Was David Letterman better on NBC or CBS?

[Haskell]

I was thinking about this yesterday.

Letterman on NBC was unique and anarchic, and it was US TV at its very best.

Letterman was okay on CBS for about 2 years, but as time went on, he got very stale.

What do you guys think?

 

[Misfit23]

I thought I was old but I didn't even realize letterman was on NBC.

 

[Osculater]

I was thinking about this yesterday.

Letterman on NBC was unique and anarchic, and it was US TV at its very best.

Letterman was okay on CBS for about 2 years, but as time went on, he got very stale.

What do you guys think?

I thought I was old but I didn't even realize letterman was on NBC.

@Yoricks Wisdom

 

[Pittie Petey]

Letterman was hip and fresh and edgy as the young upstart following old man Carson on NBC, obviously television has gotten a lot more risque since back then so it's not gonna have the same impact watching clips now but those first few years of Late Night on NBC were wild and raw for that era, he had that cool New York of the 70's/80's vibe, the same scene that gave rise to hip hop, punk rock and the street graffiti art scene

Easy win for NBC Dave on this one

 

[Streeter]

NBC - for Andy Kaufman alone

 

[Yoricks Wisdom]

Letterman instant classic, gap toothed and all.
Paul Schaeffer added to the bit.
Always loved when Joey Ramone was a guest.
RIP Jeffrey Ross Hyman

 

[dildos]

i liked the letterman farewell show when they had norm macdonald on it.

 

[Caesar_Of_Uranus]

NBC for sure. Letterman was a madman in that time slot.

 

[William Huggins]

Cbeebies

 

[Haskell]

Letterman was hip and fresh and edgy as the young upstart following old man Carson on NBC, obviously television has gotten a lot more risque since back then so it's not gonna have the same impact watching clips now but those first few years of Late Night on NBC were wild and raw for that era, he had that cool New York of the 70's/80's vibe, the same scene that gave rise to hip hop, punk rock and the street graffiti art scene

Easy win for NBC Dave on this one

Letterman still had that Punk Rock energy in his first two years at CBS.

 

[Aegon Spengler]

He was way better at NBC. He came on after Johnny Carson and wanted to live up to him.

 

[AleYeah]

I loved him in both spots, but NBC is where I first encountered him as a youngin staying up way past his bedtime to take in the shenanigans, so I'll always put that era on a pedestal.

 

[TheTickG]

I was thinking about this yesterday.

Letterman on NBC was unique and anarchic, and it was US TV at its very best.

Letterman was okay on CBS for about 2 years, but as time went on, he got very stale.

What do you guys think?

Watched his first two years on CBS. I enjoyed it.

 

[Haskell]

Watched his first two years on CBS. I enjoyed it.

Letterman annihilated Leno in the ratings for two years, but then Leno interviewed Hugh Grant after Grant’s arrest in 1995, and Letterman’s ratings nosedived.

 

[Osculater]

Letterman annihilated Leno in the ratings for two years, but then Leno interviewed Hugh Grant after Grant’s arrest in 1995, and Letterman’s ratings nosedived.

Letterman should had interviewed Rodney King

 

[Goon Dog]

NBC and it isn't even close.

 

[armbarforhire]

Letterman on NBC was like Conan at 12:30.

Letterman at CBS = Conan at Tonigh Show.

Part of the fan was at the later timeline they where more raw and get odd guest.

 

[armbarforhire]

Letterman annihilated Leno in the ratings for two years, but then Leno interviewed Hugh Grant after Grant’s arrest in 1995, and Letterman’s ratings nosedived.

He also hosted the Oscars at 95 and looked like a fool. "Uma, Uma, Oprah, Oprah , Uma, Uma. Oprah, Oprah!" Pretty sure that sinked him.

 

[MLarson]

I was thinking about this yesterday.

Letterman on NBC was unique and anarchic, and it was US TV at its very best.

Letterman was okay on CBS for about 2 years, but as time went on, he got very stale.

What do you guys think?

Definitely better on CBS.

 

[Haskell]

He also hosted the Oscars at 95 and looked like a fool. "Uma, Uma, Oprah, Oprah , Uma, Uma. Oprah, Oprah!" Pretty sure that sinked him.

Letterman didn’t have the right personality to host the Oscars.