---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Welcome to the program. My name is Dave…"
description: "\"Welcome to the program. My name is Dave Letterman, and tonight I'm giving my two-week notice.\" — David Letterman"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bb/david-letterman-378_dave_welcome-to-the-program-my-name-is-dave-l_997581.jpg"
---

#  Welcome to the program. My name is Dave Letterman, and…

![“Welcome to the program. My name is Dave Letterman, and tonight I'm giving my two-week notice.” quote by David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bb/david-letterman-378_dave_welcome-to-the-program-my-name-is-dave-l_997581.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bb/david-letterman-378_dave_welcome-to-the-program-my-name-is-dave-l_997581.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bb/david-letterman-378_dave_welcome-to-the-program-my-name-is-dave-l_997581.jpg)

> “Welcome to the program. My name is Dave Letterman, and tonight I'm giving my two-week notice.”

[David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A comedian announces his resignation in a humorous, self‑referential way, highlighting the absurdity of public farewells.

**In simple terms:** A funny way to quit a job.

Key Takeaway

Embrace humor when ending a chapter.

Themes

humor career public image

Mood

playful lighthearted

Type

entertainment personal

When to use this quote

- Talk show
- career transition
- public speaking

Key Concepts

Self‑deprecation media satire

Questions to Reflect On

- How does humor affect how others perceive your exit?
- What can you learn from making a serious moment light?

A Different Perspective

Humor may mask genuine emotions behind the departure.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Dave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dave/) [Dave Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dave-letterman-2084328/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/letterman/) [Letterman Tonight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/letterman-tonight-2084329/) [Names](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/names/) [Program](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/program/) [Program Dave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/program-dave-2084327/) [Programming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programming/) [Tonight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tonight/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Two weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two-weeks/) [Week](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/week/) [Welcome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/welcome/) [Welcome Program](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/welcome-program-2084330/)

## Related quotes

> [For those who don't like Dave Letterman, there's Jay Leno; and for those who like neither, there's Craig Ferguson; and if you're still feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-shales/for-those-who-don-t-like-dave-letterman-there-s-jay-leno-and-for/)

[Tom Shales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-shales/)

> [I wouldn't totally rule out doing Letterman or the Tonight Show if I had a set that I just happened to write that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-rogan/i-wouldn-t-totally-rule-out-doing-letterman-or-the-tonight-show-if-i/)

[Joe Rogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-rogan/)

> [When I was a kid, I was a fan of comedy. I always loved Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, and Dave Letterman -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-arnett/when-i-was-a-kid-i-was-a-fan-of-comedy-i-always-loved-steve-martin/)

[Will Arnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-arnett/)

> [I gotta tell you, I do not envy whoever they try to put in David Letterman's chair. Folks those are some huge shoes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/i-gotta-tell-you-i-do-not-envy-whoever-they-try-to-put-in-david/)

[Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/)

> [I want to be the Letterman of metal. I want five nights a week, Monday to Friday, 11 to 12, live. I always shoot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-trunk/i-want-to-be-the-letterman-of-metal-i-want-five-nights-a-week-monday/)

[Eddie Trunk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-trunk/)

> [Coaching at Texas and playing at the University of Oklahoma, I had the opportunity to see a lot of guys in Texas - Texas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrell-royal/coaching-at-texas-and-playing-at-the-university-of-oklahoma-i-had-the/)

[Darrell Royal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrell-royal/)

> [Half the stuff I've written was written when I was half asleep watching the David Letterman show when some boring actress was on talking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bozzio/half-the-stuff-i-ve-written-was-written-when-i-was-half-asleep/)

[Terry Bozzio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bozzio/)

> [I watch Jay. I watch 'Letterman'. I flip back and forth between 'Conan' and 'Letterman', especially the top of the show for those guys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanda-sykes/i-watch-jay-i-watch-letterman-i-flip-back-and-forth-between-conan-and/)

[Wanda Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wanda-sykes/)

> [I was a huge David Letterman fan, even going back to when he was on NBC. My parents would only let me watch a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-moore/i-was-a-huge-david-letterman-fan-even-going-back-to-when-he-was-on/)

[Trevor Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-moore/)

> [I think the first time I was on The David Letterman Show, he didn't quite know what to expect. I think people generally are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-reubens/i-think-the-first-time-i-was-on-the-david-letterman-show-he-didn-t/)

[Paul Reubens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-reubens/)

> [Cookies at both of them. The cookies are probably better at Letterman though.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/cookies-at-both-of-them-the-cookies-are-probably-better-at-letterman/)

[Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/)

> [The biggest threat to any politician is an artist. Comedians unleashed can do a great deal of damage. David Letterman can do more damage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moriarty/the-biggest-threat-to-any-politician-is-an-artist-comedians-unleashed/)

[Michael Moriarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moriarty/)

> [Everybody gets inspired by different things. I grew up wanting to go up the street with a video camera because I liked watching David…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-green/everybody-gets-inspired-by-different-things-i-grew-up-wanting-to-go/)

[Tom Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-green/)

> [Hey, you know what, I've gotta go on that 'Letterman' show. That show is so lame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/hey-you-know-what-i-ve-gotta-go-on-that-letterman-show-that-show-is/)

[Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/)

> [At the very beginning, I was a page at Letterman, and I freelanced for any place that would let me write any word. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-schwartz/at-the-very-beginning-i-was-a-page-at-letterman-and-i-freelanced-for/)

[Ben Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-schwartz/)

## More by David Letterman

> [Two things you need to know about taxes. They've extended the deadline to April 18, and when you write your check, just make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/two-things-you-need-to-know-about-taxes-they-ve-extended-the-deadline/)

[David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/)

> [You know Kim Jong Un, the evil dictator of North Korea? Apparently, a guy in his inner circle used his ashtray while smoking and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/you-know-kim-jong-un-the-evil-dictator-of-north-korea-apparently-a/)

[David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/)

> [It's the first day of spring. That means this weekend I'll take down my Christmas lights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/it-s-the-first-day-of-spring-that-means-this-weekend-i-ll-take-down/)

[David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/)

> [There are a lot of New York City Thanksgiving traditions. For example, a lot of New Yorkers don't buy the frozen Thanksgiving turkey. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/there-are-a-lot-of-new-york-city-thanksgiving-traditions-for-example/)

[David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/)

> [I can hardly wait until Donald Trump announces his celebrity cabinet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/i-can-hardly-wait-until-donald-trump-announces-his-celebrity-cabinet/)

[David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/)

> [Experts say this global warming is serious, and they are predicting now that by the year 2050, we will be out of party ice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/experts-say-this-global-warming-is-serious-and-they-are-predicting/)

[David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/)

> [We make a lot of fun at President Clinton's expense. But this transition is going to be tough because it's been 25 years since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/we-make-a-lot-of-fun-at-president-clinton-s-expense-but-this/)

[David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/)

> [I'm worried about John Kerry, he's so confident now that he's already planning his White House sex scandal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/i-m-worried-about-john-kerry-he-s-so-confident-now-that-he-s-already/)

[David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/)

> [“There is no off position on the genius”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/there-is-no-off-position-on-the-genius/)

[David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/)

> [I vote Democrat because I'm way too irresponsible to own a gun, and I know that my local police are all I need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/i-vote-democrat-because-i-m-way-too-irresponsible-to-own-a-gun-and-i/)

[David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/)

> [Do I think there is a heaven? Uh, yeah I do. Like a really big gymnasium. How do I see myself there? With really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/do-i-think-there-is-a-heaven-uh-yeah-i-do-like-a-really-big-gymnasium/)

[David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/)

> [If it wasn't for coffee, I'd have no discernible personality at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/if-it-wasn-t-for-coffee-i-d-have-no-discernible-personality-at-all/)

[David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/)

> [Well, we're just a couple of weeks from new President Barack Obama being sworn in. And he's been very busy naming a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/well-we-re-just-a-couple-of-weeks-from-new-president-barack-obama/)

[David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/)

> [Sometimes when you look in his eyes you get the feeling that someone else is driving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/sometimes-when-you-look-in-his-eyes-you-get-the-feeling-that-someone/)

[David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/)

> [Prince William and Kate Middleton are in New York City. We have got to do something about immigration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/prince-william-and-kate-middleton-are-in-new-york-city-we-have-got-to/)

[David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/)

[Explore all 619 David Letterman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/)

## More Dave quotes

> [I like 'The Usual Suspects'. Great film. I also like 'Scarface', films like that. Lots of gangster films. I really like watching all kinds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barkhad-abdi/i-like-the-usual-suspects-great-film-i-also-like-scarface-films-like/)

[Barkhad Abdi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barkhad-abdi/)

> [Dave Wann's recipes from his own experience in Simple Prosperity are a breath of fresh air, and just what we need for a saner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazel-henderson/dave-wann-s-recipes-from-his-own-experience-in-simple-prosperity-are/)

[Hazel Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazel-henderson/)

> [Work is a surefire money-making scheme.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-ramsey/work-is-a-surefire-money-making-scheme/)

[Dave Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-ramsey/)

> [Ridley Pearson also plays bass guitar and sings with the Rock Bottom Remainders, a band made up of such successful authors as Amy Tan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-penzler/ridley-pearson-also-plays-bass-guitar-and-sings-with-the-rock-bottom/)

[Otto Penzler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-penzler/)

> [At the end of the day, I want to be part of the same conversation as Chris Rock, Eddie Murphy, Dave Chappelle, Bill Cosby…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hart/at-the-end-of-the-day-i-want-to-be-part-of-the-same-conversation-as/)

[Kevin Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hart/)

> [If someone sits and stares at you while you eat, you won't even eat the way you normally do, because it'll make you so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-chappelle/if-someone-sits-and-stares-at-you-while-you-eat-you-won-t-even-eat/)

[Dave Chappelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-chappelle/)

> [It's only the losers named 'Dave' that think having an unusual name is bad, and who cares what they think? They're named 'Dave.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/it-s-only-the-losers-named-dave-that-think-having-an-unusual-name-is/)

[Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/)

> [What do you think you're doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-aaronovitch/what-do-you-think-you-re-doing/)

[Ben Aaronovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-aaronovitch/)

> [Given the current state of publishing, I think it helps to have a brand name on the cover of your book. Comedians are proven…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-showalter/given-the-current-state-of-publishing-i-think-it-helps-to-have-a/)

[Michael Showalter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-showalter/)

> [I've played with the best drummers in rock, ranging from Josh Freese to Brooks Wackerman to even Dave Lombardo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-trujillo/i-ve-played-with-the-best-drummers-in-rock-ranging-from-josh-freese/)

[Robert Trujillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-trujillo/)

> [My favorite of my books is DAVE AT NIGHT, because it's loosely based on my father's childhood in an orphanage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carson-levine/my-favorite-of-my-books-is-dave-at-night-because-it-s-loosely-based/)

[Gail Carson Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carson-levine/)

> [I love jazz. I still do. Dave Brubeck and Stan Getz are so good. I took a notification course in Jazz Orchestration. It wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-lightfoot/i-love-jazz-i-still-do-dave-brubeck-and-stan-getz-are-so-good-i-took/)

[Gordon Lightfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-lightfoot/)

> [Dave was great in Van Halen. No question about it. He was one of the best at being Mr. Rock Star. But it's sickening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-hagar/dave-was-great-in-van-halen-no-question-about-it-he-was-one-of-the/)

[Sammy Hagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-hagar/)

> [And old Dave, he'd go up to his room, y'understand, put on his green velvet slippers - I'll never forget - and pick up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/and-old-dave-he-d-go-up-to-his-room-y-understand-put-on-his-green/)

[Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/)

> [People keep asking "Jacob or Edward?" when the really important question is "Diamond Dave or Sammy?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ysabeau-s-wilce/people-keep-asking-jacob-or-edward-when-the-really-important-question/)

[Ysabeau S. Wilce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ysabeau-s-wilce/)

[Browse all 266 Dave quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dave/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Welcome to the program. My name is Dave Letterman, and tonight I'm giving my two-week notice.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "David Letterman"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/welcome-to-the-program-my-name-is-dave-letterman-and-tonight-i-m/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Dave"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/welcome-to-the-program-my-name-is-dave-letterman-and-tonight-i-m/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bb/david-letterman-378_dave_welcome-to-the-program-my-name-is-dave-l_997581.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bb/david-letterman-378_dave_welcome-to-the-program-my-name-is-dave-l_997581.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bb/david-letterman-378_dave_welcome-to-the-program-my-name-is-dave-l_997581.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Welcome to the program. My name is Dave Letterman, and tonight I'm giving my two-week notice.” — David Letterman",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "David Letterman",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Welcome to the program. My name...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/welcome-to-the-program-my-name-is-dave-letterman-and-tonight-i-m/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/welcome-to-the-program-my-name-is-dave-letterman-and-tonight-i-m/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
