The Late Night Place To Be

This weekend I am hearing folks ask if all of late-night television is doomed? Stephen Colbert will be disappearing, but why is so much being made of this decision? Does late night television matter?

Broadway Open House was network television's first late-night comedy-variety series premiering on NBC back on May 29, 1950, It showed the potential for late night programming and led to The Tonight Show and eventually other similar programs.

Remember the nights when Johnny Carson was the last thing you saw on tv? There was such an incredible audience that eventually they continued the night with Tom Snyder who gave us some very memorable moments. When Snyder's 'Tomorrow' came to a close, Chevy Chase famously criticized NBC for cancelling the show. Late night tv didn't die though. Along came David Letterman.

Clips from many classic late night television moments are available on YouTube and from other sources and it is fun looking back at those memories.  Tom Snyder and Dick Cavett gave us some especially memorable conversations.  NBC has been doing it longer than the other networks, but there is now a great history for both ABC and CBS too.  I don't think it is ending any time soon, although there certainly will be more changes.

I can still remember Ed McMahan referring to The Tonight Show as "the late-night place to be."  When Johnny was hosting, it certainly was.  Late night television will still have a lot of offer, even if Stephen Colbert is gone.