Late Night with David Letterman

*Late Night with David Letterman*
Late Night with David Letterman
Also known as	Late Night (franchise brand)
Genre	Late-night talk show; Variety; Comedy;
Created by	David Letterman
Written by	Merrill Markoe (head writer: 1982); Jim Downey (head writer: 1982–1983); Steve O'Donnell (head writer: 1983–1992); Rob Burnett (head writer: 1992–1993);
Presented by	David Letterman
Announcer	Bill Wendell
Music by	Paul Shaffer; and The World's Most Dangerous Band
Opening theme	"Late Night Theme"
Composer	Paul Shaffer
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No. of seasons	11
No. of episodes	1,819
Production
Executive producers	Jack Rollins (1982–1992); Barry Sand (1982–1988); David Letterman (1987–1993); Robert Morton (1987–1993); Peter Lassally (1992–1993);
Production locations	Studio 6A, NBC Studios, New York, New York
Camera setup	Multi-camera
Running time	42–43 minutes
Production companies	Carson Productions; Space Age Meats Productions (1982–1990); Worldwide Pants (1990–93); NBC Productions;
Original release
Network	NBC
Release	February 1, 1982 –; June 25, 1993
Related
	The David Letterman Show; Late Show with David Letterman;
	Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)

Late Night with David Letterman is an American television talk show broadcast by NBC. The show is the first installment of Late Night. Hosted by David Letterman, it aired from February 1, 1982 to June 25, 1993, and was replaced by Late Night with Conan O'Brien.

In 2013, this series and Late Show with David Letterman were ranked No. 41 on TV Guide's 60 Best Series of All Time. During its run, the show was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Series 11 times. It was also nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series 14 times, winning 4, and won one Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Variety Series out of 7 nominations.

Late Night originated from NBC Studio 6A at the RCA (later GE) Building at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York City. The program ran four nights a week, Monday to Thursday, from the show's premiere on February 1, 1982, until June 4, 1987. Friday shows were added on June 12, 1987, although the show still only produced four new episodes a week. Monday's shows were re-runs. NBC previously aired Friday Night Videos in the 12:30 a.m. slot on Saturday morning, with occasional Late Night specials and reruns. Friday Night Videos was reduced to an hour's length and moved up an hour to 1:30 a.m. on Saturday morning.

Starting on September 2, 1991, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson was pushed back from 11:30 p.m. to 11:35 p.m., with Letterman starting at 12:35 a.m., at the request of NBC affiliates who wanted more advertising time for their profitable late newscasts.

Like The Tonight Show in the 1980s and early 1990s, Late Night aired annual anniversary specials. They aired on or about February 1, first in its own timeslot (albeit on a Friday, preempting SCTV). From 1984 to 1987, episodes of Saturday Night Live were preempted for the special. Finally, from 1988 to 1990 and in 1992, the special aired in prime time, after Cheers. There were no anniversary specials in 1991 and 1993. (Letterman would leave NBC later in 1993.) David Letterman's Holiday Film Festival also aired in Saturday Night Live's timeslot over Thanksgiving weekend in 1985, before a second and final installment aired in prime time the Friday after Thanksgiving in 1986. The festivals were a collection of shorts starring, directed and/or written by celebrities.