Letterman to Bring "In-Depth Conversations" to Netflix
Thursday, August 10, 2017 at 12:39AM By Seán McGovern
David Letterman has spent enough time growing his beard and is set to return to screens. Letterman is to host a six-show season on Netflix, which will be “in-depth conversations with extraordinary people, and in-the-field segments expressing his curiosity and humor.”
Netflix has already taken a foray into interview shows, with Chelsea well into its second season and boasting a ninety-episode season one behind it. Letterman's deal goes into production in the fall, and to debut next year.
Letterman spent 33 years on late night talk shows, his earlier shows an anarchic mishmash of gags and guests, ranging from Tom Brokaw to Dolly Parton and Sandra Bernhard. The latter had a notable range of appearances on Late Night With David Letterman, most infamously a frenetic and hilarious interview in which she drags out her BFF, Madonna.
Talk Shows can capture personalities at their most illuminating, as evidenced on the great Dick Cavett Show: Interviews with the likes of Angela Davis, Gore Vidal, Katharine Hepburn and Bette Davis.
What are your greatest interview show moments?
Reader Comments (7)
When I think of Letterman, I think of his interactions with Richard Simmons. I specifically remember an episode where Simmons was doing his usual shtick and Letterman walked off stage, only to return and spray him with a fire extinguisher.
I loved Letterman, I'm glad he's coming back.
Dick Cavett was a great interviewer because, like Johnny Carson, he talked to the guests and let the conversation follow its own path. He wasn't focused on getting a plug out for their latest project or if he worked it in it wasn't the focus of the talk. Those Hepburn & Davis segments are great. There were many others as well.
Probably my favorite interview moment was Bette Midler's appearance on Johnny Carson's last show. The whole segment was just magical
I don't know if it qualifies as a great moment but it was an actressexual dream. I recall a Merv Griffiin show where the panel of guests was comprised of Alexis Smith, Glynis Johns, Valerie Perrine and Cloris Leachman (she's a great interview since you never know what she's going to say). It was fascinating to listen to them interact about their careers and the problems they faced as women in Hollywood.
Letterman was great...when he was on NBC. Recurring guests like Bernhart and Teri Garr made that show, but as soon as he moved to CBS, he lost his mojo on hacks and hipsters like Paris(ite) Hilton and the Kardashians. If he can get back to his original, free-wheeling format (full of interesting, conversational guests), I'm on board; otherwise, pass.
Damn I hate Letterman
Maybe he was good a long time ago but during at least the last five years of his show, he was the worst host ever
Who decided to wear matching outfits I wonder.
Nothing made me miss Letterman more than seeing clips of that Jimmy Fallon interview in which he rumpled Trump's hair. Letterman would have never. In fact, I remember when Letterman made mincemeat out of John McCain when McCain cancelled on him during the financial crisis in 2008. McCain claimed he had to race to the airport to go to Washington, but Letterman discovered he was prepping for an interview with Katie Couric.
I love Letterman more than I love most of my relatives so needles to say, I'm excited about this news. Letterman was always at his best when he was engaged with an interesting person or subject and I'm guessing that he'll have his choice as to who to interview. Here's hoping for an interview with Trump (given their long history).