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Photo Special: Letterman’s Legacy! Favorite Broadway, Celeb and Musical Moments From 21 Years of "Late Show"
Photo Special: Letterman’s Legacy! Favorite Broadway, Celeb and Musical Moments From 21 Years of "Late Show"
After more than two decades as host of "The Late Show," David Letterman will retire this month with his final episode scheduled for May 20. We look back at some favorite guests and hilarious moments from the show.
41 PHOTOS
Bill Murray spray paints Dave's desk on the first taping of the show, August 30, 1993
CBS
Paul Newman surprises Dave from the audience at the first taping, August 30, 1993
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Robin Williams on the second taping, August 31, 1993
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Vice President Al Gore cracks an ashtray with a hammer, September 8, 1993
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Sean Connery enters the stage via Jet Pack, October 25, 1993
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Ray Charles performs, May 9, 1994
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Chris Rock, June 13, 1994
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Drew Barrymore turns to the audience after flashing Dave, April 12, 1995
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David Bowie, September 25, 1995
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Jerry Seinfeld and David Duchovny, November 10, 1995
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Howard Stern in full drag, December 20, 1995
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Dennis Rodman gives Dave a new look, August 20, 1996
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Will Smith talks with Dave, November 22, 1996
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Johnny Carson in his first and only talk show appearance since stepping down as host of "The Tonight Show," gets a standing ovation by Letterman and the studio audience when he makes a surprise appearance on May, 13 1994
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The cast of Rent perform "Seasons of Love" and "La Vie Boheme"- June 6, 1996
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Cher feeds cake to Dave for his birthday, April 12, 1999
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David Letterman holds a photo of his new son, Harry Joseph Letterman who was born at 11:58 PM Nov. 3, 2003
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Steve Martin with Dave on the 5th Anniversary, November 23, 1998
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Madonna makes her first visit in three years, Nov. 11, 2003
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Ten members of "The Sopranos" cast present the "Top Ten Things Never Before Said on 'The Sopranos'" on May 24, 2004
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Borat makes his first late night talk show appearance, Oct. 30 2006
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Regis Philbin, dressed as Shrek, stops by to chat with Dave on April 22, 2009
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Julia Roberts shares a laugh with Dave on March 17, 2009
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Richard Simmons reacts to an explosion under his vegetable steamer during a demonstration with Dave on November 29, 2006
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The cast of Hair performs on April 30, 2009
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Barack Obama talks to Dave when he visits the show on Sept. 21, 2009
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Christina Aguilera performs "Ain't No Other Man" on August 16, 2006
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Bill Clinton on September 20, 2010
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Robert De Niro and Dustin Hoffman visit the show on Dec. 17, 2010
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Lady Gaga on May 23, 2011
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Tom Hanks surprises Julia Roberts and Dave when he drops by on June 30, 2011
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Regis Philbin, Dave Letterman and Bill Murray kicked some field goals on Jan. 31, 2012
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U2's the Edge and Bono watch as Spiderman drops in for a visit on July 18, 2011
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Magic Johnson and Larry Bird talk with Dave about their friendship and their rivalry on the court on April 11, 2012
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In her first interview anywhere since November 2012, Linsday Lohan talks about her upcoming trip to rehab, her guest star roles in the series "Anger Management" and film "Scary Movie 5" and more on Tuesday, April 9 2013
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Cher performs a song off her new album on Sept 24, 2013
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Lady Gaga invites surprise guest Bill Murray, Dave and the entire audience over to the Roseland Ballroom for a special performance on April 2, 2014
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Stephen Colbert, future host of the show, talks to Dave
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Taylor Swift performs on October 28, 2014
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Martin Short makes a grand entrance when he visits on Feb. 5, 2015
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In his 21 years with "The Late Show With David Letterman" on CBS, the talkshow host has welcomed numerous guests from Broadway, including Glenn Close (costumed as Norma Desmond) during her run in Sunset Boulevard , as well as the casts of Once, Godspell , Nice Work If You Can Get It , Spider-Man and The Book of Mormon, along with Sutton Foster and the cast of Anything Goes , and Norbert Leo Butz and the cast of Catch Me If You Can .
Each December Letterman welcomes Hairspray star Darlene Love to perform the holiday rock tune "Christmas Baby Please Come Home."