Emmy voters had a succinct message for David Letterman, who announced in April that he would be retiring from “The Late Show With David Letterman” after 33 years in late night:
Goodbye.
Letterman’s show, which won five consecutive Outstanding Variety Series Emmys between 1998 and 2002, did not receive a single nomination on Thursday.
Also read: Emmy Nominees: The Complete List
Nothing for Dave. Nothing for his writers. Nothing for his director or his cameramen or his art directors, who have helped Letterman’s productions garner 110 nominations and 14 wins over the years.
Nothing at all.
The last time Letterman’s show didn’t receive a single nomination was 1983, the second year of his run on NBC’s “Late Night With David Letterman.” Since then, “Late Night” and its successor, CBS’s “The Late Show” have been nominated every year, although 2010 was the last time Letterman made it into the marquee Outstanding Variety Series category.
He also co-hosted the Emmys in 1986 with “Cheers” star Shelley Long.
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Letterman’s old rival Jay Leno was treated almost as rudely, landing a single nomination for the web series “Jay Leno‘s Garage” but nothing for his final year as host of “The Tonight Show.”
Meanwhile, the version of the show hosted by Leno’s successor, Jimmy Fallon, grabbed five nominations, including Outstanding Variety Series. Leno hadn’t been nominated in that category since 2003.
While this was the final opportunity for Emmy voters to magnanimously bid Jay farewell, there’s one more chance for Dave at next year’s Emmys. For now, though, the Television Academy is offering him a rude sendoff instead of some nice parting gifts.