After attending [Ball State University]?, in Muncie, Indiana, Letterman began work as a local weekend television Weather announcer and radio talk show host. He received local recognition for his unpredictable on-air behavior, which included erasing state borders from the weather map and predictin hail stones "the size of canned hams".
In 1975, Letterman moved to California, in hopes of becoming a comedy writer. He began frequenting The Comedy Store, a famed Los Angeles comedy club and proving ground for young comics. His dry, sarcastic humor caught the attention of talent scouts for The [Tonight Show]?, and soon Letterman was a regular guest and cohost on [Johnny Carson]?'s talk show.
After forgettable stints as a cast member on Mary Tyler Moore's variety show and guest appearances on sit-coms such as "Mork And Mindy", Letterman was given his own morning comedy show on NBC. The show was a ratings disappointment, and was cancelled after a brief run during the summer of 1980. However, NBC kept Letterman under contract, and in 1982, his "Late Night With David Letterman" debuted on the network.
Letterman remained with NBC for 11 years. When Johnny Carson announced that he would retire in May of 1992, executives at NBC announced Carson's frequent guest-host [Jay Leno]? as his replacement. Letterman, who had frequently credited Carson with boosting his career, was reportedly bitterly disappointed and angry at not having been given the Tonight Show job.
In 1993, Letterman moved to CBS, as host of "The Late Show With David Letterman". "The Late Show" competes in the same 11:30pm time slot as Leno's "Tonight Show."
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