Leno took over The Tonight Show, and Letterman was left furious and heartbroken. He always saw Letterman as the man to take over the job but it wasn’t to be. When it came time for him to retire, the network had to choose Letterman or Leno as his successor. There is a strong argument to say that he’s the greatest ever to do it not only because of his talent but also because he was such a trailblazer. The likes of a house band, games, and sidekicks were also first perfected on his show. This includes the monologue and interview style which has become the format on many different shows. It became a year-long battle but finally, NBC and Carson resolved their issues to work out a new deal.Ĭarson would be the first to try many of the elements that we have come to expect from late night hosts.
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However, in 1979, he wanted out of the show and tried to get out of the contract. He was a natural comedian, making him a huge hit. The Tonight Show reached new heights with ratings, as Carson’s performance became legendary. He had good looks but was talented too, and many viewers were comfortable with him while watching the late-night shows. Last on the list of the best late night show hosts of all time is a man who laid the foundations for many to follow. King is an inspiration to all other talk show hosts. Letterman built on the format pioneered by Carson and took the late night presenting role to new heights. Top 10 Late Night Talk Show Hosts 10: Jimmy Fallon Late Night (2009-14) / The Tonight Show (2014-) 9: Jonathan Ross 8: Jay Leno 7: Jimmy Kimmel 6. On one side of the coin is David Letterman and thus on the other is the late Larry King, who never stopped in the world of showbusiness, even releasing his beloved podcasts and interview shows years after his time on TV. Not only has his comedy inspired many comedians and other talk show hosts, but he is arguably the king of late night shows and had a massive impact on comedy. With his eccentric manner, he became immensely popular. He is bold, ironic, and yet has a mocking sense of humor.
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Think of how many times he has made you laugh with his gap-toothed self-mockery and charm. Letterman decided to head to CBS, hosting The Late Show with David Letterman right through to 2015. It was hugely controversial at the time and the drama was even made into a film called The Late Shift. In 1992, many expected Letterman to take over from Carson on The Tonight Show after his retirement but instead, the gig went to Jay Leno. He was the captain of the show in the 80s and was following in the footsteps of his mentor Johnny Carson. Television would never be the same again after David Letterman starred on NBC’s Late Night with David Letterman. This late night host needs no introduction.