On Wednesday, David Letterman is retiring, "after 33 years of innovation, fun, and just plain weirdness," said Jimmy Fallon on Monday's Tonight Show, "but mostly fun." Fallon followed Letterman (and Conan O'Brien) as host of NBC's Late Night — as, weirdly, Fallon's eighth grade teacher predicted he would — but all late-night talk shows owe Letterman a huge debt of gratitude, Fallon said. He "taught us how to be smart and stupid for comedy," and proved you could be both at the same time.
Fallon talked about his last time on Letterman's Late Show, recounted Dave's most inspirational moment, and explained why late night hosts don't appear on each other's talk shows. He also gave voice to what an entire generation of comedians, and night owls, is thinking about Letterman's last week: "I, like every kid who grew up watching him, will miss him." Watch Fallon's farewell message to Letterman below. —Peter Weber
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Jussie Smollet conviction overturned on appealSpeed Read The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the actor's conviction on charges of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019
-
Quincy Jones, music icon, is dead at 91Speed Read The legendary producer is perhaps best known as the architect behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproarSpeed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
-
Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain PrizeSpeed Read He is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prize
-
Is Downton Abbey set to return for a final film?Speed Read Imelda Staunton reveals that a third movie may be in the pipeline
-
'Oppenheimer' sweeps Oscars with 7 winsspeed read The film won best picture, best director (Christopher Nolan) and best actor (Cillian Murphy)
-
'Rust' armorer convicted of manslaughterspeed read The film's cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed by actor Alec Baldwin during rehearsal
