David Letterman hosted this popular late-night comedy/talk-show for 11 years on NBC. Famous recurring bits included the “Top Ten” lists, a weekly “Viewer Mail” segment, and “Stupid Pet Tricks” (complete with slo-mo instant replay). Dave would often go on location or to the phones to play pranks — oftentimes venturing no further than the immediate area of his Rockefeller Center studio. Fans also remember the use of unusual camera placements (Sky-Cam, Guest-Cam, Monkey-Cam, etc.), and Dave's vast supporting cast (bandleader Paul Shaffer, writer Chris Elliott, Larry “Bud” Melman, to name a few). Many celebrities and bands came on to keep the appearance of a normal talk-show. It was anything but.
| Season | From | To | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Seasons | |||
| Specials | February 1983 | February 1992 | 16 |
| Season 1 | February 1982 | October 1983 | 180 |
| Season 2 | February 1983 | January 1984 | 126 |
| Season 3 | February 1984 | January 1985 | 139 |
| Season 4 | February 1985 | November 1986 | 186 |
| Season 5 | February 1986 | January 1987 | 160 |
| Season 6 | February 1987 | January 1988 | 179 |
| Season 7 | February 1988 | February 1989 | 117 |
| Season 8 | January 1989 | January 1990 | 171 |
| Season 9 | January 1990 | February 1991 | 160 |
| Season 10 | February 1991 | January 1992 | 157 |
| Season 11 | February 1992 | January 1993 | 157 |
| Season 12 | February 1993 | June 1993 | 68 |
| Unassigned Episodes | 1 |
| Season | From | To | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Specials | 0 | ||
| Unassigned Episodes | 1817 |
| Season | From | To | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 0 | ||
| Unassigned Episodes | 1817 |
| Name | Number of Episodes | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hal Gurnee | 1098 | 02/01/1982 - 06/25/1993 | |
| Pete Fatovich | 3 | 08/21/1991 - 08/11/1992 |
| Name | Number of Episodes | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Letterman | 2 | 02/02/1988 |
| Name | Number of Episodes | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Shaffer | N/A |
| Name | Number of Episodes | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steve O'Donnell | 1 | 02/06/1992 |
| Name | Number of Episodes | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iggy Pop | 1 | 02/02/1988 |
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What makes a great television show? There may be as many types of excellence as there are excellent shows. Series can wow us with how broadly they changed society, from “Seinfeld” redefining American slang to “Mad Men” bearing all the hallmarks of an early-21st-century TV Golden Age to “The Oprah Winfrey Show” making daytime viewers feel part of a special club of millions. Or they can feel like closely held secrets, always ready to welcome curious viewers for the first time, like “The Leftovers” or “Enlightened.” They can bring together insights about a rapidly shifting society with humor that stands the test of time, like the shows created by Norman Lear, who died this month at age 101. And they can dazzle us with spectacle or entrance us with intimate character moments — or, if they’re “The Sopranos,” they can do both.
A ranking of the most game-changing, side-splitting, tear-jerking, mind-blowing, world-building, genre-busting programs in television history, from the medium’s inception in the early 20th century through the ever-metastasizing era of Peak TV BY ALAN SEPINWALL
From time-capsule sitcoms to cutting-edge Peak-TV dramas — the definitive ranking of the game-changing small-screen classics
So many golden ages, so much brilliance from which to choose. In culling from the "60 Greatest" lists we've compiled during our 60th-anniversary year, we shook things up, blending drama, comedy and other genres to salute the shows with the biggest cultural impact and most enduring influence. What will the next 60 years bring? We can't wait to find out.
Late Night is an American late-night talk and variety show airing on NBC since 1982. Four men have hosted Late Night: David Letterman (1982–1993), Conan O'Brien (1993–2009), Jimmy Fallon (2009–2014), and Seth Meyers (2014–present).
The “TV 101” list honors classic, trailblazing series and miniseries, as well as current and critically acclaimed programs, from comedies and dramas to variety/talk and children’s programming. At their core, all of these wonderful series began with the words of the writers who created them and were sustained by the writers who joined their staffs or worked on individual episodes. “This list is not only a tribute to great TV, it is a dedication to all writers who devote their hearts and minds to advancing their craft.
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