Farewell David Letterman: 4 US presidents join the final comedy show

WASHINGTON (Web Desk) - Four US presidents have joined stars including Steve Martin, Tina Fey, Jerry Seinfeld and Foo Fighters to pay tribute to TV host David Letterman on his final late night talk show.

His final broadcast began with pre-recorded clips of former US presidents George H and George W Bush and Bill Clinton echoing fellow ex-president Gerald Ford's post-Watergate remark that "our long national nightmare is over".

Barack Obama then appeared to repeat that statement before adding: "Letterman is retiring." The host then joined him to ask: "You're just kidding, right?"

Later in the show, Martin, Fey and Seinfeld were among the stars delivering the final, traditional 'Top 10 list', on the subject of "Top 10 things I've always wanted to say to Dave".

He gave emotional thanks to his family, crew and viewers, saying: "There's nothing I can ever do to repay you."

Letterman ended the show by saying: "The only thing I have left to do for the last time on a television programme: Thank you and goodnight."

Letterman has bowed out after 33 years and 6,028 late-night broadcasts.

The 68-year-old began his late-night career on NBC in 1982, before moving to CBS's Late Show in 1993.

From his start on NBC’s “Late Night” in February 1982, Letterman’s comedy was about more than telling jokes. He attached a camera to a monkey’s back, tossed watermelons off a roof and wore a suit of Alka-Seltzer to plunge into a tank of water.

Celebrities used to being fawned over either clicked with his prickly personality or didn’t, and when Cher called him a more profane version of “jerk,” it became a memorable moment.

Letterman's successor, Stephen Colbert, will take over his slot in September.