The Story of Late Night

TV-14

2021

Documentaries

Pop Culture & Celebrities

Letterman vs. Leno

Season 1, Episode 4

: Carson's 1992 retirement touches a nation, and touches off an epic late-night war between Jay Leno and David Letterman. But it's newcomers Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Kimmel and Jon Stewart who change late night's sense of humor forever.

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The Story of Late Night

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.

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SEASON EPISODES FROM EXISTING SERIES ENDPOINT

Episodes

Season 1

Inventing Late Night TV

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.

Carson: King of Late Night

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.

Eyes on the Throne

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.

Letterman vs. Leno

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.

Making the Headlines

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.

Reinventing Late Night TV

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

Season 1

Inventing Late Night TV

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.

Carson: King of Late Night

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.

Eyes on the Throne

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.

Letterman vs. Leno

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.

Making the Headlines

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.

Reinventing Late Night TV

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 4 - Letterman vs. Leno

Starring: 

Johnny Carson, Jimmy Kimmel, Jay Leno, David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Jon Stewart

Directors: 

John Ealer

Writers: 

John Ealer

Producers: 

David Brady, Kate Harrison Karman

Release Year: 

2021

Rating Information: 

TV-14

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