Late Night with Conan O'Brien

Guide Note

Late Night with Conan O'Brien is a late night comedy/talk show hosted by comedian and writer Conan O'Brien.

Late Night was originally hosted by David Letterman. In the early 1990s, Letterman wished to succeed the retiring Johnny Carson as host of The Tonight Show. NBC had other plans, however, and announced Jay Leno would be the new host. Letterman reacted by leaving for CBS, taking his skits, his gags, his taglines, and all the other things that had made Late Night a hit with him.

Letterman left big shoes to fill. Dana Carvey and Gary Shandling both turned down the hosting position on Late Night, and Jon Stewart and Drew Carey did not make it through the audition process. Lorne Michaels, the Saturday Night Live producer, suggested a little-known writer for the animated series The Simpsons for the job - a man named Conan O'Brien.

O'Brien's first several shows were described by many as a "trainwreck". O'Brien had no hosting experience, many of the writers were new, and, to put it charitably, the show was rough around the edges. NBC renewed O'Brien's contract every thirteen weeks for the first three years, constantly leaving him in suspense as to whether he'd have his job in four months' time. Slowly but surely, however, the show found its feet, and ratings improved.

Late Night with Conan O'Brien was so successful that, when O'Brien's contract came up for renewal in 2002, other networks tried to wrest him away. O'Brien re-signed with NBC. In 2004, it was announced that O'Brien was the heir to the post Letterman was denied - host of The Tonight Show, beginning in 2009.

On April 24, 2008, Variety and The Hollywood Reporter announced that Jimmy Fallon would replace Conan O'Brien as host of Late Night in 2009.

Fast Facts

1. Network: NBC
2. Airs: Monday-Friday, 12:35AM ET
3. Current Season: 15
4. First Aired: 1993
5. Starring: Conan O'Brien, Max Weinberg and the Max Weinberg 7 and Joel Godard
6. Originally created to replace Late Night with David Letterman after David Letterman moved to CBS
7. Created by Lorne Michaels of Saturday Night Live fame
8. Originated Triumph the Insult Comic Dog
9. Conan O'Brien will take over NBC's The Tonight Show in 2009
10. Jimmy Fallon will take over Late Night