Late Show UK

Sunday marked the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.

Everyone remembers the terrible events of that day in sunny New York as the World Trade Center was targeted, and the Pentagon in Washington was attacked, but do you recall how the talk shows handled the events after they came back on air many days after September 11th 2001?

The Late Show With David Letterman returned to CBS with its first new show since 9/11 on the 17th September 2001. Guests on the show were news anchor Dan Rather and TV personality (and regular Late Show favourite) Regis Philbin.

The most memorable part of this show (and also one of the most memorable in the history of the Late Show) was Dave’s very moving opening monologue talking about 9/11 and the people of New York:

News anchor Dan Rather was interviewed and famously asked Letterman to go to a commercial break when he broke down in tears part-way through the interview:

Regis Philbin was the final guest on this show:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart returned to Comedy Central with its first new show on the 20th September 2001 and provided another touching opening monologue similar to Letterman’s:

The Tonight Show With Jay Leno returned to NBC with its first new show around a week after the attacks. There still aren’t any video clips online for this episode but Wikipedia says:

“The first post-9/11 episode began with a still image of an American flag and a subdued opening without the usual opening credits. Leno’s monologue paid tribute to those who lost their lives and to firefighters, police and rescue workers across the US. Leno had questioned whether a show that regularly poked fun at the government could continue after the attacks, but in his monologue he explained that he saw the show as a respite from the grim news of the world, akin to a cookie or glass of lemonade handed to a firefighter. Senator John McCain and the musical group Crosby, Stills, and Nash were featured guests. For an extended period after the attack, a short clip of a large American flag waving was shown in between the announcement of the musical guest and Leno’s introduction during the opening montage”.

Late Night With Conan O’Brien returned at around the same time as The Tonight Show:

The nominations for the 2009 Emmy Awards have been announced.

Read the rest of this entry »

After 16 years (2,725 episodes) Late Night With Conan O’Brien ended on Friday 20th February 2009. The final week saw some of Conan’s favourite guests booked on the show – Bob Saget, Stephen Colbert, Nathan Lane, Martha Stewart, Jerry Seinfeld and even an appearance from Mayor of New York Michael Bloomberg. The final show saw The White Stripes perform. The final week was full of trips down memory lane with Conan looking back at some of the memorable moments from the past 16 years.

Other guests on the final show were former Late Night sidekick Andy Richter (saying “I told you you’d never last without me”), Will Ferrell with an impression of George W. Bush and John Mayer performing a song with the lyrics “LA’s gonna eat you alive” – a tongue-in-cheek lyric for Conan’s move to The Tonight Show.

In Conan’s final farewall speech at the end of Friday’s show he said he’d “never grow up” – a reference to how some people fear he may tame down his act for The Tonight Show. He said “it’s an incredible, amazing honor to do this show for you people… we’re going on to this next gig, and sometimes I read that it’s time for Conan to grow up because he’s going to 11:30… and I assure you, that’s just not going to happen. I can’t. This is who I am, for better or for worse”.

During his farewell speech his voice cracked a little as he must have felt very emotional leaving Late Night after so many years. Conan thanked David Letterman, who hosted Late Night on NBC before he moved to the Late Show on CBS after famously losing out to host The Tonight Show to Jay Leno. He also thanked Lorne Michaels (Saturday Night Live producer), the Late Night crew and band.

Ratings-wise, the final Late Night saw audiences “up a whopping 44 percent over the show’s season average, NBC said today” according to E! Online.

Conan now moves to LA to host The Tonight Show, which begins at the start of June. Late Night With Jimmy Fallon (which stays in New York) begins on Monday 2nd March.

E! Online – ” Conan O’Brien Takes a Bow on Last Late Night”
The Insider – “Conan O’Brien’s Last Late Night”
TV Squad – “How was Conan’s last show in New York?”
E! Online – “Conan Goes Out on Top; Dollhouse Shrinks”

Click here to watch a video tribute for Late Night With Conan O’Brien found on YouTube

The curtain comes down on Late Night With Conan O’Brien at the end of this week – the last new show airs on Friday night on NBC.

If you’ve ever wanted to have a piece of Late Night curtain, railing or some other Late Night With Conan O’Brien items from the set then you’re in luck.

NBC is running an eBay auction site with all funds going to the charity “House to Home Project” which helps families restarting their lives after a natural disaster with the basic furnishings that makes a house a home. Bid on Late Night costumes, Conan’s tie from the final show, signed drumsticks, props and more.

Click here to see what’s on offer and make your bids.

New host of Late Night from March, Jimmy Fallon, appeared on Late Night With Conan O’Brien last week to discuss preparations for the launch of the new show.

They talked about how Jimmy’s been getting into the right state of mind as talk show host by watching clips of old talk shows, and Jimmy also tried out some talk show host openers with Conan – including the famous Conan O’Brien “puppet strings” opening.

Late Night With Conan O’Brien will “Go Bye Bye” at the end of this week with one week of reruns to follow, before Late Night With Jimmy Fallon premieres on NBC on Monday 2nd March.

Click here to watch Jimmy Fallon’s interview on Conan (11th February)

The last ever new episodes of Late Night With Conan O’Brien air next week. The last 5 new shows air Monday-Friday in their usual timeslot on NBC.

There will also be a week of reruns after next week leading up to when Late Night With Jimmy Fallon starts on Monday 2nd March.

So far – guests announced for Monday are Bob Saget & thenewno2, Jason Sudeikis on Tuesday, Nathan Lane on Wednesday, Jerry Seinfeld & Craig Bierko are on Thursday’s show and The White Stripes are confirmed for the final show on Friday.

More guests are expected to be announced for next week soon.

Conan O’Brien will take over as host of The Tonight Show at the beginning of June.

Late Show UK – Guest Listings for Late Night With Conan O’Brien
Late Night With Conan O’Brien official website
Late Night Underground official blog
Late Night With Jimmy Fallon official website

The new host of Late Night will stop by as a guest on Late Night With Conan O’Brien before Conan’s last show airs in February. Jimmy Fallon will be a guest on the Wednesday 11th February show. The last ever edition of Late Night With Conan O’Brien will air Friday 20th February (guests for this show are still to be announced). Late Night With Jimmy Fallon starts on the 2nd March.