Rupert Jee Retires: A Tribute

Featuring screen captures of every one of Rupert's 445 Late Show appearances, presented here in chronological order, from September 20, 1993's "Meet the Neighbors" (Late Show #16) to the penultimate show on May 19, 2015 (#4213).
The CBS Orchestra's performance of Ian Hunter's "Central Park n' West" comes from the break music of September 11, 2002 (the beginning) and July 23, 2002 (the rest).
The music to the closing photo of Rupert and me (from May 11, 2015) comes from a Rockabilly sample my musical partner Tad Lathrop and I recorded in late 1987.
Late Show audio and video content included here by kind permission of Worldwide Pants Incorporated.

[@MKhelobUltra]

Good companion piece to the video posted on the Letterman channel, Don!

[@keosh777]

Wonderful tribute. Always enjoyed Rupert Jee's appearances. Happy retirement Mr. Jee 🙂

[@bobbyk9815]

I officially have no reasons left to visit NYC.

[@USALeonHeart]

EXACTLY my thought.

[@purplefuku]

What a lovely tribute! Thanks so much for posting this, Don!

[@khunopie9159]

In 2003 I sent an email to viewer mail aka CBS Mailbag: "Dear Dave, does Rupert Jee get invited to all the staff parties?" To my delight my email was Letter Number 1. Rupert did a funny piece where Dave's Christmas staff party takes place in an elevator and Rupert calls Dave a "tightass." That was my 15 minutes.

[@rocketreindeer]

Ha ha! Hilarious. I never saw that one. Hopefully we'll be able to see it on Dave's channel some time. I laughed out loud imagining him saying that.

[@privatepenguin3137]

Haha....that's awesome!!

[@proteinwaterfall9148]

Don great to see you posting!!

[@leisure057blank3]

Enjoy your retirement Rupert. I can say I very much enjoyed your skits on the show.

[@alewicke]

Enjoy your retirement, Rupert!!!!! Enjoyed watching you all those years!!!!!! 🎉❤️🎉❤️🎉❤️🎉❤️🎉❤️🎉

[@joeybaseball7352]

Rupert is an noble guy. Met him a few times at the Hello Deli. Spent some money at his store. And he really was the guy behind the register, as well the guy who made your sandwiches. Yet, he was also a celebrity from his many, many, many Letterman appearances. He never seemed to get wrapped up in it. Never seemed to care about celebrities, or being one. The one time Colbert visited his store on the show, he seemed so uninterested. Rupert never wrote a book, or tried to capitalize on it, outside of selling some Letterman merch, and naming a sandwich after Dave. Yet he was game for anything. He was always very funny on camera. Remained humble, even though he's a successful entrepreneur.

[@Mark_Brooks]

Don, you're the best. So is Rupert.

[@jozz2248]

Goodbye, Hello Deli 🍻

[@privatepenguin3137]

You say goodbye, and I say hello. Hmmm, that would make a good song.

[@Cedar602]

It's shocking how many times he appeared. What the heck! Legendary "ball player", Rupert Jee. Lol and the girls too. They must have all known each other really well. I can't believe Dave exists. So many platters!!!! Why did it work? lol. Thank you, Don.

[@user2144]

Thanks, Don.

[@katiezee2]

A thing I really liked about the Letterman show was how they'd rope in normal everyday people to be part of it. . I'm imagining when Rupert was first contacted he may have been thinking - 'These tv folks are weird, maybe a bit nuts, what's going on ? but it's free publicity for my business. . ' but then he was a good sport, having a lot of fun with it. and who's that handsome devil next to Rupert at the end haha

[@amandawoods8323]

Deserves a star .

[@tastyjay]

I'm really glad to hear the WWP gave him a send-off. Thanks for the share! What a weird alternate income stream he had. Primary: bodega owner, Secondary: late night show character. God bless you RJ!

[@mrcigartruth3832]

Best wishes. Rupert's participation was always a highlight. I guess they could edit some things out that didn't work. My curious nature always wanted to see the incident that made them quit doing those remotes with him. Given that he always seemed to be a good sport, I hope the deli benefitted as much as it should have from the show and helped him to retire comfortably. I hope he is in good health. Letterman should comp him 2 lifetime Jets season tickets. Thanks Don, that was very thoughtful of you to post this little tribute..

[@brianmoore5498]

real nice Don. just like old times. thank you.

[@cortneyperfume_madness480]

Great video❤

[@along5925]

Accolades to Rupert Jee. Always a good sport. I'd love to hear more about him and David Letterman. Wish Rupert the very best in his retirement. He was in a tough business in a challenging part of nyc. 💐

[@stanziolkowski4212]

worked in Manhattan many times. My schedule would never let me go to the show, however, after work I would see (and sometimes chat) with the crew during tear down outside the theater. Rupert was always accessible. He will be missed..

[@tbx59]

I was so stoked when I visited NYC around 2002 and walked into the Hello Deli and there was Rupert at the counter.

[@chadcollins6068]

After a time Rupert was a big attraction to watch the show. I loved his non-professionialism but willingness to play along with whatever absurdities were happening. He hit just the right tone. When he was involved, It made you feel like one of your friends was on the show. Just a regular guy doing the ridiculous. Happy Retirement Rupert!

[@frssketch]

I used to watch David Letterman with my parents back in Brazil when I was a kid. Fast forward 25 years, I’m in NYC with my wife and I accidentally grab a sandwich at Hello Deli. I recognized Rupert in seconds. I left the place running to call my dad about it. It was so random and weird.

[@theritchie2173]

As always, thanks for the memories Don. And also as always, can you imagine any of the current late night hosts ever coming close to this? With all those appearances over the years Rupert should qualify for a star on the Walk of Fame.

[@syrenamilani3115]

He is such a funny guy, who made many people laugh, just being at the deli & part of the show . Go enjoy your retirement , you deserve, & blessings for you & yours , on the next part of your journey ... ❇🖤❇✌✨✌

[@chriss4169]

I miss Dave.. enjoy the job you do over on his channel as well as yours! I still need my Letterman fix 8+ years he went off the air.

[@EricWBurton]

So many meat and cheese sampler platters over the years...I wish Rupert the best in his retirement. I hope he remembers to do some deep knee bends regularly.

[@oldmoviesinbwwithsubtitles3501]

cool video Don.

[@waynedale]

Nicely done!

[@Rob_Kates]

I loved it when the show bought him a huge billboard advertising the deli. Great tribute to a guy who was a big part of the show!

[@privatepenguin3137]

Great to see this tribute...thanks Don for putting it together. I got to meet Rupert over the years a few times...he was always super friendly and a class act. In addition to getting a photo or a t-shirt....I also ALWAYS made sure to buy a sandwich as well. Thanks Rupert and congrats on retirement!

[@checkmatekingtwothisiswhit7685]

Great tribute!

[@BearbearbearbearbearbearRarrrr]

He’s one of the best.

[@WilliamHELLHASEYIS]

Excellent tribute I still have my Connie Chung 4th anniversary shirt from the LETTERMAN SHOW

[@markjones952]

Very well done, Don! Did Rupert just retire, or did he also find a buyer for Hello Deli?

[@dongiller]

Both.

[@kurikokaleidoscope]

Fine tribute ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@patriciamooney928]

Rupert was patient and long suffering with Dave. Hope he enjoys returement.

[@randywilliams7281]

Hey Don, nice to see you back on your own channel! Could you upload the too tired/too hot to do a show episode? It’s a classic and haven’t seen it anywhere. Thank you!

[@dongiller]

Thanks, but no can do, unfortunately. This was a unique circumstance.

[@fmradio42]

😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫

[@Dnn411]

I ate there

[@MissylovesTrouble]

That made me dizzy. I couldn't watch it half way.

[@dongiller]

My work is done here.

[@RichardHandal301]

Select the gear on the lower right area of the playback screen and change the speed from Normal to 25%.

[@Bill_Woo]

First, realize that he covered EVERY RJ appearance. But you knew that from the video description. Second, the average attention span today is probably about 15 seconds unless compelled, so had he doubled each shot, it would have been 7 mins total which really would have been a much tougher sell. 3.5 mins is already a brutal sell for something like this. Third, the show did clips the same way, same pace. See final episode. Fourth, I know. I got so dizzy it was wearying. Fifth, did you notice that he synced it with the music beat? He's so devastatingly thorough.

[@dongiller]

@@Bill_Woo Well, it was in sync, then not in sync, then in sync, then not, and on and on. This was the best I could do, and believe me, I tried.

[@_Tanasis_]

if your name is The Donz you are not eligible for the questions? WhAt? WHY?😡

[@ronhanson1519]

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