Letterman's Bill Murray highlight reel helps explain why Murray was Letterman's last guest

Bill Murray was Letterman&#039;s final guest, and here&#039;s why — (Image credit: Late Show)

Wednesday night's final episode of David Letterman's Late Show is something of a mystery. We know that late-night nemesis Jay Leno won't be appearing, but we don't know who is. That makes Letterman's final scheduled guest Bill Murray, who appeared on Tuesday's show inside a giant cake. How do you pick your final guest, after 33 years? Not by the numbers: Regis Philbin tops the most-appearances list (136), followed by Jack Hannah (75) and Tony Randall (70).

Bill Murray, with only 44 visits, probably won that lottery because he was Letterman's first guest on both Late Night, in 1982, and Late Show, in 1993. Letterman showed some highlights from those 44 appearances on Tuesday's show, and the montage points to another reason Murray was the last guest standing: He's extraordinarily fun, and goofy. And wouldn't you want that at your professional wake? Watch the good times below. —Peter Weber

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.