- 12 hours ago
Late-night TV has given us unforgettable hosts who either left us wanting more or simply overstayed their welcome. From iconic comedy legends to fresh new faces, some runs were cut short too soon, while others dragged on a bit longer than they should have. Get ready for a look at hosts who shaped late night and the timings that made all the difference for their shows and fans alike.
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00:00I will be stepping down as the host of this show.
00:04Thanks, everybody. That was quite convincing.
00:08Welcome to Ms. Mojo.
00:10And today, we're counting down our picks for the five hosts that should have stayed in Late Night
00:15and the five who overstayed their welcome.
00:18Here's to the next 12 months, and it's going to be a blast.
00:21I promise you that. We'll be right back with more of the Late Late Show, everybody.
00:26Number five, Too Soon, Stephen Colbert.
00:30Making a name for himself on The Colbert Report, Stephen Colbert has been a fixture on TV for years.
00:36His Comedy Central role took a jab at conservative media,
00:40with Colbert playing up the comic persona that he honed on The Daily Show.
00:44Hello, friend. I'm sorry I can't help you.
00:47See, John and I are very happy living off the grid, making jerky, and canning our own urine for the
00:53end times.
00:53He then dropped the character and joined the Late Show as a successor to David Letterman.
00:58The presenter had big shoes to fill, but he made the gig his own in a fun follow-up for
01:03late-night fans.
01:05His network gig further explored the line between absurd comedy and political commentary.
01:10I just want to give you the opportunity.
01:12Is there anybody you'd like to apologize to right now yourself?
01:16Uh, no.
01:18No?
01:19Maybe the audience.
01:20I don't want to apologize at all.
01:21To the shock of viewers everywhere, CBS announced Colbert's show would end prematurely in 2026.
01:28The company cited financial concerns, but plenty of other people think it's politically motivated.
01:33Not just the end of our show, but it's the end of the Late Show on CBS.
01:38I'm not being replaced.
01:39This is all just going away.
01:41Number five, Too Long, Chevy Chase.
01:43Starting with the first season of SNL, Chevy Chase became a comedic powerhouse almost overnight.
01:50Former Governor Ronald Reagan spoke out against marijuana, abortion, equal rights amendment,
01:55busing, and gun control legislation.
01:57When asked what he was for, Reagan replied, quote, hair dye, unquote.
02:01He then left for a movie career of both successes and failures.
02:06Venturing back into TV, Chase attempted to become a Johnny Carson clone with his own talk program in 1993.
02:12It just isn't funny.
02:14I didn't laugh once except at his hair.
02:18And that's why I predict right here and now that my show is going to kick Ted Koppel's ass.
02:24His show revealed that he's much better on Weekend Update than as a normal presenter.
02:28Wearing a suit and trying to chat up guests, the comedian looked stifled by the concept and out of his
02:34element.
02:37I've also been bald.
02:39Yeah?
02:39In more ways than one, but I'm talking about my hair.
02:45Well, that makes one of us.
02:46The Chevy Chase show didn't make it past 29 episodes on the Fox network.
02:51With all the talk about his personal behavior, the actor's post-talk show career and overall reputation remains contentious.
02:58Number four.
02:59Too soon.
03:00Taylor Tomlinson.
03:01The show At Midnight with Chris Hardwick transformed the late night format into a game.
03:07Several years later, Taylor Tomlinson hosted a reboot called After Midnight.
03:12We'll pick one of our favorites and feature them on tomorrow's show.
03:15And don't forget to tag us at After Midnight.
03:17Now it's time for commercials.
03:19Yeah, I said it.
03:19I'm a comedian and a truth teller.
03:22It allowed for various comedians to talk about pop culture and make fun of the headlines.
03:28Tomlinson had a bubbly nature and a quick wit that meshed well with the guests.
03:32In this game, I'm going to say a thing and you're going to tell me, is that thing still cool?
03:37If I agree with you, then it is cool and you get points.
03:39Don't like it?
03:40Get your own show.
03:41The show appeared in 2024 and only lasted until 2025.
03:46It then went the way of many promising ventures, closing up shop before reaching its fullest potential.
03:52Here's hoping Tomlinson gets another chance to shine outside of her comedy specials.
03:56Thank you so much to the staff and crew of After Midnight for having me as your host.
04:01Thank you, CPS, for letting me do this for 200 episodes.
04:05Number 4.
04:06Too Long.
04:07Craig Kilbourne.
04:08For those that remember Craig Kilbourne, they might consider him to be the host of any number of shows.
04:13Have you ever done an interview where that sitcom that you were on was not mentioned?
04:19Never!
04:20Congratulations, that is correct.
04:21His time at SportsCenter predated a gig at The Daily Show before Jon Stewart took over the latter program.
04:27He later hosted The Late Late Show before Craig Ferguson's run.
04:31In each case, he did a fine job, but was arguably outmatched by his successor.
04:37I'm proud of you.
04:39I'm going to miss you.
04:40Maybe I'll see you down the road, but I am in a very good mood.
04:42I'm very happy.
04:43In fact, all I want to do is dance, dance, dance.
04:48His subtle, dry humor worked in some cases and fell flat in others.
04:53You could call his late night stints fun footnotes or just a way of keeping the seat warm for other
04:58performers.
04:59Kilbourne might have made an impact on his own terms, but other entertainers seemed destined to replace him.
05:04The Late Show guys now have to do some politics and social commentary.
05:07They all do a great job.
05:08Doesn't interest me.
05:10So, and it worked out perfectly because that was kind of, for me, it was an easy show to leave.
05:16You know what I'm saying?
05:17And there it is.
05:18Number three.
05:19Too Soon.
05:20Arsenio Hall.
05:21In a field of mostly white men, Arsenio Hall provided a new voice on late night TV.
05:27He emerged in the 1980s as an important and funny addition to a stale formula.
05:32I understand where you're coming from.
05:33Yeah, but you know what the judge say?
05:36Mama said, lock you up.
05:38Now, rap that.
05:39He had a much different style than Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show, creating a party atmosphere with a wide
05:45array of celebrities, musicians, and athletes.
05:48Incredible musicians.
05:50I mean.
05:50Oh, Nat Adley Jr., Marcus Miller is back there.
05:52I mean, it's all that stuff you see when you read the back of the album.
05:55They all here.
05:56His show is still referenced as culturally significant and full of unforgettable moments, such as Bill Clinton playing the saxophone.
06:04While the comedian had a brief revival of the talk show, it didn't stick around for long.
06:09Hall's larger legacy makes it seem like he was on TV for much longer.
06:13I want to thank my son.
06:15I love you, buddy.
06:16When I say your name, I almost cry.
06:18You better be in bed, though.
06:20If you hear this, you're in trouble.
06:22Number three, Too Long, Johnny Carson.
06:25Johnny Carson is a legend, essentially reigning as the favorite late-night host for three decades.
06:30He also ran the risk of sticking around for too long.
06:34Why should you always wear a mask when sticking up a liquor store?
06:43In this case, they're right.
06:45It might be controversial to say, but Carson likely overstayed his welcome in a changing comedy landscape.
06:51He ended his career as acts like David Letterman and Arsenio Hall were becoming more popular.
06:56On SNL, he also became a punchline thanks to Dana Carvey's impression.
07:01That's very nice.
07:02That band is terrific.
07:04Anyway, we are back.
07:05And, you know, I just realized that that's the last time I'll be saying we are back.
07:11It feels a little weird.
07:13The host bid a fond farewell to TV audiences in 1992, paving the way for countless imitators.
07:19He likely realized he was playing a younger man's game.
07:23This doesn't negate his extraordinary influence on the genre.
07:26Why don't you, what are you going to do after this?
07:28Why don't you run for Paul?
07:29Go, run for office, man.
07:30No, no, no, no, no.
07:31Yes!
07:32Go!
07:34Yes!
07:36How about it?
07:36No, no, they'll go.
07:38They'll go back when I was in high school and find out what Francine Corbin I did in the back
07:43of a 39 Chrysler, and that will come out the hall.
07:45Number two, too soon, Craig Ferguson.
07:49He might not have had the success of Leno or Letterman, but Craig Ferguson carved out his own piece of
07:55the late night pie.
07:56He grew a cult viewership through years of standing out as an interviewer and wacky host.
08:01You will read that in areas of the internet where truth is of absolutely no interest, and you will read
08:09that in the informed entertainment press where the truth is of absolutely no interest, but in bigger words.
08:15Ferguson's style only blossomed over time, with a robot skeleton and a fake horse eventually joining him on the show.
08:22Not only that, several moments of his career involved raw and moving discussions of serious issues.
08:27People are falling apart. People are dying. That Anna Nicole Smith woman, she died. It's not a joke. You know,
08:37it stops being funny that she's got a six-week-old kid or six-month-old kid. What the hell
08:42is that?
08:43He won a Peabody for his work on The Late Late Show, and his departure in 2014 disappointed many adoring
08:49fans.
08:50While he's gone on to do other work, his CBS show remains the stuff of legend, and can be found
08:55all over YouTube.
08:57I still have about another 150 or so, is it, Michael, of these? About another 150 or so of what
09:04I like to think is the strangest show on late night television.
09:08Number 2. Too Long. James Corden.
09:11When he first started at The Late Late Show in 2015, James Corden brought a bright and sunny energy to
09:17his hosting gig.
09:18He made a name for himself with content such as Carpool Karaoke and musicals on crosswalks.
09:23I'm in love with the shade party.
09:25You're pushing for like a knife.
09:27Grind on it.
09:27While he certainly went viral, he might have spread himself too thin with all of his comedy bits.
09:33News stories also suggested that Corden might have been a mean guy off camera.
09:37We're just some funny boys who like to spread some joy.
09:42You stop.
09:44Just talk about this.
09:45You're embarrassing your country.
09:46Okay. Sorry.
09:48The comedian later parted ways with CBS in 2023, but it's uncertain how much longer the show would have gone.
09:55He's likely another case of someone you either love or love to ignore.
09:59You are gonna be absolutely shocked at how we are gonna end this show.
10:04Guess what?
10:05We're gonna end with a song.
10:07I know! One of the chances! Come on back, everybody!
10:10Number 1. Too Soon.
10:12Conan O'Brien.
10:13Even though he started hosting back in 1993, Conan O'Brien stays relevant with youthful audiences.
10:20Drew, I'm sorry, but it's on the cue cards. I have to do as I'm told.
10:23Oh!
10:25It is!
10:26We don't lie on this show.
10:29Everything's written down for me.
10:30I see.
10:31The network is so scared.
10:32He acquired multiple generations of fans through his late night shows.
10:36The fiasco with The Tonight Show earned him a folk hero-like status, as many believed he was mistreated by
10:42NBC.
10:43I guess it's all over the internet. People are talking about the terms of my settlement and what's it all
10:49about.
10:49And the terms of my settlement, I'll be honest with you, say that I can't host another show for seven
10:54months.
10:54His stint at TBS let him play around with the format even more.
10:58The Conan Show wrapped up in 2021, but a podcast and a travel program let him expand his comedy reach.
11:05That's scary. How about, how about, um...
11:08What's scary? What scared you?
11:10Well, that big, that huge globe. Look at that.
11:13That's the moon!
11:14Yeah, but I've never seen it that close.
11:15You've never seen the moon before?
11:16The host continues to win over viewers as a multi-year Oscar presenter.
11:21As one of the more loved members of the late night community, O'Brien would be welcomed by audiences in
11:26any medium.
11:27It's not easy to do, but try. Try and do what you love with people you love.
11:34And if you can manage that, it's the definition of heaven on earth. I swear to God, it really is.
11:39So good night! Thank you very much!
12:07Number 1. Too Long.
12:10Jay Leno.
12:11Taking over for Johnny Carson, Jay Leno became the Tonight Show host in the early 1990s.
12:16I felt so bad about this that, you know...
12:20What do you have there?
12:20Well, it's a little thing. Last week, you know...
12:23Why do I think I should go to commercial right now?
12:25No, no.
12:25He developed a rivalry with David Letterman, and his future dust-up with Conan O'Brien didn't sit well with
12:30viewers either.
12:32On the air, his non-confrontational style worked well enough to keep his ratings up.
12:36Alternative audiences and younger fans might have disagreed,
12:39but this comedian offered up effective material that played well to middle America.
12:44And it's great for the children, and we have breakfast together, and spend weekends together,
12:48and we get on brilliantly.
12:50And that's it, eh?
12:50It's very good for the children.
12:52Yeah.
12:52And does it help out mommy once in a while?
12:54Watching back old clips, you might be hit by how ordinary it all seems.
12:58It only made things worse that he chose to stay on TV and participate in the media debacle at NBC
13:03in the 2010s.
13:05Despite his proficiency in the genre, Leno should have stepped aside long before he left late night.
13:10But it really is time to go, hand it off to the next guy.
13:15It really is.
13:15And in closing, I want to quote Johnny Carson, who was the greatest guy to ever do this job.
13:21And he said, I bid you all a heartfelt...
13:25Did we forget your favorite late night host?
13:28Let us know in the comments.
13:29Let us know in the comments.
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