Late Night with David Letterman
Show #0974
TV Flash files “Show #0974” as hour 186 of 1001 in the TV Flash guide — Late Night with David Letterman (1982–1993) on NBC, season 6, episode 122, aired 1988-01-21, 60 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S06E122: listed hour 186 of 1001 in the Late Night with David Letterman guide, hour 121 of 124 in season 6. It aired 1988-01-21 (60 min). The listed hour before it is “Show #0973” (S06E121). Next is “Show #0975” (S06E123). Broadcast log — titles and dates, not a plot bible.
Viewer FAQ
Where does Show #0974 sit in the Late Night with David Letterman guide?
S06E122 is listed hour 186 of 1001 — hour 121 of 124 in season 6, season 6 episode 122.
When did Late Night with David Letterman S06E122 air?
Show #0974 aired 1988-01-21 and is listed at 60 minutes.
NBC Late Night or the later CBS Late Show?
These NBC years (1982–1993) are the laboratory. CBS is the empire after the Tonight Show succession fight. If you care how talk shows learned to mock themselves, start at 12:30.
In the series
Why this series still plays
The birth certificate of modern ironic late night — before everyone copied the shrug. Stupid Pet Tricks, Viewer Mail, Top Ten lists, Paul Shaffer as foil: NBC's 12:30 laboratory that invented post-Carson cool. Essential if you care how talk shows learned to mock themselves. The CBS years are the empire; these NBC hours are the cult scripture.
Irony moved to 12:30 and did not ask permission. NBC's Late Night with David Letterman (1982–1993) turned a gap-toothed host into the high priest of anti-talk-show talk: Stupid Pet Tricks, Viewer Mail, Top Ten lists, camera-walk mischief, interns as props. Paul Shaffer led the band; Calvert DeForest's Larry "Bud" Melman wandered through bits. **This was not a desk-and-couch variety hour being cute. This was the lab that invented the shrug.** The museum guard wants Carson catechism. The afterglow is a 12:30 that…
Open the Late Night with David Letterman package · Season 6 hub
Filed against
- David Letterman as Host
David Letterman invented post-Carson cool on Late Night — Stupid Pet Tricks, Viewer Mail, Top Ten lists, Paul Shaffer as foil, NBC’s 12:30 laboratory of ironic shrug. The birth certificate of modern late night before everyone copied it.…
- Paul Shaffer as Band leader
Paul Shaffer was the band-leader foil on Late Night with David Letterman, the 1980s birth certificate of modern ironic late night — Stupid Pet Tricks, Viewer Mail, Top Ten lists, NBC’s 12:30 laboratory that invented post-Carson cool. TV…
- Calvert DeForest as Larry "Bud" Melman
Calvert DeForest became Larry "Bud" Melman on Late Night with David Letterman — the off-kilter emissary of NBC's 12:30 laboratory, Stupid Pet Tricks and Viewer Mail in the birth certificate of ironic late night. Paul Shaffer as foil, a…