Danny Thomas is simply charming here. The way he interacted with Macaulay is how everyone wants their grandfather to be.

Sadly Danny Thomas died only four weeks after this appearance. I miss that generation of entertainers. They were so much more well-rounded it seems than today's entertainers.

Hilarious fun, seeing Marlo's spit take. She mostly just spit it out toward Dave. LOL Loved seeing Danny too. Thanks for posting this!!!!

Like Ron Dobson said, Danny Thomas died just a month after appearing on David Latterman's show. You're only on this Earth until the day you aren't. He is dearly missed. A brilliant entertainer and businessman, and fund raiser for St. Jude's Children's Hospital.

+Don Giller Man, you continue to upload absolutely phenomenal clips of old Dave shows. I click on these videos so fast. Thanks for continuing to do it. It is very much appreciated.

It was decent of mr Thomas to give young Macaulay some advice.

Back when late night talk shows were worth watching. Letterman was always busting their chops at "Live at Five" - was unscripted, original, and totally fun. Nothing mean-spirited or nasty about any of it. Another great upload, Don!

The beautiful job he did was adding the incentive of the set up line and Culkin not blowing the timing of the line AND LOVE the director's INSTANT REPLAY showing the superior showering water distribution - man, oh man, I thought he was going to aim it AT the kid, but he was too nice to do that. He spoke to "the kid" with a lot of consideration and shook his hand. I came because the St.Jude fundraising ads are now including his voice. I was thinking Marlo Thomas was putting him into ad campaign for posterity and now I see how close to the anniversary of his death I am viewing this. I was a kid of mid 20th century with a vague memory of Make Room for Daddy and of That Girl. Nice to get a relief from a heavy news week Feb 2020.

Danny Thomas wrote an interesting and engaging autobiography. He worked hard to plug it - and died less than a month after this appearance.

God, the Danny Thomas dropping in bit is one of my favorite spots on Letterman. I discovered it thru another clip on KZfaq years ago. Yours is way clearer and less edited. The bit with Marlo was a great and wonderful bonus. Thank you!

I remember this well , just referenced it recently. Thanks for posting.

The spit take is the highest form of art.

Sad. Danny looked like he was in such good shape here, and then to die less than a month later. Hard to imagine that he had no idea that he had a heart problem.

I've waited all my life to have the chance to do a spit take

Danny died a month later at home of a heart attack on February 6. Phil Donahue told how Marlo was in their bedroom in New York when she took the call getting the news. Phil said he heard a scream from the living room and when he reached the bedroom Marlo was on the floor from the shock.

Not TOO sure what triggered me to search this out, but I did, so I'm happy.

Letterman is the best. Love watching all these vids you post.

Danny Thomas....Great guy with great sense of humor...Only on Letterman...👍😊

let it be known that it is IN FACT the Danny Thomas spit take.

CLASSIC COMEDY!!! YES!!!

didnt spend much time interviewing danny. charming man.

Also...Thank You Marlo...😊👍

Playing Alone by Heart when Macaulay Culkin walks out is brilliant.

Now you’re just teasing me, Don. Hoping to see Paul’s top 10 comedy takes from 3/3/87!

That cutaway made me really want a late night lunch box with a paul shaffer thermos

If Marlo Thomas couldn't do a decent spit-take, there's no hope for the future of comedy.

...and that was Conan O'Brien shaking Mr. Thomas's hand at the end of the clip.

If I'm not mistaken, there was a third spit take with Phil Donahue.

. This appearance on Letterman came less than one month before Danny Thomas's death (heart failure) on 2/6/1991 (and very possibly may have been his last appearance on (national) TV). I'm sure if I'm wrong, someone will GLADLY correct me... .

I have to admit, I smiled when Paul started Danny Boy. Someone need to tell Marlo you can't be ladylike when doing a spit take.

I think Paul was attempting to do Martin Short's version of the Danny Thomas spit take, which he had demonstrated on Carson a couple of years earlier. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/rbZ1jLOqvrXNoY0.html

Phil Donahue's father in law?.

14:59 - money

So, so easy to confuse Pat Metheny with David Sanborn. Methenys hair is just bigger and crazier...and he plays guitar. Also, I can't tell you how let down I get when Dave says its time for viewer mail....then the video just ends. Im thinking "Uh, what just happened?",

I miss the Top 10, Paul Schaeffer's Music, Biff going across America. Do not miss Dave's Haircut and now he has a beard! Go figure.

Man, that is one cheap lookin' rug... And the studio carpeting's pretty bad too!

Liz Smith was a horrible woman.