David Letterman, the king of late-night absurdity and deadpan wit, is returning to screens in a big way—this time, through the streaming era’s latest twist. On September 10, 2025, NBCUniversal and Samsung TV Plus announced a landmark deal to license over 1,800 episodes of Late Night with David Letterman for Samsung’s free, ad-supported (FAST) channel, Letterman TV. The move brings together, for the first time, Letterman’s entire late-night legacy—from his groundbreaking NBC years (1982–1993) to his 22-year run on CBS’s Late Show—all available to viewers on Samsung devices.
The timing couldn’t be more fitting. It’s been a decade since Letterman stepped away from the nightly grind, but his influence on the late-night landscape remains undeniable. As Bruce Casino, EVP of Sales & Distribution at NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution, put it to Deadline, “David Letterman kicked off his late-night career at NBC and his unique, irreverent humor went on to reshape the talk-show format. He set a standard that continues to inspire hosts and comedians across the spectrum.”
The Letterman TV channel, which launched in December 2024, already featured a curated selection of sketches, interviews, and classic moments from the CBS years—material owned by Letterman’s production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated. But the addition of the NBC Late Night archive marks a significant expansion. For fans, this means the return of iconic segments like Stupid Pet Tricks, the Top Ten List, and the kind of offbeat, unscripted moments that made Letterman a household name.
Among the initial programming set to roll out are landmark episodes: the series premiere featuring Bill Murray as Letterman’s first-ever guest, the one-year anniversary show, and themed episodes such as Camping with Barry White and Humidifier vs. Dehumidifier. There are also “best of” packages highlighting appearances by comedy legends like Steve Martin, Pee-wee Herman, and Andy Kaufman. And it won’t stop there—new episodes and clips will be added monthly, ensuring the channel remains fresh for both diehard fans and newcomers alike.
Letterman himself couldn’t hide his enthusiasm. In a statement to Deadline, he quipped, “I can’t begin to express how happy I am to be on Samsung TVs. Plus listen to this, stay in your seats, the ride is not over—the Letterman TV channel now includes Late Night. All the fun of NBC and me 40 years ago. Are you kidding!? The Golden Age of television. All thanks to my old friends (cough) at NBC joining my new Samsung TV Plus friends. Prayers answered. Now more reason to stay home and watch TV. Thanks for believing in me, America.”
For Letterman, the journey from Indiana weatherman to late-night icon was anything but straightforward. In a recent interview with Vulture, he reflected on his early misfires, including a short-lived daytime talk show on NBC that was canceled after just a few months. “Looking at it now, with age, that was a fascinating life experience,” he said. “I left Indiana thinking, Everything that’s wrong with television and television comedy, I have the solution. And as soon as I get out there, just hang on. If you folks can wait it out another year or two, I will solve everything that’s wrong with comedy on television.”
That early setback, Letterman admitted, was a humbling lesson. “We had no other guidance, no North Star, except, You know what? We’re all sick of these game shows; just wait until you get a look at us. And boy, was that a huge lesson for me. I realized, Yeah, you really don’t know what you’re talking about.” Yet, it was this very experience—being “sent to the end of the line”—that shaped the irreverent, self-aware style that would define Late Night.
Launching Late Night wasn’t without its own challenges. NBC imposed restrictions to protect its flagship, The Tonight Show: no monologue, no big orchestra, and no sharing guests. But, as Letterman recounted, “All of those things actually worked in our favor. We had a tremendous group of musicians, I was not up to carrying a Johnny Carson monologue for ourselves, and the people he was booking were probably of no interest to us at that time. That all changed, of course. But that helped us.”
Letterman’s relationship with Johnny Carson—his idol and, technically, his boss since Carson’s company produced Late Night—was cordial but distant. “To my memory, Johnny couldn’t have cared less, except whatever cut of the budget he got. We were of no threat to him. He was still the king of the heap. To him, we were just, ‘Eh, okay, call me when they’re canceled.’ He was always very nice. He would have me on from time to time, and we would promote the show. But I think he found it amusing.”
Despite his self-deprecating humor about no longer being at the center of the cultural zeitgeist, Letterman has hardly faded from view. His Netflix interview series, My Next Guest Needs No Introduction, recently secured a two-season renewal and has earned both critical acclaim and Emmy recognition. He’s also embraced the digital era, launching a robust YouTube channel and regularly appearing on The Barbara Gaines Show, a YouTube series hosted by his former executive producer. “I’m just happy now to have been able to have a bit of control with the inventory. And beyond that, if it works, well, how flattering is that?” Letterman told Vulture.
The exclusivity of Letterman TV to Samsung devices is a strategic move. Takashi Nakano, Samsung TV Plus’s content chief, explained, “We do promote it heavily because of this. We have access to Times Square, we have access to other large screens that we can do massive promotions around, and our marketing team has got a robust plan to make this come to life across our platforms. We are going to put a lot of muscle behind it. And so is Dave, by the way.” With nearly 90 million monthly active users globally, Samsung TV Plus is betting big on Letterman’s enduring appeal.
Letterman’s legacy continues to ripple through the world of comedy. Today’s late-night hosts, from Jimmy Kimmel to Conan O’Brien, cite him as a major influence. Even younger stars like John Mulaney have paid tribute to the DNA of Letterman’s shows, which, as Vulture noted, were creating viral moments long before the age of social media. “I would, right now, drive cross-country and back in a rental car with John Mulaney, without stopping, other than for gas. I find this kid so … I struggle to describe him. He’s so good at what he does,” Letterman said, reflecting on their friendship.
As the late-night landscape continues to evolve, Letterman’s irreverence and innovation remain as relevant—and as funny—as ever. For a generation raised on YouTube clips and streaming platforms, the arrival of Late Night on Letterman TV is more than nostalgia; it’s a masterclass in comedy’s golden age, delivered straight to your living room.
With a treasure trove of classic episodes and the promise of more to come, the ride is, as Letterman himself says, “not over.” For fans old and new, there’s never been a better excuse to stay home and watch TV.
