“It was so cold in New York that, in Central Park, I saw a squirrel salting his nuts”

Television’s Late Show with David Letterman (1993-2015) was based in New York City, and there were many New York City jokes. David Letterman told this joke on January 23, 2004, as posted to the newsgroup alt.fan.letterman on January 24, 2004:
 
“And on my lunch hour today, I’m walking through Central Park. And I just [wanted] to see for myself how cold it is. Honest to God, I actually saw this: I saw a squirrel ... It’s so cold, and icy, right now ... I saw a squirrel in Central Park—and I told Paul, when this happened—I saw a squirrel ... salting his nuts.”
 
       
Famous Quote From: David Letterman
It’s so cold in New York City. Today in Central Park, I saw a squirrel salting his nuts.
– David Letterman
 
Google Groups: alt.fan.letterman
Fri. 1/23 Big Show Synopsis and Lame Contest
Brady
1/24/04
Here’s how I saw last night’s show ...
Monologue ... Highlights: “Are you people cold? It’s crazy cold here in New York City. For like the last six weeks ... And we don’t know whether it’s a cold spell, or a cold snap. But it’s ... unbelievably brutal. Let me give you an idea of how cold it is here in New York City. It’s so cold, that Puff Daddy has changed his name from P. Diddy ... to ‘Frozen P.’”
 
“And on my lunch hour today, I’m walking through Central Park. And I just [wanted] to see for myself how cold it is. Honest to God, I actually saw this: I saw a squirrel ... It’s so cold, and icy, right now ... I saw a squirrel in Central Park—and I told Paul, when this happened—I saw a squirrel ... salting his nuts.”
 
Twitter
Brandon Medley
@brandmed
Letterman:  So cold today I saw a squirrel salting his nuts.
11:37 PM - 2 Mar 2009
     
Twitter
Sven Rump
@SvenRump
It’s so cold in New York, today I saw a squirrel salting his nuts. #DavidLetterman
5:08 PM - 30 Dec 2009
 
Twitter
T.J.
@TJ_Breeden
“its so cold out there, I saw a squirrel puttin’ salt on his nuts!!”—david letterman
11:54 PM - 10 Feb 2010
   
Twitter
Lida Piompino
@lidapiompino
“It’s so cold outside, I saw a squirrel putting salt on his nuts.” - David Letterman
7:29 AM - 23 Jan 2011
 
Twitter
weatherbuzzwords
@weatherbuzzword
“It’s so cold in New York City. Today in Central Park, I saw a squirrel salting his nuts.” -David Letterman #wxtwitter
10:39 PM - 10 Sep 2018