List of late-night American network TV programs
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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 Eastern/Pacific Times, after network affiliates' late local news. On Fox and cable, late night starts at 11:00 pm ET/PT.
Network names:
- Broadcast networks: ABC, American Broadcasting Company; CBS, Columbia Broadcasting System; DuMont, DuMont Television Network; Fox, Fox Broadcasting Company; NBC, National Broadcasting Company; PBS, Public Broadcasting Service
- Cable channels: TBS, Turner Broadcasting System; Comedy: Comedy Central
Current
All times Eastern/Pacific—see time zone feeds for explanation.
| Show | Network | Time | Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jimmy Kimmel Live! | ABC | 11:35pm | Mon–Fri |
| Nightline | ABC | 12:35am | Mon–Fri |
| Late Show with David Letterman | CBS | 11:35pm | Mon–Fri |
| The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson | CBS | 12:37am | Mon–Fri |
| The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon | NBC | 11:35pm | Mon–Fri |
| Late Night with Seth Meyers | NBC | 12:35am | Mon–Fri |
| Last Call with Carson Daly | NBC | 1:35am | Mon–Fri |
| Saturday Night Live | NBC | 11:30pm | Saturday |
| Conan | TBS | 11:00pm | Mon–Thurs |
| The Daily Show with Jon Stewart | Comedy Central | 11:00pm | Mon–Thurs |
| The Colbert Report | Comedy Central | 11:30pm | Mon–Thurs |
| @midnight | Comedy Central | 12:00am | Mon–Thurs |
| The Arsenio Hall Show | syndication | Varies | Mon–Fri |
| Chelsea Lately | E! | 11:00pm | Mon–Thurs |
| Watch What Happens: Live | BRAVO | 11:00pm | Sun–Thurs |
| Tavis Smiley | PBS | Varies | Mon–Fri |
| Charlie Rose | PBS | 11:00pm | Mon–Fri |
| Inside Comedy | Showtime | 11:00pm | Monday |
| Animation Domination High Definition | Fox | 11:00pm | Saturday |
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, July 1990 – July 1991
- 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 changed 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 more they disagreed the worse the destination got. 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
- Monodrama Theater, May 1952 – December 7, 1953. Series aired Monday through Friday at 11pm ET where a solo actress or actor performed plays alone in front of a curtain, in a form of monodrama.
- The Ernie Kovacs Show, April 12, 1954 – April 7, 1955. The DuMont version of this show aired Monday through Friday 11:15pm to 12:15am ET, and ended as the network began to close down.
Fox
- The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers, October 1986 – May 15, 1987
- The Late Show (various hosts), May 18, 1987 – December 8, 1988; January 11, 1988 – October 1988
- The Wilton North Report, December 11, 1987 – January 8, 1988.
- Comic Strip Live, August 1989 – January 1991. Aired on Saturday or Sunday evening depending on market.
- The Chevy Chase Show, September–October 1993.
- Tales from the Crypt, January 1994 – August 1995. Aired on Saturday nights, HBO series edited for broadcast standards.
- MADtv, October 1995 – May 2009
- Saturday Night Special, April–May 1996. Aired on Saturday Nights, produced by Roseanne Barr.
- Saturday Night's Main Event, February–November 1992; continuation of the then-WWF's broadcast wrestling showcase program.
- Talkshow with Spike Feresten, September 2006–May 2009, Saturdays only.
- The Wanda Sykes Show, September 2009–May 2010.
- Sit Down, Shut Up, October–December 2009. Burn-off run of failed primetime series from previous season.
- Various repeats May 2010–July 2013. Aired on Saturday nights, mainly primetime procedural reruns, same-week repeats of reality shows such as Hell's Kitchen and episodes of the 2002 series 30 Seconds to Fame.
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
- Poker After Dark, January 1, 2007 – September 23, 2011
- The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien, June 2009 – January 2010
- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, May 1992 – February 2014
- Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, March 2009 – February 2014
- A Oscuras Pero Encendidos, Hosted by Paul Bouche 1995–2001.
- Mas Vale Tarde, Hosted by Alex Cambert November - April 2008
- The Las Vegas Show, May 1 to June 5, 1967.
- The Chris Wylde Show Starring Chris Wylde, August 2001–October 2001
- Insomniac with Dave Attell, August 2001–November 2004
- Too Late with Adam Carolla, August 2005–November 2005
- The Jon Stewart Show, October 1993–June 1995
- Oddville, MTV, June 1997–1999
- The New Tom Green Show, June 2003–September 2003
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 air in late night slots in many markets due to either timeslot failure or a lack of a prime timeslot.
- 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.
- The Uncle Floyd Show, 1980–1998. Hosted by Floyd Vivino.
- Thicke of the Night, 1983–1984. Hosted by Alan Thicke.
- The George Michael Sports Machine, Sunday nights, 1984 – March 2007. Hosted by sportscaster George Michael.
- Almost Live!, 1984–1999. Weekly series. Briefly syndicated in the early 1990s; most of the show's run was a local program.
- Nightlife. September 1986 – June 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.
- My Talk Show, September 1990-March 1991
- 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, 2006–2007; reruns still airing on local stations to date.
- Lopez Tonight, November 2009–August 2011.
- Deon Cole's Black Box, June 10-July 15, 2013.
- The Pete Holmes Show, October 28, 2013-June 18, 2014
- Fashionably Late with Stacy London, November–December 2007.