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The Best Episodes of Late Show with David Letterman

Every episode of Late Show with David Letterman ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Late Show with David Letterman!

Binge this in Unknown•Peaking at 6.2/10

David Letterman uses mature humor to appeal to his audience in this weeknight series, which gets its music from a house band led by Paul Shaffer. Among the show's most-famous segments are the Top Ten

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Late Show with David Letterman Season 1 Episode 1 - Bill Murray, Tom Brokaw, Paul Newman, Billy Joel
    6.2/10(5 votes)

    #1 - Bill Murray, Tom Brokaw, Paul Newman, Billy Joel

    S1:E1

    Tom Brokaw shows up to take back some NBC ""intellectual property;"" Dave shows off the renovated Ed Sullivan Theater and chats with Bill Murray.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Late Show with David Letterman Season 1 Episode 3 - Demi Moore, Bev Tanner, Spin Doctors
    6.0/10(1 votes)

    #2 - Demi Moore, Bev Tanner, Spin Doctors

    S1:E3

    A very pregnant Demi Moore is given the honor of throwing the first pencil through the backdrop windows of the Late Show.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Late Show with David Letterman Season 5 Episode 123 - Tom Hanks, Matt Medenweldt, Scott Weiland
    6.0/10(1 votes)

    #3 - Tom Hanks, Matt Medenweldt, Scott Weiland

    S5:E123

    Tom Hanks interrupts the monologue because he and Dave are dressed alike; throughout the night, spelling bee champ Edmund Gillette stands next to Rob's desk and spells words; during Mailbag, Alan Kalter reacts badly to a letter asking if he's a freak by visiting the letter-writer (Jay Johnson) and punching in his face; Tom gets a new suit.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Late Show with David Letterman Season 7 Episode 43 - Natalie Portman, Travis Pastrana, Ted Alexandro
    6.0/10(1 votes)

    #4 - Natalie Portman, Travis Pastrana, Ted Alexandro

    S7:E43

    Dave shows a tape of stunt biker/scheduled guest Travis Pastrana's mishap that afternoon, and the injured daredevil later hobbles onstage. By the end of the show, the Hi-Ho Girls are helping Travis repair his bike.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Late Show with David Letterman Season 9 Episode 183 - Paul Newman, Counting Crows
    6.0/10(1 votes)

    #5 - Paul Newman, Counting Crows

    S9:E183

    Dave plays "Know Your Current Events" with the audience. Later, Paul Newman talks about auto racing while promoting "Road to Perdition."

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Late Show with David Letterman Season 12 Episode 103 - Roseanne Barr, Rachel Weisz
    6.0/10(1 votes)

    #6 - Roseanne Barr, Rachel Weisz

    S12:E103

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Late Show with David Letterman

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  7. Late Show with David Letterman Season 12 Episode 152 - Paul Newman, Danica Patrick, Adam Savage & Jamie Hyneman
    6.0/10(1 votes)

    #7 - Paul Newman, Danica Patrick, Adam Savage & Jamie Hyneman

    S12:E152

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Late Show with David Letterman Season 13 Episode 86 - Anthony Hopkins
    6.0/10(1 votes)

    #8 - Anthony Hopkins

    S13:E86

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Late Show with David Letterman Season 13 Episode 117 - David Spade, Teddy Geiger
    6.0/10(1 votes)

    #9 - David Spade, Teddy Geiger

    S13:E117

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Late Show with David Letterman Season 13 Episode 168 - Kevin Spacey, The Streets
    6.0/10(1 votes)

    #10 - Kevin Spacey, The Streets

    S13:E168

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Late Show with David Letterman Season 14 Episode 37 - Rachel Weisz, David Rakoff, Morningwood
    6.0/10(1 votes)

    #11 - Rachel Weisz, David Rakoff, Morningwood

    S14:E37

    Tonights guests include Rachel Weisz, David Rakoff and Morningwood.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Late Show with David Letterman Season 15 Episode 38 - Tom Hanks, Gov. Mike Huckabee
    6.0/10(1 votes)

    #12 - Tom Hanks, Gov. Mike Huckabee

    S15:E38

    Tom Hanks and Mike Huckabee are the scheduled guests.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. Late Show with David Letterman Season 15 Episode 40 - Morgan Freeman, Tom Brokaw, Chuck Prophet
    6.0/10(1 votes)

    #13 - Morgan Freeman, Tom Brokaw, Chuck Prophet

    S15:E40

    Morgan Freeman and Chuck Prophet are the scheduled guests.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Late Show with David Letterman Season 15 Episode 44 - Denzel Washington, Don Rickles
    6.0/10(1 votes)

    #14 - Denzel Washington, Don Rickles

    S15:E44

    An audience member claims to know Dave's ex-wife, who apparently now lives in Florida; the show is again interrupted by radio transmissions from Lt. Len Easton of the California Highway Patrol; Mike McIntee and Harold Larkin play "Can Two Guys and Their Dead Friend In An Office Chair Hail a Cab?"; Don Rickles plugs his DVD Mr. Warmth and throws a few zingers at Dave and fellow guest Denzel Washington.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Late Show with David Letterman Season 15 Episode 75 - Kid Scientists, Natalie Portman, Kenna
    6.0/10(1 votes)

    #15 - Kid Scientists, Natalie Portman, Kenna

    S15:E75

    "AMPTP President Nick Counter" and "Writers Guild Executive Director David Young" call a truce... and make out; in tonight's remote, Andy Kindler visits a toy convention; the latest Kid Scientist experiments from Naperville, IL include gravity-defying water and a crudely-built hovercraft; Kenna (featuring N.E.R.D.) performed "Say Goodbye to Love."

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Late Show with David Letterman Season 15 Episode 78 - Jim Carrey, Paula Abdul
    6.0/10(1 votes)

    #16 - Jim Carrey, Paula Abdul

    S15:E78

    Jim Carrey and Paula Abdul are the scheduled guests.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Late Show with David Letterman Season 15 Episode 123 - Liv Tyler, Sue Johanson, Tommy Johnagin
    6.0/10(1 votes)

    #17 - Liv Tyler, Sue Johanson, Tommy Johnagin

    S15:E123

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Late Show with David Letterman Season 15 Episode 127 - Julia Roberts, Al Green
    6.0/10(1 votes)

    #18 - Julia Roberts, Al Green

    S15:E127

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Late Show with David Letterman Season 15 Episode 141 - Abigail Breslin, Barry Sonnenfeld, Tift Merritt
    6.0/10(1 votes)

    #19 - Abigail Breslin, Barry Sonnenfeld, Tift Merritt

    S15:E141

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Late Show with David Letterman Season 15 Episode 143 - Morgan Freeman, Kaley Cuoco, Wild Sweet Orange
    6.0/10(1 votes)

    #20 - Morgan Freeman, Kaley Cuoco, Wild Sweet Orange

    S15:E143

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Late Show with David Letterman Season 15 Episode 162 - Kiefer Sutherland, Rumer Willis, Phil Vassar
    6.0/10(1 votes)

    #21 - Kiefer Sutherland, Rumer Willis, Phil Vassar

    S15:E162

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Late Show with David Letterman Season 16 Episode 5 - Keira Knightley, Thomas L. Friedman
    6.0/10(1 votes)

    #22 - Keira Knightley, Thomas L. Friedman

    S16:E5

    Keira Knightley and Thomas L. Friedman are the scheduled guests.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Late Show with David Letterman Season 16 Episode 9 - Meg Ryan, Ricky Gervais
    6.0/10(1 votes)

    #23 - Meg Ryan, Ricky Gervais

    S16:E9

    Throughout the night, Olympic high-jumpers strut their stuff out on 53rd Street; Dave reads from the "Late Show Fun Facts" book, in stores next week; in her first LSDL appearance in seven years, Meg Ryan plugs The Women and shares an anecdote about her daughter; Ricky Gervais promotes Ghost Town and describes doing press junkets for the movie.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. Late Show with David Letterman Season 16 Episode 16 - Anne Hathaway, Josette Sheeran, The Virgins
    6.0/10(1 votes)

    #24 - Anne Hathaway, Josette Sheeran, The Virgins

    S16:E16

    Anne Hathaway, Josette Sheeran, The Virgins

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. Late Show with David Letterman Season 16 Episode 38 - Natalie Portman, Artie Lange, Brad Paisley
    6.0/10(1 votes)

    #25 - Natalie Portman, Artie Lange, Brad Paisley

    S16:E38

    Alec Baldwin endorses the Fun Facts book; Natalie Portman discusses campaigning for President-elect Obama; Bill Scheft begs the new president to make an ass of himself; Artie Lange plugs his new book; Brad Paisley performed a cover of The Cars' "Good Times Roll."

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Best Episodes Summary

"Bill Murray, Tom Brokaw, Paul Newman, Billy Joel" is the best rated episode of "Late Show with David Letterman". It scored 6.2/10 based on 5 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 8/30/1993. This episode scored 0.2 points higher than the second highest rated, "Demi Moore, Bev Tanner, Spin Doctors".