The Story of Late Night

STRESS. >> HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND,

>> HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND, EVERYBODY.

EVERYBODY. I'M GETTING THE HELL OUT OF

I'M GETTING THE HELL OUT OF HERE.

HERE. GOOD NIGHT.

>>> WHAT DO WE WANT? >> WHEN DO WE WANT IT?

>> WHEN DO WE WANT IT? >> IT WAS A HUGE DEAL, WHO IS

>> IT WAS A HUGE DEAL, WHO IS GOING TO GET THE THRONE.

GOING TO GET THE THRONE. >> HEY, WHO IS CRAZY NOW?

>> HEY, WHO IS CRAZY NOW? >> GIVE ME "THE TONIGHT SHOW" OR

>> GIVE ME "THE TONIGHT SHOW" OR GIVE JAY "THE TONIGHT SHOW."

GIVE JAY "THE TONIGHT SHOW." >> I'M TAKING OVER ALL THE SHOWS

>> I'M TAKING OVER ALL THE SHOWS IN LATE NIGHT.

IN LATE NIGHT. >> THERE IS NO RULES.

>> THERE IS NO RULES. NO ONE EVEN KNOWS WHAT TO

NO ONE EVEN KNOWS WHAT TO EXPECT.

EXPECT. >> HOLY-MOLY, I'M IN

>> HOLY-MOLY, I'M IN BROADBROA

BROADBROA BROADCASTING HISTORY.

BROADCASTING HISTORY. >> AND NOW PEOPLE CAN BE EXACTLY

>> AND NOW PEOPLE CAN BE EXACTLY WHO THEY ARE.

WHO THEY ARE. >> CHELSEA GETTING ENGAGED AT MY

>> CHELSEA GETTING ENGAGED AT MY PARTY, GIRL.

PARTY, GIRL. >> WOMEN ARE FUNNY.

>> WOMEN ARE FUNNY. THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE.

THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE. AND WE'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

AND WE'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE. >> LADY GAGA WITH A MAKEOVER.

>> LADY GAGA WITH A MAKEOVER. >> BE AUTHENTIC AND

>> BE AUTHENTIC AND AUTHENTICALLY WEIRD.

AUTHENTICALLY WEIRD. >> WE'VE GOT A LOT TO DO

>> WE'VE GOT A LOT TO DO TONIGHT.

TONIGHT. A WHOLE BIG WORLD OF FIX.

A WHOLE BIG WORLD OF FIX. >> LET'S LEAVE THERE IT.

>> LET'S LEAVE THERE IT. >> NO, DON'T LEAVE IT THERE!

>> NO, DON'T LEAVE IT THERE! WHY WOULD YOU LEAVE THERE IT?

WHY WOULD YOU LEAVE THERE IT? THERE IS A TERRIBLE PLACE TO

THERE IS A TERRIBLE PLACE TO LEAVE IT.

. >>> HARVARD DIDN'T HAVE A

>>> HARVARD DIDN'T HAVE A FACEBOOK.

FACEBOOK. NOW WE'RE AT $1,000 PEOPLE.

NOW WE'RE AT $1,000 PEOPLE. >> THE GOVERNMENT IS NOW ON

>> THE GOVERNMENT IS NOW ON THREAT LEVEL ORANGE.

THREAT LEVEL ORANGE. >> WE MUST FIND TERROR WHEREVER

>> WE MUST FIND TERROR WHEREVER IT HIDES.

IT HIDES. >> THIS IS A TIME WHEN THE

>> THIS IS A TIME WHEN THE COUNTRY IS GRAPPLING WITH A

COUNTRY IS GRAPPLING WITH A POST-9/11 WORLD.

POST-9/11 WORLD. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WELCOME TO "THE TONIGHT SHOW."

WELCOME TO "THE TONIGHT SHOW." >> I THINK AT THIS POINT JAY

>> I THINK AT THIS POINT JAY LIKENED HIMSELF TO THE TROOPS'

LIKENED HIMSELF TO THE TROOPS' CHEERLEADER.

CHEERLEADER. WE'RE GOING HELP EVERYONE OUT

WE'RE GOING HELP EVERYONE OUT THERE, TRY TO FOR THE NEXT HOUR

THERE, TRY TO FOR THE NEXT HOUR TAKE OUR MIND OFF THINGS.

TAKE OUR MIND OFF THINGS. >> HERE IS A STRANGE THING IN

>> HERE IS A STRANGE THING IN "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL" TODAY.

"THE WALL STREET JOURNAL" TODAY. TOYS R US HAS ANNOUNCED THEY

TOYS R US HAS ANNOUNCED THEY MIGHT SELL THEIR TOY DIVISION.

MIGHT SELL THEIR TOY DIVISION. SO WE WAS TOYS, IS THAT THEIR

SO WE WAS TOYS, IS THAT THEIR NEW NAME?

NEW NAME? >> WE STARTED OUT BY DOING JOKES

>> WE STARTED OUT BY DOING JOKES THAT WERE COMPLETELY

THAT WERE COMPLETELY NONPOLITICAL, NONSEPTEMBER 11th.

NONPOLITICAL, NONSEPTEMBER 11th. AND THEN YOU STARTED TO BE ABLE

AND THEN YOU STARTED TO BE ABLE THE MAKE JOKES ABOUT THE

THE MAKE JOKES ABOUT THE TANGENTIAL THINGS.

TANGENTIAL THINGS. THERE WAS THE TALIBAN.

THERE WAS THE TALIBAN. >> THINGS ARE NOT LOOKING GOOD

>> THINGS ARE NOT LOOKING GOOD FOR THE TALIBAN.

FOR THE TALIBAN. TODAY ONE OF THEIR TOP

TODAY ONE OF THEIR TOP COMMANDERS TOOK A HEAD COUNT.

COMMANDERS TOOK A HEAD COUNT. ONLY HALF OF HIS GUYS HAD ONE.

ONLY HALF OF HIS GUYS HAD ONE. >> AND THEN THE IDEA OF OSAMA

>> AND THEN THE IDEA OF OSAMA BIN LADEN HIMSELF WHEN WE FOUND

BIN LADEN HIMSELF WHEN WE FOUND OUT HE HAD 55 BROTHERS AND

OUT HE HAD 55 BROTHERS AND SISTERS, AND HE WAS 27th.

SISTERS, AND HE WAS 27th. IT'S ALWAYS THE MIDDLE CHILD

IT'S ALWAYS THE MIDDLE CHILD THAT CAUSES THE PROBLEMS.

THAT CAUSES THE PROBLEMS. >> LENO HAS THE FUN, EASY GOING

>> LENO HAS THE FUN, EASY GOING VIBE.

VIBE. AND HE IS JUST LIKE THE EVERY

AND HE IS JUST LIKE THE EVERY MAN TYPE OF COMEDIAN.

MAN TYPE OF COMEDIAN. >> JAY TALKS LIKE MOST PEOPLE

>> JAY TALKS LIKE MOST PEOPLE TALK, YOU KNOW.

TALK, YOU KNOW. AND I THINK THEY COMPLETELY

AND I THINK THEY COMPLETELY RELATED TO THAT.

RELATED TO THAT. >> HOW MANY COMMANDMENTS ARE

>> HOW MANY COMMANDMENTS ARE THERE?

THERE? >> TEN.

>> TEN. >> CAN YOU NAME ANY OF THEM?

>> CAN YOU NAME ANY OF THEM? >> FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

>> FREEDOM OF SPEECH. >> FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

>> FREEDOM OF SPEECH. >> JAY WAS MAN OF THE PEOPLE.

>> JAY WAS MAN OF THE PEOPLE. HE WASN'T PLAYING TO THE

HE WASN'T PLAYING TO THE TELEVISION CRITICS.

TELEVISION CRITICS. HE WASN'T PLAYING TO THE COMEDY

HE WASN'T PLAYING TO THE COMEDY CRITICS.

CRITICS. HIS HUMOR WAS FOR AMERICA.

HIS HUMOR WAS FOR AMERICA. >> AROUND THIS TIME, JAYLEN MOW

>> AROUND THIS TIME, JAYLEN MOW IS DOING GREAT, BASICALLY

IS DOING GREAT, BASICALLY CRUISING IN FIRST PLACE.

CRUISING IN FIRST PLACE. LETTERMAN ON CBS IS IN SECOND

LETTERMAN ON CBS IS IN SECOND PLACE.

PLACE. CRAIG FERGUSON TAKES OVER WHAT

CRAIG FERGUSON TAKES OVER WHAT IS NOW CALLED THE LATE LATE SHOW

IS NOW CALLED THE LATE LATE SHOW WHICH IS THE SHOW THAT FOLLOWED

WHICH IS THE SHOW THAT FOLLOWED DAVID LETTERMAN.

DAVID LETTERMAN. YOU HAVE CONAN.

YOU HAVE CONAN. CONAN IS REALLY HOT AT THE 12:30

CONAN IS REALLY HOT AT THE 12:30 HOUR ON NBC.

HOUR ON NBC. AND YOU HAVE JIMMY KIMMEL.

AND YOU HAVE JIMMY KIMMEL. HE HAS ENTERED THE ARENA AS AN

HE HAS ENTERED THE ARENA AS AN ABC ALTERNATIVE.

ABC ALTERNATIVE. HE IS ON AT MIDNIGHT.

HE IS ON AT MIDNIGHT. JON STEWART PRESENTS A REAL

JON STEWART PRESENTS A REAL CHALLENGE BECAUSE HE IS NOW

CHALLENGE BECAUSE HE IS NOW GRABBING VIEWERS.

GRABBING VIEWERS. IT'S NOT A BIG AUDIENCE, BUT

IT'S NOT A BIG AUDIENCE, BUT IT'S REALLY YOUNG.

IT'S REALLY YOUNG. SO NBC LOOKS AT THAT AND SAYS

SO NBC LOOKS AT THAT AND SAYS THE GUY WE THINK CAN COUNTER JON

THE GUY WE THINK CAN COUNTER JON STEWART IN AN ONGOING WAY IS

STEWART IN AN ONGOING WAY IS CONAN.

CONAN. >> FROM NBC STUDIOS IN NEW YORK,

>> FROM NBC STUDIOS IN NEW YORK, IT'S "LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN

IT'S "LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O'BRIEN."

O'BRIEN." >> CONAN WAS THE VOICE OF A NEW

>> CONAN WAS THE VOICE OF A NEW GENERATION.

GENERATION. EVERYONE THAT I KNEW IN HIGH

EVERYONE THAT I KNEW IN HIGH SCHOOL AND THEN IN COLLEGE, WE

SCHOOL AND THEN IN COLLEGE, WE ONLY CARED ABOUT CONAN.

ONLY CARED ABOUT CONAN. >> THAT'S A CONAN O'BRIEN MASK.

>> THAT'S A CONAN O'BRIEN MASK. DO YOU LIKE IT?

DO YOU LIKE IT? >> NO.

>> NO. >> VIEWERS EXPECT DANGER, AND

>> VIEWERS EXPECT DANGER, AND I'M GIVING IT TO THEM.

I'M GIVING IT TO THEM. >> I LOVED ALL OF THOSE BITS

>> I LOVED ALL OF THOSE BITS LIKE THE MASTURBATING BEAR AND

LIKE THE MASTURBATING BEAR AND TRIUMPH.

TRIUMPH. >> IT'S AN $8 PUPPET.

>> IT'S AN $8 PUPPET. FOR SOME REASON IT SPEAKS LIKE A

FOR SOME REASON IT SPEAKS LIKE A RUSSIAN WOMAN.

RUSSIAN WOMAN. >> HAVE YOU EVER TALKED TO A

>> HAVE YOU EVER TALKED TO A WOMAN WITHOUT HAVING TO GIVE

WOMAN WITHOUT HAVING TO GIVE YOUR CREDIT CARD NUMBER?

YOUR CREDIT CARD NUMBER? >> IT'S ONE OF THE MOST

>> IT'S ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL THINGS WE'VE EVER

SUCCESSFUL THINGS WE'VE EVER DONE.

DONE. >> YOU KNOW, BEFORE CONAN, I DID

>> YOU KNOW, BEFORE CONAN, I DID GET THE SHOT ON "THE TONIGHT

GET THE SHOT ON "THE TONIGHT SHOW."

SHOW." AND I KID AND GOT IT BE REALLY

AND I KID AND GOT IT BE REALLY EXCITED.

EXCITED. AND I GO OVER TO THE COUCH.

AND I GO OVER TO THE COUCH. AND JOHNNY SAID DID YOU DO THIS?

AND JOHNNY SAID DID YOU DO THIS? BAD DOG.

BAD DOG. YOU RUINED THE COUCH.

YOU RUINED THE COUCH. I WAS DEVASTATED, BUT THEN I

I WAS DEVASTATED, BUT THEN I HEARD THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO

HEARD THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO BUDDY HACKETT.

BUDDY HACKETT. >> SOMEONE SAID TO ME HEY,

>> SOMEONE SAID TO ME HEY, CONAN, DESCRIBE YOUR COMEDIC

CONAN, DESCRIBE YOUR COMEDIC PHILOSOPHY, I WOULD SAY IT'S A

PHILOSOPHY, I WOULD SAY IT'S A VEN DIAGRAM.

VEN DIAGRAM. IT'S TWO CIRCLES.

IT'S TWO CIRCLES. ONE IS SMART.

ONE IS SMART. ONE IS SILLY.

ONE IS SILLY. YOU PUSH THEM PARTWAY TOGETHER,

YOU PUSH THEM PARTWAY TOGETHER, AND IT'S THAT INTERSECTION.

AND IT'S THAT INTERSECTION. >> CONAN O'BRIEN'S SUCCESS

>> CONAN O'BRIEN'S SUCCESS CAUSED HIM TO START GETTING

CAUSED HIM TO START GETTING FEELERS FROM OTHER NETWORKS.

FEELERS FROM OTHER NETWORKS. >> HE'S STILL AT 12:30.

>> HE'S STILL AT 12:30. THAT'S CONSIDERED AAA BALL.

THAT'S CONSIDERED AAA BALL. IT'S TIME FOR HIM TO MOVE UP TO

IT'S TIME FOR HIM TO MOVE UP TO THE MAJORS.

THE MAJORS. >> THE FIRST APPROACH WE HAD WAS

>> THE FIRST APPROACH WE HAD WAS FROM FOX.

FROM FOX. AND THEY MADE A PRETTY HEAVY

AND THEY MADE A PRETTY HEAVY PITCH AT THAT TIME.

PITCH AT THAT TIME. >> WHAT I REMEMBERED IS THAT THE

>> WHAT I REMEMBERED IS THAT THE BOOKLETS WERE LEATHER.

BOOKLETS WERE LEATHER. I DON'T KNOW WHY I WAS SO

I DON'T KNOW WHY I WAS SO IMPRESSED.

IMPRESSED. >> THEY WENT TO THE TROUBLE TO

>> THEY WENT TO THE TROUBLE TO KILL COWS TO BRING ME TO FOX.

KILL COWS TO BRING ME TO FOX. >> WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT

>> WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO.

WHAT TO DO. AND WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR

AND WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR OPTIONS.

OPTIONS. AND THEN NBC CAME TO US,

AND THEN NBC CAME TO US, FIGURING THEY'RE GOING TO LOSE

FIGURING THEY'RE GOING TO LOSE HIM AT SOME POINT AND THAT JAY

HIM AT SOME POINT AND THAT JAY IS NOT GOING TO GO FOREVER.

IS NOT GOING TO GO FOREVER. >> THE ONLY WAY TO REALLY KEEP

>> THE ONLY WAY TO REALLY KEEP BOTH OF THESE GUYS AT NBC WAS

BOTH OF THESE GUYS AT NBC WAS THAT WE WERE EVENTUALLY GOING TO

THAT WE WERE EVENTUALLY GOING TO HAVE TO PROMISE CONAN THAT HE

HAVE TO PROMISE CONAN THAT HE WOULD TAKE OVER "THE TONIGHT