THE DAVID LETTERMAN COLLECTION
Episodes marked in red are incomplete enough that they will only count as a ½-hour in a trade. Episodes in black are either complete or complete enough to count as a full hour.
“THE DAVID LETTERMAN SHOW” (NBC daytime, June 23-October 24, 1980)
-September 29, 1980 The first segment is done from Dave’s point of view; guests are Chuck the Human Weasel, Tom Snyder, filmmaker Tom Cochran, and authorDr. Gabrielle Brown; also, Bad Phone Calls [original NBC broadcast]
-September 30, 1980 Steve Martin and evangelist Ruth Carter Stapleton, plus “Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina” as performed by Frank Owens and the David Letterman Symphony Orchestra; also, Small Town News, gardening with Rich Hall, and Coffee Cup Theater [original NBC broadcast]
-October 6, 1980 Bill Murray; also, a visit to Letterman Land, Bad Phone Calls, and Coffee Cup Theater [Not a complete show; original NBC broadcast; bad video]
-October 8, 1980 Jane Pauley and science fiction writer Lowell Ponte; also, Pat from the studio audience directs a segment, and a Salute to Cue Cards [original NBC broadcast, “Flickering” video]
-October 10, 1980 “Floyd Stiles Day” with guests Edwin Newman, singerRusty Draper, and a man who has escaped death 22 times, Ray Linnen; also, Viewer Mail, and Floyd Stiles greets New Yorkers [Original NBC broadcast; blurry video]
-October 22, 1980 Special episode from the Cresco, Iowa home of Howard & Jane Goldsworthy, winners of the “Why ‘The David Letterman Show’ Should be in My Home” essay contest; guests are Cloris Leachman & her daughter Dinah Englund, Wil Shriner, and Iowa Stupid Pet Tricks; also, Rich Hall reports on a Minnesota pork festival, a tour of Cresco, and meeting some locals [original NBC broadcast; blurry video]
-October 23, 1980 Steve Allen and dog trainers Faye & Warren Eckstein; also, People Who Won’t Be on the Show, new Halloween items, and Halloween costumes [original NBC broadcast]
-October 24, 1980 Series finale with guests the Rainbow Grille Dancers, Wil Shriner with a “David Letterman Show” blooper reel, Edwin Newman, Frank Owens, and singer Harve Mann, who BURIES the show’s replacement, “Las Vegas Gambit,” in a special musical number; also, Viewer Mail, Coffee Cup Theater, a Behind-the-Scenes tour of the studio, and Stupid Writer Tricks[original NBC broadcast]
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David Letterman: Looking for FunJune 12, 1981 30-minute HBO special with Dave touring Hollywood, looking for fun, but not too much fun, which can be dangerous; features Merrill Markoe, Howard Taylor, George Miller, and others [Original HBO broadcast; faulty tracking at times]
“LATE NIGHT WITH DAVID LETTERMAN” (NBC, February 1, 1982- June 25, 1993)
First Season, 1982-83
-February 1, 1982 The premiere broadcast! Guests are Bill Murray, “Mr. Wizard” Don Herbert, the NBC Rainbow Grille Peacock Dancers, and Steve Fessler, a man who has memorized all the dialogue from the movie “Bowery at Midnight.” (Bumped: Warren Zevon) Also, a tour of Studio 6A, a message from the Undersecretary of Education, “The Shame of the City,” and a look at various ways of joining metal. [A&E]
-February 2, 1982Comedian Pat Paulsen and author Steve Tesich; Also, Sally from the studio audience operates the camera, a demonstration of the official Late Night sponge, a Tour of NBC, People Who Won’t be on the Show, and in “Limited Perspectives,” Dr. Norman Hoffman, D.D.S., reviews “Reds”(Bumped: a comedy piece called “Uncle Sam,” whatever that might have been) [A&E]
-February 3, 1982Eric Idle, Hank Aaron, and songwriter Irving Caesar; Also, New Products of ’82, “Alan Alda: A Man and His Chinese Food,” and “The View from George Miller’s Room” [A&E]
-February 4, 1982Stupid Pet Tricks,John Candy & Joe Flaherty, and wrestler/photographer Killer Kowalski; Also, Rita Stipo’s Home Movies, and Dave’s Rejected TV Pilots [A&E]
-February 8, 1982Francis Ford Coppola, Henry Morgan, and Westminster Kennel Club dogs; Also, February 8thDay Parade coverage (this year’s theme is “Cardboard on Wheels”), and, to appeal to the broadest audience possible, Dr. Walter Fairservis discusses anthropology on the left side of the screen while stock footage rolls on the right side of the screen [NBC rerun]
-February 9, 1982 John Houseman, “Elizabeth Taylor,” boxer Jake LaMotta, and commercial pitchman Dave Clark; also, New Foods That Didn’t Catch On, and “Celebrities and Their Business Machines” [NBC rerun]
-February 10, 1982 Rick Moranis & Dave Thomas and Albert Finney; also, Small Town News, “The Great White North,” People Who Won’t be on the Show, The World’s Cheapest Movies with Karl Teitemann & Steve Winer, and Rick Moranis sings the national anthem [NBC rerun]
-February 11, 1982 Bob & Ray, video artist Bill Wegman & his dog Manray, author Charles Panati, and singer Harve Mann with a medley of classic sitcom themes; also, Viewer Mail, and a tour of the NBC commissary [NBC rerun]
-February 15, 1982 The first segment is done from Dave’s point of view; guests are Calvert DeForest as Burt the Human Caboose, Andy Rooney, comedian Franklin Ajaye, and Potato Museum curator Tom Hughes; also, “The View From George Miller’s Room,” and “The World’s Finest Coffee” [NBC rerun]
-February 16, 1982 The final “Late Night” aired by NBC before Conan O’Brien took over; the show ends with a “Thanks, Dave” graphic from NBC; guests are Dick Cavett and filmmaker Howard Smith; also, Dave makes an audience member host a segment of the show for him, and Mail-Order Items [NBC rerun]
-April 22, 1982 Jay Leno; also, Viewer Mail and Elevator Races (Incomplete show) [Writer’s Strike rerun]
-May 13, 1982 Billy Carter and Jerry Seinfeld, plus a walk-on by Bill Murray; also, Viewer Mail (Bumped: “The Shame of the City”) (Not a complete show; missing an interview with filmmaker Errol Morris) [E!]
-June 3, 1982 “DAVE!” 90-minute Friday night special with Teri Garr, Jay Leno, Amy Carter (with Rosalyn Carter on the telephone), and “James Clavell”; also, Harve Mann & the NBC Peacock Girls sing an introduction for each guest and segment, a special performance by Paul Shaffer & the World’s Most Dangerous Band, Viewer Mail, and Stupid Writer Tricks [Original NBC broadcast]
-June 7, 1982 Hank Williams, Jr., Elaine Boosler, and John Carpenter; also, the 1982 World’s Fair in Knoxville, and “Celebrities and Their Auto-Body Repairs” [Trio]
-July 7, 1982Mr. T and Ron Howard; also, a tour of New York doughnut shops and “Nightcap Theater” (incomplete show) [Trio]
-July 9, 1982 “Network Gala Christmas Spectacular” 90-minute Friday night special with Jane Pauley (who brings along Dave’s high school yearbook), George Miller’s tips for a more depressing holiday season, Rick Moranis & Dave Thomas as Doug & Phillip Mackenzie, a special appearance by “Santa Claus,” Guardian Angels sing Christmas carols, Santa “Bud” Claus screws up “The Night Before Christmas,” Christmas Around the World, Paul Shaffer’s Christmas Tunes for Hip Kids, and a look at the Christmas Spirit in New York City [Original NBC broadcast]
-July 12, 1982 The man who went airborne with balloons and a lawn chair, Larry Walters, and James Brown(Bumped: Security expert Carmine O. Palosi); also, two staff members identified only as “Babs” and “Jude” explain why Larry “Bud” Melman botched “The Night Before Christmas” on the Christmas special [E!]
-July 26, 1982 Larry “Bud” Melman hosts the first half of the show while Dave builds a model ship; guests are Jack & Elaine LaLaane,$20 New York Lottery winner Tony Preaney, and filmmaker Howard Smith; also, New Gifts and International Symbols (Most of Howard Smith’s segment missing) [E!]
-November 10, 1982 Jay Leno; also, coverage of RoccoLaurieIntermediateSchool’s 8th-grade class presidential election, including a report by Edwin Newman (Missing a performance by Sting) [E!]
-November 17, 1982 Andy Kaufman, Dr. Ruth Westheimer, and the 8 rarest breeds of dog in the world; also, Dave sends Alec Baldwin and members of the studio audience down to the third floor to find out how “The Doctors” will end. This episode includes Andy Kaufman’s performance of “Rose Marie” featured on the Man on the Moon soundtrack [E!]
-December 29, 1982 Nastassja Kinski (the most awkward 15 minutes of Dave’s career) and John Candy; Also, a public service announcement on the dangers of overfeeding your goldfish, the Museum of the Hard to Believe, and How to be a Better TV Viewer [A&E]
-January 6, 1983 Jay Leno (with one of “Dave’s early porno movies”), Gerard Mulligan (sitting in for Levon Helm, who no-shows), and Bernard King (brought across the hall from “Live at 5” to sit in for Helm); also, Viewer Mail, and the Late Night Players in “Jacksonville: City of Destiny” [E!]
-February 4, 1983 90-minute First Anniversary Friday night special with guests Robert Klein and James Brown, plus on-the-red carpet reports from Army Archerd;also, the best of Stupid Pet Tricks, 1982’s best new gifts, tours of New York City, a visit from Larry “Bud” Melman, and Dave’s blooper reel. [E!]
Second Season, 1983-84
-February 14, 1983 Dr. Ruth Westheimer and Lorne Michaels(Bumped: Bill Maher); also, Bad Phone Calls, and Head Carpenter Tommy Casabona drills a hole into Dave’s desk [Trio]
-February 23, 1983 Andy Kaufman, wrestling manager Classy Freddie Blassie, Alva Ballard & her Costumed Parrots, and Marv Albert; also, Cathy from the studio audience co-hosts the show [E!]
-May 4, 1983 Billy Crystal, Laraine Newman, and TV special producers Joey Albrecht & Scott Garrett; also, Dave greets people at the elevator, and the introduction of the “General All-Purpose Film Clip” policy with a demonstration by Larry “Bud” Melman [Trio]
-May 9, 1983 “Bob Rooney Day” with Slim Whitman, Elaine Boosler, and model Candy Clark, plus a special taped introduction by Bob Hope [E!]
-July 8, 1983 90-minute Friday night special (taped the day before) with Brother Theodore, Stupid Pet Tricks, Talking Heads, and Grace Jones; also, New Gifts, How to Beat the Heat, and Dave’s Neighborhood [Original NBC broadcast]
-August 18, 1983 John Candy and Terri Garr; also, Viewer Mail, and John fixes Dave’s wasp problem [NBC rerun from 1986, with a special taped introduction and sign-off from Dave]
-September 21, 1983 Dave hosts the show from his house while waiting for the cable guy; guests are Charles Grodin and Jerry Seinfeld; also, Dave’s dogs, Bob & Stan, perform a Stupid Pet Trick, and a tour of Dave’s house (incomplete show) [E!]
-October 3, 1983 Special 11:30 pm broadcast with Gilda Radner, Stupid Human Tricks (the debut installment) and Michael Caine; also, New Gifts, and An NBC Afterschool Special: “They Took My Show Away” [Good Times]
-November 2, 1983 Bill Cosby and juggler Michael Davis (Bumped: Presidential candidate Earl E. Black); also, New Dial-It Services[Trio]
-November 15, 1983 Custom-made show #1 with Dr. Ruth Westheimer and Teri Garr [E!]
-November 16, 1983 Andrea Perry; also, Larry “Bud” Melman live from the Port Authority (incomplete show) [Writer’s Strike rerun]
-November 17, 1983 Andy Kaufman (with his adopted sons) and B.B. King (Bumped: William Poundstone); also, Viewer Mail [E! or Trio]
-February 2, 1984 Rob Reiner; also, Viewer Mail, the Great Dog Sled Race, and the unveiling of the official Late Night plastic collapsible drinking cup (Missing an interview with U.S. Virgin Islands Olympians) [E!]
Third Season, 1984-85
-1984 Huey Lewis; also, What’s On Other Channels and Dave’s Video Funhouse [Writers’ Strike rerun]
-February 22, 1984 Reverse Image Special with supermodel Carol Alt and Chef Alen Sayek; also, “How to Enjoy Reverse-Image TV,” Other Great Moments in Reverse Image TV, the Peace Through Dramatization Players featuring Marie O’Donnell in “March Toward Progress: A Salute to Reverse-Image Television,” and Dave & Paul’s first walk through the halls of NBC in reverse-image (Missing a segment with a stand-up comic) [E!]
-February 28, 1984 Richard Lewis; also, Dave recruits a guest via payphone, and The Salute to Velcro with Velcro USA Director of Industrial Sales Michael Heiter (End segment cut off) [Writer’s Strike rerun]
-March 22, 1984 Bill Cosby, chicken breeder Catherine Grant, and saxophonist Sadal Watanabe; also, Larry “Bud” Melman live from Times Square [E!]
-March 27, 1984 Custom-made show #2 with Jane Pauley and Sandra Bernhard [E!]
-April 3, 1984 Stupid Human Tricks, Kathleen Turner, and John Cleese; also, Welcoming a New NBC Employee [E!]
-May 3, 1984 Stupid Pet Tricks and Dr. Ruth Westheimer; also, the crouton toaster from the Kitchen of Tomorrow, Viewer Mail, The Great Rocket Chair Race, and Know Your Staff [Good Times]
-May 14, 1984 Jay Leno and Lauren Hutton; also, Bad Phone Calls (Missing an installment of Dave’s Record Collection) [Good Times]
-May 30, 1984 International Night III with Iris Chacon (the Dolly Parton of Puerto Rico), Kamaar (the David Copperfield of Greece) and Nelson Sardeli (the Milton Berle of Brazil); also, the German Panicky Guy, Dave vs. Cuban journalist Gustavo Gomez in Tic Tac Toe, and International Symbols (Most of Nelson Sardeli’s segment missing) [E!]
-June 19, 1984 Howard Stern, Leon Russell, and Jerry Seinfeld; also, Small Town News and the Panicky Guy dies [Trio]
-July 25, 1984 Teri Garr, Jim Carrey, and do-it-yourself expert Johnny Blackwell; also, The Cuban vs. The Chicken International Tic Tac Toe Rematch [E!]
-September 6, 1984Robert Klein and Bob Costas; also, the Donahue Countdown Calendar, Viewer Mail, Dave’s Neighborhood, and the Suit of Alka-Seltzer [Writer’s Strike rerun]
-October 1, 1984 Special 11:30 pm broadcast with Stupid Pet Tricks, Steve Martin, and Brooke Shields; Also, Dave’s Grab Bag, the Donahue Countdown Calendar, and a running joke in the second half of the show where Steve is “sick.” Worth noting: This is Sid McGinnis’s first episode. [A&E]
-November 15, 1984 Phil Donahue and food collector George Mostoller(Bumped: Bill Hicks); also, the Donahue Countdown Calendar, Viewer Mail, and “Royalty of New York” (a weird skit where Dave leaves in the middle of shooting a remote segment to go kill himself) [NBC rerun]
-December 14, 1984John Lowe from Hammacher-Schlemer with new Christmas gifts, and Eddie Murphy(Bumped: Edie McClurg); Also, a special appearance by Ricky Henderson, and Brush with Greatness [A&E]
-December 19, 1984 “Christmas with the Lettermans” encore presentation, with an all-new introduction where Dave explains what has happened to his family since the show first aired; guests are Pat Boone, Brother Theodore, the Doodletown Pipers, and Dave’s “family” [NBC 1986 rerun]
-January 26, 1985 90-minute 3rd anniversary Saturday night special and the debut of the new set, with on-the-scene commentary from Bob Costas & Vince McMahon reporting on the birth of the Late Night baby, and Larry “Bud” Melman standing by to award prizes to the baby, plus David Sanborn sitting in with the band;also, the best of Stupid Pet Tricks, Viewer Mail, Dog Poetry, the Late Night family album, and plenty of clips. [E!]
Fourth Season, 1985-86
-February 14, 1985 Jack Hanna, Rich Hall, and author Douglas Adams; also, Viewer Mail and The Suit of Sponges; plus, Paul Shaffer fills in for Bill Wendell in the show’s opening [Writer’s Strike rerun, with the end segment missing, or Trio, which is complete]
-February 27, 1985 “The Morning Show with Dave & Tawny” special, with Michael Palin’s homemade sausage, disco-cising with Carol Channing, and animal analyst Beatrice Lydecker; also, Larry “Bud” Melman’s morning traffic report, weather with Dr. Henry, and Dave’s Blood Bug tours New York [NBC rerun]
-May 7, 1985 Beverly D’Angelo and Fred Willard, plus Eric Clapton sitting in with the band; also, last night’s show is done over, and Dave’s Video Funhouse [Writer’s Strike Rerun or Trio]
-May 16, 1985 Final episode from Los Angeles sweeps week with guests Johnny Carson, Lee Marvin, and Mayor Tom Bradley, plus Eddie Van Halen sitting in with the band;also, Viewer Mailwith Flunky the Clown, and a visit to Nicky’s Hairpieces. [Good Times]
-June 27, 1985 Valerie Bertinelli,plus Eddie Van Halen sitting in with the band; also, Late Night Feud Update, Viewer Mail, a “Late Night” fall season preview, and the Late Night Anthem (picks up at beginning of opening remarks, missing an interview with Sandra Bernhard) [Original NBC broadcast]
-July 10, 1985 episode taped at some point in the previous month; Guests are Martin Short, socialite Nicki Haskell, and carnival guesser Dave Grodsky; also, Late Night Birthday Club, Farewell to Temp Elaine Siegal, and “The Fugitive Guy” [Original NBC broadcast]