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Fans Fly in From All Over U.S. to Attend David Letterman's Final Show

By  Sybile Penhirin and Ben Fractenberg | May 20, 2015 3:51pm | Updated on May 21, 2015 10:02am

 Fans lucky enough to score tickets to David Letterman's last show started lining up outside the studio Wednesday morning. 
David Letterman Last Show
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MIDTOWN — David Letterman fans flocked to NYC from all over the country to catch the host's final broadcast Wednesday. 

Atlanta residents Angela and Glen Stanton found out Monday they scored tickets to the "Late Show" after requesting them roughly two weeks ago. The married couple, who both grew up near Letterman's home state of Indiana and are around the performer's age, immediately ran out and had shirts made reading "Thanks Dave." 

"We're both from the Midwest, and he has a dry Midwest sense of humor," Angela said while the couple was waiting in line outside the "Late Show" studio at about noon. "It's a priceless experience." 

The final "Late Show" broadcast will be an hour "filled with surprises, memorable highlights, the show's final Top Ten List and more," CBS said in a press release. 

The famously ornery host announced his retirement in April after spearheading the New York City-based talk show on CBS for the past 21 years. Letterman is retiring after 33 years in late night television, 6,028 broadcasts and nearly 20,000 total guest appearances, according to the network. During his years hosting the "Late Show," Letterman interviewed a range of guests ranging from Madonna to President Barack Obama.

"It's very sad to see him go," said Tom Barlow, an artist who was painting the outside of the studio on Wednesday morning. "I wish he could stay longer. He's a master of his craft now. It's the end of an era."

Barlow said he's been coming to the show entrance for almost three weeks to paint live scenes capturing the atmosphere of Letterman's last shows. He said he hoped to sell his paintings after the show's finale.

Clinton Kimmel, 25, flew in from Los Angeles for the final show along with his brother, James Kimmel, 29, of Waco, Texas. 

"He changed the genre," Clinton said. "He started doing crazy stuff." 

The brothers said they hoped such classic guests as Billy Crystal and former late night rival Jay Leno might make appearances. 

Cobble Hill resident Steven Landis, 49, who has been to three "Late Show" tapings, said he appreciated Letterman's sardonic style. 

"I started watching him in high school. It met my needs with my high school mentality," Landis, a lawyer, joked. "It's silly, offbeat." 

He added that he saw Letterman's style as capturing the spirit of NYC. 

"Dave represents a certain New York City mentality we allow others to watch," Landis said.