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Late Show with David Letterman

1993 – 2015Show22 seasons4252 episodesTV-PG

ComedyTalk
87
ExcellentGoodWatch score
IMDb7.0Metacritic–8.1Rotten Tomatoes100%80%

A nostalgic, eccentric talk series about show business and pop culture, with standout dialogue.

Good for date night · friends night · party vibe

Where to watch

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Not streaming in any country yet.

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Not for scares, suspense or brutality.

Shows with

Episodes

22 seasons · 4252 episodes · best: S18E139 "Kelly Ripa/Jennifer Lawrence/How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" 9.0

Episodes

6.9
5.3
6.2
6.8
4.2
6.4
5.9
7.3
7.8
4.9
7.1
7.4
8.6
6.7
8.5

Story

David Letterman uses mature humor to appeal to his audience in this weeknight series, which gets its music from a house band led by Paul Shaffer. Among the show's most-famous segments are the Top Ten List and Stupid Pet Tricks, the latter of which subsequently led to an additional recurring segment called Stupid Human Tricks.

Feels like

  • Late-Night Talk Show Icon
  • Celebrity Interview Satire
  • Absurdist Monologue
  • Pop Culture Commentary
  • Nostalgic 90s/00s Vibe
  • Meta-Humor & Self-Awareness
  • Eccentric Host Persona
  • Improvisational Comedy
  • Cultural Zeitgeist Mirror
  • Comfortable Background Entertainment

Cast

24 of 647 · most episodes first

Crew

Written by
David Letterman
Produced by
Eric Stangel

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

August 30, 1993 · May 20, 2015 · Ended

First aired
August 30, 1993
Last aired
May 20, 2015
Status
Ended
Length
22 seasons · 4252 episodes
Age rating
TV-PG
Content
Strong Language, Sexual Content
Genres
Talk, Comedy
Original language
English
Made in
United States

Q&A

5 questions, like "Is Late Show with David Letterman worth watching?"

Questions about Late Show with David Letterman

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Is Late Show with David Letterman worth watching?

87
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 87 (IMDb 7 and Rotten Tomatoes 100%). Critics rate it higher (100 out of 100) than audiences (77). Season 12 is the weak spot, with an IMDb average of 4.2 against 8.6 for the best season.

Which season of Late Show with David Letterman is best?

Season 20, with an IMDb average of 8.6. Season 12 is the weakest at 4.2. The highest-rated episode is Kelly Ripa/Jennifer Lawrence/How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (season 18, episode 139) at 9.0, and the lowest is Episode #12.174 (season 12, episode 174) at 1.4.

Is Late Show with David Letterman okay for kids?

TV-PGStrong languageSexual content

Not for young kids: it's rated TV-PG in the United States for strong language and sexual content, and the viewing guide lists it for teens and adults.

Will Late Show with David Letterman make me laugh?

Funny

Yes: the humor is mostly satire (9 of 10) and sharp wit (8 of 10).

Is Late Show with David Letterman plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on dialogue centrality (9 of 10) and character depth (6 of 10) more than on its plot.