Late Show UK

CNBC Europe have made changes to their schedules this week, and as of yesterday (1st February) they are no longer airing The Tonight Show With Jay Leno according to the latest TV listings.

Jay Leno’s long-running talk show is replaced by Late Night With Jimmy Fallon on CNBC Europe.

Late Night With Jimmy Fallon replaces all airings of The Tonight Show on the channel – the 11pm Monday-Friday timeslot (in a cutdown 30-minute timeslot) and the rerun slots on Saturdays & Sundays at 8pm and 8.45pm (full length 45-minute shows).

Fallon’s talk show will air on a one-show delay from NBC like The Tonight Show has done previously.

CNBC Europe have a brand new page for Late Night With Jimmy Fallon on their website – click here. Their former page for The Tonight Show With Jay Leno has been removed from the website.

For the latest CNBC Europe TV listings click here to visit The Guardian’s website.

CNBC Europe is available on Sky channel 505 and Virgin Media channel 613.

Click here for our Where To Watch page for further details on how to watch your favourite talk shows.

David Letterman celebrates his 30th anniversary in late night tomorrow (1st February).

Letterman started his late night talk show career at NBC on the 1st February 1982 hosting Late Night With David Letterman which aired after The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.

He then left NBC when he didn’t get The Tonight Show hosting job (which of course as we all know went to Jay Leno).

His CBS talk show the Late Show With David Letterman was brought on air on the 30th August 1993 and has run alongside NBC rival show The Tonight Show With Jay Leno ever since (apart from the short stint where Conan O’Brien took over The Tonight Show from Jay).

NY Daily News reports “statisticians at CBS say that by Wednesday, Letterman will have hosted 5,443 shows and welcomed 17,904 guests in three decades”.

To mark the special event friend of the show (and radio broadcaster) Howard Stern will be a guest on the Late Show tomorrow night. This will mark Howard’s 41st appearance on a Letterman show (his 21st appearance on CBS’s Late Show).

Another friend of the show Bill Murray will stop by on tonight’s show (31st January).

NY Daily News – “Howard Stern joins David Letterman as he marks 30th year in late-night TV land”

David Letterman looks set to renew his deal at CBS to keep him with the network through 2014. If this new CBS deal were to go through he would surpass his idol Johnny Carson’s 30-year run on late night TV.

The New York Times reports “according to executives who have been involved in discussions with Mr. Letterman’s production company, Worldwide Pants, a deal to remain on the air until 2014 is imminent. The executives said that CBS had authorized the company to make new agreements with the key members of Mr. Letterman’s staff, his producers and writers”.

It was thought Letterman would step down from the Late Show when his current contract runs out in August this year, but he’s made indications to people on the show that he wants to stay hosting the programme for a while longer.

Craig Ferguson, who hosts the Late Late Show every night following the Late Show, is also thought to be staying with CBS. The Drum says “The Scottish Daily Mail reports that Ferguson, who already earns more than £8million a year, could be involved in a ‘double the money’ multi-million pound deal”.

Ferguson would have to be happy staying in the 12.35am timeslot until 2014 though if he decides to stay at CBS hosting the Late Late Show. Also, there’s the possibility that Letterman changes his mind and leaves in August 2012 after all.

The New York Times reports Craig “does have a clause in his contract that would guarantee him the 11:35 show if Mr. Letterman chose to step down”.

The New York Times – “Deal Would Lead Letterman to a Late-Night Milestone”

Craig Ferguson is reportedly “in talks” to bring his popular late night CBS talk show the Late Late Show to Scotland for a week later this year.

According to The Daily Record “he has told friends he’s keen to return to Scotland in March and record a week’s worth of material at the place where it all began. He has enlisted the help of Fringe comedy impresario Karen Koren and contacted Tommy Sheppard at The Stand Comedy Club about appearing for a few dates this year”.

An insider told The Daily Record “he may record five shows here in a row around March with the possibility of a further few gigs at the Edinburgh Festival later in the year”.

The Daily Record – “Craig Ferguson to bring his hit US chat show to Scotland”

The Late Show’s big Christmas spectacular aired on the 23rd December. As always it was packed full of the usual Christmas fare.

Jay Thomas told his Lone Ranger story that we never grow tired of – one of the best anecdotes ever told. This year the story-telling had a bit of a twist with the addition of a video segment at the end of it featuring Dave as the Lone Ranger himself!

Dave and Jay threw footballs at the meatball & pizza on top of the Late Show Christmas tree for the annual Quarterback Challenge.

Darlene Love closed the show with another fantastic rendition of “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)”.

The annual messages from the US troops serving overseas were also a part of the show going into the commercial breaks.

As an added bonus former Frasier actor David Hyde Pierce stopped by to talk about his new theatre show on Broadway.

The only thing missing was Paul Shaffer’s Cher impression, but just look on YouTube and enjoy one from a previous year if you feel inclined.

On a sadder note, it was cameraman Dave Dorsett’s final Late Show as he was retiring after a long career with CBS. He’s been seen in many on-air segments over the years usually involving something happening with the camera (i.e. falling asleep when Dave is talking and having the camera dip down low, or saying he thought it was just a rehearsal and walking out of the theatre). I always loved these little segments with Dave Dorsett and he’ll be missed on the Late Show.

The Late Show Christmas show is always a highlight of the festive season for me. Watch some of the highlights below:

The big Christmas edition of the Late Show airs on Friday.

The usual traditions are expected, with Jay Thomas lined up for the annual Late Show Holiday Quarterback Challenge with Dave, and Darlene Love set to perform another stunning rendition of “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” which gets better every year.

The Late Show Christmas edition is always a festive treat!

23/12/2011 update: David Hyde Pierce has also now been confirmed as a guest for the big Christmas show.

Comedy Central UK have launched a minisite for The Daily Show With Jon Stewart.

There have been many frustrations for UK fans of The Daily Show in recent times – first the official website for The Daily Show on Comedy Central US blocked all clips if you were outside of the States, then the show was axed from More 4 so there was nowhere left to watch it.

The new minisite from Comedy Central UK provides clips of The Daily Show for UK viewers, but not full episodes yet.

In a news piece on the Comedy Central UK website, they say:

We know there’s a huge Daily Show fan base here in the UK but most of you can’t access the US video clips. Argh! Here’s where Comedy Central UK comes in.

As we don’t air the show on the channel, we can’t bring you full episodes online at present BUT every week we’ll be bringing you specially selected clips from each of the shows from the past 30 days including interviews with Jon’s special guests, The Daily Show 60 Second round ups and of course the Moments of Zen.

Click here to visit the new minisite.

Will The Daily Show be coming to Comedy Central UK on TV eventually? I hope so.