The BEST episodes of Late Show with David Letterman

Every episode ever - ranked by fan votes!

“Late Show with David Letterman” is an hour-long weeknight comedy and talk show broadcast by CBS from the Ed Sullivan Theater on Broadway in New York City and is produced and hosted by David Letterman. The show's music director and bandleader of the house band, the CBS Orchestra, is Paul Shaffer. The head writers are brothers Justin Stangel and Eric Stangel. The announcer is Alan Kalter, who replaced Bill Wendell as announcer in 1995. The show airs at night, but is recorded the afternoon of the broadcast.

Last Updated: 5/9/2022Network: CBS

10.00

27 votes

#1 - Alec Baldwin, Jay Thomas, Darlene Love

Season 17 - Episode 65 - Aired 12/23/2009

Alec Baldwin gets intimidated by an acting legend. Also: Jay Thomas returns and Darlene Love sings "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).

10.00

1 votes

#2 - Jerry Seinfeld, Colin Firth

Season 17 - Episode 234 - Aired 11/23/2010

The Final Late Show with David Letterman

9.80

108 votes

#3 - The Final Late Show with David Letterman

Season 22 - Episode 138 - Aired 5/20/2015

6,028th broadcast

Show #0001 - Bill Murray, Tom Brokaw, Paul Newman, Billy Joel

9.25

4 votes

#4 - Show #0001 - Bill Murray, Tom Brokaw, Paul Newman, Billy Joel

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 8/30/1993

Tom Brokaw shows up to take back some NBC "intellectual property;" Dave shows off the renovated Ed Sullivan Theater and chats with Bill Murray.

Directors: Hal Gurnee

9.00

1 votes

#5 - Show #0002

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 8/31/1993

Dave's worst moment on last night's debut: his fake tooth fell out (the video is repeated several times in slow motion); a four-year-old geography expert and cheese lover names states on a U.S. map.

Directors: Hal Gurnee

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Rachel Maddow, Rose Byrne, Gavin Harrison

9.00

27 votes

#6 - Rachel Maddow, Rose Byrne, Gavin Harrison

Season 18 - Episode 115 - Aired 8/23/2011

Dave welcomes talk show host Rachel Maddow and actress Rose Byrne also a drum solo by Gavin Harrison.

9.00

27 votes

#7 - President Barack Obama

Season 19 - Episode 124 - Aired 9/18/2012

President Barack Obama discusses the comments made by Mitt Romney in a recently released video. Dave wants to keep the vacant chair vacant . . . . just in case the President wants to speak to it. Dave and the President talked about the Conventions, the deficit, jobs, the divisiveness in politics, beer in the White House, the Romney tape, and the troubles in Libya, Egypt, and the Middle East.