My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman: Season 1

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Generally favorable reviews based on 13 Critic Reviews

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Mixed or average reviews based on 40 Ratings

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My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman

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Season Details & Credits

Netflix | Season Premiere Date: January 12, 2018

Starring: David Letterman

Summary: David Letterman returns to the talk show world with a monthly series and the six-episode first season will include President Barack Obama, George Clooney, Tina Fey, Jay-Z, Malala Yousafzai, and Howard Stern.

Genre(s): Comedy, Talk & Interview, Music

Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E6. Howard Stern
Air Date: May 31, 2018
tbd
S1:E5. 05-04-2018
Air Date: May 4, 2018
tbd
S1:E4. Jay-Z
Air Date: April 6, 2018

See all Seasons and Episodes

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

David Wiegand

Jan 12, 2018

Obama’s appearance will make some viewers feel nostalgic, and others indifferent, or less. But regardless of your take on the 44th president, it sure is good to have David Letterman back. And certainly because it’s Letterman asking the questions, we should feel nostalgic for a time when candid, insightful and civil interviews played a larger role in television news and the national conversation. Read full review

Dennis Perkins

Jan 12, 2018

It’s unassuming, and uncompromisingly anti-showbiz, with the feel of Letterman holding court at his leisure (and on Netflix’s dime). It could just as easily be titled My Next Guest And I Need No Audience. As an interviewee, Obama is as smoothly engaging as ever. Read full review

Darren Franich

Jan 12, 2018

If there’s a bold idea with My Next Guest, it’s to be as un-bold as possible. I mean that as a compliment. ... My Next Guest is in no hurry, and the Clooney episode gives me a powerful foreboding. But there’s a corrective feeling to this show. The fine art of conversation has faded a bit from late night. Read full review

Ken Tucker

Jan 12, 2018

Dave is late-period-Dave, wry, amused, and relatively relaxed. Here, Obama is very much the same. ... It’s not a great interview, but it’s a cozy one. The conversation has the easy intimacy that can occur when two famous, successful men have reached points in their lives when they can be slightly less guarded. Read full review

Sonia Saraiya

Jan 12, 2018

The celebrity guests ensure that the interviews retain a bit of the fluffy sweetness of broadcast TV. It seems highly likely that there are thorny topics his high-profile guests rule out, and the fact that the episodes were taped last fall mean that the questions can feel a bit stale. ... But overall, Letterman’s new effort isn’t bad, and it’s great to see that beard getting the screentime it richly deserves. Read full review

Matt Zoller Seitz

Jan 12, 2018

That the episode takes its sweet time before returning in earnest to Letterman’s conversation with Obama suggests all manner of potentially fruitful avenues for future installments. Freed not only of commercial interruption but of the need to adhere to any particular structure, the show could go wherever Letterman’s mind decides to wander. Read full review

Hank Stuever

Jan 12, 2018

[David Letterman] seems only half-engaged here and far too much in the thrall of his first guest, who left office a year ago and has avoided the talk-show circuit until now. Both men seem rusty at the art of banter. They’re off their game. The interview doesn’t produce any surprising or newsworthy statements from Obama. ... The discussion meanders along the surface, touching on Russian interference in U.S. elections and the state of discourse in American society--though never deeply. Read full review

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User Reviews

saundo

Mar 4, 2018

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Being a long time fan of Letterman's work on Late Night, I looked forward to this series as... I don't know, a mix of his Late Night interview style, but also a chance for him to take on subjects to interview that were more of interest to him, as opposed to who was booked by their publicity that night.

"My Next Guest Needs No Introduction" doesn't disappoint, though it does sometimes feel as if it's standing in the door but never stepping through.

The interview with Barack Obama, inter-spliced with the visit with John Lewis about Selma, felt relaxed, comfortable and engaging, but never quite got to what I had hoped it would be. It certainly seemed like a genuine conversation that could have gone on for hours, and one wonders whether we'll see what's on the cutting room floor at some point.

The Clooney interview was of the same ilk: engaging, relaxed, warm, intimate, but it suffered again with that "... so close" feeling. The interview with Clooney's parents and Hazim Avdal is definitely of interest, but feels... a tangent to the Clooney interview in a way; it was very different than the John Lewis interview of the episode before.

I'll keep watching, because I love to watch Letterman in conversation, but I doubt I'll shake the feeling that there's more to be had from this series.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

psyberdelic

Jan 14, 2018

If you like Obama you'll enjoy this interview. There's nothing earth-shaking here. It's like sitting around in someone's living room shooting the breeze. It's something to relax and take your time with. An antidote for these crazy times we're in.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Tapchim

Jan 14, 2018

A more relaxed Letterman - as opposed to later years of his show. Both men comfortable with each other and lends to some personal moments. Letterman seemed a bit pandering. The show chooses to show out of studio interview with John Lewis in Selma, which is interesting on its own, butA more relaxed Letterman - as opposed to later years of his show. Both men comfortable with each other and lends to some personal moments. Letterman seemed a bit pandering. The show chooses to show out of studio interview with John Lewis in Selma, which is interesting on its own, but seems a bit like they are trying too hard to send a message, rather than giving the interview subject, President Obama, more credit to be able to be able to so in his own words.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

lmkas1

Jan 17, 2018

Softball at it's worst, friendly and conversational at its best. Thought he could have done better especially given the current political climate. The type of interviewing style just isn't appealing when there are more important things going on.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Scraper

May 20, 2018

Creators of My Next Guest were too careful handling this would-be slam-dunk, hoping that the A+ list celebrity guests coupled with the return of the iconic Late Show host would be everything needed. The empty stage is a stark backdrop for tired, old interviews in front of a two-mode crowd.Creators of My Next Guest were too careful handling this would-be slam-dunk, hoping that the A+ list celebrity guests coupled with the return of the iconic Late Show host would be everything needed. The empty stage is a stark backdrop for tired, old interviews in front of a two-mode crowd. We're not asking for the Late Show set but some effort is clearly missing. Letterman himself is still inquisitive but it seems that he quit interviewing celebs because he was tired of it and wanted to do something else. Putting him back up there on a barren stage with no side characters feels like a bad rerun. And a quick word about the supposedly most famous people on the planet: they're actually not all that interesting. They've been baked in the spotlight so long that you're not really in for any surprises - aside from the constant camera cuts.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

rockwellmoon

Jan 12, 2018

I'll check out the next episode, but the Obama interview just felt very safe and unsurprising. I mean, it was fine. But just not that compelling. Also, I guess I was thinking that Letterman might take advantage of the structural flexibility offered by Netflix, but the show itself alsoI'll check out the next episode, but the Obama interview just felt very safe and unsurprising. I mean, it was fine. But just not that compelling. Also, I guess I was thinking that Letterman might take advantage of the structural flexibility offered by Netflix, but the show itself also just felt pretty safe and straight-forward. All in all, I'd be surprised if I watched many more eps. Oh well.… Expand

4 of 9 users found this helpful45

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Seasons & Episodes

70

Series Overview
Season 6

tbd
- Season 6 Overview
  Air Date: December 16, 2025
Season 5

tbd
- Season 5 Overview
  Air Date: June 12, 2024
Season 4

tbd
- Season 4 Overview
  Air Date: May 20, 2022
Season 3

tbd
- Season 3 Overview
  Air Date: October 21, 2020
Season 2

tbd
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: May 31, 2019
Season 1

70
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: January 12, 2018
- tbd
  S1:E6. Howard Stern
  Air Date: May 31, 2018
- tbd
  S1:E5. 05-04-2018
  Air Date: May 4, 2018
- tbd
  S1:E4. Jay-Z
  Air Date: April 6, 2018
- tbd
  S1:E3. Malala Yousafzai
  Air Date: March 9, 2018
- tbd
  S1:E2. George Clooney
  Air Date: February 9, 2018
- tbd
  S1:E1. It's a Whole New Ball Game Now
  Air Date: January 12, 2018