Late night television is the block of television programming usually airing after 11:30 pm. A regular feature of this programming is a particular genre of talk show more colloquially known as "Late Night". The terms PM, Pm or pm, when used by itself can refer to: PM was a politically leftist U.S. newspaper in the late 1940s and early 1950s. ... A genre is a division of a particular form of art according to criteria particular to that form. ... A talk show (U.S.) or chat show (Brit. ...

Popular shows of the late night talk show genre include The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Late Late Show from Ireland, The Late Show with David Letterman, and Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Famous former hosts include Johnny Carson of The Tonight Show, Gay Byrne from The Late Late Show, Tom Snyder of Tomorrow, Steve Allen, the father of the late night talk show, Merv Griffin and Dick Cavett, early competitors with Carson, and Jack Paar, the man who followed Steve Allen as host of the Tonight Show and who is responsible for setting the standards for the genre. The First Lady of the United States, Laura Bush and current host Jay Leno. ... For the American late-night talk show, see The Late Late Show (CBS). ... The Late Show with David Letterman is an hour-long weeknight comedy and talk show broadcast by CBS from the Ed Sullivan Theater on Broadway in New York City. ... Late Night with Conan OBrien is an American late night television talk show on NBC featuring varied comedic material and celebrity interviews. ... Johnny Carson For the article about the Erskine College president, see Dr. John Carson John William Johnny Carson (October 23, 1925 – January 23, 2005) was an American actor, comedian and writer best known for his iconic status as the host of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. ... The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson was the full name of NBCs The Tonight Show during the years that Johnny Carson hosted from 1962 to 1992. ... Gay Byrne Gabriel Mary Byrne, known as Gay Byrne and nicknamed Gaybo (born August 5, 1934) is an Irish broadcaster. ... For the American late-night talk show, see The Late Late Show (CBS). ... Tom Snyder rendered in acrylic on canvas by artist Mark Farinas Newscaster for New Yorks WNBC-TV in the 1970s, Tom Snyder (born May 12, 1936 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) was raised Roman Catholic and educated by the Jesuits, and gained national fame as the host of The Tomorrow Show... Steve Allen on the cover of Steve Allen on the Bible, Religion, and Morality Stephen Valentine Patrick William Allen (December 26, 1921 – October 30, 2000) was a musician, comedian and writer, who was instrumental in innovating the concept of the television talk show. ... Merv(yn) Edward Griffin, Jr. ... Dick Cavett Richard Alva Cavett (born November 19, 1936) is a television talk show host known for his conversational style of in-depth and often serious issues discussion. ... Jack Parr circa 1950 Jack Harold Paar (May 1, 1918 – January 27, 2004) was an American radio and television talk show host. ...

These shows often follow the same canonical format:

• a stand-up comedy segment, called the monologue in which the host makes jokes about current events,
• a musical interlude called the walkover, wherein the host walks over to the desk where he interviews guests,
• several skits, sketches, or other comedy bits,
• interviews with one or two celebrity guests,
• a guest musical or comedy act.

Most shows in this genre have an in-house band that plays musical interludes. Popular late night band leaders in the U.S. include Paul Shaffer, leader of The CBS Orchestra on The Late Show with David Letterman; Kevin Eubanks, leader of the Tonight Show Band; and Max Weinberg, leader of the Max Weinberg Seven on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Usually the band leader is a major part of the show, and the band leader and host often exchange playful banter during the monologue and comedy segments; the band leader has thus taken over the part of being the host's sidekick, which in the past was played by Ed McMahon, Arsenio Hall, and Andy Richter, among others. Of the current late night talk show band leaders who play this role, Paul Shaffer is well-known for being a straight man to David Letterman. However, on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Max Weinberg rarely speaks during the show, and his interactions with O'Brien are often short and awkward--a recurring gag on the show. The legendary Richard Pryor hits the money line A stand-up comedian or stand-up comic is someone that performs comedy in an informal way, talking to the audience with the absence of a fourth wall. ... Comedy is the use of humor in the form of theater, where it simply referred to a play with a happy ending, in contrast to a tragedy. ... A monologue, which comes from the Greek words mono and logos meaning one word, is a speech by one person directly addressing an audience. ... Music is an art, entertainment, or other human activity which involves organized and audible sound, though definitions vary. ... ... For the 1998 movie, see Celebrity (1998 movie). ... A house band is a group of musicians, centrally organized by a band leader, that regularly play a venue every night it is open for business and are synonymous with the establishment. ... Paul Shaffer Paul Allen Wood Shaffer (born November 28, 1949 in Fort William, Ontario, Canada) is a Jewish-Canadian musician, actor, author, comedian and composer. ... Kevin Tyrone Eubanks (born November 15, 1957) is an American jazz guitarist. ... The Tonight Show Band is the band which plays on the American television variety show, the Tonight Show. ... Max Weinberg (born April 13, 1951 in Newark, New Jersey) is an American drummer and television personality. ... The Max Weinberg Seven is the house band on Late Night with Conan OBrien. ... Don Quixote and Sancho Panza unsuccessfully confront windmills. ... Ed McMahon During One of Johnny Carsons Monologues on the Tonight Show Ed McMahon (born Edward Leo Peter McMahon Jr. ... Arsenio Hall (born February 12, 1955) is an American comedian, talk show host, and actor. ... Andy Richter (born October 28, 1966) is an American comedian and actor, best known for his former role as Conan OBriens sidekick on Late Night with Conan OBrien. ... A gag is usually a device designed to prevent speech, often as a restraint device to stop the subject from calling for help. ...

Often, the show's announcer is also a major part of the show. Famous announcers include Ed McMahon from The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Edd Hall from The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and Don Pardo from Saturday Night Live. An announcer is a voice actor who works in television, radio and film, usually providing narrations, news updates, station identification, or an introduction of a product in television commercials or a guest on a talk show. ... Ed McMahon During One of Johnny Carsons Monologues on the Tonight Show Ed McMahon (born Edward Leo Peter McMahon Jr. ... The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson was the full name of NBCs The Tonight Show during the years that Johnny Carson hosted from 1962 to 1992. ... Don Pardo (Dominick George Pardo, born February 22, 1918 in Westfield, Massachusetts) is a legendary radio and television announcer. ... Saturday Night Live (SNL) is a weekly late-night 90-minute comedy-variety show from NBC which has been broadcast nearly every Saturday night since its debut on October 11, 1975. ...

Not all late night talk shows air late at night; for example, The Ellen DeGeneres Show follows the format of a late night talk show, but airs in the daytime. Similar shows included The Rosie O'Donnell Show and The Wayne Brady Show. Ellen DeGeneres, on her talk show. ... ...

See also

• List of late night network TV programs