Late Show with David Letterman Season 8 Episode 22 Gabriel Byrne, Kevin James

Gabriel Byrne, the Irish actor and director, graced the Late Show with David Letterman stage on season 8, episode 22. Byrne has a varied resume with roles in films such as "The Usual Suspects" and "Miller's Crossing" and television shows like "Vikings" and "In Treatment." Byrne's conversation with Letterman was lively and light-hearted as he discussed his travels and the many wonderful restaurants he has dined at in New York City.

The second guest of the night was Kevin James, the comedian and actor best known for his role on the sitcom "The King of Queens" and films like "Paul Blart: Mall Cop" and "Grown Ups." James arrived on stage to talk about his new sitcom "Kevin Can Wait," which centers around a retired police officer whose plans for a relaxing retirement are upended by the arrival of his daughter and her family.

Letterman was in top form throughout the episode, peppering both guests with witty observations and jokes. Byrne and James were comfortable and at ease, playing off of each other and getting laughs from the audience. There were no shortage of funny anecdotes from both guests, including Byrne's tale of being mistaken for a restaurant critic and James' hilarious description of trying to keep up with his young daughters.

As with all Late Show episodes, there were plenty of other segments sprinkled throughout the show. The monologue was topical and sharp, with Letterman riffing on everything from politics to celebrity gossip. Later in the show, Letterman showed clips from the show's "Stump the Band" segment, where a selected audience member gets to challenge the house band to play an obscure song.

One of the highlights of the episode was a pre-taped segment where Letterman showed clips of a recent presidential debate but with different commentary dubbed over by the Late Show staff. The result was a hilarious rendition of the debate that had the audience in stitches.

Another fun segment involved Letterman surprising members of the audience by bringing them backstage to meet the guests. The excited fans were visibly thrilled to meet Byrne and James, with some even getting to ask them questions on air.

Overall, season 8, episode 22 of the Late Show with David Letterman was a rollicking good time. Byrne and James were both engaging guests who brought plenty of laughs to the show. Letterman was at his best, effortlessly steering the show through various segments while keeping the conversation flowing with his guests. It was an episode that left the audience wanting more.