Week 10: August 25-29

Monday August 25, 1980

The Crew: Edie McClurg, Paul Raley, Wil Shriner, Rich Hall  (Note: Valri Bromfield still credited as writer)

Announcer: Bill Wendell

Set: #3

And Now: "...a man who's confused by shrubbery"

During Dave's opening remarks, a child in the audience is seen wearing an NBC The David Letterman Show shirt.

Dave goes into audience, trying to find a tourist.  Finding Mildred from Studio City, CA, gives her money to buy street vendor food.  Mildred says she'd rather see the show.  Chooses Isabelle (from New York) and says "do whatever you want with it."

Dick & Vince Van Patten interview (3 segments)

Bad Phone Call - Connie chosen to see if she'll be teaching in the fall. 

Dr. Lawrence J. Hatterer interview

Coffee Cup Theater segment - 1st

Edwin Newman NBC News Update

Isabelle returns with street vendor food

Tuesday August 26, 1980

And Now: "...a man who likes to yell 'soup's on!' when it isn't..."

Small Town News segment.  Includes update to Men & their Vegetables Hall of Fame.  Call to Ethel Cory, who was incorrectly reported as dead.

Ethel: I always enjoy your show.  I heard a rumor you were going off the air.  All the ladies here in Arkansas would miss you very much. 

Louise Nevelson interview.  (4 segments, 1st segment is video on location) 

Coffee Cup Theater segment - 2nd

Fredrick Newman interview

Rich Hall - West Side Story review

Edwin Newman NBC News Update

Wednesday August 27, 1980

And Now: "...a man who thinks one hour martinizing is a cruel hoax"

Dave begins in audience, introduces Sam & Betty Cotenoff for their 30th Wedding Anniversary. 

Cheap Vacation segment.  "2nd Honeymoon" for Betty & Sam.  Dave misdials call to Niagara Falls, Ontario. 

Renny interview

Dr. Selma Miller interview (2 segments)

Party guest segment, food is served

Coffee Cup Theater segment - 3rd

Party guest interviews & dancing (2 segments)

Edwin Newman NBC News Update

Sparklers set fire to flower petals

Thursday August 28, 1980

And Now: "...a man who won't stop 'till he gets to the bottom of this"

Dave speaks to previous day's show's fire.

Guests who won't be on the show segment

Dr. Edmund Hallberg interview (2 segments)

Coffee Cup Theater segment - 4th

Musical Guest: Frank Owens & The David Letterman Symphony Orchestra play "Ease on Down the Road"

Louise Childers selected from audience to learn how to play drums

Carroll Garner and his cow Joy interview.  Dave milks the cow.

Wil Shriner panel and video

Edwin Newman NBC News Update

Friday August 29, 1980

And Now: "...a man who enjoys sand in his bathing suit"

Viewer Mail segment

Edwin Newman interview

Stupid Pet Tricks segment.  Includes dog playing Chopin on piano

Dave: I'm 33, I've been to both coasts and a couple times to Europe, that's the stupidest thing I've ever seen!

Coffee Cup Theater segment - 5th

Dave in audience, asks Bobbie Otis to cover in case Dave has to leave early for Labor Day weekend vacation.

Rich Hall camping video

Dr. Gerald Aronoff interview (2 segments)

Edwin Newman NBC News Update.  As Dave is introducing Edwin, Hal announces Dave's cab has arrived.  Bobbie comes from audience to finish the show.

Week 9: August 18-22

Monday August 18, 1980

The Crew: Edie McClurg, Valri Bromfield, Paul Raley, Wil Shriner, Rich Hall

Announcer: Bill Wendell

Set: #3

And Now: "Here's a man who's annoyed easily..."

Dave walks out and takes a donut from Frank's piano.  When introducing Stephen King from the day's list of guests, Stephen receives big applause.

Bad Phone Call - Ralph Anthony selected to call alter Baker, an organist, to say he won't sing in the choir at St. Patrick's Cathedral.

Dave: St. Patrick's Cathedral?  This is a big time thing, huh?

Ralph: He thinks it is.

Stephen King interview (2 segments)

Paul Raley as P.J. Rails segment

Tour of Tom Snyder's dressing room.  Inside dressing room is Valri Bromfield as Lila DeGay, singing, and Paul Raley as P.J. Rails.   This segment aired during Dave's interview on the Tomorrow Show in September, 1980.  Dave's dressing room is then toured, with Gerard Mulligan asleep inside. 

Arline Thomas interview (2 segments).  In second segment, old magazine photo shown with Arline and a young Bobby Rose, the orchestra's guitar player.

Rich Hall Surf Report video

Edwin Newman NBC News Update

In closing show, key light goes out.  Dave gets ladder and walks up to fix it, when he's out of frame, P.J. Rails walks over and takes ladder away.

Tuesday, August 19, 1980

And Now: "A man who shares the title 'vivacious' with Sophie Tucker..."

Dave beings the show out of shot still up in lighting grid. 

Small Town News segment.  Includes Men & their Vegetables Hall of Fame.  Call to Mary Lee Greer to discuss her Hawaiian vacation.

Michael Minton interview (3 segments)

Dave in audience.  Selects Gladys Overby from audience to run a camera.  Hal directs Gladys.

Dave Jenett ("Mr. Fix-It") interview

Rich Hall Pitkinville, MT segment

 

 

 

Edwin Newman NBC News Update

 

 

Wednesday August 20, 1980

And Now: "A man who has nothing better to do..."

Cheap Vacation segment.  Katherine Spooner selected from audience.  "Trip to Mexico"

Werner Erhard interview (3 segments)

Video - tour of 6th Avenue.  Goes inside Hurley's Saloon. 

Frank Garcia interview

Wil Shriner panel and video

Edwin Newman NBC News Update  

Thursday, August 21, 1980

And Now: "A man who doesn't know the meaning of the word 'ceromancy'"

Guests who won't be on the show segment.  At end of segment, ping pong balls fall from ceiling.

Dave: "We seem to have dropped our balls."

Jeff Greenfield interview (2 segments)

Edie McClurg as Mrs. Marv Mendenhall segment

Elevator etiquette segment.  Valri Bromfield as "Helen Melman" and Paul Raley as "Ed Boznakofski"  Bromfield's last on-air appearance.

Chuck Norris interview (2 segments)

 

 

Edwin Newman NBC News Update 

Friday, August 22, 1980

And Now: "A man who says 'let's synchronize our watches' for no reason at all..."

Viewer Mail segment

Sippie Wallace interview

Musical Guest: Sippie Wallace sings "A Man That Don't Want Me"

New International Signs

Dave in audience - selects Helen Deitrich from audience to play Shelley Winters (who apparently didn't show up)

Dave: I know you dated Burt Lancaster for a while, what kind of guy was he?

Helen: He wasn't a bad fella, as they say.

Dr. David Coddon interview

Talking Bird segment - only 1 bird of 4 actually speaks

Edwin Newman NBC News Update

Week 8: August 11-15

Monday August 11, 1980

The Crew: Edie McClurg, Valri Bromfield, Paul Raley, Wil Shriner, Rich Hall

Announcer: Bill Wendell joins the show

Dave now walks out to monologue spot each day

Set: #3

 

And Now: "...a man whose nickname is 'Lumpy'"

Walking out, Dave shakes Frank's hand

Bad Phone Call - Ann Lee chosen to call friend Grace Wernock to make sure spaghetti sauce was not left cooking on stove.  Dave gets "No Longer in Service" recording twice before realizing he's dialing the wrong area code.      

Chip Carter interview (2 segments)

Sea Monkey colony update.  Rich Hall appears behind Dave in background making shadow puppets.

Rich Hall - Pitkinville, MT segment

Norman Cousins interview

Musical Guest: Johnny Paycheck sings "In Memory of a Memory"

Edwin Newman NBC News Update

Tuesday August 12, 1980

Guests: Marvin Mitchelson, Jimmy Piersall

 

 

Wednesday August 13, 1980

And Now: "...a man who loves the senoritas" 

Walking out, Dave shakes Frank's hand

Dr. Stephen Schwartz interview - goes into audience to show ink blot test.  Final answer by audience member brings out two men in lab coats who escort her out of audience.  (Steve was a creative consultant on the show)

Ellen Goodman interview (2 segments)

Rich Hall segment - at DNC (with still photo behind him)

Video: "My New York" - tour of Dave's favorite locations

Allen Ludden interview (2 segments).  Discusses Smart Alecks pilot among other topics.

Musical Guest: Allen Ludden sings "How Long Has This Been Going On"

Edwin Newman NBC News Update (Edwin receives applause from audience)

Thursday, August 14, 1980

And Now: "...a man that was Sargent at Arms, 2 years in a row" 

Guests who won't be on the show segment

Christie Hefner interview (2 segments)

Wil Shriner panel and video

Dave in audience interviewing DNC delegates in the audience.  Plays Billy Carter montage video.

Edwin Newman interview

Suzanne Ciani interview

Edwin Newman NBC News Update

Friday, August 15, 1980

Cold Open: Dave gives "Brain Fever" PSA and encounters technical difficulties

And Now: "...a man who will charter anything he can get his hands on" 

Viewer Mail segment.  Dummy falls from rafters during segment.  Dave gives dummy to audience member.

June Havoc interview (2 segments)

Souvenir foods of New York segment

Edie McClurg panel and video

Jimmy Breslin interview

Stupid Pet Tricks segment

Edwin Newman NBC News Update

Dave starts a new ant farm for the set

Week 7: August 4-8

Monday, August 4, 1980
(Show now 60 Minutes long, opening montage downplays "the crew")
The Crew: Edie McClurg, Valri Bromfield, Paul Raley, Wil Shriner, Rich Hall
Announcer: varies


Set: #3, From camera view, band on left side.  Dave enters through center of stage.  Background behind Dave is wooden shutters.  (Same small desk, though)

Announcer: Paul Raley
And Now: "...Mr. Las Vegas"

Dave enters through center, stands on stage, then walks to desk.   Reads through official state songs.

Gets new, larger desk delivered.

Keke Anderson interview (3 segments)
(on the new desk)
Dave: Do you like this alright?
Keke: No, I don't like it at all.

Dr. Stephen Schwartz interview.  (Interview goes on with audio of Dave's "thoughts" as Stephen speaks.  Steve was a creative consultant on the show)

Edwin Newman NBC News Update (updates now occurring in Newsroom)

Musical Guest: Tom Rush sings "Louisiana Eyes"

Janet Guthrie interview



Tuesday, August 5, 1980
Announcer: Edie McClurg
And Now: "...a man who has never been convicted of a felony in the state of New York"

Dave walks out to monologue spot.  Speaks with Frank who introduces the band.

Bad Phone Call -  Sandra Sampson chosen, calls her mother in law to ask her not to kill her plants.  Marie answers and only says "Hello?"

Audience member holds up sign "Letterman for President"

Nancy Friday interview (2 segments)

Ed Subitzky as Burt Reynolds and Sally Field

Rich Hall segment - French Cooking

Musical Guest: Janis Ian sings "The Other Side of the Sun"

Edwin Newman NBC News Update

Hal Needham interview

Wednesday, August 6, 1980
Announcer: Edie McClurg
And Now: "...a man who has a fear of wax"

Dave begins in audience.  Selects Norma Fredrick from audience, sends to commissary to take photos of food.

George Kaplan interview (2 segments)

Musical Guest: Maria Muldaur sings "Midnight at the Oasis"

Norma returns with photos

Small Town News - shows Yazoo Herald among others,  Calls Joyce Delagos in Pingree, ID to discuss her husband's snakebit finger.  (Husband attempted to pour beer down snake's throat)
Dave: Has he done other things like this, Joyce?
Joyce: Oh, he's always doing something to himself.   

George Plimpton interview 

Mike Jensen NBC News Update


Thursday, August 7, 1980
Announcer: Edie McClurg
And Now: "...a man who can count to 10 in 3 different languages"

Dave walks out to monologue spot, looks around to see if he's supposed to go to desk, and receives extended applause.

Guest who won't be on the show segment

Wil Shriner panel and film

Musical Guest: Lionel Hampton performs "Summertime"

Lionel Hampton interview

Backstage tour (with some elements used in the backstage tour used in the 1st Late Night)

Crystal Lee Sutton interview

Edwin Newman NBC News Update

Dave opens a package of "Sea Monkeys"


Friday, August 8, 1980

Guests: Gloria Steinem, Edie McClurg as Mrs. Marv Mendenhall segment