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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 9.0/10

Late Show with David Letterman is an American late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and is produced by Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated and

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Late Show with David Letterman Season 19 Episode 44 - Debra Messing, Josh Hutcherson, Oberhofer
    9.0/10(13 votes)

    #1 - Debra Messing, Josh Hutcherson, Oberhofer

    S19:E44

    Dave welcomes actress Debra Messing, actor Josh Hutcherson, and musical guests Oberhofer. The "Smash" star discovers a lot of fake Debra Messings on Twitter.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Late Show with David Letterman Season 20 Episode 1 - Kathy Griffin; Chris Pratt; Big Boi
    8.8/10(16 votes)

    #2 - Kathy Griffin; Chris Pratt; Big Boi

    S20:E1

    Comic Kathy Griffin; from "Zero Dark Thirty", actor Chris Pratt; Big Boi performs.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Late Show with David Letterman Season 19 Episode 41 - Martin Short, The Ting Tings
    8.4/10(14 votes)

    #3 - Martin Short, The Ting Tings

    S19:E41

    Dave welcomes actor Martin Short and musical guests The Ting Tings. Martin upsets a famous female broadcaster and her husband (but it's not Connie Chung and Maury Povich).

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Late Show with David Letterman Season 15 Episode 49 - Sen. John Edwards, Diablo Cody, Josh Ritter, David "Fathead" Newman
    8.0/10(204 votes)

    #4 - Sen. John Edwards, Diablo Cody, Josh Ritter, David "Fathead" Newman

    S15:E49

    Senator John Edwards, Diablo Cody, and Josh Ritter are the scheduled guests.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Late Show with David Letterman Season 18 Episode 11 - Jack Hanna, Steven Tyler
    8.0/10(15 votes)

    #5 - Jack Hanna, Steven Tyler

    S18:E11

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Late Show with David Letterman Season 16 Episode 47 - Stephen Colbert, Kristen Stewart, Super Diamond
    7.3/10(20 votes)

    #6 - Stephen Colbert, Kristen Stewart, Super Diamond

    S16:E47

    Stephen Colbert and Kristen Stewart are the scheduled guests.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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    7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 WORST Episodes of Late Show with David Letterman

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  7. Late Show with David Letterman Season 18 Episode 10 - Joan Rivers, Jeff Caldwell, Wintersleep
    6.6/10(19 votes)

    #7 - Joan Rivers, Jeff Caldwell, Wintersleep

    S18:E10

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Late Show with David Letterman Season 17 Episode 13 - Craig Ferguson, Kristin Chenoweth, and Snow Patrol
    6.2/10(30 votes)

    #8 - Craig Ferguson, Kristin Chenoweth, and Snow Patrol

    S17:E13

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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

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

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

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

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

    #13 - Roseanne Barr, Rachel Weisz

    S12:E103

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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

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

    S12:E152

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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

    #15 - Anthony Hopkins

    S13:E86

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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

    #16 - David Spade, Teddy Geiger

    S13:E117

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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

    #17 - Kevin Spacey, The Streets

    S13:E168

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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

    #18 - Rachel Weisz, David Rakoff, Morningwood

    S14:E37

    Tonights guests include Rachel Weisz, David Rakoff and Morningwood.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Late Show with David Letterman Season 15 Episode 36 - Bill Maher, Ellen Page, the cast of Broadway's "Young Frankenstein"
    6.0/10(51 votes)

    #19 - Bill Maher, Ellen Page, the cast of Broadway's "Young Frankenstein"

    S15:E36

    Dave's beard gets a key to the city, courtesy of Mayor Bloomberg; a wayward WGA picketer wanders around in the backdrop; Hal Gurnee's latest Network Time Killer is a "balloon drummer"; Ellen Page plugs Juno; Roger Bart, Sutton Foster, and Chris Fitzgerald perform a song from the musical "Young Frankenstein."

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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

    #20 - Tom Hanks, Gov. Mike Huckabee

    S15:E38

    Tom Hanks and Mike Huckabee are the scheduled guests.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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

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

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

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

    #24 - Jim Carrey, Paula Abdul

    S15:E78

    Jim Carrey and Paula Abdul are the scheduled guests.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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

    #25 - Liv Tyler, Sue Johanson, Tommy Johnagin

    S15:E123

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Best Episodes Summary

"Debra Messing, Josh Hutcherson, Oberhofer" is the best rated episode of "Late Show with David Letterman". It scored 9/10 based on 13 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 3/21/2012. This episode scored 0.2 points higher than the second highest rated, "Kathy Griffin; Chris Pratt; Big Boi".