letterman. this is why you never see him guesting anywhere. he won't do it. >> the two people who are the most important to me in my life, you and my wife, have the same name. >> how you doing? hey, look up there. watch out, cnn, it's me regis hosting "piers morgan tonight." hi, everybody. it's me regis. remember me? i'm a good pal of piers morgan. we five years ago started america's got talent. i was the host and piers was a very severe judge. oh, boy, was he something. i'm very flattered to be here tonight. i'm happy to have as my special guest someone who don't see guesting anywhere. he just doesn't do it. people have tried for years. i mean, he just -- he's not a guest. he's a host. and a great host too. speaking about david letterman. now, you know, you're not going to see david letterman walking in the streets of new york. you can look for him, you're never going to see him. you're not going to see him getting all dressed up to go to the metropolitan costume ball in new york city. he just doesn't do things like that. but you can see him every night on his own show. i must tell you how all this happened. as i said, he doesn't really do this. but don rickles and i were guests on dave's show. after the show dave took everybody out to dinner. we were at dinner and he said what's next in your life? i said, well, i couldn't think of what was next. joy said well you heard from cnn today piers morgan is taking a week off, they'd like you to do a night. dave said that's great. i'd like to be your guest. and i said wait a minute. you want to be my guest? i've known you a long time, are you sure you want to be a guest? i want to be a guest. i didn't bring it up the rest of the night. just before we broke to go home, i said dave, now are you sure? he said i'm going to be there. sure enough, he is here. you'll see him, you know, on his own show every night 11:30 streaking across the stage. comes out looking like a million bucks and gives you the best hour of television you'll see that day or that night. ladies and gentlemen, my friend, my guest, david letterman. >> oh, boy. >> you heard the applause. >> thanks, reg. thank you so much. >> dave, take a look around at how piers morgan lives. why can't we live like this? >> hi to use the bathroom before i came out here. the lighting in the restroom is superior to the lighting on your old show. this place is amazing. it is remarkable. >> it's all brand new. now, listen. you're at a place over there on broadway, the old ed sullivan theater. >> i love it. we were looking at facilities around the city. this hadn't even been built. we went in there and it was a minute or two away from being condemned. in actuality. and by god, in a short period of time they turned it from whatever it had been into just a first rate television facility. and i'm from the school that you do tv in a studio. and so i was wondering if it could be, in fact, done from a theater. but the place is fantastic. i look around there every night and i think i'm so lucky to be part of a production coming from this place. it's both intimate and it's as big as you need it to be and intimate as you need it to be. >> we never really had a chance to talk about our childhood. i got to tell you something. i had no idea this would ever happen to me, that i would get on television. no confidence at all. didn't pursue anything in high school or college like the stage or anything that might have helped me a bit. i did fall in love with bing crosby's voice in the late '30s to '40s. i loved him and i loved the sound of his voice and the way he acted. and that was my only inspiration to get involved in this business. take me back. when you were a young little guy in indianapolis, did anybody inspire you? did you have a favorite comedian or comic or anybody? >> it wasn't bing crosby. this is right after the civil war. you are way back there. >> i knew you'd say that. >> well, when i was a kid, my mom before i went to school used to like arthur godfrey. he had a morning radio show. then that was partly -- part of that was a television show also. there was a simulcast of the radio show. then he had a nighttime talent scout show on monday nights. then later if the week he had an hour-long variety show. so our household was full of arthur godfrey productions. i can just remember being fascinated by when they would open the television portion of the simulcast, they would be the earphones. they were there to suggest where arthur would place his head. there was something about the microphone and the earphones and the equipment that i found fascinating. i just thought there's something cool about this. >> this is september 1st, 1969. i saved this magazine for 43 years. this is the first year three networks went with talk show hosts late at night. this is merv just starting out. >> this is merv right there. >> this is merv. >> joey bishop. >> and johnny in 1962. now, what were you doing in 1969? were you still in school? >> 1969? >> yeah. >> yeah. i was just graduating from college. >> did you have an eye for the show business at that point? >> it's a silly story, but where better to tell a silly story than here with you. i was like you. i was sort of lost. in school. and i had a bunch of friends and as the grades progressed, i realized how important it was to study and make good grades if you wanted to have the same peer group. i was falling behind. i couldn't do anything. all of my buddies were math and chemistry and algebra and on and on. i was on the soft curriculum. it was shop and that sort of -- nothing wrong with that. i remember doing so poorly my mom was very upset about it. she said we're going to try to get you into a trade school. and again, that would have been fine, but i was not able to keep up. and then one semester i took a public speaking course. and the first assignment for the public speaking course was a five minute extemporaneous, what do they call it speech? ad lib speech? i got up and did that. whether it went well or not, i felt it went well. i thought oh, this might be my saving -- my life line. i might be able to turn this into doing something. >> isn't that nice? >> then i stopped worrying so much about other things and knew you had to find a way to get paid for what i could do. >> and when did the comedy phase hit you that you wanted to be a comedian and get involved in comedy? >> as a kid, i think most kids are always funny. kids are always trying to be funny. all my buddies were funny. i thought this would be great if i could get a job writing. i'd worked in television and worked in radio. but it was not as challenging or as exciting as i wanted it to be. it was pretty prohibitive. you were a weather man were a news man or a kids host. >> and one night you packed up and went to hollywood? >> in a matter of speaking, yes. my wife and i did that, put everything in the truck and went to california. >> and things happened right away. >> happened right away. not because of me, but in those days as i said before if you wanted to go to california and become a comic or become a part of comedy, the blueprint of that was laid out in front of you every night on the tonight show. they would have brand new comedians, some returning, some new. and johnny would say before and after that was steve landsburg, you can see him on sunset boulevard here in hollywood. and pretty soon you realize that was an instant connection. comedy store, you knew they had the amateur night and the tonight show. 1975 i went out there, three years later i was a guest on the tonight show. it was so much easier for me. and it was great for the tonight show because they needed people in those days the show was 90 minutes. your show is an hour, just seemed like 90 minutes. it's the same thing. >> you get on the johnny carson show. it's your turn to go on the show, and i think you knocked them out. >> i did pretty well. but first timers tend to do pretty well. in those days they had a wonderful screening system. they would have coordinators come to see you and work out a set and they would say yeah, we think we like you. we'll be back in six weeks. and they didn't -- the last thing they wanted to do is have a guy come on and not do well. because this was the tonight show. this was the cadillac. they wanted to look -- you know, there was never a soft moment on that show. >> you're right. >> so you were pretty well guaranteed through working with these people that you were going to do all right. >> and you did just fine. not everybody got invited over to the desk and heard this from johnny carson. >> had to hitchhike over here this evening. this guy picks me up. driving an old beat up dodge. down on the freeway at an angle like this. right away i'm apprehensive about getting in, you know? the guy driving the car is wearing a cowboy hat and a hospital gown, you see. and he's rolling -- the thing that bothers me the most he's rolling the biggest joint i'd ever seen in my entire life. he was using pampers. >> i have a feeling your shot on this show tonight, you're going to be working a lot outside the comedy store. i hope you come back for this. >> he predicted it right there. >> that breaks my heart there. please don't roll anymore tape. i'm coming across the table if you roll another tape. it's going to be blood shed here. i can take you. >> it really bothers you that much? >> then we're not going to do it. you heard him. cancel the tape. when we come back, we'll talk some more about -- >> now, why don't you get a show just like this? you should have a show just like this. this would be great. >> you think so? >> oh, yes. they could put it in the cnn lineup. i'm sure there's room. you've got piers morgan, you've got pretty boy. what's his name? man: 1939 -- my parents ran across an ad for a hot dog cart. my mother said, "well, maybe we ought to buy this hot dog cart and set it up someplace." so my parents went to bank of america. they met with the branch manager and they said, "look, we've got this little hot dog cart, and it's on a really good corner. let's see if we can buy the property." and the branch manager said, "all right, i will take a chance with the two of you." and we've been loyal to bank of america for the last 71 years. when we got married. i had three kids. and she became the full time mother of three. it was soccer, and ballet, and cheerleading, and baseball. those years were crazy. so, as we go into this next phase, you know, a big part of it for us is that there isn't anything on the schedule. you walk into a conventional mattress store, it's really not about you. they say, "well, if you wanted a firm bed you can lie on one of those. we provide the exact individualization that your body needs. wow, that feels really good! once you experience it, there's no going back. during the final days of the sleep number memorial day sale, save 50% on our innovative sleep number silver edition bed. sale ends sunday. only at the sleep number store, where queen mattresses start at just $699. this is johnny carson. i'm calling from nbc in burbank. >> oh, my word! >> how are you? >> fine, thank you. >> can i ask you a question? >> sure. >> has david ever told you that he hopes that i get run over by a water delivery truck? so he can get the 11:30 time period on nbc? as he ever told you is that? >> yes, he talks about it frequently. >> talks about it frequently. >> that was pretty good. johnny, that's just johnny. >> did you have a good relationship with johnny? >> yes but he made me very nervous. because he was, i think, the biggest star on television. and i was just a kid who had, you know, kind of followed the beacon of his light comes out of burbank. and to be on his show was endlessly nerve racking. then to actually be with him in a social situation, i kind of have a history of -- i got to know jack parr. and i had a great deal of admiration for jack parr. i started to spend more and more time with jack parr. i would get more and more comfortable with jack parr. and i began to notice that jack, bless his heart, would tell the same stories over and over again. they were great stories. fantastic stories. but that was it. and then the inevitable, i think he started to dislike me. >> who? jack parr? >> yeah. and then i felt uncomfortable. so i was always worried that if i relaxed and got comfortable with johnny, the same thing might happen. do you understand what i'm saying? >> i understand exactly what you're saying. i became friends with jack parr. i understand what you're saying. he never spoke ill of you. >> it may be something i felt that didn't exist. but i thought this relationship with johnny carson is for me to screw up. in those days, johnny carson meant the world. i mean, that was it. that was the hall of fame. you wanted that endorsement. you wanted that friendship. a, if you didn't do well on the show, you were never coming back and it was going to be a much harder road if you were not friendly with the tonight show. and b, to have johnny carson as a friend, oh my god. that's a tremendous blessing. so i was always nervous about that. >> you know, i remember it well. you followed him on your show. you followed the tonight show with your show. and he admired your show very much. he loved all of the different things you were doing. and he would say to our friend peter, i'd like to do something like that too. so one night they tried it. something about a candy machine that he was trying to get functioning. something that you would pull off beautifully, and it flopped. and he never tried it again. but i think, you know, there was a bondship there. did you have a chance to tell him what he meant to you? >> all the time. i mean, the first time i was on the show, it was -- yes, all the time. >> good. >> and the last time that i saw him, we were talking about it earlier today. of course, the way life is you don't know that that will be the last time but it turned out to be the last time. and it couldn't have been a lovelier evening and i cherish that. it was unusual, it was not going to happen under other circumstances. it was my wife, myself, johnny, and his wife on johnny's yacht that he had anchored in the hudson. it was a friday evening and we sailed off just before sunset. and went up the hudson up under the george washington bridge which is lovely. turned around, now the sun is setting. we go out to the statue of liberty and see that as night as the sky is darkening. then we headed up the reese river and you see the lower tip of manhattan. and it was a sight and an experience like you'd never -- you know, you never get to see new york like that. >> it really is a terrific sight. i've been up and down those rivers, especially at night it blazes us. >> it was comfortable and we were chatting. and i knew that i always had -- if conversation got slow or there was an awkward moment, all i had to do is bring up jack benny. he loved jack. he owed a great deal to jack. his delivery and mannerisms and humor. he would tell story after story about jack. it was a great evening. i'm so proud of that experience. >> sure. pbs had a two-hour special on johnny. i saw it that night and i couldn't sleep for the rest of the night. it kept me awake, you know? it was so sad. the end. that he would leave us like that. it was just -- >> i remember having that feeling the night he retired. because it had become such routine. not just for me but everybody in the united states. to see him say good night for the last time, i found it very, very emotional. i have not seen the documentary you're talking about. >> and how did you feel when i said good-bye or when i moved on, same feelings? >> honestly, i was puzzled. i thought there's no reason for you to retire. there's no reason for you to leave that show. i misuse the word retire. no reason to leave the show. you've got to see about getting a gig here. because this is ideal for you. >> all right. now, you want to know something? i think you're a pretty good actor. i want to show you a scene from i think the only movie you ever made. "cabin boy" with chris elliot. >> right. >> yeah. wait until you see this guy in this scene "cabin boy." wait until you see this. it's dave the actor. roll it. >> you know what you are? you're one of those little fancy lads aren't you? boy, you're cute. gosh what a sweet little outfit. is it your little spring outfit? you couldn't be cuter. you're so adorable. oh, my. you know, you remind me of my niece sally. lovely girl. she's a dietitian. hey, would you like to buy a monkey? >> not bad. >> it was excellent. >> you did good. >> don't kid yourself. it was fantastic. >> any aspirations to become an actor? >> you know what? i could be a really bad actor, but i'm thankful i never had interest in it. one, once you get into it they're long, boring, difficult days. and two, i could never be good at it. and if you're not going to be really good at it, what's the point of wasting everybody's time? >> i did an acting bit in "hot in cleveland" recently. >> i think i read about that in "the times." >> i had trouble remembering the lines. oh, my god. i'm not used to that. >> i know. if you don't care about it -- you didn't really care about it. >> i played a gay hair stylist. i cared. >> i bet you cared. >> dave, when we come back, i want to talk to you about the serious side. everything from your heart surgery to the days that followed 9/11 and you brought television back to america. back in a moment. wow. yeah, right ? it's got a million more pixels than hdtv. and with six times more coverage, this ipad with verizon 4g lte can really take you places--- yea... ♪ mac and cheese, mac mac and cheese, ♪ ♪ can i have some please ♪ is that my cat... ? noo... yea... the new ipad with verizon 4g lte. more amazing in more places. what ? customers didn't like it. so why do banks do it ? hello ? hello ?! if your bank doesn't let you talk to a real person 24/7, you need an ally. hello ? ally bank. no nonsense. just people sense. you know what i like about you? i like the fact that you do worry about me and my health. you bring it up a lot. you've been terrific to me in pointing out the various doctors i should go to especially in my heart situation. and my hip and all of that. but one day recently within the last couple of years i had an esophagus problem. and i -- i don't know how you found out about it, but you brought it up on the show. and you were trying to help me, i think. then you reflected on an old pal of yours, george miller who had something like that. >> that's right. >> i want to show that piece of tape. >> all right. >> this is dave letterman and me. >> i had a friend of mine george miller, when he was a much younger fellow, he had a narrowing -- and he would have to run a hose down his esophagus to open it up. because he had -- >> why are you telling me that? >> i'm just saying. >> you're trying to frighten me. >> no. >> you're trying to frighten me. >> no. i'm just saying that may be what you'll have -- >> all right. let it go. i don't want to do that. >> i don't blame you. george didn't want to do it either. >> so is george okay? >> no, he's dead. >> oh, poor george. >> it had nothing to do with the tube he had to insert. george was a funny fellow. good guy. >> he was a good comedian. >> i miss george. >> yeah. but to be more serious about this, you went through a quadruple, wasn't it? >> yeah. bypass surgery. >> then sent me up with the same team to take care of my triple bypass later. after you came back from the five week staying out there getting healed and you brought the entire team with you, a whole bunch of guys. rarely see you choked up, but you were that way that night. it was very special. take a look. >> oh, more tape. >> yeah. >> it was five weeks ago today that these men and women right here saved my life. [ applause ] >> people applauding i'm not