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www.execdigital.com | January 2011
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ILLUSTRATION BY TOM McMAHON
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1. Conan O’Bri
Host: Conan Network: TBS Timeslot: Weekn Broadcasting Fr Installation & L The Sidekick(s):
The Schtick: Bac of ‘The Tonight Sh line-up (immediate years previous), on a seven-month stin to be pushed back creation, ‘The Jay L Conan conceded d deal, he left behind ousted comedian w tweeting away sev on-air, courtesy ba a newly self-titled t visit us online at www.execdigital.com
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ien: ‘Persona Non Grata’
nights, 11:00 p.m. rom: Burbank, CA Launch: November 2010 ): Announcer, Andy Richter
ck in 2009, Conan was selected to succeed Leno as host how’, which holds the leading timeslot in NBC’s late-night ely followed by ‘Late Night’, which Conan had hosted for 16 nly to be slighted by the network several months later. After nt, he was given an ultimatum for the program’s start-time by a half-hour to accommodate a lead-in by NBC’s newest Leno Show’. Instead of conceding the show’s timeslot, defeat. After agreeing to a $45-million network release d. After taking himself out on a brief stand-up tour, the was basically left to blow in the wind, and tirelessly took to veral more months of 2010. But, at last, Conan is again back asic cable television station, TBS. He’s currently appearing in talk show alongside late-night newcomer, ‘Lopez Tonight’. January 2011
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2. Jay Leno: An American Institution
Host: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno Network: NBC Timeslot: Weeknights, 11:35 p.m. Broadcasting From: Burbank, CA Show Launched: 1954 (previously hosted by Steve Allen, Jack Paar & Host Installation: 1992-2009 Host (Re)Installation: March 2010-Present The Sidekick(s): Bandleader, Rickey Minor & ‘The To
The Schtick: In the wake of this year’s earlier controversial unseat Conan, many have questioned Leno’s seeming lack of ethics and even his character. Still, since Jay today is as firm late-night figure as ever, it seems there’s something inherent flipping-on the TV to find an old, familiar face. Perhaps it’s time that we, the public, finally admit to ourse are actually among our favourite things about Leno — all of distinctly stands out as a sign of our times. After all, nowher proportioned mandibular point of protrusion, nor stumble u centred, skunkish grey streak as part of their signature style visit us online at www.execdigital.com
of late night
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Johnny Carson)
onight Show’ Band
l coup by NBC to f loyalty, his integrity, mly established a tly comforting in
elves that his frequent foibles and freakishly large features f which come together to form the living caricature who re will you find a more widely publicized, preposterously upon another celebrity who can successfully sport that aptlye. January 2011
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3. David Letterman: The D
Host of: Late Show with Dav Network: CBS Timeslot: Weeknights, 11:35 Broadcasting From: New Yor Installation & Launch: 1993 The Sidekick(s): Bandleader,
The Schtick: Letterman originated the ‘Late Show’ for CBS retirement of Johnny Carson) after NBC failed to follow-thr presumed promotion (as the then-host of ‘Late Night’) to ho Show’, which occupies the premiere time slot. This led us th witness late-night’s now-legendary, on-air (well, off-air, too) Letterman & Leno, which is still alive and well today. Things seem to have worked out alright, and, all these ye Letterman continues to intrigue America by alienating his o show guests (not to mention the broader media) with his ev arsenal of indelicate, irreverent remarks. His reputation for even unethical, behaviour can only be compounded by a co of scandals — the latest being Letterman’s shocking (okay, m shocking) sexual misconduct committed with a member of visit us online at www.execdigital.com
of late night
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Dirty Old Man
vid Letterman
p.m. rk
, Paul Shaffer
S (upon the rough with his ost of ‘The Tonight he nation to ) rivalry between
ears later, own talkver-increasing questionable, ontinued series maybe not so his own staff. January 2011
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4. Piers Morgan: The Heir to Larry’s Kingdom
Host of: Piers Morgan Tonight Network: CNN Timeslot: Weeknights, 9:00 p.m. Broadcasting From: New York, London, and Los Angeles Show Launched: 1985 (formerly ‘Larry King Live’) Host Installation: Upcoming, January 2011 The Sidekick(s): None (this is a notoriously solo act) The Schtick: Meet the man who will soon be occupying the CNN timeslot at 9 p.m. that has been home to “Larry King Live” for the past quarter of a century. This past summer, the 76-year-old King announced that, he would be stepping aside in the fall from his place on the nightly program he has hosted since 1985. While he plans to remain with the network to host its specials, the final telecast of King’s current show is scheduled to air on December 16th. visit us online at www.execdigital.com
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January 2011
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5. Jon Stewart: Wearing Off the Media Shine
Host of: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Network: Comedy Central Timeslot: Mon – Thurs, 11:00 p.m. Broadcasting From: New York Show Launched: 1996 Host Installation: 1999 The Sidekick(s): A team of several supporting cast members, serving as ‘news correspondents’ The Schtick: Self-described as a ‘fake news’ program, ‘The Daily Show’ debuted in 1996, hosted by Craig Kilborn before Jon Stewart was installed as anchor three years down the road. Since then, ‘The Daily Show’ has evolved into the sharpest, most incisive satire of politics and the media on television. Just as the show proudly proclaims, it’s even better than being informed. Or as the website says, “Watch Jon Stewart and the best F#@king News Team Ever!” January 2011
celebrity execs
the kings o 6. Stephen
Host of: The Network: Co Timeslot: M Broadcastin Installation The Sidekick Prior Occup Stewart’s Th routine corre conservative
The “Shtick”: events from a Right-wing ch liberal, with n complete deni a blatantly ov supremacy. H unapologetica the audience a visit us online at www.execdigital.com
of late night
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Colbert: Supreme Satire with A Straight Face
e Colbert Report omedy Central Mon – Thurs, 11:30 p.m. ng From: New York & Launch: 2005 k(s): (At times, his own alter-ego) pation: The show was created as a spin-off from he Daily Show, where Stephen was featured as a espondent who reported from an absurdly e perspective.
: The Report presents a farcical first-look at current an extreme conservative -biased viewpoint. His radically haracter is suspicious of all things tending towards near-zero-level tolerance (frequently resulting in ial) for viewpoints varying from his own, who’s sporting verblown sense of moral correctness and inherent selfHis is the quintessential American stereotype, adopting an ally self-serving, U.S.-centric attitude that translates to as absolutely hilarious. January 2011
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Jimmy Fallon: The Fresh-Faced Youth
Host of: Late Night with Jimmy Fallon Network: NBC Timeslot: Weeknights, 12:35 a.m. Broadcasting From: New York Show Launched: 1982 Host Installation: 2009 The Sidekick(s): Hip-Hop House Band, ‘The Roots’ The Schtick: A late-night legacy left to Fallon by prior hosts Conan O’Brien and David Letterman, ‘Late Night’ immediately follows ‘The Tonight Show’ in the NBC line-up. An already-established member of the NBC-network family, Fallon started his career with a sixyear stint on SNL, which was followed by a brief foray into feature films.
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up and comers
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Craig Ferguson: The Smart-Ass Scotsman
Host of: The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson Network: CBS Timeslot: Weeknights, 12:35 a.m. Broadcasting From: New York Show Launched: 1995 Host Installation: 2005 The Sidekick(s): Recently-gifted skeleton robot, Geoff Petersen The Schtick: This show is a creation of David Letterman, now in its third incarnation. Notoriously low-budgeted, Ferguson often turns the subject of his program’s financial disadvantage into the butt of its own jokes.
January 2011
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Jimmy Kimmel: The All-Around Average Guy
Host of: Jimmy Kimmel Live! Network: ABC Timeslot: 12:05 a.m. Broadcasting From: Hollywood, CA Installation & Launch: 2005 The Sidekick(s): Bandleader, Cleto The Schtick: Jimmy rose to fame as the co-host of ‘The Man Show’ with his pal, Adam Carolla, and as the Emmy Award winning co-host of the long-running game show, ‘Win Ben Stein’s Money’. He also co-created and executive-produced the hit MTV2 series, ‘The Andy Milonakis Show’, and Comedy Central’s ‘Crank Yankers’. visit us online at www.execdigital.com
up and comers
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George Lopez: Spicing Up Late Night
Host: Lopez Tonight Network: TBS Timeslot: Weeknights, 12:00 a.m. Broadcasting From: Burbank, CA Installation & Launch: November 2010 The Sidekick(s): (TBD) The Schtick: George Lopez’ popularity with the public recently led TBS to launch his new, late-night talk show. Now, with side-by-side programs, the network is looking to link Lopez and Conan O’Brien as its newest partners-in-crime to grow the two comedy empires together. January 2011