David Letterman's final Top 10 list proved to be a star-studded affair read by friends of the talk show host and themed: "Top 10 things I've always wanted to say to Dave."
Letterman's Top 10 list became one of the show's most iconic segments that followed him from his NBC show "Late Night with David Letterman," to his CBS "Late Show with David Letterman,"
according to USA Today.
"The first Top Ten List appeared on Sept. 18, 1985, a few years into Letterman's 'Late Night' run on NBC,"
wrote the Los Angeles Times' Patrick Kevin Day. "According to People magazine in 1990, the lists were originally conceived to run for two or three weeks and then be retired. … They were originally intended as a parody of Good Housekeeping magazine's 'Most Admired Men' list."
Letterman's final Top 10 list on Wednesday started with actor Alec Baldwin, giving the No. 10 thing he always wanted to say to Letterman: "Of all the talk shows, yours is the most geographically convenient to my home."
The lineup continued, per USA Today:
9. Retired anchorwoman Barbara Walters: "Did you know you wear the same cologne as Muammar Gaddafi?"
8. Comedian and actor Steve Martin: "Your extensive plastic surgery was a necessity ... and a mistake."
7. Comedian and actor Jerry Seinfeld: "I have no idea what I'll do when you go off the air. You know what, I just thought of something: I'll be fine."
6. Comedian and actor Jim Carrey: "Honestly Dave, I've always found you to be a bit of an over-actor."
5. Comedian Chris Rock: "I'm just glad your show is being given to another white guy," to which Letterman replied, "You know, I had nothing to do with that."
4. Actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus: "Thanks for letting me take part in another hugely disappointing series finale," which was also a dig at her former "Seinfeld" co-star Jerry Seinfeld.
Letterman seemed to be surprised by the appearance of Denver Broncos and former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, who delivered the No. 3 thing on the list, "Dave, you are to comedy what I am to comedy."
2. Comedian Tina Fey added: "Thanks for finally proving men can be funny."
Actor Bill Murray, who also appeared on the show Tuesday as Letterman's last scheduled guest, delivered the No. 1 thing he always wanted to say: "Dave, I'll never have the money I owe you."
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