This is EPIC! Great job, Don! Shuttling through 1800+ episodes to find these -- and even the dates -- must have been a herculean task. And it's more entertaining than any other 59 minutes that's on TV tonight
@@wilnerolivier7971 Dick Cavett was brilliant as an Entertainer, Writer and Talk Show Host. He made people think and some of his shows were political in a uniquely different way. There were discussions, not "programming."
As a guy who appreciates the art of title sequences, this is mana from heaven indeed. Not just to see how the titles evolved over the years, but also how the opening theme became more polished, and how Bill Wendell's delivery of the introduction became more established. Great compilation, Donz.
Bless you for doing all the work for this. It brings back a flood of memories. The week in Vegas I recall being one of the greatest weeks in TV history. Everyone was just hitting on all cylinders. My favorite is 2b also. Coming in over the water and seeing the city lights as the music builds, it just hit you with a shot of adrenalin and you couldn't wait to see the show.
On some occasions during the regular NY intro, you will hear a similar "pop" from the crowd (as it's not being muted) when the theme starts. It absolutely added incredible energy from the outset.
This is a great collection, truly amazing! So many shows that didn't make the rerun rotation on A&E, E!, or Trio are included here. One thing of note: For montage #2, one of the things that they also used to do was depending on the time of year for the show, Rockefeller Center would appear in the montage as it was actually set up outside. So in December, there would be a Christmas tree, during the winter, would be the skating rink, and during the rest of the year would be the canopy for the restaurant. So you can see each one in 2a and 3a here, the Christmas tree would have to be in as part of a show that occurred in December. Not sure why 2b has the skating rink even though it took place in August, but others do reflect the time of year. Also, the first time montage 2a was used was for the 5th anniversary special. When they started using the montage immediately afterwards, Paul and the band didn't have the arrangement quite in sync with how the video would play out, so the first two weeks or so, the intro before the theme melody we all know and love started well after getting into the building.
Yikes. Your command for detail is astounding. Turns out I missed another variant of Montage 2: The parking lot guy sitting, reading the paper -- that's Dave Rygalski. He reminded me that there's an alternate shot where he's standing up towards the center. I found a number of that opening since but haven't yet updated this video.
I feel stupid. I watched this show for YEARS in the early days, and never realized that the lights were being turned off - indicating that the night is becoming late. I thought they were just flashing. It was a clever conceit for whoever thought of it, but unfortunately lost on me.
I love how all the main intros end with a shot of 30 Rock and zoom in on one non-descript window in a middle floor- establishing a mood that this is less a glitzy talk show like the Tonight Show, and more like a bunch of comedy geeks breaking into Rockefeller Center and broadcasting a show from one of the offices. This was a show for college students cramming for an exam, night workers about to leave for their shift, and other insomniacs. If you got what the people in the show were doing, you were welcome into their little clubhouse. Contrast this with the opening sequences of the Late Show on CBS. Now, they're the big name on the network with a theatre that's literally on Broadway. The first version of the CBS intro even flew directly *over* 30 Rock on the way to showcasing the Ed. This was no longer a clubhouse, this was the big leagues.
Hulk Hogan too said he loved watching Letterman in the earlier says. Would hangout at the beach all day, workout, smoke dope and wouldn't miss Letterman for the world.
This is an outstanding compilation. Thanks for all of your hard work, and the detailed descriptions of each open. I had forgotten about many of the theme shows, like the show from a hotel, one from an airport, etc.
Wow, excellent job, Don! I didn't realize that the first montage had been on for so much longer than the others. It's nothing worth making a new clip for, but just for historical context they used a slightly different version of Montage #2 during the 1988 Writers Strike. When they came back without writers, the New York and "man who" jokes were dropped from the opening, which made Wendell's announcement shorter. So they cut a few seconds from of the intro by editing out the entrance to the parking garage.
Wow! This was great! It reminds us about all the creative and special shows that the Letterman crew gave us, so frequently! The Las Vegas show (Montage 2C) theme arrangement was a preview of what would become the CBS Late Show version. I had the speakers cranked up and it sounded great, too!
yeah, the only reason it didn't sound like that before was because one of Carson's rules upon having his company produced the show was that they couldn't have a horn section
My oh my, we're having some fun now! Don, you've proven that there is no off position on the genius switch! Seriously this collection looks like a million damn dollars! Hang onto your wigs and keys, folks! This compilation blows the roof off the dump!
Hal Gurnee and Ron Weiner (Donahue) were two of the most innovative and age defying Live Television Directors of all time. "Epic" is correct! Thanks for sharing.
@@at1212b The show evolved. It took Jerry Foley several years to find his groove and put his own stamp on the show: Outside of the theater segments like cable walking. But yes, NO ONE could ever replace the Great Hal Gurnee, but Jerry certainly came close.
I'm very sad 😟😞 I'm happy I grew up in the 90s and in the Letterman Era on CBS. But sad I didn't grow up in the 80s in the Letterman Era on NBC. Paul Shaffer and the World's Most Dangerous Band here seems to be just as untouchable as Paul Shaffer and the CBS Orchestra. These were awesome intros, friend.
I loved the early CGI space intros toward the end of Dave's run at NBC. I also loved his set at that point in time...they gave the set a nice upgrade around 1990.
Matthew Fail I also notice that the blimp in the sequence has the registration number LN-693. Given that Late Night ended in June 1993, that is probably not a coincidence. ;)
Just a question for anyone who knows the answer - the Late Show theme is quite clearly the Late Night theme with an added horn section (which is extremely close to the theme used in the later Late Night specials where there were horn sections in the band). How were they able to transfer it over from the NBC show to the CBS show, when NBC were obviously very resistant to allowing any transfer of any 'intellectual property'?
Perhaps because they did rearrange it. Same reason why they continued the Top Ten list -- it was redesigned. Same reason why they continued to use Calvert DeForest but without the Larry "Bud" Melman moniker. Same reason they could use "Late" but change the next word from "Night" to "Show." Also, the Late Night theme was Paul's composition and copyright, and I figure he could do what he wished.
It seems to me that starting when Anton Fig first joined the band, Paul would try to elongate the "winding down" part until they're too tired to go on anymore. Other than anniversary shows and Vegas and Chicago episodes, there have been times on the regular show where a horn section would join (or Al Chesnovitz and Bruce Kapler at times). Personally, my favorite would have to be the Tower of Power horns.
Boy, the audio quality goes way up starting in March of 87. It's decent before that, but when that intro comes in, it's head and shoulders above everything before it. 24:30 for anyone who wonders wtf I'm talking about.
I remember seeing the Montage #2 on a few 1991 episodes (the ones that had Rob Morrow and Danny Gatton and another one mentioning Jim Carrey from In Living Color).
Between 1990 and 1992, the montage would alternate between the zooming through the street and through the buildings. Saw an intro from 1991, where it zoomed through the dusky WTC with guest Jim Carrey of In Living Color and another one with Danny Gatton and Rob Morrow.
I was too young when Late Night first started, and I usually only was able to stay up on Friday nights...occasionally. In 1987 I was 11 and 2 things I never missed were Dave and Friday Night Videos(only on Friday of course...I had to be in bed by 9 the rest of the week). As I got older I was able to watch Dave the rest of the week. My parents loved Carson, but it was always Dave that I waited for. Montage 2A was the beginning of my era of Late Night...I miss actual good shows like this. Conan was garbage, and nothing on now is worth a shit. ....I miss the 80's.
oh..my godz...y'mean, it ISN'T just me?!? Yes, sad but fuqkin' true=> except 4some of "LS w/S.Colbert, NOTHING on broadcast TV in 2019 operates @ the level of craftmanship that Late Night w/Dave had, the humor OR the music! [well, again, except 4 L.S's Jon Batiste & Stay Human] Thankyou a4mentioned godz for UA-cam!
The only thing you could maybe call missing from this is the Late Night with Seth Meyers tribute opening the night Dave retired: ua-cam.com/video/yO7MfnOL0Xo/v-deo.html
I never knew about the third and fourth montages. Love the third one. Don't understand what they were thinking with the space one. It's a huge downgrade, imo.
I liked the first intro best and was pissed when they changed it. In fact the intros seemed to get progressively worse with each change. The first had the charm of NYC. The latter had an element of ugly and the last intro had no real relationship or character at all. Just the same over the top, badly done crap you'd see on every network show in the late 80's. The first was the best, the second was the second best, etc, etc...
I considered adding both the 1984 and 1987 Christmas shows, but neither had opening video montages; just the song and dance routines. Yes, the Summertime Sunshine Happy Hour likewise had no opening video montage, yet I included it. That's just the way I roll. :)
Like I said- no complaint here I'm still puzzled by the "Tri-State Area" show- was a couple weeks before the 1985-86 "SNL" premiere Letterman could have replaced with 90-minute Saturday night shows the Doug Hill/ Jeff Weingrad "SNL" book mentioned
Gotta find my old tapes down in NJ- my favorite of the old WTC opens- was 1 July 1988 when I was watching Mets-Astros on WWOR leading into the Madonna-Sandra Bernhard show with Steve Ferrone filling in on drums
This is EPIC! Great job, Don! Shuttling through 1800+ episodes to find these -- and even the dates -- must have been a herculean task. And it's more entertaining than any other 59 minutes that's on TV tonight
im sure Don has every show dated.
oh come on, lots of shows on today are entertaining
@@sillygoose635 Not like this. This is what Late Night Television used to be all about. It is enjoyable to watch and is not Political in any way.
@@jimlaforte1755 My guess is that you were not a fan of Dick Cavett!!
@@wilnerolivier7971 Dick Cavett was brilliant as an Entertainer, Writer and Talk Show Host. He made people think and some of his shows were political in a uniquely different way. There were discussions, not "programming."
As a guy who appreciates the art of title sequences, this is mana from heaven indeed. Not just to see how the titles evolved over the years, but also how the opening theme became more polished, and how Bill Wendell's delivery of the introduction became more established. Great compilation, Donz.
Thanks! I hope to someday put together a compilation of that opening theme, starting with early shows noone’s ever seen.
Bless you for doing all the work for this. It brings back a flood of memories. The week in Vegas I recall being one of the greatest weeks in TV history. Everyone was just hitting on all cylinders.
My favorite is 2b also. Coming in over the water and seeing the city lights as the music builds, it just hit you with a shot of adrenalin and you couldn't wait to see the show.
39:36 is my favorite part of the compilation. The way the audience POPS when the theme starts up is the sound of a show at its zenith.
You and your Southern California biases. :)
I still get chills when I hear that crowd. :)
On some occasions during the regular NY intro, you will hear a similar "pop" from the crowd (as it's not being muted) when the theme starts. It absolutely added incredible energy from the outset.
1:31 The quintessential open with the perfect leaps by Will Lee.
This is a great collection, truly amazing! So many shows that didn't make the rerun rotation on A&E, E!, or Trio are included here.
One thing of note: For montage #2, one of the things that they also used to do was depending on the time of year for the show, Rockefeller Center would appear in the montage as it was actually set up outside. So in December, there would be a Christmas tree, during the winter, would be the skating rink, and during the rest of the year would be the canopy for the restaurant. So you can see each one in 2a and 3a here, the Christmas tree would have to be in as part of a show that occurred in December. Not sure why 2b has the skating rink even though it took place in August, but others do reflect the time of year.
Also, the first time montage 2a was used was for the 5th anniversary special. When they started using the montage immediately afterwards, Paul and the band didn't have the arrangement quite in sync with how the video would play out, so the first two weeks or so, the intro before the theme melody we all know and love started well after getting into the building.
Yikes. Your command for detail is astounding. Turns out I missed another variant of Montage 2: The parking lot guy sitting, reading the paper -- that's Dave Rygalski. He reminded me that there's an alternate shot where he's standing up towards the center. I found a number of that opening since but haven't yet updated this video.
Don Giller Glutamatergic neurotransmission modulating agents like memantine, has been reported to be beneficial in OCD.
I feel stupid. I watched this show for YEARS in the early days, and never realized that the lights were being turned off - indicating that the night is becoming late. I thought they were just flashing. It was a clever conceit for whoever thought of it, but unfortunately lost on me.
I love how all the main intros end with a shot of 30 Rock and zoom in on one non-descript window in a middle floor- establishing a mood that this is less a glitzy talk show like the Tonight Show, and more like a bunch of comedy geeks breaking into Rockefeller Center and broadcasting a show from one of the offices. This was a show for college students cramming for an exam, night workers about to leave for their shift, and other insomniacs. If you got what the people in the show were doing, you were welcome into their little clubhouse.
Contrast this with the opening sequences of the Late Show on CBS. Now, they're the big name on the network with a theatre that's literally on Broadway. The first version of the CBS intro even flew directly *over* 30 Rock on the way to showcasing the Ed. This was no longer a clubhouse, this was the big leagues.
Hulk Hogan too said he loved watching Letterman in the earlier says. Would hangout at the beach all day, workout, smoke dope and wouldn't miss Letterman for the world.
I love how the May 20, 1987 intro is almost a premonition of what's to come with the horn section.
This is an outstanding compilation. Thanks for all of your hard work, and the detailed descriptions of each open. I had forgotten about many of the theme shows, like the show from a hotel, one from an airport, etc.
The approach to the WTC...my heart drops to my stomach every time I see that opening. .
I think I was at the last show in your montage! I was one of the audience members 'hooting' and yelling! LOL
Wow, excellent job, Don! I didn't realize that the first montage had been on for so much longer than the others.
It's nothing worth making a new clip for, but just for historical context they used a slightly different version of Montage #2 during the 1988 Writers Strike. When they came back without writers, the New York and "man who" jokes were dropped from the opening, which made Wendell's announcement shorter. So they cut a few seconds from of the intro by editing out the entrance to the parking garage.
You're correct. I elected to not include it because it was one of omission, not addition or alternative.
Wow Thanks for doing this.. This brought back my college years.
HOW GREAT WAS LARRY "BUD" MMMMELMAN!!.. It was a party every night of the week!!!
Wow! This was great! It reminds us about all the creative and special shows that the Letterman crew gave us, so frequently! The Las Vegas show (Montage 2C) theme arrangement was a preview of what would become the CBS Late Show version. I had the speakers cranked up and it sounded great, too!
Lived these shows bought vcr just to tape him
yeah, the only reason it didn't sound like that before was because one of Carson's rules upon having his company produced the show was that they couldn't have a horn section
This show really was incredible. I wish it had gone longer, but honestly it probably ended at the perfect time to incapsulate what it was.
My oh my, we're having some fun now! Don, you've proven that there is no off position on the genius switch! Seriously this collection looks like a million damn dollars!
Hang onto your wigs and keys, folks! This compilation blows the roof off the dump!
Jordan Taylor Wake the neighbors, phone the kids.
finnibert lunchiken fill ‘em full of coffee
I always did love this version David Letterman ruled on NBC. Those were the good old days.
Wonderful collection. Thanks for including my favorite singer/songwriter Harve Mann playing The Lounge Singer.
OMG. .love this.haven't seen some of these since original airing. Thank you! !
24:33 has to be the most iconic, right? Certainly the first one I think of when I think of classic Late Night.
Great compilation
spacesuit dave was my first intro i remember when i would
sneak up at night to watch tv when i was 10
Hal Gurnee and Ron Weiner (Donahue) were two of the most innovative and age defying Live Television Directors of all time. "Epic" is correct! Thanks for sharing.
After Gurnee retired at CBS, his show was never the same again.
@@at1212b The show evolved. It took Jerry Foley several years to find his groove and put his own stamp on the show: Outside of the theater segments like cable walking. But yes, NO ONE could ever replace the Great Hal Gurnee, but Jerry certainly came close.
2b 1987 simply the greatest intro of all time in the history of tv!
I just now realized that Conan kept the shot at 52:11 in his intro to the Late Night show as well
I'm very sad 😟😞 I'm happy I grew up in the 90s and in the Letterman Era on CBS. But sad I didn't grow up in the 80s in the Letterman Era on NBC.
Paul Shaffer and the World's Most Dangerous Band here seems to be just as untouchable as Paul Shaffer and the CBS Orchestra. These were awesome intros, friend.
Awesome, thanks Don. My favorite was the viewer animated one.
I loved the early CGI space intros toward the end of Dave's run at NBC. I also loved his set at that point in time...they gave the set a nice upgrade around 1990.
Thanks for this precious job.
Writing "G.E. Sucks" on a kite. LETTERMAN IS SAVAGE
Matthew Fail I also notice that the blimp in the sequence has the registration number LN-693. Given that Late Night ended in June 1993, that is probably not a coincidence. ;)
NBC was too blind to see Dave's talent to know who The Tonight Show really belonged to after Johnny's retirement.
Also the stereo sound on the later opens, like 3a with Bruce Hornsby, is divine.
2B (dog in basket) remains my all time favorite.
Absolutely My Friend
Fabulous! Really appreciated.
Montage 2J has the funkiest (and my favorite) WMDB performance of the opening theme.
So great! thx from Solingen/Germany
I take it back, the lb 1987 montage is the best one.
Just a question for anyone who knows the answer - the Late Show theme is quite clearly the Late Night theme with an added horn section (which is extremely close to the theme used in the later Late Night specials where there were horn sections in the band).
How were they able to transfer it over from the NBC show to the CBS show, when NBC were obviously very resistant to allowing any transfer of any 'intellectual property'?
Perhaps because they did rearrange it. Same reason why they continued the Top Ten list -- it was redesigned. Same reason why they continued to use Calvert DeForest but without the Larry "Bud" Melman moniker. Same reason they could use "Late" but change the next word from "Night" to "Show."
Also, the Late Night theme was Paul's composition and copyright, and I figure he could do what he wished.
Don Giller Yeah, if it's Paul's copyright, that would probably be the reason they were able to use it.
I love the 2b 1987 opening montage.
God damn I miss this show, now more than ever.
These days, we’re inundated with late night regurgitated barf!
The song the band plays in version 1N is "Skateaway" by Dire Straits (which references the album's title, "Making Movies").
The 87 2a and 2b intro was the best.
A man with moral convictions and two misdemeanors.
I loved this show growing up!
It seems to me that starting when Anton Fig first joined the band, Paul would try to elongate the "winding down" part until they're too tired to go on anymore.
Other than anniversary shows and Vegas and Chicago episodes, there have been times on the regular show where a horn section would join (or Al Chesnovitz and Bruce Kapler at times). Personally, my favorite would have to be the Tower of Power horns.
Boy, the audio quality goes way up starting in March of 87. It's decent before that, but when that intro comes in, it's head and shoulders above everything before it.
24:30 for anyone who wonders wtf I'm talking about.
I remember seeing the Montage #2 on a few 1991 episodes (the ones that had Rob Morrow and Danny Gatton and another one mentioning Jim Carrey from In Living Color).
They were all rotated then.
3:02
Dunno why but I got a soft spot for this arrangement. Maybe the mellow piano line?
Between 1990 and 1992, the montage would alternate between the zooming through the street and through the buildings. Saw an intro from 1991, where it zoomed through the dusky WTC with guest Jim Carrey of In Living Color and another one with Danny Gatton and Rob Morrow.
Have digitized neither yet but will check when I do.
May I request to see the full episode of (2/27/1985 “the morning show”)?
Love it!
If I still forgot anything, forget it. :)
The fan animated opening at the 41:13 mark could easily have been used by Conan O'Brien!
Can you still do a Late Show version
Really, truly, I've just busted a gut putting this together. Bad timing.
I was too young when Late Night first started, and I usually only was able to stay up on Friday nights...occasionally. In 1987 I was 11 and 2 things I never missed were Dave and Friday Night Videos(only on Friday of course...I had to be in bed by 9 the rest of the week). As I got older I was able to watch Dave the rest of the week. My parents loved Carson, but it was always Dave that I waited for. Montage 2A was the beginning of my era of Late Night...I miss actual good shows like this. Conan was garbage, and nothing on now is worth a shit.
....I miss the 80's.
oh..my godz...y'mean, it ISN'T just me?!? Yes, sad but fuqkin' true=> except 4some of "LS w/S.Colbert, NOTHING on broadcast TV in 2019 operates @ the level of craftmanship that Late Night w/Dave had, the humor OR the music! [well, again, except 4 L.S's Jon Batiste & Stay Human] Thankyou a4mentioned godz for UA-cam!
Does somebody know the date of the late night "morning show special" (04:00)?
Mike Jay The date is in both the video and the description beneath the video.
The only thing you could maybe call missing from this is the Late Night with Seth Meyers tribute opening the night Dave retired:
ua-cam.com/video/yO7MfnOL0Xo/v-deo.html
Don, can you post the 'custom made' shows sometime? Custom Made #2 (the only one I saw) was a true classic!
Yeah, both are on the To-Do list.
It's only great when Hiram,Steve,Will & Paul play it...
X Y Which Steve??!! Jordan??! or Gadd?!!??
@@sticktrik He probably means Jordan.
Have you posted the "special"?
Not "yet."
@@dongiller would love to see it (i assume they mean the DAVE special)
They adding in them driving past the Scientology building around 10:10. Wonder why they added that lol
I never knew about the third and fourth montages. Love the third one. Don't understand what they were thinking with the space one. It's a huge downgrade, imo.
I liked the first intro best and was pissed when they changed it. In fact the intros seemed to get progressively worse with each change. The first had the charm of NYC. The latter had an element of ugly and the last intro had no real relationship or character at all. Just the same over the top, badly done crap you'd see on every network show in the late 80's. The first was the best, the second was the second best, etc, etc...
Not complaining- but no "Christmas with the Lettermans"?
The "Dave's Tri-State Area" show from 1985 came off as particularly odd- even at the time
I considered adding both the 1984 and 1987 Christmas shows, but neither had opening video montages; just the song and dance routines. Yes, the Summertime Sunshine Happy Hour likewise had no opening video montage, yet I included it. That's just the way I roll. :)
Like I said- no complaint here
I'm still puzzled by the "Tri-State Area" show- was a couple weeks before the 1985-86 "SNL" premiere Letterman could have replaced with 90-minute Saturday night shows the Doug Hill/ Jeff Weingrad "SNL" book mentioned
Meant to add that I plan to put up some of the complete shows that are included in this collection, including the '84 and '87 Christmas specials.
Gotta find my old tapes down in NJ- my favorite of the old WTC opens- was 1 July 1988 when I was watching Mets-Astros on WWOR leading into the Madonna-Sandra Bernhard show with Steve Ferrone filling in on drums
I drove the 287-95 stretch that leads into CT a couple weeks ago- made me think of the Byram border town stuff