David Letterman

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Categories: Pop culture figures | Media figures

Indianapolis, Indiana native and Ball State University graduate. Former Indianapolis television personality who was an innovator in late night television with the show "Late Night with David Letterman" on NBC.

In the wake of the Johnny Carson retirement from Letterman's lead-in at NBC, "The Tonight Show," Letterman and Boston comedian Jay Leno jockeyed for position to replace Carson. Leno took over "Tonight," while Letterman then moved to CBS and started "The Late Show with David Letterman."

Creator of popular segments like the Top Ten List, Stupid Pet Tricks, and Stupid Human Tricks.

Letterman had some political fun in late March 2004 by broadcasting a montage of Tyler Crotty, a seventh-grader from Florida who was struggling to stay awake onstage while President George W. Bush spoke to a campaign rally audience. CNN then aired Bush White House allegations that Letterman doctored the video for humorous effect. Letterman vigorously defended himself and his show on the air, forcing the White House to back away from their attacks and CNN anchor Daryn Kagan to apologize on the air.