The BEST episodes of Late Night With David Letterman season 1
Every episode of Late Night With David Letterman season 1, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Late Night With David Letterman season 1!
David Letterman hosted this popular late-night comedy/talk-show for 11 years on NBC. Famous recurring bits included the “Top Ten” lists, a weekly “Viewer Mail” segment, and “Stupid Pet Tricks” (complete with slo-mo instant replay). Dave would often go on location or to the phones to play pranks — oftentimes venturing no further than the immediate area of his Rockefeller Center studio. Fans also remember the use of unusual camera placements (Sky-Cam, Guest-Cam, Monkey-Cam, etc.), and Dave's vast supporting cast (bandleader Paul Shaffer, writer Chris Elliott, Larry “Bud” Melman, to name a few). Many celebrities and bands came on to keep the appearance of a normal talk-show. It was anything but.
#2 - Show #0001
Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 2/1/1982
The show opens with a haunting intro by NYC-based character actor Calvert Deforest; the NBC Peacock girls introduce Dave; throughout the night, a welding demonstration is held backstage; Dave gives a tour of the backstage area; Bill Murray dances to Olivia Newton-John's hit "Physical"; “Shame of the City”; Dave and Don "Mr. Wizard" Herbert experiment with air compression; Steve Fessler recites lines from the movie "Bowery at Midnight”; Dave gives an office tour to a man named Stanley and a cameraman.
#3 - Show #0099
Season 1 - Episode 112 - Aired 8/2/1982
#4 - Jessica Savitch, Simon Bond
Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 2/22/1982
#5 - Show #0100
Season 1 - Episode 113 - Aired 8/3/1982
#6 - Show #0101
Season 1 - Episode 114 - Aired 8/4/1982
#7 - Show #0102
Season 1 - Episode 115 - Aired 8/5/1982
#8 - Show #0005
Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 2/8/1982
As Walter Fairservis, a professor of Anthropology, drones on about his academic interests, a split-screen exposes Dave's hidden thoughts on how this interview is going. Also, a "man on the street"-type segment finds that the populace of New York City couldn't care less if the Empire State Building were demolished.
#9 - Show #0008
Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 2/11/1982
Paul introduces the members of his as-yet-named house band; as a Valentine's Day tribute, Harve Mann sings a medley of television theme songs.
#10 - Linda Ellerbee, Harold Ramis
Season 1 - Episode 84 - Aired 7/24/1982
#11 - Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, Mary Tyler Moore (walkon from Live at 5), Fran Liebowitz
Season 1 - Episode 85 - Aired 7/25/1982
#12 - Mark Fydrich, Barbara Walters
Season 1 - Episode 86 - Aired 7/26/1982
#13 - Sandra Bernhard, Toots Thieleman, Julie Ridge
Season 1 - Episode 87 - Aired 7/27/1982
#14 - Pat Paulsen, Steve Tesich
Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 2/2/1982
#15 - Terry Gilliam, Hank Aaron, Al Albert
Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 2/3/1982
#16 - John Candy, Joe Flaherty
Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 2/4/1982
#17 - Francis Ford Coppola
Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 2/8/1982
#18 - John Houseman, Jake LaMotta, Dave Clark
Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 2/9/1982
#19 - Albert Finney, Rick Moranis, Dave Thomas
Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 2/10/1982
#20 - Bob & Ray
Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 2/11/1982
#21 - Andy Rooney, Franklyn Ajaye
Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 2/15/1982
#22 - Dick Cavett, Howard Smith
Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 2/16/1982
#23 - Andy Kaufman, Fred Rogers, Julie Andrews
Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 2/17/1982
#24 - Dr. Ruth Westheimer, Bob Zmuda , Martin Scorsese
Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 2/18/1982