WASHINGTON — David Letterman wraps up more than 30 years on television Wednesday night, and the tributes have been coming thick and fast. So have the YouTube clips of some of his greatest moments. Now, one of his earliest collaborators has weighed in with her favorites.
Merrill Markoe, who was the co-creator and original head writer of “Late Night With David Letterman,” leaving in 1988, shared with TIME her personal favorite bits from Letterman’s past, including his morning show, which lasted only 19 weeks.
It’s a good reminder of how weird Letterman used to be, making bits such as “Stupid Pet Tricks” and “Crushing Things With a Steamroller” seem normal by comparison.
There was the final episode of the morning show, where the theme song, which usually didn’t have words, was sung with lyrics referring not-so-kindly to the show that was replacing them:
There was the time they transcribed the entire show, then dubbed it with actors:
And there was “They Took My Show Away,” in which Letterman explains the realities of TV cancellation to a boy, Afterschool Special-style:
Look at Markoe’s full list of favorites here.
