Late Show with David Letterman is a U.S. late-night talk show

Late-night talk show

In American television, the late-night talk show is a specific kind of comedy-oriented talk and variety show that airs late at night. Characteristics of the genre include topical monologues in which the host makes fun of the day's news, comedy sketches, celebrity interviews, and musical performances...

 hosted by David Letterman

David Letterman

David Michael Letterman is an American television host and comedian. He hosts the late night television talk show, Late Show with David Letterman, broadcast on CBS. Letterman has been a fixture on late night television since the 1982 debut of Late Night with David Letterman on NBC...

 on CBS

CBS

CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...

. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and is produced by Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated. The show's music director

Music director

A music director may be the director of an orchestra, the director of music for a film, the director of music at a radio station, the head of the music department in a school, the co-ordinator of the musical ensembles in a university or college , the head bandmaster of a military band, the head...

 and band-leader of the house band, the CBS Orchestra

CBS Orchestra

The CBS Orchestra is the house band, led by Paul Shaffer, that plays for David Letterman's CBS late-night talk show, Late Show with David Letterman...

, is Paul Shaffer

Paul Shaffer

Paul Allen Wood Shaffer, CM is a Canadian musician, actor, voice actor, author, comedian, and composer who has been David Letterman's sidekick since 1982.-Early years:...

. The head writers are brothers Justin Stangel

Justin Stangel

Justin Stangel is one of the head writers and producers of the Late Show with David Letterman. His brother Eric Stangel is also a head writer and producer....

 and Eric Stangel

Eric Stangel

Eric Stangel is one of the head writers and producers of the Late Show with David Letterman. His brother Justin Stangel is also a head writer and producer....

. The announcer is Alan Kalter

Alan Kalter

Alan Kalter is an American television announcer from New York City. He is best knownas the announcer for the Late Show with David Letterman since September 5, 1995.-Career:...

, who replaced Bill Wendell

Bill Wendell

Bill Wendell was an NBC television staff announcer for almost his entire professional career.-Biography:...

 in 1995

1995 in television

The year 1995 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1995.For the American TV schedule, see: 1995-96 United States network television schedule.-Events:-Debuts:-1950s:...

. Of the major U.S. late-night programs, Late Show ranks second in cumulative average viewers over time and third in number of episode

Episode

An episode is a part of a dramatic work such as a serial television or radio program. An episode is a part of a sequence of a body of work, akin to a chapter of a book. The term sometimes applies to works based on other forms of mass media as well, as in Star Wars...

s over time.

In most U.S.