Happy 20th David Letterman

From AP News

If it wasn't for the presence of Regis Philbin, you might not realize that Friday's show marks a milestone for David Letterman.

It will be 20 years to the day since Letterman made his late-night debut, as host of "Late Night" on NBC. He moved to CBS in 1993.

Letterman, who rarely gives interviews, will probably mention it only briefly Friday. There will be no prime-time anniversary special.

Yet he can't hide Philbin v who has become something of a milestone man on Letterman's "Late Show." When Letterman announced he had to undergo heart surgery two years ago, it was on the air to Philbin, and he was also there for Letterman's first day back following his recovery.

Philbin was also the first person Letterman traded jokes with during his first show after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. It will be Philbin's 61st appearance on "Late Show," second only to Tony Randall's 70.

The anniversary is "an incredibly important achievement, especially in this day and age," said Rob Burnett, one of the show's three executive producers. "When you think of the people who have stayed on television and remained a force on television, you can count them on one hand."

The heart surgery and Letterman's much-praised response to the terrorist attacks last fall gave him more attention after a few years where he was somewhat taken for granted.

"He did a good job after Sept. 11," said Marc Berman, a television analyst for Media Week Online. "He's not the warmest guy in the world, but he certainly showed a different side."

Although he's won four straight Emmy Awards, Letterman is still second banana to NBC's Jay Leno in the late-night ratings. Leno averages 6 million viewers this season on the "Tonight" show, down from 6.3 million a year ago, according to Nielsen Media Research.

Letterman's viewership of 4.36 million this year has changed little from last year's 4.33 million, but he's up 12 percent among younger viewers, age 18 to 49.

"With him and Jay, one show always seems to have the momentum and one doesn't," Berman said, "and Dave has it."

While it's a punishing schedule v Friday's show will mark Letterman's 3,558th broadcast v Letterman is grateful that he has the platform, Burnett said.

His contract with CBS expires this summer, and a spokesman said Letterman is in discussion with the network on another deal.

Burnett said he's had a few discussions with Letterman about how long the 54-year-old host wants to keep doing his job, but he really has little more insight than the show's viewers.

"I think Dave is in the rare position of someone who can decide for himself how long his career will go," Burnett said. "That's very unusual in television and sports. It's a decision only he can make."

Letterman Talking With CBS to Renew

(The Hollywood Reporter) --- As David Letterman marks his 20th anniversary in late-night TV with tonight's edition of CBS' "Late Show With David Letterman," sources confirmed that Letterman has begun negotiations with CBS on a new multiyear contract.

Letterman's current contract, valued in the neighborhood of $16 million a year, is said to expire in late August-early September.

"We're talking with CBS," a Letterman spokesman said Thursday. CBS executives declined comment, as did Letterman's reps at CAA.

It's unclear how long of a commitment Letterman intends to make to hosting CBS' "Late Show." Associates have said that Letterman has been reinvigorated by the overwhelming praise he received in his emotionally charged return to the airwaves Sept. 17 following the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, but the sources said he may still opt for a two- to three-year renewal even if the network pushes for a longer commitment.

In Nielsen terms, Letterman has been on the upswing this season, along with the bulk of CBS' primetime schedule.

For the season to date, which began Sept. 24, "Late Show" is still No. 2 to NBC's "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno," but Letterman's stock is up 12% over the 2000-01 season in adults 18-49 to a 1.9 rating average/8 share and up 7% in adults 18-34 (1.5/7). He averages about 4.4 million viewers a night.

CBS was anxious to mark Letterman's 20th anniversary in late-night with a primetime special heralding the milestone, even if his first 11 1/2 years were spent as host of NBC's "Late Night With David Letterman." But sources said Letterman preferred to stick with business as usual for his 3,558th late-night broadcast, which will feature perennial Letterman faves Regis Philbin and Steven Wright as guests.

According to stats provided by CBS, the guest with the heaviest rotation on Letterman's air over the past 20 years is sportscaster Marv Albert, with 73 appearances on the NBC show and 34 on CBS. Actor Tony Randall has been the most frequent guest on the CBS show, with 70 visits logged to date.

Letterman: 20 Years Up Late Twenty years. Three thousand, five hundred and fifty-eight nights. Two networks. Four Emmys. Innumerable Top 10 lists. Reams and reams of jokes. Much pencil tossing and card flipping. Neckties galore. Endless Paul Shaffer prattle. Numerous guest shots by Regis Philbin. One quintuple-bypass.

Last night, David Letterman marks the 20th anniversary of his late-night antics by s(h)ticking close to the script that got him this far. And yes, that includes Regis making his 61st appearance as a guest.

Letterman seems intent on downplaying his personal milestone. The against-the-grain host eschewed CBS' wish for a prime-time special. He's chosen to stick with his usual format, one that's remained pretty much the same since his original Late Night with David Letterman (news - Y! TV) debuted on NBC in 1982 with comedian Bill Murray as the first guest.

After 1,810 Peacock episodes, Letterman moved over to CBS in 1993, renaming his program The Late Show with David Letterman.

With the effusive Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (news - web sites) host on board, Letterman probably won't be able to totally underplay his two-decade celebration. Philbin has often been a surprisingly sensitive sounding board for the sometimes personally reticent Letterman, providing sympathetic support before and after Letterman's heart surgery and shared humor when the New York-based show returned to air the Monday following the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Steven Wright was the night's guest comedian.

Late Night executive producer Rob Burnett calls Letterman's longevity "an incredibly important achievement, especially in this day and age. When you think of the people who have stayed on television and remained a force on television, you can count them on one hand."

So happy anniversary, Dave--and apparently there may be many more to come.

Letterman is in negotiations with CBS for a new multiyear contract. His current deal, valued at around $16 million per year, is due to expire sometime in late summer. A Letterman spokesman tells the Hollywood Reporter, "We're talking with CBS." Contacted today, the network declined comment.

Industry insiders point to a number of factors which may prompt the 54-year-old Letterman to agree to at least a new two- or three-year contract:

* His better health (and sometimes even better attitude) since recovering from heart surgery.

* The current upswing in ratings, boosted by CBS' resurgent prime-time programming. (Although still second to NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (news - Y! TV), Late Night's Nielsens are up a solid 12 percent in adults 18-49 since last season, attracting an average of 4.4 million viewers each night compared to Leno's 6 million.)

* The warm reception given to his handling of the New York based show when it went back on air following the terrorist attacks.

"I think Dave is in the rare position of someone who can decide for himself how long his career will go," says Burnett. "That's very unusual in television and sports. It's a decision only he can make."