David Letterman Returns to "The Late Show"
Monday night's episode of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" featured a guest who needed no introduction: former host David Letterman.
Letterman hosted the show for over 20 years, from 1993 to 2015. His appearance was his first time he had returned to the Ed Sullivan Theater, where the show is filmed, since his retirement eight years ago.
The audience greeted Letterman with a warm welcome and applause as he sat down as a guest with Colbert. Even after he took a seat, the crowd continued to chant his name.
"Stephen, control your people!" Letterman joked. "This is the most enthusiastic audience I have been near since the night I announced I was quitting."
The comedian said it was a "delight to be back" and that plenty has changed around the theater since he left.
"It's like a mall! It's unbelievable. It's like Rodeo Drive," he said, referencing the popular Beverly Hills, California, shopping street and adding that his dressing room was nicer than any hotel he'd ever stayed in. "Ladies and gentlemen, this is the television of the future....I think it's delightful."
David Letterman Reflects on Hosting "The Late Show"
David Letterman, the iconic host of "The Late Show" for over 4,000 episodes, recently shared his thoughts on his time as a host. In an interview, Letterman expressed how much he misses everything about hosting the show.
According to Letterman, hosting provided him with unique opportunities in life. He mentioned that if he made a mistake, he had the chance to try again, which he found to be a great device. This aspect made hosting more and more fun for him. Additionally, when he accomplished something he was proud of, he wanted to do it again. He recalled the feeling of having that experience once more, even years later.
Since retiring from "The Late Show," Letterman has made appearances on various late-night shows. However, in a previous interview, he expressed uncertainty about returning to "The Late Show" and its home. He believed it would be too difficult for him.
However, on a recent episode, Letterman returned to the theater where "The Late Show" was filmed. Stephen Colbert, the current host, invited Letterman behind the desk to recreate a selfie they took together in 2014. Letterman jokingly mentioned that they did it because his son didn't believe he had a show.
