Week 1: June 23-27

Monday June 23rd, 1980

The Crew:
Announcer: Bob Sarlatte
Edie McClurg, Valri Bromfield, Paul Raley, Wil Shriner, Rich Hall
Edwin Newman News: In Studio

Set: #1, with band in front on the left, Dave's desk a table, couch set in the rear of studio

Video:

Cold Open: Security Guard William Quall
And Now...: "The man for whom NBC cancelled 3 game shows..."

David begins by walking up to audience.  Alvin sent to get drinks for the audience.

David's photo biography.  (Bill Maher and Larry Miller seen in audience)

Edwin Newman NBC News Update

Jon & Keiko Alpert interview (2 segments)

Edie McClurg as Mrs. Marv Mendenhall segment (Note: the camera frequently cuts to Dave who is apparently supposed to be annoyed by Mrs. Marv, but he genuinely laughs often during these segments)

Bob Sarlatte panel

Musical Guest: Esther Satterfield sings "Land of Make Believe"

Jeff Greenfield interview (returns at the end to review show)  "If you believe your audience is smart enough to handle humor, information, with that in mind, I think whether that works or not, the audience will be enormously grateful."

Valri Bromfield as Debbie Smith segment

Edwin Newman NBC News Update

Musical Guest: Esther Satterfield sings "Daybreak"


Tuesday June 24th, 1980

Video:

Cold Open: NBC Switchboard Supervisor Carol Morano
And Now...: "The man who loves 'cat dancing' but isn't quite sure what that is..."

David begins by walking up to audience.  Carol keeps minutes of the show.

Edwin Newman NBC News Update

Jane & Michael Stern interview (2 segments)

Bob Sarlatte panel

Musical Guest: Esther Satterfield sings "Take It or Leave It"

Hester Mundis interview (2 segments)

Wil Shriner panel & film

Edwin Newman NBC News Update

Edie McClurg as Mrs. Marv Mendenhall segment

Musical Guest: Esther Satterfield sings "The Need to Be"

Wednesday June 25th, 1980

Cold Open: Dave in audience showing Allen Ludden's album, "Call Me Irresponsible"
And Now...: "It's Wednesday, June 25th, and the star of the show is still..."

David begins by sitting at desk.  Introduces Frank Owens (not on mic) who introduces the band.

Souvenirs from the 65th floor

Edwin Newman NBC News Update

Rich Hall - Pitkinville, MT News

Interview: The Carkuff Family (3 segments)

 

 Paul Raley as P.J. Rails segment

Musical Guest: Esther Satterfield sings "Give Love a Try" (author's best guess)

Arnold Roth interview  

Valri Bromfield as Mrs. Bjorkman segment


Edwin Newman NBC News Update

Musical Guest: Esther Satterfield sings "Love is Stronger Far Than We"

Esther Satterfield interview (by Bob Sarlatte and Dave)

Tour of the 7th Floor

Thursday June 26th, 1980

Cold Open: NBC Air Conditioning department's Walter Finnigan
And Now...: "A man who has no ethnic background whatsover..."

David begins by sitting at desk.  Panel with Bob Sarlatte.  Predictions from 1978.  Bob Sarlatte gives baseball joke with Dave's zinger (as mentioned in Jason Zinoman's book)

Wil Shriner panel and film

Edwin Newman NBC News Update

Fred Danzig interview (2 segments)

Edie McClurg as 105 year old self segment

Musical Guest: Esther Satterfield sings "Help Me See The Light" (author's best guess)

Dr. Karen Blaker interview (2 segments, 2nd in the audience)

Musical Guest: Esther Satterfield sings "Chase the Clouds Away"

Edwin Newman NBC News Update

Stupid Pet Tricks - 1st edition  "You folks are here on a keen day"

Friday June 27th, 1980

Cold Open: Styrofoam Cup Advisory Board
And Now...: "That broken, lonely shell of a human being, the most entertaining man on the face of the earth..."

David begins by walking up to audience.  Barbara Brown selected as co-host of the show.

Edwin Newman NBC News Update

Valri Bromfield comedy segment

Jimmy Breslin interview (2 segments)

Bob Sarlatte word of the day segment

Video: Inventors Convention

Musical Guest: Esther Satterfield sings "I'll Be There"

Barbara Martinelli interview (2 segments)

Gerard Mulligan segment - desire to be a notary public

Edwin Newman NBC News Update

Musical Guest: Esther Satterfield sings "I'd Really Like To See You Tonight"

Edie McClurg as Mandy Van Landerman  (Note: The audience member who asks the 2nd question, George Prentice, wrote about the experience)

(The credits read "David Letterman's Wa        Wa" before quickly cutting to the audience, then the remainder of the credits roll as usual)

April, May & June 1980

During the show's development, Dave appeared on the Tonight Show as a guest on April 10th, 1980. 
Dave returned to guest host on June 2nd and 3rd, likely to stay in the groove and get any odd items left behind in LA.  Again, I highly recommend the books by Brian Abrams and Jason Zinoman on the development of the show, and the unreal (but, it appears, very real) arguments that went on behind the scenes.

Two promotional photos found online:

I guess Bob didn't get the memo about "wear a shade of green"

Promos:

Welcome! And some rules and reasons as to why...

Thanks for visiting!  So, why an episode guide for a show that is, as of this writing, 38 years old?  Well...

There is so little information on this show, I thought the least I could do is start this page to detail what information is known, and share it to all Dave fans.  Additions/corrections/comments always welcome.

For me, this show is more than just a "dry run" (so to speak) for Late Night.  It's as if your favorite band had a 1st album on a small label before they hit it big, but you don't hear it until decades later.  The beginning and growth of the comedy and style we came to enjoy on Late Night (and to a degree, Late Show) is all here.  In addition, we also get to see the show itself evolve, from the confines and restraints of Fred Silverman and Bob Stewart, to the nutty anarchy of Merrill Markoe and Hal Gurnee, you'll be able to at least read it all and (hopefully) see it all.

Beyond these episodes themselves (and my own thoughts) there's nothing I can add that can't be said better in the following books:

"AND NOW...an oral history of Late Night with David Letterman" by Brian Abrams

"Letterman: The Last Giant of Late Night" by Jason Zinoman

Clips will be posted where available and credited by the uploader.  Photos are from the internet storage room and credited where applicable. 

I'll be posted roughly once a week with information on each week's shows, along with any additional comments.  And, as you know, this is not a competition; it's only an exhibition.