Letterman Substitutes Get Their Assignments

It will be something old and something new on “Late Show With David Letterman” next week.

Charles Grodin, Regis Philbin and bandleader Paul Shaffer will conduct fresh interviews with guests of past programs, having the celebrities reflect on those appearances, executive producer Rob Burnett said Friday.

Titled “Late Show Backstage,” the current schedule calls for Grodin to chat with Julia Roberts and Philbin on Monday. Other slated guests are Jerry Seinfeld and Danny DeVito (Tuesday), Bruce Willis (Wednesday), Bill Cosby and Sarah Jessica Parker (Thursday) and Steve Martin (Friday).

“The people slotted in are huge celebrities,” said Burnett during a conference call with reporters. “They’re also real friends of the show who have done fantastic things for us in the past.

“These have been people we’ve relied on. I’m touched by their generosity,” said Burnett, who is uncertain what the length of the segments may be.

The trio of interviewers will talk about Letterman, who is recovering from quintuple bypass heart surgery, segue into memorable moments from the show, with the celebrities watching their original appearances and then commenting on their experiences.

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None of the material will be scripted comedy. The goal, Burnett said, is to “get something real. The most important thing is that this doesn’t turn into a love fest for Dave. We hope it’ll be funny and interesting.”

Each show will have a backstage feel. “Very simple, very basic, very minimalist,” explained Burnett, who said next week’s programs probably will be rounded out with old Top 10 lists but not taped in front of an audience.

Burnett was uncertain how long this format would continue because it’s “turning out to be a big undertaking.”

As for Letterman’s return to “Late Show,” Burnett said, “Dave’s doing great and exercising,” but initial reports of Feb. 14 “have been overstated. There certainly is not a schedule for Dave to come back on the 14th,” though the possibility has not been ruled out.

“He wants to return now,” Burnett said. “He can’t wait to come back. We’re just waiting for doctors to say this is the right time.”

Meanwhile, Burnett is not opposed to guest hosts. “We haven’t gotten into that conversation. It should be somebody we have a relationship with.”

Burnett jokingly told Letterman earlier this week that he’s turned the Ed Sullivan Theater, the show’s nightly setting, into a Mexican restaurant. “Just make sure the fajitas sizzle,” Letterman replied.