Late night television is defined as the block of time from 11 pm to 2 am. The gold standard for late night television had been The Tonight Show, which first aired on NBC in 1954. Originally hosted by Jack Parr, who passed the torch onto Johnny Carson in 1962, The Tonight Show consistently lead the ratings for late night viewing. When Jay Leno took over the show in 1992, the top ratings continued. Throughout the years, other networks have tried to mimic the success of The Tonight Show. Nearly every network now boasts at least one late night show. Some have had staying power. Others disappeared quickly from the late night scene.
News Concerning The Tonight Show on NBC
When NBC announced in 2008 that Leno would be leaving The Tonight Show, his replacement was quickly cast as Conan O'Brien. Leno's last Tonight Show aired on May 29, 2009.
Leno soon announced a return to television, but this time in prime time. His 10 pm talk show premiered in September 2009. NBC has just announced that they are pulling Leno's prime time show on February 11, 2010, just as they begin broadcasting the Winter Olympics. It is unclear what programming will fill the 10 pm slot following Olympic coverage. It is also unclear who will be hosting the Tonight Show. Currently, there are discussions among NBC's late night hosts about future plans. This group includes, Leno, O'Brien, Jimmy Fallon (Late night With Jimmy Fallon) and Carson Daly (Last Call With Carson Daly).
Late Night On CBS, ABC, and FOX
The other late night king has been David Letterman. Letterman began following The Tonight Show with Late Night in 1982. When NBC announced that Leno, not Letterman, would replace Carson, Letterman left NBC for CBS. The Late Show With David Letterman has been on CBS since 1993. Leno consistently beat out Letterman in the TV ratings. When O'Brien took over The Tonight Show, Letterman pulled ahead. He has maintained this position, even through the accusations of affairs with women employees, which captured headlines in the fall of 2009. The married Letterman, admitted, on the air, that the rumors were true and that someone was trying to extort two million dollars from him.
Following Letterman's show each night is "The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson". CBS is currently working to get signed contracts from both Letterman and Ferguson to continue in their slots through mid-2012.
Nightline is ABC's late-night news program, which airs opposite The Tonight Show and David Letterman. Nightline is followed by Jimmy Kimmel Live, which has consistently had good ratings in its time slot..
Wanda Sykes announced in October 2009 that she would host a late night show on Fox. Fox has been trying to break into late night television. TV insiders are buzzing with the idea that Conan O'Brien may leave NBC for Fox.
Late Night on Cable
Cable has jumped onto the late night talk show wagon as well. Comedy Central boasts two popular shows, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report. The year 2009 also brought George Lopez in for Lopez Tonight, Mo'Nique with a show on BET, and Chelsea handler hosts Chelsea Lately on E!. More cable outlets will surely tap into the late night market.
Stay up-to-date with the latest information about late night TV, with rosters of upcoming guests and an ongoing informational blog. While 2009 proved to be a rollercoaster year for late night, the start of 2010 has late night viewers back on the same ride.
Sources:
tvbythenumbers.com
interbridge.com
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