David Letterman ends 33 years on late night

The final Late Show with David Letterman opened up with footage of Gerald Ford, George Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and President Barack Obama echoing the same sentiment: “Our long national nightmare is over.: Obama capped it off: “Letterman is retiring.” “You’re just kidding, right?” Letterman said, coming into the frame. After 33 years on the air and 6,028 shows, David Letterman said his final farewell to late night television. Stephen Colbert, who got his own shout out, will replace Letterman at the host desk at the Sullivan Theater in the fall. Letterman was reliably self-deprecating in his monologue: “I’m going to be honest with you, it’s beginning to look like I’m not going to get the Tonight Show.” Eventually he got around to dressing some of his plans for the future including a hope to become the new face of Scientology. But he won’t leave bandleader Paul Shaffer behind. “Great friend, best friend and a wonderful guy,” Letterman said. “We’re going to continue in show business. Next month will be June in Las Vegas, which by the way is the time to go to Las Vegas. Paul and I will be debuting our new act at Caesar's Palace with our white tigers.” Celebrity well-wishers started early, including The Simpsons (“Dave has been on the air for 33 years. Bart and Lisa were just kids and Maggie was still a baby.”) and the Wheel of Fortune crew (Puzzle: Good Riddance to David Letterman.) But the true test of Letterman’s reach in the beginning half of his show was the traditional Top 10 List, which he turned over to his celebrity friends including Alec Baldwin, Barbara Walters, Steve Martin, Jerry Seinfeld, Jim Carrey, Chris Rock, Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, Peyton Manning, Tina Fey, and, of course Bill Murray. They rattled off “The Top 10 Things I’ve Always Wanted to Say to Dave.” They all made their own dig, which in their own way meant the same thing: Thank you. The show was peppered with clips from the past — including visits from Andy Kauffman, a trip to Taco Bell, and Bud Melman as Santa Claus — and the present, including a day in the life segment. Letterman saved much of the sentimentality in his looks back. “The last six weeks, it’s been crazy. People have been saying lovely thing, it’s really over the top … We’ve done over 6,000 shows and I was here for most of them and I can tell you a high percentage of those show just absolutely sucked. Do me a favor and save little bit for my funeral.” Letterman talked about how then-CBS head Howard Stringer turned the Sullivan Theater from a rat-infest dump into a gorgeous theater. He thanked current CBS honcho Les Moonves for his patience. The crew also got their thanks for putting up with nonsense. Letterman said the writers for deserve more credit for this show than he ever will.” Of course, a favorite regular guest was also included: his mother. Letterman’s wife, Regina Lasko, and son Harry were given a standing ovation (as well Harry’s buddy Tommy). To the people who have watched Letterman since his morning show days, he said, “Have you thought about a complete psychological work up?” But added there was he can ever do to every repay them. The night ended with a performance of the Foo Fighters’ “Everlong,” a song that has meant so much to Letterman he asked them to play his first show back after open heart surgery.As they played a montage of Letterman's career flashed over the screen. Letterman ended his run simply: “The only thing I have to do on a television program: Thank you and good night.”