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Season guide

Late Night with David Letterman: Season 5

138 episodes Premiered Feb 3, 1986 Updated Sep 25, 2026
Previously on Late Night with David Letterman

Season 5 Lore Primer

Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.

  • ⚡ Directly follows the overarching narrative developments of Late Night with David Letterman Season 4.
  • ⚡ Faction dynamics and core character alliances shift under escalating external stakes.
  • ⚡ Crucial mysteries introduced previously reach key turning points and narrative reckonings.
  • ⚡ Sets up serialized story arcs that build directly toward the climactic season finale.
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Season 5 Episodes

Episode Guide

🛡️ SPOILER SHIELD

Season 5 Progress Shield

Future titles & synopses blurred. Tap "Reveal" on any card to peek.
Binge Efficiency Engine

Season 5: Filler vs. Essential Canon

Filter episodes by narrative weight. Focus on essential mytharc and skip standalone side quests.

99%
Mytharc (2): Crucial lore & season climaxes
Core (136): Character development & subplots
Side Quest (0): Standalone / filler
S5·E3 Core

861111

Nov 11, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E4 Core

860804

Aug 4, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E5 Core

860729

Jul 29, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E6 Core

860728

Jul 28, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E7 Core

860626

Jun 26, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E8 Core

860805

Aug 5, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E9 Core

861112

Nov 12, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E10 Core

860625

Jun 25, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E11 Core

860717

Jul 17, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E12 Core

860623

Jun 23, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E13 Core

860714

Jul 14, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E14 Core

860731

Jul 31, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E15 Core

860624

Jun 24, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E16 Core

860818

Aug 18, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E17 Core

861124

Nov 24, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E18 Core

860730

Jul 30, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E19 Core

860807

Aug 7, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E20 Core

860819

Aug 19, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E21 Core

861113

Nov 13, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E22 Core

860806

Aug 6, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E23 Core

860917

Sep 17, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E24 Core

860709

Jul 9, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E25 Core

860710

Jul 10, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E26 Core

860724

Jul 24, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E27 Core

860723

Jul 23, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E28 Core

860915

Sep 15, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E29 Core

860916

Sep 16, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E30 Core

860722

Jul 22, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E31 Core

860918

Sep 18, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E32 Core

860813

Aug 13, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E33 Core

860721

Jul 21, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E34 Core

860923

Sep 23, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E35 Core

860924

Sep 24, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E36 Core

860925

Sep 25, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E37 Core

860814

Aug 14, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E38 Core

860811

Aug 11, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E39 Core

870115

Jan 15, 1987 · 60 min

S5·E40 Core

860708

Jul 8, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E41 Core

860707

Jul 7, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E42 Core

861013

Oct 13, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E43 Core

861125

Nov 25, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E44 Core

861222

Dec 22, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E45 Core

861027

Oct 27, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E46 Core

861028

Oct 28, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E47 Core

861016

Oct 16, 1986 · 60 min

Recapping the Mets/Astros bet with Houston mayor Kathy Whitmire; ""Viewer Mail"" features eight letters (#6 twice); Paulina Porizkova; director John Waters; Bonnie Raitt sings.

S5·E48 Core

861015

Oct 15, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E49 Core

861014

Oct 14, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E50 Core

861126

Nov 26, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E51 Core

870112

Jan 12, 1987 · 60 min

S5·E52 Core

861029

Oct 29, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E53 Core

861030

Oct 30, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E54 Core

860908

Sep 8, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E55 Core

870113

Jan 13, 1987 · 60 min

S5·E56 Core

870114

Jan 14, 1987 · 60 min

S5·E57 Core

860812

Aug 12, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E58 Core

861008

Oct 8, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E59 Core

860909

Sep 9, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E60 Core

861006

Oct 6, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E61 Core

861106

Nov 6, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E62 Core

860716

Jul 16, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E63 Core

861007

Oct 7, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E64 Core

860715

Jul 15, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E65 Core

861105

Nov 5, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E66 Core

861103

Nov 3, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E67 Core

860820

Aug 20, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E68 Core

860911

Sep 11, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E69 Core

860910

Sep 10, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E70 Core

860929

Sep 29, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E71 Core

860930

Sep 30, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E72 Core

861001

Oct 1, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E73 Core

861002

Oct 2, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E74 Core

860821

Aug 21, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E75 Core

861009

Oct 9, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E76 Core

860617

Jun 17, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E77 Core

860618

Jun 18, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E78 Core

860616

Jun 16, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E79 Core

860619

Jun 19, 1986 · 60 min

""Viewer Mail"" features Dave proving he does have a ""romantic bone"" in his body; Rodney Dangerfield ""drops by,"" complete with a Top Ten list and a clip from Back To School; R

S5·E82 Core

Show #0661

Feb 5, 1986 · 60 min

Dave does a mini-rant on the all-nude, NYC cable access show, ""Interludes After Midnight;"" ""People Who Won't Be On The Show"" goes awry because it's ""dog night"" in the control

S5·E86 Core

Show #0665

Feb 12, 1986 · 60 min

A bullhorn-toting Larry ""Bud"" -- outside the Soviet mission to the United Nations -- tries to get Russians to defect; Lee Marvin promotes Delta Force; kid inventors; comedian Bil

S5·E98 Core

Show #0677

Mar 12, 1986 · 60 min

Test video from the failed first attempt at the ""Late Night Monkey Cam;"" ""Supermarket Finds;"" Michael Keaton plugs Gung Ho; another ""Regulator Guy"" promo; a call to Arnie Bar

S5·E112 Core

Show #0691

Apr 7, 1986 · 60 min

With the baseball season underway, Dave chats with all-time Home Run king Hank Aaron, then meets George Brett of the '85 World Series Champs, the Kansas City Royals.

S5·E119 Core

Show #0698

Apr 24, 1986 · 60 min

Lincoln BurnhamGoodbye to the Rough-tailed Jellyfish; ""Viewer Mail"" kills another actor/singer; Jonathan Winters gets a surprise visit from worshiper Robin Williams; Judy Mowatt

S5·E126 Core

Show #0705

May 7, 1986 · 60 min

Cybill ShepherdThe Giant Topaz; in response to Dave's cajoling about her dress that had arrived at NBC one week prior to her appearance, Cybill Shepherd appears, clad only in a tow

S5·E131 Core

Show #0710

May 14, 1986 · 60 min

More with the remote-controlled Neanderthal skull; after ""Small Town News,"" Dave has to rescue one of the Stupid Pet Tricks dogs from a burning green room; video: making a freque

S5·E139 Mytharc

Show #0718

May 28, 1986 · 60 min

S5·E140 Mytharc

Show #0719

May 29, 1986 · 60 min

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