David Letterman makes surprise appearance onstage in S.A.

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SAN ANTONIO - Here's Dave.

Late-night talk show legend David Letterman made his first public appearance since retiring in May onstage Friday night at the Majestic Theatre with Steve Martin and Martin Short. The appearance had not been announced prior to the comedy concert.

A bearded Letterman stunned the house by walking on and joining Martin and Short for the last part of the show. Those lucky enough to be in the audience even got to hear Letterman do a Top Ten list about Donald Trump (he conveniently had the list in his coat pocket) and praise the "beautiful city of San Antonio" and the Spurs.

Musician John Agather was in the audience.

"I couldn't believe it when they introduced him. And then he walked out," Agather said.

The comedy show was billed as "Steve Martin & Martin Short: A Very Stupid Conversation." "The Three Amigos" would've been just as accurate. Onstage, Martin and Short were seated in two comfy chairs. Letterman was given a cheap, generic one (he later complained about it). He sat in the middle after bantering with the stars.

Agather said the comedians explained that they'd been planning such an appearance. "He shared stories. It was cool, very improv."

But the line of the night came when Martin was on banjo and Short was on stage with the two trying to top each other: "Top that, (expletive)!"

Steve Martin later tweeted: "A big night for Marty and me in San Antonio. Surprise guest, David Letterman."

On Saturday morning, Grammy-winning record producer Michael Morales, who was in the audience with his wife, Barbra (who got the tickets as a birthday gift for her husband), was still stunned at what they'd witnessed.

"I still think it didn't happen and that I dreamt it," Morales said. "People went crazy. Steve Martin explained how this was a big deal."

Morales said there was a slight delay before Letterman walked onstage and that he thought Martin was making a sarcastic joke when he introduced him. For the first few seconds, Letterman's headset microphone didn't work. But then it did.

"He had some great zingers," Morales said.

His wife, Barbra, went to social media on Friday afterward. She posted her first impressions on Facebook: "Surreal. I just started crying out of shock. Michael actually had a tear roll down his cheek, as well. Amazing. Just as funny as ever -- and dare I say, funnier than the headliners?"

Rolling Stone.com posted a video of Letterman's Top Ten list from a fan in the crowd. Click here.

Hsaldana@express-news.net