Drew Barrymore Reenacts Letterman Striptease for Stephen Colbert
“Literally my biggest crush growing up was David Letterman,” remembers Drew Barrymore, “so I think I just wanted to do something silly for him.”
Barrymore says she had no idea what she was doing when she hopped on Letterman’s desk and surprised him with a birthday flash, one of the Late Show’s iconic moments. “I was on a runaway train called spontaneity,” she told Jon Foss in 2021. “I’m glad that Dave went with it because Dave’s tricky. He could have turned on me in that moment, and he had my back in a moment where I did not know what I was doing.”
But that was a long time ago. “Now I’m so appropriate,” she told Foss. “I would never do anything like that now.”
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Never say never, Drew. On last night’s appearance in the Ed Sullivan Theater alongside Stephen Colbert, she teased guests for the upcoming sixth season of her talk show, including her former crush. As she surveyed the studio, she sighed wistfully. “I mean, I have spent time here with David Letterman.”
“You have,” giggled schoolboy Colbert. “I am only mildly insulted you’ve never gotten on (my) desk.”
That was the opening Barrymore needed. “Do you want me to do a little dance for you?”
She rose to her feet, ready to shimmy, as a blushing Colbert protested and guided her back into her seat. “It was just a joke, I promise you!” he stammered, the crowd erupting in anticipation of an impromptu striptease. “No, next time! Next time! Later!”
Too late. Barrymore peeled off her pinstriped jacket, revealing a sequined “I (Heart) Stephen” stitched into the back of her button-down blouse. Barefoot in a floor-length skirt, Barrymore hopped on Colbert’s desk and swayed her hips as the band joined in. After nearly hopping backwards off the furniture, Barrymore got down on all fours and prowled the desk like a cat, a silly/steamy parody of her earlier dance. There’d be no flashing in 2025. “It’s different now,” she laughed. “It’s different now.”
“Well, Drew,” Colbert said, adjusting his fogging spectacles, “I’m afraid that’s all we have time for.”
Barrymore laid back on the desk and gazed up at Colbert, who put a hand on her forehead to detect a possible fever.
“Tell me where the pain is, Drew.”
