When David Letterman marks his 30-year run in late night Wednesday, there won’t a massive blowout, but rather an acknowledgment of a milestone.
“It will have to be mentioned, it’s a theme we’ll have to do on the show,” says executive producer Rob Burnett, who has worked there for 26 years. “It’s something that’s important in our world. But I don’t see an extravaganza coming to fruition.”
Low-key is more Letterman’s style, says Burnett.
“Dave has never been super comfortable drawing a lot of attention to himself,” Burnett says.
Letterman got his start in late night on Feb. 1, 1982, as host of NBC’s “Late Night With David Letterman.” He left NBC after not being named to replace Johnny Carson, his idol, as host of “Tonight.” He launched his CBS effort in August 1993.
Howard Stern has been booked for the Wednesday show, Burnett says, because “he is a very special guest for us.”
“Howard is a kindred spirit with Dave,” Burnett adds.
Though Letterman may want to go low-key for the milestone, it is a huge one.
When he started on NBC, Letterman redefined late night. Then, he was a little comic scrambling for guests, most of whom were far bigger stars at the time than he was. He made his mark by being different. He did stunts. He asked questions others wouldn’t.
He changed the face of late night.
The run at CBS has included huge markers, such as the birth of his son, his bypass surgery, his role as a unifying force after the Sept. 11 attacks and, most recently, exposing his own faults after a failed extortion attempt.
“One of the constant things Dave has put forth in 30 years on television is honesty, in addition to being the funniest person I’ve ever seen,” Burnett says.
One underrated aspect of Letterman’s talent is his ability to change, says Burnett. “It’s very hard in show business to have the courage or wherewithal to evolve yourself,” he says. “Dave has done that miraculously.”
It would have been easy, says Burnett, for Letterman to keep mining the stunts he used for the first four or five years, but he didn’t.
“Dave, to our chagrin, will suddenly say, ‘I’m not going to do that kind of thing anymore.’ He has this incredible internal sense to say, ‘No, I’ve done that enough. I don’t feel comfortable doing that kind of thing any more. It creates a vacuum and a hole that’s terrifying, but lo and behold, you find a new direction.”
During the past 30 years, Letterman has gone through several transformations, starting with breaking into late night, then shifting to CBS and now, Burnett says, settling into the Johnny Carson role, where he is bigger than the stars who visit the show.
“When I watch Dave come out at the top of the show, and he sticks his hands in his pockets and tells jokes, I see the audience’s response and see the wonder on their faces,” Burnett says. “I am immediately transported back to when I was 9 years old watching Johnny Carson.”
Letterman’s current deal with CBS ends this summer. Word is that he’s nearing a deal to keep him on through 2014, or two hears longer than Carson.
Burnett says he has no idea when Letterman will step aside.
“This is a guy who can still get around on a fastball and pull it right down the left field line,” Burnett says. “I don’t see this thing ending anytime soon.”
“It will have to be mentioned, it’s a theme we’ll have to do on the show,” says executive producer Rob Burnett, who has worked there for 26 years. “It’s something that’s important in our world. But I don’t see an extravaganza coming to fruition.”
Low-key is more Letterman’s style, says Burnett.
“Dave has never been super comfortable drawing a lot of attention to himself,” Burnett says.
Letterman got his start in late night on Feb. 1, 1982, as host of NBC’s “Late Night With David Letterman.” He left NBC after not being named to replace Johnny Carson, his idol, as host of “Tonight.” He launched his CBS effort in August 1993.
Howard Stern has been booked for the Wednesday show, Burnett says, because “he is a very special guest for us.”
“Howard is a kindred spirit with Dave,” Burnett adds.
Though Letterman may want to go low-key for the milestone, it is a huge one.
When he started on NBC, Letterman redefined late night. Then, he was a little comic scrambling for guests, most of whom were far bigger stars at the time than he was. He made his mark by being different. He did stunts. He asked questions others wouldn’t.
He changed the face of late night.
The run at CBS has included huge markers, such as the birth of his son, his bypass surgery, his role as a unifying force after the Sept. 11 attacks and, most recently, exposing his own faults after a failed extortion attempt.
“One of the constant things Dave has put forth in 30 years on television is honesty, in addition to being the funniest person I’ve ever seen,” Burnett says.
One underrated aspect of Letterman’s talent is his ability to change, says Burnett. “It’s very hard in show business to have the courage or wherewithal to evolve yourself,” he says. “Dave has done that miraculously.”
It would have been easy, says Burnett, for Letterman to keep mining the stunts he used for the first four or five years, but he didn’t.
“Dave, to our chagrin, will suddenly say, ‘I’m not going to do that kind of thing anymore.’ He has this incredible internal sense to say, ‘No, I’ve done that enough. I don’t feel comfortable doing that kind of thing any more. It creates a vacuum and a hole that’s terrifying, but lo and behold, you find a new direction.”
During the past 30 years, Letterman has gone through several transformations, starting with breaking into late night, then shifting to CBS and now, Burnett says, settling into the Johnny Carson role, where he is bigger than the stars who visit the show.
“When I watch Dave come out at the top of the show, and he sticks his hands in his pockets and tells jokes, I see the audience’s response and see the wonder on their faces,” Burnett says. “I am immediately transported back to when I was 9 years old watching Johnny Carson.”
Letterman’s current deal with CBS ends this summer. Word is that he’s nearing a deal to keep him on through 2014, or two hears longer than Carson.
Burnett says he has no idea when Letterman will step aside.
“This is a guy who can still get around on a fastball and pull it right down the left field line,” Burnett says. “I don’t see this thing ending anytime soon.”
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