Watch highlights from David Letterman's final Late Show

Letterman bowed out from the business after 33 years

(CBS)

It was always going to be one of the biggest farewells in late night television history, but David Letterman's last Late Show on CBS had everything his greatest fans could have wanted. Thus, it was a painful reminder of how just much US viewers are going to miss the talk show veteran.

After 33 years and over 6,000 shows (that's roughly eight minutes of laughter, he joked), Letterman finally called it a day on the Late Show, saying he would now be debuting a new "white tiger" act with his piano sidekick, Paul Shaffer, in Las Vegas.

Letterman decided to make the night more of a celebration, preferring to avoid over-adulation at his TV tenure, quipping, "Do me a favour: Save a little for my funeral."

The last show saw some of his favourite celebrities, like Tina Fey, Jerry Seinfeld and Steve Martin, deliver the final Top 10 List. Under the category, "Things I've always wanted to save to Dave", Chris Rock said, "I'm just glad your job is finally being given to another white guy."

To watch other great moments from Letterman's finale, click on the videos below.