Overview
Late Show with David Letterman is an American late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and is produced by Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated and CBS Television Studios. The show's music director and band-leader of the house band, the CBS Orchestra, is Paul Shaffer. The head writer is Matt Roberts and the announcer is Alan Kalter. Of the major U.S. late-night programs, Late Show ranks second in cumulative average viewers over time and third in number of episodes over time. The show leads other late night shows in ad revenue with $271 million in 2009. In most U.S. markets the show airs at 11:35 p.m. Eastern/Pacific time, but is recorded Monday through Wednesday at 4:30 p.m., and Thursdays at 3:30 p.m and 6:00 p.m. The second Thursday episode usually airs on Friday of that week. In 2002, Late Show with David Letterman was ranked No. 7 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time. CBS has a contract with Worldwide Pants to continue the show through 2014; by then, Letterman will surpass Johnny Carson as the longest tenured late-night talk show host.
Seasons
Season 1
Aug 30, 1993Season 2
Aug 29, 1994Season 3
Sep 4, 1995Season 4
Sep 2, 1996Season 5
Sep 1, 1997Season 6
Aug 31, 1998Season 7
Sep 7, 1999Season 8
Aug 21, 2000Season 9
Aug 20, 2001Season 10
Sep 3, 2002Season 11
Sep 1, 2003Season 12
Aug 23, 2004Season 13
Aug 29, 2005Season 14
Aug 28, 2006Season 15
Sep 4, 2007Season 16
Sep 2, 2008Season 17
Aug 31, 2009Season 18
Jan 3, 2011Season 19
Jan 3, 2012Season 20
Jan 2, 2013Season 21
Jan 6, 2014Season 22
Sep 2, 2014Production
Worldwide Pants
US
CBS Entertainment Productions
US
CBS Productions
US
CBS Studios
USNetworks
CBS
US