This year, David Letterman marked his 26th year in late-night comedy and 15th year as the host of the "Late Show with David Letterman" on CBS. After nearly 5,000 late-night broadcasts, David Letterman remains one of the most influential personalities in the history of television. Other than the late Johnny Carson, who hosted "The Tonight Show" for 30 years, no late-night host comes near Letterman in longevity, critical praise and award recognition. Often imitated but never matched, David Letterman 
On August 30, 1993, the "Late Show with David Letterman" made its debut, and it quickly went on to become one of the most talked-about and critically acclaimed programs of the year. Now, fifteen years later, the "Late Show with David Letterman" continues to deliver inventive and imaginative comedy every night. For its efforts, it has earned six Emmy Awards as Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program.
David Letterman's first network break came in 1978 on the CBS variety series "Mary," starring Mary Tyler Moore. In November of that year, he made the first of his 22 appearances on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson." David Letterman also guest-hosted "Tonight" numerous times.
In 1980, David Letterman began hosting an Emmy Award-winning morning comedy-variety program, "The David Letterman Show," which ran for three months on NBC. His critically acclaimed show "Late Night with David Letterman" premiered in February 1982. Throughout its 11½ years, "Late Night" was honored with many awards, including five Emmys and 35 Emmy nominations.
From the start, David Letterman has been critically applauded for redefining the talk-show genre. In 1992, David Letterman received the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award for taking "one of TV's most conventional and least inventive forms—the talk show—and infusing it with freshness and imagination." David Letterman has also won two American Comedy Awards as Funniest Male Performer in a Television Series, and in 1995 and 2001 he was nominated for a Career Achievement Award by the Television Critics Association. David Letterman was also honored as "Favorite Late Night Talk Show Host" at the 31st Annual People's Choice Awards in 2005.
David Letterman on "Late Show with David Letterman"
Kennedy Center Honors 2012 pays tribute to Natalia Makarova, David Letterman, Led Zeppelin, Buddy Guy and Dustin Hoffman David Letterman Pictures
presents, night after night, an unpredictable hour of innovative comedy. On August 30, 1993, the "Late Show with David Letterman" made its debut, and it quickly went on to become one of the most talked-about and critically acclaimed programs of the year. Now, fifteen years later, the "Late Show with David Letterman" continues to deliver inventive and imaginative comedy every night. For its efforts, it has earned six Emmy Awards as Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program.
David Letterman's first network break came in 1978 on the CBS variety series "Mary," starring Mary Tyler Moore. In November of that year, he made the first of his 22 appearances on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson." David Letterman also guest-hosted "Tonight" numerous times.
In 1980, David Letterman began hosting an Emmy Award-winning morning comedy-variety program, "The David Letterman Show," which ran for three months on NBC. His critically acclaimed show "Late Night with David Letterman" premiered in February 1982. Throughout its 11½ years, "Late Night" was honored with many awards, including five Emmys and 35 Emmy nominations.
From the start, David Letterman has been critically applauded for redefining the talk-show genre. In 1992, David Letterman received the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award for taking "one of TV's most conventional and least inventive forms—the talk show—and infusing it with freshness and imagination." David Letterman has also won two American Comedy Awards as Funniest Male Performer in a Television Series, and in 1995 and 2001 he was nominated for a Career Achievement Award by the Television Critics Association. David Letterman was also honored as "Favorite Late Night Talk Show Host" at the 31st Annual People's Choice Awards in 2005.
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Kennedy Center Honors 2012 pays tribute to Natalia Makarova, David Letterman, Led Zeppelin, Buddy Guy and Dustin Hoffman David Letterman Pictures
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