Episode 146: Stupid Pet Tricks with Ben Zelevansky

The Letterman Podcast

Today’s episode highlights a beloved segment of the Letterman mythos we’ve been wanting to explore for quite some time… Stupid Pet Tricks! Our guest is none other than Ben Zelevansky, who coordinated this legendary segment for Late Show with David Letterman. An actor, writer, and more, Ben’s career in show business kicked off during his formative years working for Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Saturday Night Live, and of course, Late Show with David Letterman. Ben started as an intern at Late Show and was hired full-time, helping to produce the iconic Stupid Pet Tricks segment. He and Mike have a fantastic conversation, where Mike digs deep into how the process worked back then—finding, vetting, and putting together this unforgettable, unique part of the show. Ben shares tons of behind-the-scenes stories about taking on the role, the adventures he embarked on during this incredible time in his life, and even the story of how he met his wife while working on the show! For licensed Late Show with David Letterman merchandise, check out Hello-Deli.com—where else can you find a Rupert Jee mug to sip from while you watch your favorite episodes? And hey, if you’ve got a minute, we’d love for you to like, share, subscribe, and leave us some glowing feedback (our egos need it). #StupidPetTricks #BenZelevansky #DavidLetterman #LateShow #ComedyLegends #LateNightTV #LettermanPodcast #HelloDeli #BehindTheScenes #TVHistory