The David Letterman Show was a live morning
NBC talk show hosted by
David Letterman every weekday from June 23 to October 24, 1980.
A precursor to 1982's Late Night with David Letterman, the show was a critical success but the edgy comedy did not go over well with morning television watchers, more used to talk shows, soap operas, and game shows. The show had replaced the daytime version of Hollywood Squares, High Rollers, and Chain Reaction on NBC's schedule. The president of NBC considered also canceling Wheel of Fortune to make room for Letterman, but decided against doing so.
The original hire for the show's producer was Bob Stewart, the veteran quiz-show creator who had enlisted Letterman as a panelist on Pyramid from 1978 onward. However, due to creative differences, Stewart left the show four days before its premiere.[citation needed] Michael McDonald of the Doobie Brothers wrote the opening theme of the show.
Behind the scenes were Hal Gurnee directing and Barry Sand producing. The writing staff consisted of Merrill Markoe, head writer, Valri Bromfield, Rich Hall, Gary Jacobs, Harold Kimmel, Edie McClurg, Gerard Mulligan, Paul Raley, Ron Richards, and David Letterman.
