Late Night (franchise)
Late Night is an American late-night talk and variety show airing on NBC since 1982. Four men have hosted Late Night: David Letterman (1982–1993), Conan O'Brien (1993–2009), Jimmy Fallon (2009–2014), and Seth Meyers (2014–present).[2] Each iteration of the show was built around its host, and maintained distinct identities aside from the title, time slot, and network. The longest-serving host to date was O'Brien, who hosted Late Night with Conan O'Brien for almost 16 years, from September 1993 to February 2009.
Not to be confused with The Late Show (franchise).Late Night
Talk show
Variety show
David Letterman
David Letterman (1982–1993)
Conan O'Brien (1993–2009)
Jimmy Fallon (2009–2014)
Seth Meyers (2014–present)
United States
1,819 (under Letterman)
2,725 (under O'Brien)
969 (under Fallon)
1,535 (under Meyers)
Total: 7,044[1]
Varies
Carson Productions (1982–1993)
Worldwide Pants Incorporated (1991–1993)
Broadway Video (1993–present)
Conaco (2001–2009)
Sethmaker Shoemeyers Productions (2014–present)
NBC Productions (1982–1996)
NBC Studios (1996–2004)
NBC Universal Television Studio (2004–2007)
Universal Media Studios (2007–2011)
Universal Television (2011–present)
February 1, 1982 –
present
Letterman
O'Brien
Fallon
Meyers
"The Late Night Pickle"[edit]
One of the behind-the-scenes traditions of Late Night is the possession of a giant, plastic pickle by the current host. The pickle was originally sent to the Late Night offices by Letterman's staff for O'Brien and his crew, along with a note explaining that they had found the pickle in their offices when they began the show, it stayed there through their entire run, and it was only fitting that it remain there.[26]
When O'Brien went to host The Tonight Show, he left behind the pickle for Fallon along with a handwritten note, reading in part: "Whenever you're done -- which won't be for a long time -- make sure you pass it on to the next sap. Knock 'em dead." Fallon first made public the pickle tradition in one of his regular video blog segments that led up to his Late Night premiere.
During his final week hosting Late Night in early 2014, Fallon passed the pickle to Meyers during their interview, marking its first on-air appearance.[27]
During Seth Meyers' run on March 18, 2015, the pickle makes a cameo during a skit called "Hannah Horvath Joins the Late Night Writing Staff", a character Lena Dunham portrays on the HBO TV series Girls.