MovieChat Forums > Late Night with David Letterman (1982) Discussion > THIS SHOULD BE ON DVD!!!

THIS SHOULD BE ON DVD!!!

posted 19 years ago by stokepogue2001
18 replies | jump to latest

I know there would be many episodes to compile but I think this was the funniest talk show ever mostly because of it's host. Dave was a funny, interesting host before he jumped the shark with CBS (and before his character turned 'clown-like' somewhat) and this classic NBC show immortalized him in top form throughout the 80s.

Everyone who's a fan should start bugging NBC, or Carson Prod., or Worldwide Pants, or whoever to release all these episodes on DVD, not just 'Best of's.

A lot of work, I know, but I think it will be worth it...

[–] Indastruktable 19 years ago

I have bugged NBC and Worldwide Pants Inc over it. As for Carson productions, they need to release Amen on DVD too.

[–] mta7000-732-708008 14 years ago

Here's what's probably going to happen - Letterman will keep it off the air as long as "THe Late Show" is still on the air so it doesn't dilute his ratings.

Once he's either retired or dead and gone, Time/Life will buy it from Worldwide Pants or whoever and release it on DVD (or whatever the current format is 25 years from now) and then sell it on infomercials to the old geezers like they do Dean Martin, Carol Burnett, et. al. - Chris Elliott will emcee the infomercial and take us down memory lane.

Hope I'm completely wrong but I have the feeling I'm not...

[–] brianwolters 18 years ago

I can see it being a long and expensive undertaking but I'd love to have classic Dave, full episodes on DVD. There is no comparison between Late Night and Late Show. Late Night was cutting edge, quirky, and brillant (anyone remember Bob Rooney night??)

[–] francienol 17 years ago

I would give up my first born--hell, why not, my second born too for a complete or semi-complete DVD set of Dave's Late Night!

"Anyone who tells a lie has not a pure heart, and cannot make a good soup." Ludwig Van Beethoven

[–] brianwolters 16 years ago

At lease "Volumes" of the best episodes, like what Mystery Science Theatre Does...that would be great!

[–] diceroller 16 years ago

i agree! i mean SNL Has dvd sets!!!

it probally takes a while for the guests to sign releases or something ><
but i want dave and conan to have season sets!!! i love them both!!

Check out the best Myspace Page ever! and be my friend!
www.myspace.com/spaceroller

[–] keenu 14 years ago

What they need to do is start a cable channel that just shows old episodes of talk shows. Why the hell haven't they done this already? It seems so obvious. Talk shows aren't available to buy or view anywhere. It's such a waste of good material. A DVD set seems impossible though cause there were so many episodes. A cable channel would be the best option.

[–] gerfimdb 14 years ago

That would be nice if there was a talk show channel. Heck, there's a channel for just about everything else already. The channel TRIO did show LNWDL re-runs for awhile, but the NBC Universal dropped the channel a few years back. It bummed me out cause there were some episodes I hadn't seen before, and I used to watch the show all the time. There were some other older shows on the channel that if TRIO would have never existed I would have never known about them.

[–] brianwolters 14 years ago

I wish there was something we can to do help get this back on the air or DVD.

[–] JBoze313 12 years ago

would love to see a massive set or a series of a few sets that contained all of them. copyright stuff would be a nightmare, id assume.

a few people have these on various sites that sell dvds and such, but theyre insanely priced at $14 per episode.

[–] brianwolters 10 years ago

OK...Dave is retiring...it is time to plan on Worldwide pants to get this back on...streaming would be good.

[–] Jawsphobia 13 years ago

I don't know the legal tangling of it, but I'd like to see both of the "Annual" David Letterman Holiday Film Festival episodes. You might remember Michael keaton did a short, Paul Shaffer's band did a couple of music videos, Michael J. Fox did a short, Harry Shearer (with other Tap members) did an industrial short.
Lots of fun. I had it on VHS taped from the air for years, but the tape was lost in a move.

http://twitter.com/#!/Jawsphobia

[–] Art_Howard1 10 years ago

For anyone interested in hearing behind-the-scenes stories from a guy who was with "Late Night" for six years and "Late Show" for six more, I just did an interview with former head writer, Joe Toplyn. As well as his time with Dave, he also worked with Chevy Chase and Jay Leno, and gives insights into those shows, too.

http://bitly.com/1pMbmkX

I know it's cheesy to plug my podcast here, but oh, well, I'm being cheesy. Maybe other longtime fans will enjoy it. Thank you for listening, if you are so inclined.

[–] hnt_dnl 9 years ago

I agree. There's really no other mainstream talk show like this nowadays, ironically including Dave's current show on CBS. The shows now still do "bits", but they aren't edgy and rarely funny, just silly and nothing more.

[–] rhs6358 9 years ago

I guess I'll have to be the killjoy in this discussion....sorry.

Putting a show like this on DVD would be an undertaking of insurmountable effort. First, there's copyrights. Performing bands' songs would either have to be deleted, or the writer would have to be paid. Huge money involved.

Second, how do you package it? Season One, Season Two, etc? Most people would only want certain shows or eras. The seasons would probably only be released two-per-year at best. Ergo, it would take 5-1/2 years just to get to the CBS years. Most people don't want cut-and-paste "best of" DVD packages. They say they want the whole thing....see reason #3.

Third, how many people will pay top dollar for the 1983-84 season and actually watch every DVD? Sales would plummet after the first month or two, I guarantee. The novelty would wear off.

Fourth, look at (among other examples) The Ed Sullivan Show, Hollywood Palace, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, etc. None of these are available on DVD in full seasons and never will be. Reason? Everything I've mentioned, and more.

Love David and his show and will miss him when he hangs it up, but I don't ever see a full DVD release happening.

[–] neerood 9 years ago

Even forgetting the legalities, each season would be 50 to 70 DVD's, so a complete collection would number about 2000 DVD's. you really going to buy and store those?

[–] dlc-18467 9 years ago

What happened in the 83-84 season ?

[–] rhs6358 9 years ago

Probably nothing different than in other years. My point is that full seasons would not be worthwhile to produce. It would cost the distributors millions of dollars. They would have to sell a ton of each season just to break even.

Example: The first 5 seasons of Saturday Night Live were issued and sold pretty well. Then there was a clamor for Season 6 (1980-81). Why? Season Six was probably the worst ever. And that, my friend, is why a lot of people want it. The novelty factor. Once the 1981-82 or 1982-83 or whatever season of SNL came out, there would be a collective yawn and people would say "C'mon....where are the Will Ferrell years? Hurry up". Bottom line, it costs a fortune to produce a full season of a show on DVD and Letterman's was NIGHTLY. Mega-bucks!!