The Letterman Podcast

Episode 169 of The Letterman Podcast features not one, not two, but three of our favorite humans: legendary Late Show comedy writer Steve Young, our amazing sponsor and friend Rupert Jee, and his equally wonderful girlfriend Irene Hoffman.Steve recently debuted his brand-new one-man show, EGONT, at the sold-out Caveat Theater in New York City, performing much of this material live for the very first time. Rupert and Irene were in the audience, and Mike watched remotely—so the gang gathered for a fun, insightful chat about the show, its creative genesis, and what it felt like to bring it to life.Along the way, they also catch up on a few classic stories and even solve the mystery of SAGG peanut butter. Yes, really.And speaking of Rupert, don’t forget that he still runs Hello-Deli.com, one of the only places left to snag official Late Show with David Letterman merchandise. So grab a shirt, a mug, and one for your best pal while you’re at it.Now here comes the part where I grovel—please like, share, subscribe, and leave a positive comment so the algorithm will stop bullying me. Seriously, help a buddy out.#LettermanPodcast #DavidLetterman #SteveYoung #RupertJee #HelloDeli #LateShow #ComedyWriting #EGONT #CaveatTheater #SAGGPeanutButter #IreneHoffman

Episode 168: What’s Been Going On – Guest Hosted by Candace ChisholmThis episode of The Letterman Podcast is a little different, as Mike hands over the hosting duties to his wife, Candace Chisholm. With a few weeks passing since the last episode, Candace interviews Mike about what’s been going on behind the scenes.Mike opens up about his father’s recent hospitalization due to advancing dementia, a deeply personal struggle that has impacted their family and may lead to some changes with the show moving forward.The two also discuss their recent trip to Vancouver, where they saw The Found Footage Festival with Nick Prueher and Joe Pickett, visited the Banksy exhibition, and reflected on After Midnight going off the air, among other topics.This candid conversation gives listeners an update on both the show and Mike’s personal journey as he navigates this difficult time. Need official Late Show with David Letterman merch? Head over to Hello-Deli.com – the one and only sponsor of The Letterman Podcast! Like, share, subscribe, and leave a positive comment! Or don’t… but if you don’t, just know that you’ll be added to an ever-growing list of people who have ignored this request. It’s a long list, but it still stings.

This week’s guest is Fard Muhammad, a longtime member of alt.fan.LETTERMAN and a devoted fan of late-night television. Few people appreciate the culture of late-night as much as he does!Fard and Mike have an enthusiastic conversation covering a variety of topics, including Fard witnessing Conan O’Brien’s first-ever Tonight Show, his emerging YouTube channel, his favorite David Letterman moments, and much more.Of course, we couldn’t do this show without our legendary sponsor, Hello-Deli.com—the only place to get officially licensed Late Show with David Letterman merchandise, run by the one and only Rupert Jee!And hey, if you’re enjoying what we do, why not like, share, subscribe, and leave a glowing review? Or, you know, do the opposite and pretend this never happened. Either way, we appreciate you!

This episode features stand-up comedian Chad Riden, a longtime Late Show fan and an early member of the legendary online Letterman fan group, alt.fan.letterman. Inspired by Dave from the very beginning, Chad has carved out a career as a broadcaster, performer, and stand-up comic, sharing the stage with legends like Nate Bargatze, Ralphie May, Doug Stanhope, Tom Green, and many more.Chad and Mike have a lively conversation where Chad does most of the talking, and Mike does most of the laughing. Jumping between hilarious bits and hard truths, they discuss Chad’s deep-rooted Letterman influence, his encounters with Dave and Laurie Diamond, the comedians he’s worked with over the years, and much more. SPONSOR ALERT! Do you love Late Show with David Letterman? Then you need to check out Hello-Deli.com! It’s the only place to grab officially licensed Late Show merch, courtesy of the legendary Rupert Jee. Whether you want a classic Late Show mug or a t-shirt to prove your fandom, Hello Deli has you covered! HELP US GROW! If you enjoy The Letterman Podcast, do us a solid—like, share, subscribe, and leave a positive comment! It helps more than you know, and Mike’s self-esteem is directly tied to your engagement. Don’t let him down.

This episode features the return of Johnny Mac, host of the Daily Comedy News podcast!Johnny and Mike just had to connect this week to break down some huge moments in the world of comedy—especially those involving David Letterman.For the first time in decades, Letterman made a surprise appearance on The Tonight Show, an event sparked by Paul Shaffer & The World’s Most Dangerous Band taking over house band duties while The Roots prepped for SNL 50.Johnny and Mike react to the reunion, fantasize about a full-fledged Letterman reunion show, discuss Conan O’Brien hosting the Oscars, and much more!And of course, our show is proudly sponsored by Hello-Deli.com—your only source for official Late Show with David Letterman merchandise. Support the legendary Rupert Jee!If you enjoy the show, we humbly (and desperately) ask you to like, share, subscribe, and leave a positive comment. It costs nothing, takes seconds, and helps us not feel like we’re screaming into the void.

This episode features Greg Burmeister, who served as a Late Show with David Letterman page during the final stretch of the show’s legendary run. Greg shares with Mike how he made the leap from Minnesota to New York as a musician, only to land his first gig in the city as a page for Late Show. The two bond over their love of music as Greg recalls some of the incredible bands he saw and interacted with during his time working at the Ed Sullivan Theater. He also shares stories about his surprise run-in with Ryan Reynolds on his very first day, the time he saw Conan O’Brien walk past the Late Show marquee, and many more behind-the-scenes memories. Greg is also the co-host of the podcast Talking Schmidt alongside fellow former page (and Letterman Podcast alum) Eric Schmidt. Big shoutout to our sponsor, Hello-Deli.com — the only place to get licensed Late Show with David Letterman merchandise, run by the legendary Rupert Jee! And if you enjoy the show, please like, share, and subscribe! Or don’t… but if you don’t, we’ll assume you hate joy. #DavidLetterman #LateShow #LateNight #LettermanPodcast #GregBurmeister #TalkingSchmidt #EricSchmidt #EdSullivanTheater #Music #NYC #HelloDeli #RupertJee

This episode features the return of one of our first Friends of the Show, J Ryan! Best known on social media as @PorscheLife111, J is the host of Late Night Playset, which can be found on YouTube. After catching up on how things are in LA following the devastating fires a few weeks ago, J and Mike dive into a long-overdue conversation. They discuss J’s 2.5-month road trip across America, his recent visit to Jay Leno’s garage, and reflect on their history—including the origins of this very show. Stop right there! Have you visited Hello-Deli.com yet? It’s the only place to get official Late Show with David Letterman merch, run by the legendary Rupert Jee himself! We know asking for likes, shares, and subscriptions is as cliché as a Top 10 List… but here we are, doing it anyway! If you enjoy what we do, please help spread the word—it really makes a difference!

This episode features Alita Ditkowsky and her husband, Mike, who share the fascinating story of how Alita found herself in the national spotlight and on Late Show with David Letterman! In 2005, Alita was involved in a high-profile class action lawsuit investigation, which led to several meetings with the highest-ranking officials in the United States, including multiple interactions with President George W. Bush. During one such event, footage of Alita speaking with the president on stage surfaced, creating the opportunity for comedy gold on Late Show. Alita and Mike join The Letterman Podcast to share the amazing series of events that led to these moments, their reactions to being part of Late Show comedy bits, and the joy and laughter it has brought them ever since. Our sponsor: Be sure to check out Hello-Deli.com for officially licensed Late Show with David Letterman merchandise, courtesy of the legendary Rupert Jee! Please Like, Share, and Subscribe: If you’re enjoying The Letterman Podcast, let us know by liking, sharing, and subscribing! Your support keeps the lights on… though Mike’s humor certainly doesn’t!

This episode features Eric Schmidt, who worked as a page and audience coordinator during one of the most entertaining eras of Late Show with David Letterman from 2009 to 2011. Now a stand-up comedian and host of the podcast Talking Schmidt, Eric reflects on his time at the Ed Sullivan Theater with humor and gratitude. Eric and Mike dive into behind-the-scenes stories of Late Show, including the unforgettable music acts Eric witnessed, what it was like to be at the show during Conan’s Tonight Show departure, and his interactions with Dave during those fascinating years. He shares the lasting friendships he made and how his time at Late Show shaped his career and perspective. Visit Hello-Deli.com: Rupert Jee’s Hello Deli is the home of licensed Late Show with David Letterman merchandise. Stop by the website or, if you’re in NYC, pop in and tell Rupert Mike sent you. (He might even smile!) Help spread the word! If you enjoy The Letterman Podcast, please like, share, subscribe, and leave a positive comment. It helps more than you know. Plus, we’ll use the validation to pretend we’re as cool as Eric Schmidt. Hashtags: #TheLettermanPodcast #DavidLetterman #EricSchmidt #LateShow #LateNightTV #TalkingSchmidt #ComedyPodcast #BehindTheScenes #LateShowPages #StandUpComedy #HelloDeli

Episode 160: Andrew L. Buss – The Oral Historian Extraordinaire This week’s guest is Andrew L. Buss, a prolific writer and oral historian who has meticulously documented some of pop culture’s most iconic projects, including The Jerk, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, High Fidelity, Freaks and Geeks, Clerks: The Animated Series, and more. As an assistant, collaborator, and protégé of the late Bill Zehme, Andrew has written for Consequence of Sound, Vulture, Vanity Fair, and LateNighter.com. He is also recognized as an Andy Kaufman historian. In this lively episode, Andrew and Mike dive deep into the art of storytelling and the nuanced history of late-night television. They focus on Late Bloomer, Andrew’s oral history for Vanity Fair chronicling Conan O’Brien’s succession of David Letterman as the host of Late Night and the extraordinary year that followed. With interviews from all the main players—including David Letterman himself—this piece offers a fascinating perspective on the transition and legacy of late-night television. Have you visited Hello-Deli.com lately? The only place in the world to grab officially licensed Late Show with David Letterman merchandise, brought to you by the one and only Rupert Jee. Check it out—you’ll thank us later. Support the Show! If you enjoyed this episode, please like, share, and subscribe. Leave us a positive comment or two—Mike’s self-esteem is directly linked to your feedback!