TV-14
2021
Documentaries
Pop Culture & Celebrities
Inventing Late Night TV
Season 1, Episode 1
: At the dawn of the TV era, Steve Allen's zany spontaneity turns "Tonight" into an unexpected hit. But in the early 1960s, Jack Paar's quirky personality and Johnny Carson's impeccably hip humor transform late night into an enduring television staple.
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About the Series
The Story of Late Night
Over its 60-year history of engaging with, adapting to and influencing our society, late-night TV has grown from a "shot-in-the-dark" experiment into a thriving entertainment phenomenon and a vitally important, uniquely American cultural institution.
SEASON EPISODES FROM EXISTING SERIES ENDPOINT
Episodes
1. Inventing Late Night TV
Steve Allen's zany spontaneity turned "Tonight" into an unexpected hit, but Jack Paar and Johnny Carson transformed it into a television staple.
2. Carson: King of Late Night
Johnny Carson deftly navigated the turbulent 1960s to elevate "The Tonight Show" and became the undisputed king of late night.
3. Eyes on the Throne
In the 1980s, David Letterman reinvents late night for a new generation, and endless speculation begins on who would be Johnny Carson's successor.
4. Letterman vs. Leno
Johnny Carson's 1992 retirement kicks off an epic late-night war between Leno and Letterman, while newcomers Conan O'Brien and Jimmy Kimmel emerge.
5. Making the Headlines
As the 2000s unfold, diverse voices like Chelsea Handler and George Lopez emerge. Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert take the news into their own hands.
6. Reinventing Late Night TV
Late-night TV confronts its biggest identity crisis thanks to streaming television and a highly polarized political landscape.
SEASON EPISODES FROM NEW GETSEASON ENDPOINT
Episodes
1. Inventing Late Night TV
Steve Allen's zany spontaneity turned "Tonight" into an unexpected hit, but Jack Paar and Johnny Carson transformed it into a television staple.
2. Carson: King of Late Night
Johnny Carson deftly navigated the turbulent 1960s to elevate "The Tonight Show" and became the undisputed king of late night.
3. Eyes on the Throne
In the 1980s, David Letterman reinvents late night for a new generation, and endless speculation begins on who would be Johnny Carson's successor.
4. Letterman vs. Leno
Johnny Carson's 1992 retirement kicks off an epic late-night war between Leno and Letterman, while newcomers Conan O'Brien and Jimmy Kimmel emerge.
5. Making the Headlines
As the 2000s unfold, diverse voices like Chelsea Handler and George Lopez emerge. Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert take the news into their own hands.
6. Reinventing Late Night TV
Late-night TV confronts its biggest identity crisis thanks to streaming television and a highly polarized political landscape.
Season 1, Episode 1 - Inventing Late Night TV
Starring:
Steve Allen, Johnny Carson, Jack Paar
Directors:
John Ealer
Writers:
John Ealer
Producers:
David Brady, Kate Harrison Karman
Release Year:
2021
Rating Information:
TV-14
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