The Story of Late Night

At the dawn of the TV era in the 1950s, Steve Allen's zany spontaneity turns Tonight into a hilarious and unexpected hit. But in the early 1960s, it's Jack Paar's captivating, quirky personality and Johnny Carson's impeccably hip humor that transform late night into an enduring television staple.

Johnny Carson deftly navigates the turbulent 1960s to elevate The Tonight Show into a cultural touchstone, enshrining himself as the undisputed king of late night. His success begets competition with the emergence of Dick Cavett and Merv Griffin.

As the 1980s dawn, David Letterman reinvents late night comedy for a new generation , rescuing comedian Jay Leno's nearly flamed-out career in the process. But Johnny Carson's enduring comic appeal spawns endless speculation over his eventual successor.

Carson's 1992 retirement touches a nation – and touches off an epic late-night war between Jay Leno and David Letterman.

As the 2000s unfold, diverse voices like Chelsea Handler and George Lopez get their seat behind the late-night desk, while Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert take the news into their own hilarious hands.

Jimmy Fallon, Stephen Colbert, and Trevor Noah follow in Leno, Letterman, and Stewart's footsteps, and new hosts James Corden, Seth Meyers, Samantha Bee, Amber Ruffin, and Desus + Mero confront Donald Trump – and COVID-19.