Last night at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier was pure late-night magic. Gathering a packed house for the Just For Laughs festival, comedy titan David Letterman took the stage for a rare, electric appearance alongside special guest Will Arnett and long-time musical accomplice Paul Shaffer.
The room was buzzing from the start, but things escalated quickly when proud Canadian Paul Shaffer pointed up to the ceiling, prompting production to lower a massive Canadian flag over the stage. Leading a heartfelt moment of cross-border unity, Shaffer brought the entire audience to its feet for a mass singalong of O Canada, anchored by none other than the Montreal Canadiens' very own anthem singer, Alexandre Sylvestre.
Letterman was in prime form, leaning into his signature dry wit. He jokingly offered multiple apologies for "their American leader" and delighted the local crowd with pointed, humorous remarks reassuring everyone that Canada is strictly not for sale. Dave showered Montreal with genuine affection, admitting he admired the city's unique charm—even cracking that waking up to a view of Leonard Cohen right outside his window (presumably at the Four Seasons) was an absolute highlight of his stay.
When the spotlight shifted to Will Arnett, the conversation covered a rich catalog of comedy history. Arnett reflected on his career milestones, moving seamlessly from his hit podcast SmartLess alongside Jason Bateman and Sean Hayes, to his iconic turns on Arrested Development, his extensive voice-acting repertoire, his time married to SNL legend Amy Poehler, and the existential depth of his character on BoJack Horseman. The interview went deeper as Arnett opened up about his upbringing, touching on his boarding school days, his father’s past role as CEO of Molson Brewery, and a brief mention on his journey with sobriety and AA.
Letterman and Arnett capped off the night with a classic late-night staple: a tailored Top 10 list of "Things That Sound Cool When Will Arnett Says It," where Will Arnett read a list of 10 phrases in his infamous Will Arnett voice.
To send everyone off, Paul Shaffer then tore into a high-energy performance of Bachman-Turner Overdrive's "Taking Care of Business"—complete with a hilarious, localized twist when they launched into a second rendition featuring French lyrics, singing: "Nous on gère des affaires."
For diehard Letterman fans, it was an unbeatable opportunity to watch a legendary master do what he does best: interview, banter, and bring unadulterated joy to a room.
Rating: 10/10