From New York, 100% financing available, it's the Late Show with David Letterman.

Tonight, CBS Mailbag, Kelsey Grammer, and the Smothers Brothers. Plus, Paul Shaffer and the CBS Orchestra. And now, obscure visionary from China, David Letterman.

To get my tickets for trip four I went in April to the Late Show ticket website and picked three dates in May. Late afternoon on the 11th of May,  Late show staffer Heather called me at work with the news that I could attend a taping on Wednesday or Thursday of the next week. I opted for the second taping on Thursday and Heather told me to arrive at the theater by 5:45 and tell the page that I had gold tickets.

On show day we once again took the the 6 am bus to Boston's South Station, boarded Amtrak and arrived in  New York City at 2:20 pm. After checking in to the Marriott Marquis we headed down to the theater. Along the way we passed Angela Lansbury and drummer Anton Figg.

53rd Street was crowded with news crews and Columbians who were protesting a joke that Dave had made about Miss Columbia the previous Friday. The joke was referring to Miss Columbian's talent portion of the Miss Universe contest where she swallowed 5 bags of heroin. Dave publicly apologized for the joke and invited Miss Columbia to appear on the Thursday night show with Ricky Martin. I chatted with Hello Deli owner Rupert Gee about the foolishness of it all.

We had about an hour to wait before they would start issuing tickets so we headed down to McGee's on 52nd Street to wait it out.

On returning we stopped outside the doors and witnessed the paparazzi jostle for shooting space. Because of the protesters alongside 53rd Street the guests had to enter and exit through the front of the building. Soon enough Ricky Martin and his entourage exited into a waiting van. We then jumped into the familiar line out front and were soon ushered inside. Those with gold tickets are sent to one booth and those with postcards to another. After receiving our tickets we had them numbered (152 & 153) and were told to return later and these numbers would be our place in line. On the way out a page stopped us and asked if we would like pre-seating arrangements. Naturally we said yes! The page told us to return a bit sooner than than the rest of the people and we would be seated at 6:15.

Upon our return after eating a horrible meal at Ranch*1 we were seated along with 7 other people on folded chairs just inside the lobby doors. We were given the chance to use the restrooms and I availed myself of it. As I made my way into the men's room, Stage Manager Biff Henderson was approaching and a women exiting the lady's room asked to take his photo, to which Biff replied "In the men's room?". I spoke to Biff in the restroom about his experiences in Whiting, Maine on his recent Biff Henderson's America segment.

At 6:15 pm, Late Show security men Bill DeLace and Dom escorted the nine of us past the waiting people into the theater. We were the first in and were given seats along the left hand side nearest to the exit doors. I was seated on the aisle about eight rows back. From the looks of it the view would largely be unobstructed.

Band was introduced per usual, Dave did his pre-show Q & A. He took a question from a guy named Shem and naturally found his name odd. Shem got his 3 seconds of fame when Dave mentioned him and the camera zoomed in during the monologue.

Dave took a stroll backstage immediately after the monologue, which Paul brought up on his return.

CBS Mailbag followed and as an added extra had a harpist for added effects during the gliss.

Highlight of the mailbag was George Clark dressed in a Spider-Man costume, a year earlier than the release date. The hype began here.

Erik Estrada did a cameo as the Late Show Out of Focus Celebrity. Top ten was up next, featuring graduating seniors from Ball State.

Kelsey Grammer came on after commercial break. Nothing spectacular occurred. One interesting fact is that at the end of his Fraser contract he will equal James Arness in years playing a recurring character.

Smothers Brothers were next, Although I liked them when I was young and they had their own show, I found the material was dated.