Late Show with David Letterman

David Letterman marks his 27th year in late night comedy on Feb. 1, 2008, and this year also marks his 16th year as the host of the LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN on CBS.

After more than 4,500 late night broadcasts, he remains one of the most influential personalities in the history of television. Other than the late Johnny Carson, who hosted "The Tonight Show" for 30 years, no late night host comes near Letterman in longevity, critical praise and award recognition. Often imitated but never matched, Letterman presents, night after night, an unpredictable hour of innovative comedy.

Television critics agree. The New York Times says that "at his best, nobody is more subversively funny or more appealing" than Letterman. The New York Daily News calls him the "grand poobah of late night," while the Sacramento Bee calls him one of "show business's biggest forces."

Letterman's first network break came in 1978 as a performer on the CBS variety series "Mary," starring Mary Tyler Moore. In November of that year, he made the first of his 22 appearances on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson." He also guest-hosted "Tonight" numerous times.

In 1980, Letterman began hosting an Emmy Award-winning morning comedy-variety program, "The David Letterman Show," which ran for three months on NBC, winning two Emmys and honored with five Emmy nominations. His critically acclaimed show "Late Night with David Letterman" premiered in February 1982. Throughout its 11 1/2 years, "Late Night" was honored with many awards, including five Emmys and 35 Emmy nominations.

On Aug. 30, 1993, the LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN made its debut, quickly becoming one of the most talked about and critically acclaimed programs of the year. Now, over a decade later, the LATE SHOW continues to deliver inventive and imaginative comedy every night. For its efforts, it has earned nine Emmy Awards and 54 Emmy nominations, including six Emmys for "Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program."

From the start, Letterman has been critically applauded for redefining the talk show genre. In 1992, he received the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award for taking "one of TV's most conventional and least inventive forms -- the talk show -- and infusing it with freshness and imagination." Letterman has also won two American Comedy Awards as "Funniest Male Performer in a Television Series," and in both 1995 and 2001, he was nominated for a Career Achievement Award by the Television Critics Association. Letterman was also honored as "Favorite Late Night Talk Show Host" at the 31st Annual People's Choice Awards in 2005.

Letterman was born in Indianapolis. His birth date is April 12.