David Letterman

Madonna on Letterman - info on one of Letterman's most talked about shows; the 1994 interview in which the singer said the word "fuck" fourteen times. [1] (http://www.saturday-night-live.com/snl/reviews/03-04/mullally/psi.html). In March, 2005, local police in Choteau, Montana foiled an alleged scheme to kidnap Letterman's son. Letterman owns a home outside of Choteau. In fact, he good-naturedly lampooned the rumors by playing a member of a gay chorus when he appeared as a musical guest on Saturday Night Live's February 7, 2004 show. His son Harry Joseph Letterman, named after David's late father, was born on November 3, 2003. Some have speculated that Aiken is gay, though he has denied such suggestions. On September 12, 2003, Letterman announced that his long-time girlfriend and ex-colleague Regina Lasko was six-months pregnant with his child. The umbrella name including all of his many fan groups is "The Clay Nation.".

The three visited Iraq around Christmas in 2003 and 2004. Some of Aiken's fans have been fondly referred to as "Claymates," a name that originated on the message boards during the second season of American Idol. Letterman, along with bandleader Paul Shaffer and Late Show stage manager, Biff Henderson, celebrated Christmas 2002 in Afghanistan with United States and international military forces stationed there. In May 2005 Unicef sent Aiken to Uganda to raise awareness for the plight of children in this civil-war torn country. He used Earl Hofert as his name in the end credits. In April 2005 he appeared before the United States House of Representatives Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related Programs of the Committee on Appropriations, on behalf of UNICEF. Also in 1996, Letterman provided the voice of the Mötley Crüe Roadie #1 in the animated motion picture Beavis and Butt-Head Do America. In March 2005 Aiken visited the tsunami-stricken Banda Aceh area as a UNICEF Ambassador to raise awareness for the need to restore education quickly to the children survivors of disasters, to provide stability.

Normally a private person away from the studio, like his mentor, Johnny Carson, Letterman uncharacteristically gave many interviews following the race. He later also recorded a video, featuring the song "Give a Little Bit," to be used as a public service announcement (PSA) to raise money for tsunami victims. This was an exciting win indeed for Indianapolis native Letterman, who has attended the race regularly since he was a young child. Through his work with UNICEF, he participated in the NBC4 telethon which raised over $10 million and recorded public service announcements in support of South Asia tsunami relief. The team changed its name to Rahal Letterman Racing in May 2004, and later that same month, team driver Buddy Rice won the Indianapolis 500. We're very pleased to have him join the UNICEF family.". In 1996, Letterman became co-owner of the open-wheel racing team known as Team Rahal, with former Indianapolis 500 champion Bobby Rahal. "Clay Aiken, like all of our National Ambassadors, was chosen based on his compassion and deep commitment to helping children around the world.

On October 7, 1998, Ray was struck and killed by a train in an apparent suicide in Colorado. Fund for UNICEF. Ray spent nearly ten months in prison and 14 months in a state mental institution for her numerous trespassing convictions. Lyons, president of the U.S. In one instance, police found her sleeping on Letterman's private tennis court at his home in New Canaan, Connecticut. "Education is the best investment any society can make for the health and well-being of its children," said Charles J. Ray went on to be arrested repeatedly in subsequent years on trespassing and other counts. A budding philanthropist and longtime education advocate, Aiken uses his Ambassador status to help ensure that children everywhere are afforded a primary education.

Ray claimed to be Letterman's wife. Fund for UNICEF National Ambassador, where he is committed to supporting education programs for children. In 1988, Margaret Mary Ray was arrested while driving Letterman's Porsche near the Lincoln Tunnel in New York City. In 2004, he was appointed U.S. Letterman continues to regularly donate to Ball State and other organizations through his American Foundation for Courtesy and Grooming. As a special education teacher, Aiken has also been active in lobbying Congress in favor of education. In 1985, Letterman established the Letterman Telecommunications Scholarship at his alma mater, to provide financial assistance to Department of Telecommunications students, based solely on his or her creativity, and not high academic grades — so much so that the student must have a C or below average. They have already had a huge impact on many children's lives and experiences.

Markoe moved to California soon after to pursue a writing career. This is obviously a huge honor, especially considering this foundation is just in its second year of existence. For a time, Letterman was engaged to Late Night head writer, Merrill Markoe, but the relationship eventually fell apart. His BAF foundation was just presented with a $500,000 grant from the US government to develop a curriculum for inclusion to be used in schools across the country. The couple divorced in 1977. Aiken also has donated his time to multiple benefit events and concerts, including performing at the 2004 Rosalynn Carter Benefit, giving out $1,500 BAF Scholarships at the America's Promise Benefit, singing a duet with Heather Headley for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, and being one of the celebrity readers for the "Arthur Celebrity Audiobook (Stories for Heroes Series)," which benefits the BAF, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF), and the National Education Association Health Information Network (NEA HIN). He has also served as a spokesman for the "Stories for Heroes" series and for the 2004 Toys For Tots drive. In 1969, Letterman married his college sweetheart, Michelle Cook. RMHC® were so impressed by Aiken's participation and the generosity of his fans that that they asked Aiken to be an official ambassador for the Ronald McDonald House Charities.

According to the Late Show Newsletter, the following comedians have appeared most frequently on Letterman's two late-night talk shows as of April 2004:. Another item donated by the singer, an autographed apron from the same World Children's Day event, went for $5,100 in the eBay auction, bringing the total donation to RMHC by Clay's fans to more than $20,000. On Letterman's first show following Carson's passing, all of the jokes in the opening monologue were reportedly written by the late Carson. During the 2004 World Children's Day, he donated a cement cast of his handprints for a charity auction, with the cast selling for over $15,000. Letterman then used these jokes in the monologue of his show, which, according to CBS senior vice president Peter Lassally (a onetime producer for both men), "[Johnny] gets a big kick out of." Lassally also claimed that Carson had always believed Letterman, not Leno, to be his "rightful successor." [1] (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6841123/) Letterman also frequently employs some of Carson's trademark bits on his show, including "Carnac the Magnificent" (with Paul Shaffer as Carnac) and "Stump the Band". He first became involved with RMHC® when he participated in the 2003 and 2004 World Children's Day(TM) at McDonald's to raise money for Ronald McDonald House Charities® and other children's causes. In early 2005, it was revealed that retired King of Late Night Johnny Carson still kept up with current events and late-night TV right up to his death that year, and that he occasionally sent jokes to Letterman. In addition to his role in the Bubel/Aiken Foundation (BAF), Aiken serves as an ambassador for the Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC®).

As a result, and for the first time since his bypass surgery, Letterman handed the reins of the show to several guest hosts including actor Bruce Willis, former professional tennis player John McEnroe, actor Luke Wilson, bandleader Paul Shaffer, comedian Bonnie Hunt, morning talk host Regis Philbin, rock musician Elvis Costello, Brad Garrett from Everybody Loves Raymond, comedians Tom Arnold, Bill Cosby, and Tom Green, as well as other prominent Hollywood performers. His interest in autism issues led him to set up the Bubel-Aiken Foundation (http://bubelaikenfoundation.org), which supports the integration of children with disabilities into the life environment of their nondisabled peers. In late February 2003, Letterman was diagnosed with a severe case of shingles. Apart from his music career, Aiken has been dedicated to advocating for education and for children's causes. This caused a minor flap that ended when Letterman re-signed with CBS and offered public apologies to Koppel. In December 2004, Aiken starred in his first TV special, titled "A Clay Aiken Christmas," with special guests Barry Manilow, Yolanda Adams, and Megan Mullally. He was also the executive producer for the Christmas special, which was released as a DVD later that month. In March 2002, as Letterman's contract with CBS was expiring, ABC expressed the intention to offer Letterman the time slot for long-running news program Nightline with Ted Koppel, citing more desirable viewer demographics. At the same time Aiken made the New York Times Best Seller List, debuting at #2, with his "inspirational memoir" entitled Learning to Sing: Hearing the Music in Your Life, written with Allison Glock, published by Random House.

In his opening monologue, an uncharacteristically serious and very emotional Letterman struggled with the reality of the attacks and the role of comedy in a post-9/11 world, saying, "We're told that they were zealots fueled by religious fervor...religious fervor...and if you live to be a thousand years old will that make any sense to you? Will that make any goddamn sense?". The album went platinum in 6 weeks and was the best-selling holiday album of 2004. On September 17, 2001, David Letterman was the first major American comedy performer to return to the television airwaves after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. That same month, Aiken also released a holiday album entitled Merry Christmas With Love, which set a new record for fastest-selling holiday album in the Soundscan era (since 1991) and tied Céline Dion's record for the highest debut by a holiday album in the history of Billboard magazine. The episode earned an Emmy nomination. "The Joyful Noise Tour"'s official sponsor was Ronald McDonald House Charities. In an unusual show of emotion, Letterman was nearly in tears as he thanked the doctors. "The Joyful Noise Tour" was well received by fans, with sellouts or near-sellouts at every venue.

Aronne, who makes frequent appearances on the show. Local choirs from high schools and elementary schools participated at each concert. Wayne Isom and physician Louis J. In some cities, Aiken was supported by the local philharmonic or symphony, such as the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. O. "The Joyful Noise Tour" featured a conductor and a 30-piece orchestra. Upon his return to the show on February 21, 2000, Letterman brought onstage all of the doctors that had performed the operation, including Dr. In November 2004, Aiken embarked on his third tour of the year, choosing this time to focus on Christmas favorites.

During his recovery, friends of Letterman hosted reruns of the Late Show, including Drew Barrymore, Ray Romano, Robin Williams, Bill Murray, Kathie Lee Gifford, Regis Philbin, Charles Grodin, Julia Roberts, Bill Cosby, Bruce Willis, Jerry Seinfeld, Martin Short, Danny DeVito, Steve Martin and Sarah Jessica Parker. The entire music video performed by Aiken is presented on the Aladdin Special Edition 2-Disc DVD. In January of 2000, Letterman underwent quintuple heart bypass surgery. The song was originally intended for the film but cut when the Aladdin storyline changed during production. Letterman started his own production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated, which produces his show and several others, including Everybody Loves Raymond, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, and several critically acclaimed, but short-lived television series for Bonnie Hunt. Each concert previewed Aiken's moving rendition of "Proud of Your Boy". Yet Letterman has consistently ranked higher than Leno in the annual Harris Poll of Nation's Favorite TV Personality; as of 2003 Letterman ranked third in that poll, behind Oprah Winfrey and Ray Romano, while Leno ranked ninth. Disney's Aladdin Special Edition 2-Disc DVD was the exclusive sponsor of Clay's Summer Concert Tour.

Leno consistently beats Letterman in the ratings, a lead that's grown over the years to two million viewers (5.8 vs. 3.8 million) as of 2003. He was also scheduled for a few summer tour dates, but high demand ultimately led to the booking of over 50 dates across the United States, culminating in what many fans called the "Not-a-Tour". Letterman has garnered the critical and industry praise; his show has received 67 Emmy Award nominations, winning twelve times in his first twenty years in late night television. From February to April 2004, Aiken embarked on the "Independent Tour" with Kelly Clarkson, winner of the first American Idol contest. The Late Show competes in the same time slot as Leno's The Tonight Show. The song was "Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth", which was originally sung by Crosby and David Bowie on a 1977 Christmas special. In 1996, HBO produced a made-for-television movie called The Late Shift, based on a book by Bill Carter, chronicling the battle between Letterman and Leno for the coveted Tonight Show hosting spot. Aiken also appeared in numerous specials during the winter of 2003, including Disney's Christmas Day Parade and The Nick At Nite Holiday Special, where he sang a duet with Bing Crosby via special effects.

In 1993, after receiving advice from Carson, Letterman moved to CBS to host a new show, The Late Show with David Letterman. Later that year Aiken won the Fan's Choice Award at the American Music Awards ceremony, and his CD single "This Is the Night/Bridge Over Troubled Water" won the Billboard award for the Best-selling Single of 2003. Letterman, a protégé of Carson's and who had frequently credited Carson with boosting his career, was reportedly bitterly disappointed and angry at not having been given the Tonight Show job which he claimed to have been promised many years earlier. The album eventually went triple platinum, and spawned the hit single "Invisible." The album also contained Aiken's first hit song, "This Is the Night," which had debuted at #1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Hot 100 Single Sales Chart. Eventually, executives at NBC announced Carson's frequent guest-host Jay Leno as Carson's replacement. In October of 2003 Aiken released his first solo album, Measure of a Man, which debuted at #1 in the Billboard 200 and was the fastest-selling debut for a solo artist in 10 years. When Johnny Carson announced that he would retire in May 1992, a protracted, multi-lateral battle erupted over who would replace the long-time Tonight host. It was this child's mother who urged him to audition for American Idol.

Letterman remained with NBC for eleven years. He found his interest in special education during high school, and eventually became an assistant to a boy with autism while going to school in Charlotte. (Lawler and Kaufman's friend Bob Zmuda later revealed that the event was staged.) Letterman also made use of the Manhattan location of his NBC studio, often staging comedy bits on the streets and businesses surrounding the theater. Although his American Idol activities temporarily delayed his academic pursuits, Aiken graduated with a bachelor's degree in special education in December of 2003. Other memorable moments included Letterman using a bullhorn to interrupt The Today Show TV program, which was on the air conducting a live interview at the time, announcing that he was not wearing any pants; interrupting the local news by walking into their studio; and the outrageous appearances by comedian Andy Kaufman and comic book writer, Harvey Pekar. In one highly publicized appearance, Kaufman appeared to be slapped and knocked to the ground by professional wrestler Jerry Lawler. Aiken, who changed his last name from Grissom to his mother's maiden name, hails from Raleigh, North Carolina, and attended Raleigh's Leesville High School before enrolling at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. The show often included quirky, genre-mocking regular features, such as "Stupid Pet Tricks", the Top 10 List, and a facetious letter-answering segment on Fridays. It was the only single to go platinum since 2002, when "I Hope You Dance" did, after being out for over a year.

Letterman's reputation as a testy interviewer was born out of moments like his verbal sparring matches with Cher, Madonna, and Shirley MacLaine. It was the fastest-selling single since Elton John's "Candle in the Wind" and the best-selling single of 2003. The show was markedly different than the soft-sell talk-show competition, and Letterman the interviewer could be sarcastic and antagonistic, to the point that a number of celebrities have even stated that they were afraid of appearing on the show. The single "Bridge Over Troubled Water"/"This Is the Night", released June 10, 2003, has gone platinum. Letterman's show, which ran late on weeknights immediately following The Tonight Show, quickly established a reputation as being edgy and unpredictable, and soon developed a cult following. It sold over 600,000 copies in its first week, and has since gone triple platinum. However, NBC kept Letterman under contract, and in 1982, his Late Night with David Letterman debuted on the network. Aiken's debut album, Measure of a Man, was released October 14, 2003.

The show was a critical success, winning two Emmy Awards and receiving five nominations, but ended up being a ratings disappointment, and was cancelled after a brief run during the summer of 1980. The seasonal album Merry Christmas With Love, released on November 16, 2004, went platinum in 6 weeks. Letterman was given his own morning comedy show on NBC, The David Letterman Show. Though technically the show's "first runner-up," he has since gone on to be the show's most popular and successful star, even more so than Studdard himself. His dry, sarcastic humor caught the attention of talent scouts for Johnny Carson's The Tonight Show, and starting in 1978, Letterman became a regular guest host for the show. He came in a close second in the contest, with Ruben Studdard winning by a narrow margin. Letterman had a stint as a cast member on Mary Tyler Moore's variety show Mary, a guest appearance on Mork & Mindy, and appearances on game shows such as The $20,000 Pyramid. Clay Aiken (born Clayton Holmes Grissom on November 30, 1978) is an American pop music singer who rose to fame on the American Idol television program.

He also began performing stand-up comedy at The Comedy Store, a famed Los Angeles comedy club and proving ground for young comics. 2004 "Winter Wonderland". In 1975, Letterman moved to California with hopes of becoming a comedy writer and started writing material for sitcoms, such as Good Times. 2004 "Solitaire". He received recognition for his unpredictable on-air behavior, which included erasing state borders from the weather map and predicting hail stones "the size of canned hams." One night he reportedly upset his bosses when he congratulated a tropical storm on being upgraded to a hurricane. 2004 "I Will Carry You". Letterman began work as a radio talk show host and on television as an anchor and weatherman for what became WTHR in Indianapolis. 2004 "The Way".

A rare aircheck of Letterman on WAGO can be heard here (http://www.reelradio.com/tc/index.html#dlwago69). 2003 "Silver Bells f/Kim Locke". He also began his broadcasting career at Ball State's student run radio station, WAGO - AM 570 (Now known as WCRD "Cardinal Radio Dave", 91.3). 2003 "The First Noel". At Ball State he was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. 2003 "Invisible". in telecommunications in 1969. 2003 "Bridge Over Troubled Water".

He graduated from Broad Ripple High School in Indianapolis and attended Ball State University, receiving a B.A. 2003 "This Is The Night". He has an older sister, Janice, and a younger sister, Gretchen. 2004 "The Way / Solitaire". Letterman was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. Letterman's father, Harry Joe Letterman, was a florist who passed away in 1974; his mother Dorothy, a Presbytarian church secretary, is a regular personality on his talk show. 2003 "Bridge Over Troubled Water / This Is The Night". Letterman's ironic, often absurdist comedy is heavily influenced by comedians Steve Allen, Ernie Kovacs, and Johnny Carson. Merry Christmas With Love (11-2004).

David Michael Letterman (born April 12, 1947) is an American talk show host, comedian, and television producer. Measure of a Man (10-2003). Jerry Seinfeld (34). Billy Crystal (35). Jeff Altman (36).

Robert Klein (37). Jay Leno (40). Richard Lewis (52 appearances). George Miller (55 appearances, plus four "From My Room" taped segments).