Late Night with David Letterman — Season 4

198589 episodes6.1/10 (58 votes)

About this season

Late Night with David Letterman is a nightly hour-long comedy talk show on NBC that was created and hosted by David Letterman. It premiered in 1982 as the first incarnation of the Late Night franchise and went off the air in 1993, after Letterman left NBC and moved to Late Show on CBS. Late Night with Conan O'Brien then filled the time slot. As of March 2, 2009, the slot has been filled by Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. It will be filled by Seth Meyers in the spring of 2014, after Fallon becomes host of The Tonight Show.

Episodes (89)

2. 850730

Aired 30 July 1985 • 60 min

3. 850422

Aired 22 April 1985 • 60 min

4. 851017

Aired 17 October 1985 • 60 min

Cold open: Dave rips Arnold Schwarzenegger's sport coat; ""Viewer Mail;"" Dave talks with Arnold and tries to coax fiancee Maria Shriver from the green room; a confused Chris Elliott is under the seats for ""The Fugitive Guy;"" Julia Child makes an omelet; a surprise walk-on from George Burns.

5. 850402

Aired 2 April 1985 • 60 min

6. 851010

Aired 10 October 1985 • 60 min

7. 851016

Aired 16 October 1985 • 60 min

8. 850731

Aired 31 July 1985 • 60 min

9. 850821

Aired 21 August 1985 • 60 min

E10

10. 850909

Aired 9 September 1985 • 60 min

E11

11. 850819

Aired 19 August 1985 • 60 min

Included: ""Brush with Greatness,"" now with writer's embellishments.

E12

12. 850820

Aired 20 August 1985 • 60 min

Tom Hanks plugs Volunteers; Chris Elliott is ""The Fugitive Guy;"" Mickey Mantle visits.

E13

13. 850917

Aired 17 September 1985 • 60 min

E14

14. 850829

Aired 29 August 1985 • 60 min

E15

15. 850925

Aired 25 September 1985 • 60 min

E16

16. 850828

Aired 28 August 1985 • 60 min

E17

17. 850923

Aired 23 September 1985 • 60 min

E18

18. 850826

Aired 26 August 1985 • 60 min

E19

19. 850410

Aired 10 April 1985 • 60 min

E20

20. 850827

Aired 27 August 1985 • 60 min

E21

21. 850822

Aired 22 August 1985 • 60 min

Returning NBC affiliate WSAV in Savannah, GA., is brought up to date throughout the show with ""Al Frisch's NBC Theatre;"" ""Viewer Mail;"" Ohio State Fair blue ribbon prize winner Seth Miranda displays giant fruits and vegetables; Chris Elliott with a look at ""The Fugitive Guy;"" a tour of 46th St.; fashion designer Dianne Brill visits.

E22

22. 850930

Aired 30 September 1985 • 60 min

E23

23. 850710

Aired 10 July 1985 • 60 min

E24

24. 850625

Aired 25 June 1985 • 60 min

E25

25. Show #0520

Aired 26 February 1985 • 60 min

E26

26. Show #0545

Aired 6 May 1985 • 60 min

E27

27. Show #0546

Aired 7 May 1985 • 60 min

E28

28. Show #0547

Aired 8 May 1985 • 60 min

E29

29. Show #0548

Aired 9 May 1985 • 60 min

E30

30. Show #0549

Aired 13 May 1985 • 60 min

E31

31. Show #0550

Aired 14 May 1985 • 60 min

E32

32. Show #0551

Aired 15 May 1985 • 60 min

E33

33. Show #0552

Aired 16 May 1985 • 60 min

It's the 552nd ""Late Night"" program, and the fourth to originate in L.A. County. The Hollywood sign behind Dave reads ""El Monte."" Within that backdrop, Mayor Tom Bradley throws things behind Dave's desk, with the obligatory crashing noises. Johnny Carson drops by with a quick-to-assemble ""Tonight Show"" desk.

E34

34. Show #0553

Aired 20 May 1985 • 60 min

E35

35. Show #0554

Aired 21 May 1985 • 60 min

E36

36. Show #0555

Aired 22 May 1985 • 60 min

E37

37. Show #0556

Aired 23 May 1985 • 60 min

E38

38. Show #0557

Aired 27 May 1985 • 60 min

E39

39. Show #0558

Aired 28 May 1985 • 60 min

E40

40. Show #0559

Aired 29 May 1985 • 60 min

E41

41. Show #0560

Aired 30 May 1985 • 60 min

E42

42. Show #0561

Aired 3 June 1985 • 60 min

E43

43. Show #0562

Aired 4 June 1985 • 60 min

E44

44. Show #0563

Aired 5 June 1985 • 60 min

E45

45. Show #0564

Aired 6 June 1985 • 60 min

E46

46. Show #0565

Aired 10 June 1985 • 60 min

E47

47. Show #0566

Aired 11 June 1985 • 60 min

E48

48. Show #0567

Aired 12 June 1985 • 60 min

E49

49. Show #0568

Aired 13 June 1985 • 60 min

E50

50. Show #0569

Aired 17 June 1985 • 60 min

E51

51. Show #0570

Aired 18 June 1985 • 60 min

E52

52. Show #0571

Aired 19 June 1985 • 60 min

E53

53. Show #0572

Aired 20 June 1985 • 60 min

E54

54. Show #0622

Aired 4 November 1985 • 60 min

E55

55. Show #0623

Aired 5 November 1985 • 60 min

""Top 10 Complaints About Brent Musberger;"" ""Dumb Ads;"" Lily Tomlin; Dave answers the NBC complaint line; Sting and Branford Marsalis perform ""Roxanne,"" and talk about Bring On The Night.

E56

56. Show #0624

Aired 6 November 1985 • 60 min

E57

57. Show #0625

Aired 7 November 1985 • 60 min

E58

58. Show #0626

Aired 11 November 1985 • 60 min

E59

59. Show #0627

Aired 12 November 1985 • 60 min

E60

60. Show #0628

Aired 13 November 1985 • 60 min

E61

61. Show #0629

Aired 14 November 1985 • 60 min

E62

62. Show #0630

Aired 18 November 1985 • 60 min

E63

63. Show #0631

Aired 19 November 1985 • 60 min

E64

64. Show #0632

Aired 20 November 1985 • 60 min

E65

65. Show #0633

Aired 21 November 1985 • 60 min

E66

66. Show #0634

Aired 26 November 1985 • 60 min

Cold opening: ""Grant Tinker"" comments on sending ""Tom and the gang"" to Tokyo for the Late Night ""Japanese Show;"" Dave and interpreter Mako Hatori look at New Gift Items; Kenny Rogers visits; Larry ""Bud"" with ""Ask Mr. Melmansan""; Randy Bass on being an American playing professional baseball in Japan; Japanese game show producer Masahiro Takahashi is interviewed by Dave and Mako.

E67

67. Show #0635

Aired 27 November 1985 • 60 min

E68

68. Show #0636

Aired 9 December 1985 • 60 min

E69

69. Show #0637

Aired 10 December 1985 • 60 min

E70

70. Show #0638

Aired 11 December 1985 • 60 min

E71

71. Show #0639

Aired 12 December 1985 • 60 min

E72

72. Show #0640

Aired 16 December 1985 • 60 min

General Electric has responded to the show's first batch of jokes. As such, Letterman has his own pushbutton and a brochure on pushbuttons, courtesy of G.E.'s General Purpose Control Department in Bloomington, Illinois. Before getting to the guests, Letterman shows off actual Christmas items.

E73