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The Last Show: Late Show With David Letterman Finale

by Ben Yakas in on May 20, 2015 11:59 pm

You can read the liveblog of Letterman's last show below—and here are videos from last night (and you can watch the whole episode on CBS.com):

His final entrance:

Obama and Letterman:

His monologue:

His top 10 list:

Best of Dave with Kids:

A Day in the Life of Dave:

Good luck to Stephen Colbert:

Foo Fighters perform Everlong:

Dave works at Taco Bell:

Final thank you and good night:

Closing credits:

12:56 a.m.: Letterman tells the story of how the Foo Fighters hopped a flight from South America to NY to play "Everlong" at his first show post-heart surgery. Now they're "joined at the hip."

Letterman says a final, "Thank you and goodnight," then the band launches into an aggressive version of "Everlong" with a very long montage of photos from the last 33 years flashes on screen.

And like that old saying goes, it's all over when the Sting with the Hollywoodian beard sings.

Some final Tweets before bed:

Update 12:45 p.m.: "The last six weeks, it's been crazy...I can't tell you how flattering, embarrassing, and gratifying it's all been," Letterman says. Recurring themes of the night: over 6,000 shows, Peyton Manning's height, and loads of self-deprecating humor ("Save a little for my funeral"). He talks about the support of CBS head honcho Les Moonves over the years: "He's been more than patient with me...you could underline 'patient' several dozen times." Lots of gratitude to his staff: "These people deserve more credit for this show than I ever will."

BIFF! Biff.

Before introducing Shaffer and The World's Most Dangerous Band, he says, "Here is what I will miss most about the show." Then there's a shot of his wife and son Harry. "Thank you for being my family, I love you both, and nothing else matters," he says to them. The biggest cheers might be for Tommy Roboto. Good kid. Great kid. Classic kid.

Update 12:32 a.m.: Next up is a nice behind-the-scenes "Day In Letterman's Life" segment, which starts with the strange juxtaposition of a very sleepy Dave and Green Day's energetic "Welcome To Paradise" (And later on, Kings Of Leon. Dave really has a type when it comes to music.)

Update 12:22 a.m.:

Still no Bif :(

Update 12:12 a.m.: Ten celebrities for tonight's Top Ten List: Things I've Always Wanted To Say To Dave.

10. Alec Baldwin: "Of all the talk shows, yours is the most geographically convenient to my home."
9. Barbara Walters: "Did you know that you wear the same cologne as Mummar Quaddafi?"
8. Steve Martin: "Your extensive plastic surgery was a necessity, and a mistake."
7. Jerry Seinfeld (dressed ready for a 'benefit'): "I have no idea what i'll do when you go off the air...you know i just thought of something—I'll be fine."
6. Jim Carey (wearing a "Spank you" t-shirt and unkempt beard): "Honestly Dave, I've always found you to be a bit of an over-actor."
5. Chris Rock: "I'm just glad your show is being given to another white guy."
4. Julia Louis-Dreyfus: "Thanks for letting me take part in another hugely disappointing series finale." (cut to sad Jerry)
3. Peyton Manning: "You are to comedy... what I am to comedy."
2. Tina Fey: "Thanks for finally proving men can be funny."
1. Bill Murray (He returns!): "Dave, I'll never have the money I owe you."

You can overhear Letterman thanking each of the celebrities at the end. The best parts: Letterman whispering to Louis-Dreyfus that Veep "is tremendous this year," his utter delight at seeing Manning, and whispering to Murray, "I saw you on TV last night, are you alright?"

But really, what is this:

Update 12:00 a.m.: Nice shout-out to Stephen Colbert: "I think he’s going to do a wonderful job and I wish Stephen and his staff and crew nothing but the greatest success." Then a very cute compilation of Letterman-interacting-with-children clips: "You are not/you are not/you are not funny," one sings.

Top Ten list up next. Still no Bif :(

Update 11:45 p.m.: President Obama and former Presidents George W. Bush, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter (with a cameo by the archival footage formerly known as Gerald Ford) start the show by noting, "Our long national nightmare is over."

"It's beginning to look like I'm not going to get The Tonight Show," Letterman says during the monologue, before revealing plans to become the new face of Scientology. The best part are all the self-deprecating jokes (this includes appearances by The Simpsons and Wheel of Fortune).

This is a fun tidbit:

No sign of Bif yet :(

Update 11:18 p.m.: CBS has released Letterman's last entrance early. Watch it below.

Important motivation to watch live tonight:

-----

At 11:35 p.m. EST, David Letterman bids adieu to Late Show With David Letterman after 33 years on late night television. We already know the Foo Fighters (and Steve Martin) will be there, but everyone else will be a surprise. Will Bill Murray grab Letterman's leg and refuse to let go? Will Paul Shaffer reveal he's been wearing a bald cap all these years? What about Biff?!? Has anyone thought about Biff?!?

We'll be liveblogging the highlights, so join us back here shortly before kickoff for all the surprises and unrehearsed monologues. It's going to go extra late too: CBS says "like pushing 17 minutes long-ish."

Until then, there's plenty of good stuff to read and revisit, including the first person account of the worst band to ever play Letterman. Check out tributes from a teary Jimmy Kimmel and Scott Aukerman. You could read this Times interview with Shaffer. Or the memories of a former employee.

There are also classic clips of his best musical guests, his weirdest musical guest, his most insulted guests, and his creepiest attempts to flirt with guests.

Me and Elaine from the "Seinfeld" show about to bust onto the Last Letterman. We felt so honored....

A photo posted by Jerry Seinfeld (@jerryseinfeld) on

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