AKA
08-27-2003, 04:22 AM
...but the man of honor is being a bit too modest about it.
On August 30, 1993, The Late Show With David Letterman made its debut on CBS. Having previously been NBC's 12:35 Late Night host, Dave left the peacock when his contract expired in May, after being passed up as Johnny Carson's Tonight Show successor in favor of Jay Leno.
The first episode was quite a big deal, and the subject of speculation all summer.
When the show started that Monday night, we were treated with a black CBS "eye" logo. Just when we thought it was just another computer-generated network ID, Calvert DeForest (aka Larry "Bud" Melman) popped out of the eye and proudly said "This is CBS!" Then the credits rolled.
Dave, of course, was treated to a standing ovation after being introduced by the late Ed Sullivan, via video clips. During the course of the first half of the show, there were two cameo appearances: Tom Brokaw, who stated that the cue cards in use were "the intellectual property of NBC," and Paul Newman, told Dave he thought he was going to see "CATS."
The guests that night were Bill Murray, who was also the first guest on the first Late Night With David Letterman eleven years earlier, and Billy Joel, who had just released what was to become his final rock album, River Of Dreams. Indeed a memorable night in the newly-renovated Ed Sullivan theatre.
Ten years later, Dave has nearly 22 years of late night television experience under his belt. That means he only has eight years until he matches the longevity of Johnny Carson.
Dave, you may not be the highest-rated 11:35 show, but who the hell cares? You always put on a great show.
"Where the hell are the singing cats?" --Paul Newman
On August 30, 1993, The Late Show With David Letterman made its debut on CBS. Having previously been NBC's 12:35 Late Night host, Dave left the peacock when his contract expired in May, after being passed up as Johnny Carson's Tonight Show successor in favor of Jay Leno.
The first episode was quite a big deal, and the subject of speculation all summer.
When the show started that Monday night, we were treated with a black CBS "eye" logo. Just when we thought it was just another computer-generated network ID, Calvert DeForest (aka Larry "Bud" Melman) popped out of the eye and proudly said "This is CBS!" Then the credits rolled.
Dave, of course, was treated to a standing ovation after being introduced by the late Ed Sullivan, via video clips. During the course of the first half of the show, there were two cameo appearances: Tom Brokaw, who stated that the cue cards in use were "the intellectual property of NBC," and Paul Newman, told Dave he thought he was going to see "CATS."
The guests that night were Bill Murray, who was also the first guest on the first Late Night With David Letterman eleven years earlier, and Billy Joel, who had just released what was to become his final rock album, River Of Dreams. Indeed a memorable night in the newly-renovated Ed Sullivan theatre.
Ten years later, Dave has nearly 22 years of late night television experience under his belt. That means he only has eight years until he matches the longevity of Johnny Carson.
Dave, you may not be the highest-rated 11:35 show, but who the hell cares? You always put on a great show.
"Where the hell are the singing cats?" --Paul Newman