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Conan O'Brien is set to swing by New York's Ed Sullivan Theater next Thursday, May 17th to sit on Dr. David Letterman's couch to either discuss how they both were so royally screwed over by NBC and Jay Leno when they thought they were in line for the Tonight Show throne or very awkwardly avoid the subject. Obviously I'm hoping for the former, although Coco in particular hasn't really discussed the situation or any lingering animosity for quite a while. But if anyone can drag some bitterness out of him, it's Letterman.

Conan was last on The Late Show a whopping 13 years ago, when he was still [...]

David Letterman has just signed a new two-year contract with CBS, squashing rumors that he'd be stepping down imminently. And even better news is that his contract doesn't stipulate an end-date, leaving the door open for further contract extensions down the line if Letterman feels like sticking around even longer. Craig Fergeson, who is expected to take over for Dave when he does end up leaving his post, also extended his contract for another two years.

Now that we know how blissfully untroubled Will Ferrell is, it makes a lot of sense that the top ten things he's thinking before his Late Show appearance include fleeting jambalaya concerns and the lyrics to a Kenny Rogers song. In the end, though, Ferrell had nothing to worry about, because his visit with Dave and recounting of his Mardi Gras adventures (below) were very charming and also conveyed the vital importance of his role. "It's not the Rose Bowl. C'mon."

Jon Stewart dug himself into some real collar-yanking awkwardness on Letterman last night. The interview starts out innocently enough with chit-chat about that handsome Mitt Romney, but once Jon Stewart asks if Letterman gives people college credit to hug his groin, things become a little uncomfortable. To his credit, Letterman acknowledges it, saying "I had a little trouble along those lines." Hoo boy.

In the New Yorker's 1978 profile of TV icon Johnny Carson, author Kenneth Tynan pinpoints the essential quality of Carson's genius: contempt. It's what the paterfamilias talk show host imparted to fellow midwestern David Letterman, rightful heir to the Tonight Show estate. In the early days however, Letterman ran aground. As the 1980s saw the Late Show struggling to find its way, there was no telling what Carson saw in the weatherman-turned-bumbling court jester. Dave's routine lacked both the deceptive modesty and turnaround wit he's now able to muster five nights a week, even, and especially when, his guests falter.

Letterman was never a great comedian. Jay Leno was. [...]

Through the magic of film recording, last night, Stephen Colbert was being interviewed by Letterman on CBS whilst interviewing Lena Dunham on Comedy Central (welcome to the future and the jungle – welcome to the future jungle). Colbert was on as himself and talked about his Super PAC – you know the one that has made more money than Ron Paul's PAC (but let's not get into those politricks again). It's nice to see Colbert out of character and talking about all the money his PAC has made. I don't think it's presumptuous to assume right now he's swimming in it all like Scrooge McDuck (Why hasn't [...]

Last night Tracy Morgan told an understanding David Letterman all about his recent collapse at Sundance. I always knew there was some sinister ulterior motive behind the 30 Rock cast's publicity stunts, but I assumed it was ratings-related. Turns out it's just part of the elaborate game of one-upmanship between Alec "Just let me play this one word" Baldwin and Tracy "A-list" Morgan. What will Baldwin do next?

Ed Helms swung by The Late Show last night to talk standup, and in particular one terrible standup show he did once upon a time in a place starting with a P. The happy ending is of course that Ed Helms is now hugely successful, while the headliner was punished for his "violation of the brotherhood" by a lifetime in obscurity. Even worse, the obnoxious audience member had to continue being a doctor and helping people. Don't heckle, kids, or you could end up with an MD.

David Letterman has been a late-night host for 30 years yesterday, and it's worth taking a look back through this collection of clips ranging from Merrill Markoe's dog poetry (above) to Dave's time working at Taco Bell. Or reading this piece about Letterman's early TV career, starting with his morning talk show The David Letterman Show. May he have 30 more years in late night! Or, however many he wants, because dude deserves to retire whenever he feels like it.

Late Show booker Eddie Brill has been let go, following a New York Times article in which he said a pretty dumb thing about female comics being less "authentic" than men. (Brill subsequently claimed that the quote was taken out of context, but the article's author denied it.)

Sure, it's a bummer to see someone lose their job over one or two sentences, but it's also kind of awesome that the incredibly outdated and close-minded sentiment displayed in those sentences won't fly in the comedy community today. Especially on the part of someone responsible for choosing which comics to showcase to a huge audience. Brill, [...]

(This picture is from the Time 100 Gala, where Amy "accidentally" photobombing Hilary Clinton and Louis C.K.)

Last night, Amy Poehler was on Letterman and he used that opportunity to gush about Parks & Recreation like he was stepping on bag of Gushers. (You can see the clip here.) He explains, "It's very funny – very consistently funny. The cast is unequaled on television." I know right, Dave? Seriously though,it was a really nice little moment and Amy is obviously touched. For all the show's female comedian issues earlier in the year, it's hard to argue that when Letterman himself finds a woman comedian funny, like [...]

This clip of Nick Offerman telling the story of how he met Megan Mullally is probably cute and sweet, but honestly, I couldn't even focus on it because I was so captivated by his lack of a moustache. That upper lip looks so naked! If you want more Offerman without a distracting visual, here's a print interview in which he discusses his fans' habit of sending him bacon at restaurants. "Those are my finest fans, the ones who have meat for me," he proclaims. We will always have meat for you, Duke Silver. Metaphorical meat.

Has anyone ever been as glad not to be at the airport as you are while watching this clip of Mike Birbiglia's Late Show appearance from last Friday? Has anyone ever been as glad about anything as you are glad not to be at the airport right now? Has anyone ever been as anything about anything as you are glad not to be at the airport right now? Has anyone ever anythinged as anything as you are anything about not being anything?

The Late Show is turning 30 today, and Bill Murray honored the occasion with a cupcake that frankly has to be a serious fire hazard. On the plus side, Dave won't have to pay to heat the studio for the next 30 years, because that cupcake has it covered. By the way, he's in football gear because they also kicked some field goals with Regis Philbin as the referee. Obviously.