LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN {BETTE MIDLER; ZSA ZSA GABOR; TRAFFIC; JOHNNY CARSON SURPRISE APPEARANCE} (TV)
Summary
One in this series of late-night talk/variety programs hosted by David Letterman. This program, the final installment in the show's week-long trip to Los Angeles, features singer Bette Midler, actress Zsa Zsa Gabor, and musical guest Traffic. In his opening monologue, Letterman touches upon the following topics: spring in Los Angeles; the "Wacky Hat Night" celebrated by some audience members; traffic "rules" in L.A.; a disturbing call from security back at the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York; a poll about the "most hostile" in the United States; and President Clinton's complaints of excessive public scrutiny.
Letterman then notes that there is "one thing" that he did not get a chance to do while in California, and at bandleader Paul Shaffer's encouragement, the two of them run from the theater and head to the beach for a spirited afternoon of surfing. Letterman then introduces his "top ten list" segment and, after a visit from "Johnny Carson," portrayed by Calvert DeForest, a.k.a. Larry "Bud" Melman, the real Carson briefly takes the stage in his last-ever television appearance. The audience reacts with great enthusiasm, though Carson does not speak a word. Letterman then delivers the list: "The Top Ten Things We'll Miss About L.A."
Next, Bette Midler and her dancing mermaids take the stage and perform "Boogie-Woogie Bugle Boy." Midler, still in her costume, sits down with Letterman and discusses her long Hollywood career; her 30-pound weight loss, thanks in part to the challenge of dancing in ornate costumes; their memories of a UCLA medical benefit, at which Midler performed "horribly tasteless doctor jokes"; explanation of her "Delores Delago" character and current nationwide tour; her ten-year absence from performing, during which time she married Martin von Haselberg after a two-week courtship and had a daughter, Sophie; and why she intends to discourage Sophie from pursuing showbiz.
After this, Letterman explains that he is a "fast-food-aholic" and has grown to appreciate L.A.'s many restaurants. In a pre-recorded segment, he picks up Gabor at her home and the two of them drive around the city in his convertible, sampling the wares of a variety of fast-food establishments via drive-through.
Finally, Traffic performs "Here Comes a Man" from their new album "Far From Home," marking their first public appearance since 1974. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: May 13, 1994 11:35 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:44:42
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:42048
- GENRE: Talk/Interview
- SUBJECT HEADING: Talk/Interview; Comedy
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1993-2015
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - United Airlines
CREDITS
- Peter Lassally … Executive Producer
- Robert Morton … Executive Producer
- Hal Gurnee … Supervising Producer, Director
- Jude Brennan … Producer
- Barbara Gaines … Associate Producer
- Daniel Kellison … Segment Producer
- Mary Connelly … Segment Producer
- Rob Burnett … Writer
- Gerard Mulligan … Writer
- Steve O'Donnell … Writer
- Larry Jacobson … Writer
- Steve Young … Writer
- Spike Feresten … Writer
- Jill Davis … Writer
- Bill Scheft … Writer
- Jon Beckerman … Writer
- Donick Cary … Writer
- Dave Hanson … Writer
- Jeff Stilson … Writer
- Nick Arnold … Writer
- David Letterman … Writer
- CBS Orchestra, The … Music by
- Paul Shaffer … Conductor
- David Letterman … Host
- Bill Wendell … Announcer
- Bette Midler … Guest, Performer
- Traffic … Guest, Performer
- Zsa Zsa Gabor … Guest
- Johnny Carson … Guest
- Calvert DeForest … Cast, Larry "Bud" Melman
- Bill Clinton
- Martin von Haselberg
- Sophie von Haselberg