David Letterman Makes Surprise Appearance on ‘The Tonight Show’
This week, the realm of late-night television welcomed back one of its most celebrated figures.
On February 10, David Letterman made a surprise appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon”, joined by his former bandleader, Paul Shaffer, and his World’s Most Dangerous Band, substituting for the Roots. This marked Letterman’s first “Tonight Show” appearance since the days when Johnny Carson hosted and the show was still filmed in Los Angeles.
After a few moments of Fallon joking about the Super Bowl to kick off the show, the curtain behind him parted, revealing Letterman stepping onto the stage to raucous applause from the audience.
“David Letterman, what brings you here?” Fallon inquired.
“Is this the 23rd hour of the TODAY show?” he quipped in reply.
Fallon quickly clarified that they were indeed on “The Tonight Show.”
“Paul, what are you doing here?” he asked.
“You know, it’s a funny story,” Shaffer replied. “Ever taken too much Ambien and woke up in a place with no idea how you got there?”
“Wow. You’ve been reading my diary,” Letterman responded with a laugh.
Todd Owyoung / NBC
Letterman then reminisced about how he and Shaffer “used to do a show quite similar to this” before Fallon suggested he tell some jokes. A man with cue cards then appeared, but Letterman decided against it, saying, “I’m good, thanks.”
Having retired from CBS’ “Late Night with David Letterman” in 2015, the comedy legend humorously noted he’s been active on TikTok and has “struck a massive deal with the Chinese government.”
When Fallon proposed they create a viral video right on the spot, Shaffer filmed while they attempted “the handshake challenge.”
“That was lame,” Letterman remarked after they completed the video.
Todd Owyoung / NBC
The comedy icon then expressed a desire to hit Fallon in the face with a tortilla. With a drum roll in the background, Letterman did just that several times, prompting Shaffer to join in. Fallon then retaliated by slapping Letterman with one.
“I think you might have cracked a crown, by the way,” he jested just before leaving the stage.
Shaffer dedicated 33 years as Letterman’s musical director, with the two performing together nightly for many years on NBC’s “Late Night with David Letterman” and CBS’ “Late Show with David Letterman.” While their on-screen reunion thrilled fans, the two remain in regular contact.
“I talk to Dave all the time,” Shaffer shared on TODAY in February 2025. “He’s doing wonderful.”
Letterman holds a significant history with “The Tonight Show.” He made numerous appearances when Carson was at the helm and often filled in as a guest host. Once Carson retired in 1992, he was famously passed over for the hosting job, which went to Jay Leno; however, Letterman later launched “Late Show” in 1993.
Initially, while hosting “Late Night,” which started in 1982, Letterman stated he didn’t feel anger about losing the chance to host “The Tonight Show.”
“I was never, never angry,” he told Carson during his appearance on “The Tonight Show” in 1991 after Leno was announced as Carson’s successor. “Now, would I have wanted the show? Oh sure.”
