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Word, there was an elderly woman and her husband sitting in the audience. they got a shot of her and got a big laugh. >> turn the volume down immediately. she cant be stopped. there is something wrong with her. >> nonstop laughs. writer steve odonnell said dave never thought he was good enough. >> it could be painful to people close to him. i have saved dozens of little notes he would write and they alternated between i hate myself and stand by show. he would underline stand by show. >> even as ...

On air for letterman, his younger rivals are grabbing those coveted viewers. ♪ i want to rock right now >> you know, hes not surprising anybody at this point by being david letterman. we all know what david letterman is. yet hes still doing things you absolutely have to see. >> its too damned hot! there you go! >> late-night observer bill carter has been seeing signs that dave has been winding down. >> he really hasnt done any of the bits he used to do. he doesnt really -- he doesnt even go to...

Lettermans late show. >> it really hurt letterman and it became an extremely difficult struggle for him to count all that momentum at nbc. >> if you want to influence a congressman, you have to send him a full beer can. thats not -- >> jay leno went on to win the ratings wars for 15 years. gradually, dave made peace with it. >> he is more comfortable as the hipper, slightly skewed show with the slightly skewed attitude than being at number one. >> it doesnt matter what the ratings are. it really...

>> you know, we could get in a two shot here. we could send the crew home. >> movie stars wanted in with dave, too, but they got no special treatment. turn the pig on. >> please welcome cher. >> he was suspicious of celebrities. famously, when cher went on, hes not being the friendly or the greatest, youre the best, youre fantastic, youre cher. hes prodding. >> why finally after nearly 4 1/2 years did you decide to come on? >> i thought i would never want to do this show with you. >> now, why? w...

Thank you very much for being on the program again. you know its been three years since the last time you were on the show. and i will just say right off the top here, you look different than what i remember of you. >> the late show, january 2009. >> joaquin phoenix was acting crazy. >> what do you -- what do you have them on? >> what? >> what do you gas them up with? >> it was like watching a surgeon, a really good surgeon. it wasnt even watching a surgeon. it was watching a maestro. >> what ca...

>> because you were always [ bleep ] with me on the show. >> and in the middle of all the "f" words, there was an elderly woman and her husband sitting in the audience. i had a shot of her and it was a big, big laugh. >> turn the volume down immediately. she cant be stopped. there is something wrong with her. >> nonstop laughs. but writer steve odonnell says dave never thought he was good enough. >> i think it could be painful of people close to him. i have saved dozens of little notes on the sh...

Girlfriend regina tied the knot. >> it was kind of an open secret that he had had some relationships with women that work on the show. >> and people on the show were aware of that. i dont think they were aware of this one. >> daves shocking confession drew applause. >> i have had sex with women who work for me on this show. now, my response to that is, yes, i have. i have had sex with women who work on this show. >> daves confession came after an extortion attempt by a cbs producer who demanded ...

House. nobody owns an original house out here. formerly owned by doriss cousin. >> i think squeeky frome lived in my old house. >> they can really banter. he became a pro ta shay, which was hard to do with johnny. >> i have a feeling after a shot on this show tonight, youre going to be working a lot outside of the comedy store. >> and after a few appearances he went from a guest -- to guest host and became a network favorite. >> its "the david letterman show" live. >> and nbc execs were so submi...

Seemed the heir apparent and joked with johnny about it months before. >> would i like to have this show? oh, sure, yes. >> thats honest. >> id like to be looking at new apollsry now. >> dave was all ready to inherent his heros chair and his time slot. >> that is what he was working for all those careers, to do the "tonight show." >> but unbeknownsted to dave and the rest of the world, nbc executives had another comedian in mind. >> when did it become clear that dave that he was not going to get...

>> i watched johnny carson, and you are no johnny carson. >> sometimes we had a bigger audience than the tonight show. >> and then he started a routine with you where he would talk to you during the show. >> hal? hal? >> hilarious and innovative. everyone was along for the ride. there was guest cam and monkey cam. >> they had a 360 degree show once where the show slowly, over the course of the hour, rotated. that was ridiculous. >> we have achieved 180 degrees. >> they did the show on a plane. a...