseantoniobrazsola3038]

Letterman, the best !

[@randyjames4713]

Never to be matched or surpassed.

[@trevorhembrough1290]

Quintessential Dave. He made sure he aired his last show on a Wednesday because the Friday that week was the anniversary of Johnny’s final Tonight Show episode (and also insisted no reruns be aired following his exit until Colbert officially took over in September). Classic.

[@smileybubbles9894]

Good ol days 😆😎🤪😍

[@sporkfindus4777]

Phenomenal!

[@Eggmanontheair]

38:24 nice shot of Dave and the Hamburglar

[@jonnaking3054]

I was kinda hoping Dave would surprise us all and hop onto ABC in a year or so. I believe ABC invited him over around this time

[@krs5115]

Shaffer on point with the funny music didnt miss a beat.

[@zaiochan5730]

The day when white socks on dress suit went out of fashion forever!

[@kerryrobinson9947]

There is NEVER an OFF position to the genius switch. 💡

[@mellocello187]

Why no Regis? Every time they needed someone because a guest had cancelled, Regis would drop everything and come over, always positive, always entertaining.

[@dongiller]

He made his final cameo interrupt a few days before.

[@CherSionneR]

I miss him and this show so much. I now fall asleep to retro tv. The late shows now are boring.

[@tonyarc9455]

We are in trouble

[@fluxcapacitor1621]

"She's gone already, Chief" - legendary

[@djdon60]

I had, to watch, again(probably, have seen it close, to an hundred times); it does not get old. 'So happy, to see the shot(52.46)of the one and, only, Bill Wendell-the password: "matchless."

[@passtheawksshow]

Looking back, this really was the end of late night television. What's left today is only a phantom of what once was. Growing up with Dave, Conan, Jay & Craig Ferguson, the juxtaposition makes what's available now sadly unwatchable.

[@ronflatter1235]

I take it the segment starting at 27:13 was done twice.

[@joshuaharmon434]

I miss Letterman :(

[@jordanthomas7304]

0:08 RIP George, Sr.

[@vanillagorilla8696]

This just makes me sad.

[@joshpritt526]

Johnny Carson, Letterman, Tom Snyder, Craig Kilborn and Carson Daly are the best.

[@LeahElisheva]

31:48 😂😂😂😂. I remember this! Then they had this guy in stage in a car 😂😂😂😂

[@TheCandiceWang]

Don, I was honored to be able to able to score tix and sit in the balcony for one of the Nov 2014 tapings. Whoopi Goldberg + others were guests that night. Wonder if you have that episode already uploaded

[@dongiller]

November 6. I haven’t.

[@craigfazekas3923]

Larry. Bud. Melman. 🚬😎

[@daudidaudi]

Seinfeld is such a good actor, in the "Leaving Letterman docu" he approves that joke from Julia before the show.

[@Heres_Johnny.]

The end credits: They forgot to list Felicia Collins' name! Oops! And Jordanne Kessel, you're gorgeous. ;0)

[@dongiller]

Fixed post-broadcast.

[@bobyale6159]

Dave would’ve destroyed Trump’s campaign had he postponed his retirement.

[@Dqbbed]

If only Robin Williams was still alive 😞I guarantee he would have been in that top ten things I always wanted to say to Dave list as being one of his most memorable guests....I can't even imagine what his line would've been 🤣🤣....R.I.P captain...we miss you...

[@danieldougan269]

RIP Alan Kalter.

[@freddyjefferson4526]

Became more of a rebel and mattered more as he got older

[@dixonpinfold2582]

19:50 Decades ahead of his time, this guest was the first Millennial.

[@davidsonlankford1168]

He was cheating on his wife before it was taboo to mention it

[@dixonpinfold2582]

@@davidsonlankford1168 Impossible. Andy Kaufman never married.

[@davidsonlankford1168]

@@dixonpinfold2582 ===+++ was referring to Letterman.

[@LeahElisheva]

28:14 omg I remember this!! Hilarious! I was 15 years old and I would stay up late watching letterman. Even during the school year 😂 This, the McDonald’s drive thru and the stuff with Rupert with the hidden ear phones and Dave telling him what to say 😂😂😂😂 always has me cracking up.

[@lh7369]

GOAT