Late Show with David Letterman is a U.S. late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and is produced by Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated. The show's music director and band-leader of the house band, the CBS Orchestra, is Paul Shaffer. The head writers are brothers Justin Stangel and Eric Stangel. The announcer is Alan Kalter, who replaced Bill Wendell in 1995. Of the major U.S. late-night programs, Late Show ranks second in cumulative average viewers over time and third in number of episodes over time. The show leads... other late night show in ad revenue with $271 million in 2009. In most U.S. markets the show airs at 11:35 p.m. Eastern/Pacific time, but is recorded Mondays at 4:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m., and Thursdays at 4:30 p.m. The second Monday episode usually airs on Friday of that week. In 2002, Late Show with David Letterman was ranked #7 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time. In June 2009 Worldwide Pants committed to continuing the show until at least August 2012. Letterman was previously the host of Late Night with David Letterman on NBC from 1982 to 1993.
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