When Will Letterman And Conan Start With Classic Reruns?

[Braves2005]

I was wondering since Jay is rerunning classic episodes of The Tonight Show from the 90's and early and mid 2000's because of the writer's strike, when will David Letterman and Conan O'Brien follow suit with their rerunning classic episodes? It would be nice to see the early CBS Letterman years with the late Calvin DeForest as Larry "Bud" Melman.

 

[Newshawk]

While you may be able to see early Late Show episodes with Calvert DeForest, you won't see any with him playing Larry "Bud" Melman. NBC claimed the Melman character as one of the pieces of "intellectual property" they refused to let Letterman use at CBS.

 

[Skynet74]

Letterman had a tribute to Calvert last night following his death and they used some footage from the NBC days.

 

[azumanga]

While you may be able to see early Late Show episodes with Calvert DeForest, you won't see any with him playing Larry "Bud" Melman.

In actuality, he would play Larry "Bud" Melman, but he wouldn't be called that, due to the aforementioned rights. Same character -- different "wrapper".

 

[Garrett]

In any case, is there anyone who can answer the orignal question?
I've kinda been wondering myself when we'll see those Lettermans with darker red hair and Conans with a thicker Baastin accent...

Than again, do we really want to see the earlier Conans? He was pretty awful back then, if I recall.

 

[1069_KIFR]

I do not think that Letterman will do the "Vintage" era. That would look like they are copying NBC's The Jay Leno Show.

But I think it would be great to run a weeks worth of shows that origainally got their highest ratings. Like Daves return after open heart surgery, the night Oprah 'returned', Drew Berrymore exposing her tah-tahs and of course Madonna using the f-word like nobodies business.

Then maybe edit together a show of music guests, then comedians doing their routines. Maybe a week of Bruce Willis, Steve Martin, George Clooney and others that do specialized segments for the show.

Maybe even have a weeks worth of shows that they dropped stuff from the roof, when others do the top 10, stuffing people in costumes in places, small town news, Rupert doing crazy things to people, etc.

 

[KML0224]

Great idea! Sounds good!

 

[Power Of Radio]

I would like to see the episode Dave did with Warren Zevon. They spent the entire hour together. And I always enjoyed those shows Warren filled in for Paul. It was spontaneous & great late night television.

 

[johnnya2k6]

I don't mind seeing old school Conan, especially with Andy Richter.

And what about Late Late Show? It wouldn't hurt running any Tom Snyder (in his memory) or Craig Kilborn eps.

Jonathan Allen

 

[adam95]

Letterman digs into the 90s archive tonight with an episode featuring Jeff Goldblum as lead guest and Angelina Jolie second (before she was well known). Today, of course, it would be the other way around. I have not seen the guest list for the rest of the week. but I hope they will all be 90s episodes as well.

 

[OhReally?]

It wouldn't hurt running any Tom Snyder (in his memory) or Craig Kilborn eps.

But there certainly could be some contractual issues. Some of you seem to think these episodes can just be thrown on the air. It's not always that simple.