Last night, one of late night TV's iconic figures, David Letterman, announced his retirement when his current contract expires in 2015. In over 20 years on "The Late Show," and an additional 11 on "Late Night," Letterman has been as much as a fixture for late night viewers as his late mentor, Johnny Carson, and has shaped comedy with his offbeat, intelligent humor. His segments "Stupid Human Tricks" and "Top Ten List" were two of Letterman's innovations, among many others. This morning, we saw Letterman's retirement discussed on news and political networks and on sports channels, demonstrating the wide influence he's had on the culture in the past generation. Each of his remaining shows will be a treasure, as he winds down a legendary career.
(photo: CBS)
