About Bumpers

Television shows use images, animations, photographs or graphics before and after commercials as a way of identifying to the channel surfing viewer which show they are watching — and to create a cushion between the show and commercials. These images are called bumpers. In broadcasting, if a local affiliate switched from a local spot back to the network’s show and was off by a second or two, bumpers close that gap.

Over 11 years from 1982-1992, Karzen photographed a series of slice of life New York moments that punctuated segments and guests on Late Night with David Letterman. 

This work is all pre-digital, predates Photoshop and everything was shot on 35mm and 120 film cameras. 

Graphics art director Bob Pook, graphics producer Edd Hall and Karzen set off into the night over the years to find as many possible ways to integrate the Late Night with David Letterman name into New York life.

These Bumpers challenged viewers to find where and how the show title was integrated into an image as they were only on screen for 3 seconds at a time.  

Sometimes they brought props that we put in camera. But for many images, the team of designers, Bill Shortridge, Arlen Schumer and Bob Pook prepared the prints with rub-on type, glued on polaroids, air brush and markers onto the mounted chromogenic master C-prints. 

Finally, Dave had approval of all images before they made the airwaves.

©Marc Karzen photographs ©1982-2024 - LATE NIGHT WITH DAVID LETTERMAN copyright NBCUniversal Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved - David Letterman by permission Worldwide Pants Incorporated. All Rights Reserved - NOT FOR REPRODUCTION IN ANY FORM WITHOUT PERMISSION.