David Letterman's Career In 11 Amazing Numbers
NEW YORK, NY (CBS) - As David Letterman approaches his final broadcast of the LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN on Wednesday, May 20, he has amassed an impressive tally of milestones throughout his more than three decades in broadcasting.
Below are just some of those highlights from his illustrious career:
(L-R) Stephen Colbert & David Letterman (credit: Jeffrey R. Staab/CBS)
6028: The total number of broadcasts.
"Late Night with David Letterman" had 1,810 broadcasts and ran for 595 weeks. The Late Show With David Letterman has had 4,214 broadcasts, as well as four primetime specials, and has run for 1,135 weeks.
Bill Murray (credit: John Paul Filo/CBS)
44: Total number of visits by Bill Murray.
Bill Murray was the first guest on the premiere broadcasts of both "Late Night" on Feb. 1, 1982 and the LATE SHOW on CBS on August 30, 1993. As of May 20, 2015, he will have appeared on Letterman's late night talk shows 44 times.
David Letterman's Emmys (credit: John Paul Filo/CBS)
16: Emmy Awards
112: Emmy Award Nominations
"Late Night" won five Emmy Awards and received 35 Emmy nominations."Late Show" won nine Emmy Awards and received 72 Emmy nominations. Letterman's 1980 daytime program, "The David Letterman Show," earned two Emmy Awards and five Emmy nominations.
Oprah Winfrey with David Letterman (credit: John Paul Filo/CBS)
19,932: Guest Appearances
On "Late Night," David Letterman had 5,850 guests. On his "Late Show," there were approximately 14,082 guests that sat with David.
126: The number of total Stupid Pet Tricks segments.
73 were on Late Night, and 53 on Late Show. The very first Stupid Pet Tricks segment made its debut on Letterman's morning show, "The David Letterman Show," on June 26, 1980
89: The number of total Stupid Human Tricks segments.
30 were on "Late Night," and 59 on "Late Show."
Marv Albert (credit: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
73: Marv Albert's "Late Night" appearances
The "king" of "Late Night" appearances was sportscaster Marv Albert, with 73 to his credit. Other top guests were:
- Richard Lewis = 48 appearances
- George Miller & Tom Brokaw = 40 appearances
- Jay Leno = 39 appearances
- Teri Garr & Robert Klein = 30 appearances
Regis Philbin (credit: John P. Filo/CBS)
136: Regis Philbin Appearances
Regis Philbin holds the title of "Most LATE SHOW Appearances"
Other top LATE SHOW guest appearances (as of May 20, 2015) are:
- Jack Hanna = 75 appearances
- Tony Randall = 70 appearances
- Marv Albert = 52 appearances
- Tom Brokaw = 49 appearances
Democratic Presidential Candidate Sen. Barack Obama (Frame Grab: Worldwide Pants Inc ©2008 Worldwide Pants Inc.)
4,605: Top Ten Lists
"Late Night" has 1,009 Top Ten Lists, while the "Late Show" has 4,605. 33 years ago, the very first Top Ten List, "Things That Almost Rhyme with Peas," was presented on "Late Night" on Sept. 18, 1985.
David Letterman (credit: Jeffrey R. Staab/CBS)
11: Cities where Letterman's fictional Top Ten Office has made its home.
The state of Nebraska earns the distinction of having the most Top Ten Home Offices than any other state, with a total of three. The Top Ten Home Offices from all 25 years are:
- Milwaukee, Wisc. (the first "Late Night" home office)
- Lebanon, Pa.
- Lincoln, Neb.
- Oklahoma City, Okla.
- Omaha, Neb.
- Scottsdale, Ariz.
- Tahlequah, Okla.
- Oneonta, N.Y. (the last "Late Night" home office)
- Sioux City, Iowa (the first LATE SHOW home office)
- Grand Rapids, Mich.
- Wahoo, Neb. (the current LATE SHOW home office)
The LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN, a production of Worldwide Pants Incorporated, is broadcast locally on KPIX 5/CBS, weeknights (11:35 PM-12:37 AM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Barbara Gaines, Matt Roberts, Jude Brennan and Rob Burnett are the executive producers. Jerry Foley is the director.
