List of late-night American network TV programs
This is a listing of American network television programs currently airing or have aired during late night. Late night programming begins at 11:35 pm ET/PT, after network affiliates' late local news. On Fox and cable late night starts at 11:00 pm ET/PT.
Network references: ABC, American Broadcasting Company; CBS, Columbia Broadcasting System; Fox, Fox Broadcasting Company; NBC, National Broadcasting Company; PBS, Public Broadcasting Service; TBS, Turner Broadcasting System; Comedy Central, Cartoon Network
Current
All times ET/PT
Past
ABC
- The Les Crane Show, November 1964-February 1965. Interview format with audience questions.
- ABC's Nightlife, February-November 1965 (Rotating hosts originally; Les Crane returned as host June 1965). Tonight Show-type talk/variety format.
- The Joey Bishop Show, April 1967-December 1969.
- The Dick Cavett Show, December 1969-December 1972.
- ABC Late Night, January 1973-October 1982. Originally titled Wide World of Entertainment, ABC aired a variety of comedy variety programs, talk shows hosted by Dick Cavett and Jack Paar, concerts, documentaries and specials. In 1976, the umbrella title was changed to ABC Late Night, which aired reruns of ABC's prime time shows like Soap, The Love Boat and Starsky and Hutch.
- Goodnight America, 1975. Hosted by Geraldo Rivera.
- Fridays, April 1980-April 1982.
- The Last Word, October 1982-April 1983. Hosted by Phil Donahue and Greg Jackson.
- Eye on Hollywood, August 1983-July 1986.
- Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, July 1986-September 1986. Aired simultaneously on ABC and in syndication.
- The Dick Cavett Show, September-December 1986. Aired Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
- Jimmy Breslin's People. September 1986-January 1987. Aired on Thursdays and Fridays.
- Monday Sportsnite, June-August 1987. Hosted by Al Trautwig and airing on Monday Nights.
- Into the Night Starring Rick Dees
- ABC In Concert, June 1991-September 1998. Aired Friday Nights.
- ABC In Concert Country, June 1994-August 1994. Aired Saturday Nights.
- Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher, 1997-July 2002 (moved from Comedy Central).
- Nightline Up Close, July 2002-January 2003. Ted Koppel hosted filmed interviews from ABC News.
CBS
- The Merv Griffin Show, August 1969-February 1972.
- The CBS Late Movie, February 1972-January 1989. In 1985, title shortened to CBS Late Night.
- CBS News Nightwatch, October 1982-March 1992
- Keep on Cruisin', January-June 1987. Hosted by Stephen Bishop and Sinbad. Produced by Dick Clark and aired on Friday Nights as part of CBS Late Night
- In Person from the Palace, June-August 1987. Produced by Dick Clark and aired on Friday Nights. The show featured taped concerts from the Palace Theater of Hollywood. Aired as a part of CBS Late Night.
- Top of the Pops, September 1987-March 1988. Based on the British show, hosted by Nia Peeples and aired on Friday Nights as part as CBS Late Night.
- The Pat Sajak Show, January 1989-April 1990.
- CBS Late Night, February 1990-March 1991. Returned after The Pat Sajak Show was cut back to an hour long show.
- Overtime...with Pat O'Brien, August 1990. Only 3 episodes aired and was part of CBS Late Night
- America Tonight, October 1990-March 1991. CBS News and interview show hosted by Dan Rather, Charles Kuralt and Lesley Stahl.
- America Tonight Friday, October 1990-March 1991. Friday edition hosted by Robert Krulwich and Edie Magnus.
- The Midnight Hour, July-September 1990. A talk show with rotating hosts including, Joy Behar, CBS This Morning weatherman Mark McEwen, and Bill Maher. Aired as part of CBS Late Night.
- Crimetime After Primetime, April 1991-January 1995.
- Personals, September 1991-December 1992. Game show where one person would choose from three potential dates. After a series of yes or no questions in the final round, the winning couple could go to exotic locations. However, the less they disagreed the destination got worse. On the bottom of list was a trip to Pink's Hot Dogs Stand.
- Night Games, October 1991-June 1992. Dating show where three men and three women would be asked questions with sexual innuendo. The winning contestant had the choice of who he or she could take on a date.
- The Kids in the Hall, September 1992-January 1995. Aired on Fridays.
- The Late Late Show with Tom Snyder, January 1995-March 1999
- The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn, March 1999-August 2004
Fox
- MADtv, October 1995-May 2009
- The Late Show, October 1986-October 1988
- The Wilton North Report, December 1987-January 1988.
- The Chevy Chase Show, September-October 1993.
- Comic Strip Live, August 1989-January 1991. Aired on Saturday Nights.
- Tales from the Crypt, January 1994-August 1995. Aired on Saturday Nights, the show was reruns from HBO.
- Saturday Night Special, April-May 1996. Aired on Saturday Nights, produced by Roseanne Barr.
- Talkshow with Spike Feresten, September 2006-May 2009.
- Saturday Night's Main Event, March 2006 - August 2008.
- Sit Down, Shut Up, 2009. Prime time animated sitcom that Fox moved to late-night to burn off the remaining episodes.
- The Wanda Sykes Show, September 2009-May 2010.
- The Kilborn File, June-August 2010. Six-week test run on a limited number of Fox stations; some stations aired it in prime time.
- 30 Seconds to Fame, January 2011-current. 2002 primetime series repeats.
NBC
- Broadway Open House, May 1950 - August 1951
- Party Time at Club Roma, October 1950 - January 1951.
- Tonight Starring Steve Allen, September 1954 - January 1957
- Tonight! America After Dark, January 1957 - July 1957
- Tonight Starring Jack Paar, July 1957 - March 1962
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, October 1962 - May 1992
- The Tomorrow Show, October 1973 - January 1982. Aired Monday through Thursday nights.
- The Midnight Special, February 1973 - May 1981. Aired Friday nights.
- Weekend, October 1974 - April 1979. From NBC News, hosted by Lloyd Dobyns and joined by Linda Ellerbee in its final year. Aired about once a month in lieu of Saturday Night Live reruns. Moved to prime-time its final season.
- SCTV Network, May 8, 1981 - June 1983. Aired on Friday Nights.
- Late Night with David Letterman, February 1982 – June 1993
- NBC News Overnight, July 1982 - December 1983.
- Later, August 1988 - February 2001.
- Friday Night Videos, July 1983 - December 2000
- Late Night with Conan O'Brien, September 1993 - February 2009
- Saturday Night's Main Event, May 1985 - April 1992.
- NBC News Nightside, November 1991 - September 1998
- Late Friday, January 2001 - August 2002
- SCTV Network (reruns), February 2001 - 2002
- The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien, June 2009 - January 2010
Telemundo
Syndicated
- The Steve Allen Show, 1962-1964. (unofficially known as "The Steve Allen Playhouse" to distinguish it from the prime time show of the same name)
- Don Kirshner's Rock Concert,1973-1981.
- Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, 1975-1978.
- All That Glitters, 1977-1978.
- Fernwood 2 Night/America 2-Night, 1977-1978.
- The Love Experts, September 11, 1978 to September 7, 1979. Hosted by Bill Cullen.
- Thicke Of The Night, 1983–1984
- The George Michael Sports Machine, Sunday nights, 1984-March 2007. Hosted by sportscaster George Michael.
- Nightlife. September 1986-May 1987. Hosted by David Brenner.
- Ask Dr Ruth, January 1987. Sex talk show hosted by Dr. Ruth Westheimer
- The Arsenio Hall Show, 1989-1994.
- The Byron Allen Show, 1989-1992. Originally a weekly hour long show, in 1992 it became a half hour weeknight show.
- The Party Machine with Nia Peeples, January 1991-September 1991.
- The Ron Reagan Show, August 1991.
- The Dennis Miller Show, January-September 1992. New episodes aired until June.
- The Whoopi Goldberg Show, 1992-1993.
- The Jon Stewart Show, 1993-1995. In its first year, it aired on MTV.
- Last Call, 1994-1995. Discussion show among 5 panelists who included, John Melendez and Brianne Leary.
- Lauren Hutton And..., September 1995-May 1996.
- Night Stand with Dick Dietrick, 1995-1997.
- Kwik Witz, 1996-1999.
- The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show, 1997-1998.
- Vibe, 1997-1998.
- The Magic Hour, June 1998 – September 1998.
- Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen, 2006-2008.
- This list does not list the numerous game shows in the mid-1980s that usually got late-night clearances (such as the 1985 run of The Nighttime Price Is Right) but were not expressly intended for late night audiences. Also not included are talk shows meant for daytime airing which aired in late night slots in many markets due to either timeslot failure or a lack of a prime timeslot.
TBS
TLC