David Letterman says goodbye after 33 hilarious years David Letterman said farewell to viewers Wednesday after a 33 year career, His next joke: "I want to be honest with you -- it's beginning to look like I'm not gonna get 'The Tonight Show." In the end, Letterman had an array of thank yous, saving a special one for longtime band leader Paul Shaffer, calling him "as good a friend as you could have on television and as good a friend as you could have in life," and a "musical genius." He introduced his wife, Regina, and son, Harry. to loud applause. And he thanked viewers, saying, "You've given me everything. There's nothing I could do to ever repay you." And finally, these words: "For the last time on a television program, thank you and goodnight."