The Story of Late Night

At the dawn of the TV era in the 1950s, Steve Allen's zany spontaneity turns "Tonight" into a funny and unexpected hit; in the early 1960s, it's Jack Paar's captivating, quirky personality and Johnny Carson's hip humor.

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, 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 speculation over his eventual successor.

Carson's 1992 retirement touches a nation and sets 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; 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; new hosts James Corden, Seth Meyers, and Samantha Bee join the late-night TV ranks.