Season 4

89 episodes · 1985

Cold open: Dave rips Arnold Schwarzenegger's sport coat; ""Viewer Mail;"" Dave talks with Arnold and tries to coax fiancee Maria Shriver from the green room; a confused Chris Elliott is under the seats for ""The Fugitive Guy;"" Julia Child makes an omelet; a surprise walk-on from George Burns.

Included: ""Brush with Greatness,"" now with writer's embellishments.

Tom Hanks plugs Volunteers; Chris Elliott is ""The Fugitive Guy;"" Mickey Mantle visits.

Returning NBC affiliate WSAV in Savannah, GA., is brought up to date throughout the show with ""Al Frisch's NBC Theatre;"" ""Viewer Mail;"" Ohio State Fair blue ribbon prize winner Seth Miranda displays giant fruits and vegetables; Chris Elliott with a look at ""The Fugitive Guy;"" a tour of 46th St.; fashion designer Dianne Brill visits.

It's the 552nd ""Late Night"" program, and the fourth to originate in L.A. County. The Hollywood sign behind Dave reads ""El Monte."" Within that backdrop, Mayor Tom Bradley throws things behind Dave's desk, with the obligatory crashing noises. Johnny Carson drops by with a quick-to-assemble ""Tonight Show"" desk.

""Top 10 Complaints About Brent Musberger;"" ""Dumb Ads;"" Lily Tomlin; Dave answers the NBC complaint line; Sting and Branford Marsalis perform ""Roxanne,"" and talk about Bring On The Night.

Cold opening: ""Grant Tinker"" comments on sending ""Tom and the gang"" to Tokyo for the Late Night ""Japanese Show;"" Dave and interpreter Mako Hatori look at New Gift Items; Kenny Rogers visits; Larry ""Bud"" with ""Ask Mr. Melmansan""; Randy Bass on being an American playing professional baseball in Japan; Japanese game show producer Masahiro Takahashi is interviewed by Dave and Mako.

General Electric has responded to the show's first batch of jokes. As such, Letterman has his own pushbutton and a brochure on pushbuttons, courtesy of G.E.'s General Purpose Control Department in Bloomington, Illinois. Before getting to the guests, Letterman shows off actual Christmas items.