David Letterman Ends Conspicuous Absence From ‘The Late Show’

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/21/business/media/david-letterman-late-show-colbert.html

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It started much like the way it ended for David Letterman.

There he came, striding onto the stage at the Ed Sullivan Theater on Monday night, to a standing ovation and a chorus of chants of “Da-vid! Da-vid!”

The only difference this time was that Mr. Letterman, in a full gray beard, was a guest of “The Late Show,” and Stephen Colbert, its host since 2015, led him to a chair that was not behind a desk.

“Stephen,” Mr. Letterman said as he sat down. “Control your people!”

Mr. Letterman’s appearance on “The Late Show” — the series he began for CBS in 1993 and hosted until Mr. Colbert replaced him — brought some resolution to one of the odder mysteries in show business: Why wouldn’t he visit with his successor?

Mr. Letterman has been no stranger to the limelight since he stepped down from his late-night gig. He hosts his own Netflix long-form interview show, “My Next Guest Needs No Introduction,” and he has visited plenty of other shows. He has done Jimmy Kimmel’s ABC show several times; Seth Meyers’s late night show; Ellen DeGeneres’s daytime talk show; Howard Stern’s radio show; Dax Shepard’s podcast; Marc Maron’s podcast; Conan O’Brien’s podcast. He even did the Busy Philipps podcast.