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David Letterman
Vital Stats
- Date of Birth:
- April 12, 1947
- Birth Location:
- Indianapolis, Indiana
Why Is He Famous?
David Letterman has never met a spinning pencil or microphone that he didn't like. As the host of CBS's Late Show and also the longest-running late night talk show host on television, David Letterman always gives insomniacs and drunk college kids something entertaining to look forward to. Whether he's encouraging pets and humans to perform showstopping shenanigans, making inappropriate comments about Bristol Palin, throwing pencils at the camera (to the sounds of shattered glass), or seeing how many times a joke can be repeated until it's no longer funny, David Letterman is a late night institution. Even in the face of controversies like an alleged extortion plot implicating him with some of his female employees, David Letterman's ratings remain solid, and his controversies only seem to help him add new faces to his sleepless audience.
Quotes
"There's only one requirement of any of us, and that is to be courageous. Because courage, as you might know, defines all other human behavior. And, I believe - because I've done a little of this myself - pretending to be courageous is just as good as the real thing."
– David Letterman
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Biography
David Letterman's dual interests in comedy and auto racing were developed through childhood in his hometown of Indianapolis. His dad, Harry, was the family's comedian-for-hire, always willing to do his best to get a laugh at family gatherings and other social events. It was a skill that inspired his son to someday do the same. The family's proximity to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway spawned David Letterman's interest in auto racing and, in time, he came to have his own collection of model automobiles.While attending Ball State University, David Letterman got his feet wet as a broadcaster for the campus radio station WBST. His tenure there was short, as he got the axe for dissing classical music on the air, but he would find new work at WAGO-AM before taking the plunge into television at Indianapolis's WLWI. David Letterman's trademark off-color humor came through in his work as the station's weatherman where he once rattled the WLWI brass by offering kudos to a storm when it was reclassified as a major hurricane. Following a 1971 stint with ABC's Wide World of Sports as a broadcaster for the Indianapolis 500, David Letterman left for Los Angeles to pursue a career that leaned closer to comedy rather than conventional broadcasting.
david letterman hosts late night on nbc
The legendary Comedy Store in Los Angeles gave David Letterman an honest outlet for developing his stand-up comedy skills. Following appearances on TV's Mary (starring Mary Tyler Moore), Mork & Mindy (with Robin Williams) and game shows like The Gong Show and The $20,000 Pyramid, David Letterman got his first big break in 1978 as a guest host for talk show king Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show. Two years later, he was given the keys to his own NBC daytime show, The David Letterman Show, but low ratings gave it a swift exit, despite its two Emmy Award victories. NBC brass would give the sarcastic comic another shot in a much later time slot as the host of Late Night with David Letterman in 1982. The show became a hit on the college circuit, as young viewers came to appreciate David Letterman's acid-tongued barbs, Stupid Pet Tricks and occasionally combative celebrity interviews with megastars like Cher. One of David Letterman's most famous incidents on Late Night involved a dual interview-turned-fight between comic Andy Kaufman and wrestler Jerry Lawler, which would later be re-enacted by Jim Carrey, Jerry Lawler and David Letterman himself for the 1999 film, Man on the Moon.The retirement of Johnny Carson in 1992 brought with it much speculation that David Letterman would take over the reigns of The Tonight Show. When the news was revealed that guest host Jay Leno would fill Carson's shoes, it led to a breakdown in the once-harmonious working relationship between NBC and David Letterman. In 1993, he jumped networks to CBS, setting the stage for a late-night talk show battle between him and Jay Leno. David Letterman's departure from Late Night would also open the door for a new talk show host named Conan O'Brien to replace him and forge his own late night career.
david letterman hosts late show on cbs
The move to CBS sent David Letterman inside the walls of the Ed Sullivan Theater with a new time slot and a spiffier wardrobe (suits instead of sweaters) to go along with it. Although Jay Leno would maintain a steady hold over Late Show in the ratings wars, David Letterman still kept a loyal following and entertained them with his nightly Top 10 lists, amusing letters segments and new faces like local deli man Rupert Lee. A-list celebrities still frequented the show with often-unpredictable results. Courtney Love and Drew Barrymore each flashed the host, Madonna unleashed a torrent of F-bombs during one disastrous appearance and a barely-there Joaquin Phoenix appeared for a bizarre interview that ended with David Letterman saying, "I'm sorry you couldn't be here tonight."Despite the many sarcastic sound bites and amusing comedy interludes that have come out of Late Show, David Letterman has been known to put on a refreshingly honest and brave face when called upon. His emergency quintuple bypass surgery in 2000 led to a rousing return and a very public thank you to the hospital professionals who prolonged his life. A year later, he was the first talk show host to return to the air for an emotional show following the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001, that was selected by Time as 2001's Best TV Moment. In 2009, David Letterman continued to tout his relevance by becoming the first talk show host to have U.S. Presidents (Barack Obama and Bill Clinton) on back-to-back episodes. In the midst of watching his ratings climb after an ill-advised put-down of Bristol Palin and the departure of Jay Leno from The Tonight Show, David Letterman made a very personal issue into a public one when he revealed (in his typical self-deprecating style) that a CBS producer allegedly tried to extort him out of $2 million over allegations that the host was sleeping with several of his staff members. Now faced with the barbs of other talk show hosts being directed his way, David Letterman handled it in his usual tongue-in-cheek way while continuing to hold his own with the support of his faithful audience.
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Reader Comments: 60 Posts
What Dave did is not something that can be condoned but I don't think anyone other than his wife has any reason to condemn him. What gets me is that he found it within himself ti tear apart people who did the same thing he was doing. He should take heed of the warning 'judge not and you shall not be judged'.
He is also a mediocre comic at best. His jokes are totally lame and lacking substance. Most of his jokes are directed to people who have fallen from grace. Like all highly charged and motivated political shenanigans (especially the liberals), you can see how the 'holier that thou" attitude comes to bite one self in the you know what.
Dave Letterman is a selfish pig, thinking only of himself, and nothing of his wife's feelings. Their marriage is on very shakey ground. I went to a lot of trouble to go to NYC and see his show. Never again. It wouldn't be so bad if he didn't have his girlfriend of 20 some years and now his wife. He's affecting a lot of lives.
Letterman is not funny. He is an angry old man. Needs to retire to Florida with the rest of them and have his blue pills taken away.
TELL EVERYBODY TO KISS YOUR ASS AND ROLL ON.YOU GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This horses butt needs to get new writers. His material is horrible. Most of his stuff has already been around two or three times on the Internet by the time he manages to choke the stuff out on his show. I think the guy is coming down with a bad case of Alzheimers.
Put Joe Biden in there. He's much more entertaining and he doesn't try to cover up the fact that he's a horses arse.
huckabee is gay
CAN MR DAVID TELL TIME?????????
DAVE FLOOD.
LETTERMAN EXIBITS LATENT PEDOPHILE TENDANCIES.
CONSIDER HIS LATE LIFE MARRIAGE. HE IS CHALLENGED WITH LEGAL OR WOMEN CLOSE TO HIS OWN AGE. WHAT HE CAN'T HAVE, CHILDREN, HE ATTACKS. HE ATTACKS PALIN AND HER FAMILY BECAUSE SHE HAS POLITICAL RIVALS AND HE FEELS HIS SEXUAL ATTACK WILL BE MASKED BY POLITICAL ATTACKS FROM THE LEFT. HE USES THE COMEDIANS MASK TO HIDE HIS EVIL DARK SIDE.
SCHOOLS AND PLAYGROUNDS SHOULD POST HIS PICTURE TO ALERT PARENTS AND CHILDREN.
PALIN AND HER FAMILY CHERISH LIFE. THEY CHERISH THE PLANNED, THE CHALLENGED, AND THOSE GIFTS UNPLANNED FOR. ALMOST ALL CULTURES HAVE A MARRIAGE SYSTEM.
A SIGNIFICANTLY HIGH PROPORTION OF FIRST BORNS WERE CONCEIVED BEFORE THE MARRIAGE CERIMONY. SO WHAT!
IN LETTERMANS CASE, NO MARRIAGE.
I think Sarah Palin needs to get a grip. She was not popular enough to make it to the White House so now, being the Drama Queen of all Drama Queens, she needs to find a way to bring herself back into the spotlight by bashing David Letterman. You don't see other people ripping him for jokes...look at all the former Presidents and celebrities they joke about....come on Sarah...put on your BIG GIRL PANTIES AND DEAL WITH IT!!!!!
so now we have to go into the gutter to have laughs.
To call a woman a slut because she is attractive and talk about sex with a 14 year old girl is just perverse. I think letterman is a dispicable human being and how he is allowed to remain on Tv is amazing to me. I have watched him for the last time.
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