Freelance Jokesters Pen Late-Night Laughs

His list: Things he needs to tell the American people

(NEWSER) - Mitt Romney is now in a dead heat with Newt Gingrich. In a bid to perhaps claw his way back into the No. 1 slot solo, he made his second appearance of the year on the Late Show last night, and shared the "Top 10 Things Mitt Romney Would Like to Say to the American People." OK, American People—here are some of the very important pieces of information Romney would like to make sure you know:

• "Isn't it time for a president who looks like a 1970s game show host?"

...two years, he says casually

(NEWSER) - What will David Letterman be doing in two years? No one knows, but one thing he apparently won't be doing: hosting the Late Show. He let that little tidbit slip casually while interviewing Howard Stern last night. The clip in the gallery ends, of course, just before the comment, but Splitsider reports that later in the interview Letterman tells Stern he'll only do the Late Show for two more years. (You might not hear the announcement in this clip, but you will hear a lot of Leno-bashing from Stern .) More»

Even at 89, nothing can stop her

(NEWSER) - Betty White may have just turned 89, but that doesn’t mean she’s forgotten how to party. Asked by David Letterman last night what she likes to do for fun, she first noted her affinity for playing with animals before adding, “And vodka’s kind of a hobby.” Letterman wasted no time in whipping out a bottle of vodka and two glasses with ice, but when the time came to share a drink, Letterman chugged straight from the bottle. White, meanwhile—well, to see where her vodka ended up, watch the video. More»

Unless, of course, he wants to appear as the musical guest...

(NEWSER) - Conan O’Brien’s new show debuts Monday, and there’s one person you should never expect to see as a guest: Jay Leno. “No, there are certain things I will not do, regardless of the price,” O’Brien tells Playboy , although he adds that Leno “can come as the musical guest, because that I want to see.” O’Brien adds that his goal for his new show is “eight months on the air. All I want to do is break my Tonight Show record.” More»

Letterman interviews Edison Peña on Late Show

(NEWSER) - Rescued Chilean miner Edison Peña appeared on the Late Show last night, and cracked up host David Letterman with his tales of the “funky” conditions in the mine before it collapsed. “Is, in South America, ‘funky’ a mining term?” Letterman asked. After a pause, Peña’s cheerful reply: “Si!” Watch highlights from the interview—Peña even sings some Elvis—in the gallery, or click here to see the activity the adventurous miner has planned next. More»