Martin Short Performs Raunchy Tune at David Letterman’s Netflix Event
Martin Short attends the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix's ‘Marty, Life Is Short’ at Hollywood’s Egyptian Theatre Hollywood on May 6, 2026.
(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
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For the 22 years that David Letterman hosted The Late Show, Paul Shaffer served as his band leader, musical director and trusty sidekick. But Martin Short delivered a pretty hilarious run for that latter title by appearing opposite Letterman dozens of times.
Short guesses that it was “definitely in the 50s” while Letterman and his team counted at least 40, plus all the random times he would show up to cover for another guest who canceled at the last minute. The Late Show team made it pretty easy on Short to turn up because, in a way, it was like family to him since Shaffer has been one of his best friends since they met in 1972.
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The trio put their chemistry on full display inside Hollywood’s Montalban Theatre Thursday night for Netflix is a Joke Presents: This Better Be Funny With David Letterman. And it was. Letterman hosted Short in the lights at center stage for a 90-minute conversation capped by a single song performance featuring Shaffer at the piano, Short on the microphone and Letterman looking on with a grin from his chair. Just like old times.
As for the tune, Short belted out an original Netflix-inspired tune in a piece of corporate synergy: Netflix presented the special event, Letterman hosts the long-form conversation series My Next Guest Needs No Introduction and Short has a new Lawrence Kasdan-directed documentary Marty, Life Is Short due to hit the streamer on May 12. (Kasdan was in the audience Thursday night as was Short’s entire team, including longtime manager, Brillstein’s Marc Gurvitz, his WME agents and Imagine Entertainment president Justin Wilkes. And Letterman was on stage two nights after an earlier Netflix is a Joke event with John Mulaney.)
“You got to do treat the Netflix lady kind. You’ve got to give her your respect. Then she’ll suck your face till you can barely stand. There’s no pressure for commitment. Dating month to month will do. Then she’ll let you ream and stream her on demand. So, in closing, Mr. Letterman, take to heart the message I’m saying, this chick serves up one hell of a happy ending,” Short belted out. “Just remember, Netflix is a lady. Netflix is a lady to make up and reconcile once you filled up your free trial and you kiss your lady bye-bye.”
The performance closed the show, and the audience responded with a standing ovation, one of multiple during the event. The audience first got on their feet when Letterman came out to start the show, again when Shaffer surprised the crowd moments later and again when Letterman welcomed his pal Short on stage for the conversation. And much like their back-and-forth on The Late Show — well documented in this YouTube clip featuring Letterman and Shaffer — Short came out swinging.
“Let me just say something to you, because sometimes you imply that I’m kind of artificial, but I’m telling you from the bottom of where my heart should be, you have never looked younger in your life. No, really, because earlier today I saw you from a distance and I thought, wow, whatever he’s doing, he should stop,” Short quipped. “But I’m looking at you now. You look like a kid. Is it the RFK all-day pet raccoon diet? That’s what it is. Is it gluten-free Ensure? Because you have that Pete Hegseth post-bombing glow. A lot of people don’t like the beard. You’ve heard that, right? I just wonder if you are here, who’s working the Chuck Wagon? That’s the only thing. You look like someone whose letters would be read at the end of a Ken Burns documentary.”
Letterman loved the loving insults. “Marty, when I think of you, which is not infrequent as a matter of fact, I think of you as somebody who has provided happiness and joy and real fun in my life over the years,” he said in return before getting serious. “Here lately, as I have thought of you in this year, it’s not been that so much. It’s been great sadness for you, and I’m very sorry for your loss, and I’m so happy you could be here with us tonight.”
Short responded with a brief “thank you” as Letterman offered his condolences for the loss of his 42-yea