David Letterman Returns to Late Show, Reflects on Past Triumphs with Stephen Colbert

In a highly anticipated moment, David Letterman made a grand comeback to the late show, this time as a guest.

The audience at New York City’s Ed Sullivan Theater erupted in applause as the iconic comedian and late-night talk show legend took the stage.

Engaging in a delightful conversation with current host Stephen Colbert, any rumors of tension between Letterman and Colbert were quickly dispelled when the seasoned host warmly congratulated Colbert and his team right from the start.

Seated comfortably, Letterman couldn’t help but marvel at the transformation the studio had undergone since his time as the show’s host.

He playfully commented on how the studio had been transformed into a bustling mall during his absence, drawing a comparison to the chic Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills.

Even the dressing room, he joked, now surpassed the opulence of the finest hotels and offered a menu for him to order snacks before the taping.

Colbert, acknowledging that he had only hosted a fraction of Letterman’s record-breaking tenure, inquired about what the legendary host missed the most.

Letterman responded by saying, “I miss everything.

Mostly, it’s the fun.”

He went on to explain the unique aspect of late-night shows, where even if something goes wrong, there’s always an opportunity to try again within 24 hours.

And when something truly exceptional happens, the desire to recreate that magic becomes irresistible.

Curious about whether Letterman sought advice from other late-night hosts, Colbert asked if he had a mentor figure.

Letterman mentioned his former Daily Show colleague Jon Stewart as a trusted confidant.

However, he made it clear that the late Johnny Carson, an esteemed figure in the talk show realm, didn’t serve the same advisory role for him.

Letterman humorously quipped about not being able to call up Carson for fashion advice or casual conversations.

The mention of Carson evoked a sense of melancholy, as Letterman admitted to feeling somewhat orphaned in the talk show world.

The audience responded with sympathetic sighs, prompting Letterman to playfully respond to their sarcasm.

To cap off their delightful rapport, Letterman and Colbert recreated a photo they had taken almost a decade prior.

Colbert presented a framed selfie from 2014, when he visited as a guest during Letterman’s tenure, a year before assuming the hosting duties himself.

Letterman jokingly expressed his desire to take a picture at the desk, and when Colbert obliged, they playfully switched places, with Letterman reclaiming his position behind the desk while Colbert sat to the left.

Earlier in the interview, Colbert shared with the audience that Letterman had confessed his long-standing curiosity about sitting at the current desk location, as he had placed it on the other side of the studio during his tenure.

While initially declining Colbert’s offer to try out the seat, Letterman couldn’t resist the opportunity to be back behind the desk, even if it was just for the retake of their lighthearted selfie.

David Letterman’s return to the late show was a momentous occasion, filled with nostalgia and camaraderie as he and Stephen Colbert celebrated the past and embraced the present.

Their engaging conversation reminded viewers of Letterman’s enduring legacy and his continued influence on the world of late-night television.