After 33 years on television, David Letterman hosted his final "Late Show" Wednesday. NY1's Lori Chung filed the following report.
Fans left the Ed Sullivan Theater Wednesday with one last laugh and taking one last memory of the Late Show with David Letterman as the legendary TV host signed off for good.
"It was just very emotional," said one audience member. "Beautiful. Beautiful show."
"It was wonderful," said another. "It was heavy on looking back and heavy on music."
"The guests that came on as regular guests said the top 10 things they always wanted to say to him, and then he introduced his wife and his son, who were in the audience, at the end," said a third.
Alec Baldwin, Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock and Jim Carrey were among the famous friends Letterman has made over his three decades in late night TV that came to share the moment with him, allowing plenty of stargazing for the fans who weren't lucky enough to get in.
"It's David Letterman," said one fan. "I was here yesterday from 9 to 9. So yeah, I was on standby yesterday and today, and I never made it in, so I'm curbsiding it. It's fine. I'm good with this."
It wasn't long before Paul Shaffer and the rest of the Late Show bad left the theater for good, a bittersweet moment for some, like guitarist Felicia Collins.
"It's devastating, but at the same time, I'm a very happy lady because I had the biggest blessing ever," Collins said. "David Letterman is the most wonderful thing that ever happened to my career. End of story."
At the close of this chapter, fans said they're honored to have been here for Letterman's last moment on air.
"Very, very heartfelt goodbye from Dave at the end, and I guess I just want to thank him for 33 years, him and Paul Shaffer. It was a phenomenal show," said one audience member.
"We don't let just anyone share our bedroom, and for a long time, he's made us smile," said another.
Some fans came from as far away as California to be here for the end of an era.
A new era gets underway in September, when Stephen Colbert takes over as host.