The Tonight Show

By Roger Catlin Millions have watched the debates that are now over, but there's still some fireworks to be had on late night TV where John McCain, for one, is to have his makeup appearance tonight on "Late Show with David Letterman" (CBS, 11:35 p.m.).

By Roger Catlin The year 2009 seemed so far away when it was announced back in 2004, on the 50th anniversary of "The Tonight Show" no less, that Jay Leno would be replaced as host by Conan O'Brien. Of course by then, we'd... The year 2009 seemed so far away when it was announced back in 2004, on the 50th anniversary...

By Roger Catlin Jay Leno's last night hosting "The Tonight Show" will be Friday, May 29, 2009, NBC executives announced Monday. Conan O'Brien will take over the helm of the fabled late night show on Monday, June 1, 2009. The news came in answer to... Jay Leno's last night hosting "The Tonight Show" will be Fri...

By Roger Catlin NBC announced plans for O'Brien taking over the "Tonight" show years ago, when 2009 seemed eons away, in part to make sure he didn't stray from the network, as David Letterman did when the "Tonight" successor to Johnny Carson was being discussed.

By Hartford Courant The other late night shows returning Wednesday -- "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "Late Night with Conan O'Brien," "Jimmy Kimmel Live" -- will do so without writers. Letterman was alone among late night hosts to be able to negotiate ...

By Hartford Courant It was also different in that it was live (in the sense that all late shows are live -- several hours delayed in actuality). Tomorrow, it's back to reruns, until the hosts return sans writers Jan. 2. Seven weeks into the TV writers strike, a Christmas Eve miracle: Fresh live late night programm...

By Hartford Courant Here was a slimmer, dark haired Jay Leno, who had just taken over the show – Johnny Carson’s farewell show had occurred the month before! Branford Marsalis led the cool jazz band – with a subdued Kevin Eubanks, the successor three years later, in the background playing guitar.

By Hartford Courant Reruns changed the schedules, too, for NBC’s "Late Night with Conan O’Brien," ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live,"  CBS' "The Late Late Show" with Craig Ferguson, as well as Comedy Central's "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" and "The Colbert Report."  (Carson Daly had already planned to show a rer...