Martin Short on Letterman: Early Appearances
Martin Short became a familiar late-night presence in the 1980s through multiple visits to Late Night with David Letterman. He appeared as himself and as several recurring characters, helping define the show's offbeat comedy style.
Characters and Recurring Bits
Short introduced audiences to Ed Grimley, a hyperactive, bald enthusiast with a high-pitched laugh. He also performed as the mild-mannered Jiminy Glick and the earnest talk-show host Martin Short, often leaning into physical comedy and improvised monologues.
Impact on Late-Night Comedy
Short's Letterman appearances are cited as influential examples of sketch-based late-night performance. His characters were later revived on shows like SCTV and In Living Color, and his Letterman clips remain widely shared in online retrospectives of 1980s comedy.
