An hour-long weeknight comedy and talk show broadcast by CBS from the Ed Sullivan Theater on Broadway in New York City and is produced and hosted by David Letterman. The show's music director and bandleader of the house band, the CBS Orchestra, is Paul Shaffer. The head writers are brothers Justin Stangel and Eric Stangel. The announcer is Alan Kalter, who replaced Bill Wendell as announcer in 1995. The show airs at night, but is recorded the afternoon of the broadcast.
| Season | From | To | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Seasons | |||
| Specials | March 1995 | May 2015 | 6 |
| Season 1 | August 1993 | August 1994 | 219 |
| Season 2 | August 1994 | August 1995 | 220 |
| Season 3 | September 1995 | August 1996 | 211 |
| Season 4 | September 1996 | August 1997 | 213 |
| Season 5 | September 1997 | August 1998 | 204 |
| Season 6 | August 1998 | August 1999 | 220 |
| Season 7 | September 1999 | August 2000 | 201 |
| Season 8 | August 2000 | August 2001 | 197 |
| Season 9 | August 2001 | August 2002 | 220 |
| Season 10 | September 2002 | August 2003 | 192 |
| Season 11 | September 2003 | August 2004 | 189 |
| Season 12 | August 2004 | August 2005 | 187 |
| Season 13 | August 2005 | August 2006 | 157 |
| Season 14 | August 2006 | August 2007 | 152 |
| Season 15 | September 2007 | August 2008 | 164 |
| Season 16 | September 2008 | August 2009 | 199 |
| Season 17 | August 2009 | December 2010 | 248 |
| Season 18 | January 2011 | December 2011 | 182 |
| Season 19 | January 2012 | December 2012 | 178 |
| Season 20 | January 2013 | December 2013 | 179 |
| Season 21 | January 2014 | September 2014 | 118 |
| Season 22 | September 2014 | May 2015 | 138 |
| Season 99 | 0 | ||
| Unassigned Episodes | 25 |
| Season | From | To | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Specials | 0 | ||
| Unassigned Episodes | 4219 |
| Season | From | To | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | August 2009 | May 2015 | 237 |
| Unassigned Episodes | 3982 |
| Name | Number of Episodes | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jerry Foley | 2008 | 06/05/1995 - 09/12/2008 | |
| Hal Gurnee | 359 | 08/30/1993 - 05/26/1995 | |
| Randi Grossack | 6 | 04/08/2003 - 04/17/2003 |
| Name | Number of Episodes | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Letterman | 3 | 11/05/2009 |
| Name | Number of Episodes | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tori Amos | 2 | 12/10/2009 | |
| Tegan Quin | 2 | 10/07/2008 - 11/20/2012 | |
| Morningwood | 2 | 09/25/2008 | |
| Tom Waits | 2 | 05/14/2015 | |
| Tegan & Sara | 2 | 10/07/2008 - 11/20/2012 | |
| Alabama Shakes | 2 | 03/09/2015 | |
| Rascal Flatts | 2 | 11/15/2010 | |
| Sara Quin | 2 | 10/07/2008 - 11/20/2012 | |
| Shovels & Rope | 2 | 01/13/2015 | |
| Diane Birch | 1 | 07/22/2009 | |
| Laura Pergolizzi | 1 | 10/03/2012 | |
| JOHNNYSWIM | 1 | 04/01/2014 | |
| Parquet Courts | 1 | 01/06/2015 | |
| LaLa Brooks | 1 | 12/09/2014 | |
| Reba McEntire | 1 | 11/12/2010 | |
| Matthew E. White | 1 | 03/16/2015 | |
| Laura Mvula | 1 | 09/06/2013 |
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The Late Show is an American late-night talk show franchise on CBS. Two men have hosted the Late Show: David Letterman (1993–2015) and Stephen Colbert (2015–present).
We are what we watch-and over the last half century, we've watched some pretty fabulous TV. From Mary to Jerry, from Tonight to Today, from the sublime (Prime Suspect) to the ridiculous (Gilligan's Island), EW recalls everything you need to know about 100 shows that tell us who we are.
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.
Mike Wallace and a vampire slayer? Letterman and Oprah? Andy Griffith and the Sopranos? On one list? What were we thinking? Simply put, the best of the best, from Day 1 to last night: quality, innovation and the ability to stay in our lives year after year after year. A touch of sentiment? Sure, but nostalgia alone couldn’t make the cut (sorry, Beav). And TV-movies, miniseries and specials will have to wait. These are the series we watched regularly — and will watch again. And again.
The best shows are the ones that take advantage of the length that movies don't have and use the imagery that novels can't conjure. They can captivate big audiences and change their lives forever.
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