David Letterman, a renowned figure in late-night television, made his return to “The Late Show” on Monday night, November 20, 2023, marking his first appearance on the program since retiring as host in 2015.
The momentous occasion was hosted by Stephen Colbert, who took over from Letterman in 2015.
Letterman’s return to his old home, the Ed Sullivan Theater, where “The Late Show” is filmed, was met with overwhelming enthusiasm from the audience, earning him two standing ovations during the show.
Letterman, who began his late-night career in February 1982 as the host of “Late Night” on NBC, moved to CBS in 1993 to start “The Late Show.”
His transition to CBS occurred after being overlooked for “The Tonight Show” in favor of Jay Leno. He went on to host “The Late Show” until his retirement in 2015, completing over 4,000 episodes and becoming the longest-serving late-night host in American television history, surpassing Johnny Carson.
During his visit, Letterman shared humorous anecdotes and engaged in a warm conversation with Colbert. He expressed admiration for the upgrades to the Ed Sullivan Theater and shared recollections from his time as host, particularly his encounters with the band Green Day. The discussion also veered into personal territories, like fatherhood and the swift passage of time as children grow up.
Letterman’s avoidance of “The Late Show” since his departure had sparked speculation about possible tensions with CBS over the transition of the show to Colbert. In a recent podcast episode hosted by Colbert, this issue was addressed. Colbert revealed that CBS executives had approached him about hosting the show in 2013, assuring him that Letterman had given his blessing. However, Letterman clarified that while he had discussed his tenure with CBS executives, he had not explicitly directed them to find a replacement host.
Apart from “The Late Show“, Letterman has maintained a presence in the entertainment industry. He has made appearances on other late-night shows like “James Corden’s Late Late Show,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” and “Late Night with Seth Meyers.” Additionally, Letterman has been hosting a Netflix interview show titled “My Next Guest Needs No Introduction” since leaving “The Late Show.”
In a lighter moment during his visit, he joked about hosting the television show for “too long” and humorously remarked that “nobody had the guts to fire me.”
