When David Letterman Was Cool

Times Really Were Simpler In The 1980s

I still remember the first time I heard about Late Night with David Letterman. I was a kid, and the idea of a show that aired late at night, well past my bedtime, sounded thrilling. It was based in New York City, which felt like the center of the universe to me at the time. For someone under 25 today, it might be hard to understand how special a simple late-night interview show could be in an era before the World Wide Web, smartphones, apps, and the endless scroll of streaming platforms. Back then, late-night TV was unique, and David Letterman’s show was unlike anything else on television.

The story of how Late Night with David Letterman came to be is a reminder that great things often happen through a mix of hard work, timing, and luck. After the cancellation of his short-lived morning talk show in 1980, Letterman didn’t fade into obscurity. Instead, he kept building his reputation through guest appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. His sharp wit, unconventional humo…