FIRST OFF . . .

Big Dave is coming back--with or without his gaggle of gag writers. Starting Tuesday night, NBC’s “Late Night With David Letterman” is going back on the air with new shows, according to the show’s co-executive producer, Jack Rollins. The first show--starting at 12:45 a.m. Pacific time due to Wimbledon highlights--will feature Laker coach Pat Riley and rocker Graham Parker. And Letterman’s head writer, Steve O’Donnell, says the show will go on with the writers’ blessing--even if they are still out on strike. “We’ve been having meetings all week and we’ve decided the best thing is to get the show on the air,” O’Donnell said. Rollins cited “the importance of keeping our staff together” and “(our) duty to our audience” as the reasons for Letterman’s comeback. The producer added that the show will “comply with guidance from the (striking Writers) Guild for the duration of the strike.”