The Late Shift is a 1996 TV movie produced by HBO based on the book by Bill Carter. Comedy Inc. ... The year 1996 in television involved some significant events. ... A television movie (also TV movie, TV-movie, made-for-TV movie, etc. ... For other uses, see HBO (disambiguation). ...

The movie follows the behind-the-scenes network politics responsible for late-night programming leading up to — and after — the retirement of Johnny Carson (Rich Little) from The Tonight Show on NBC in 1992. Jay Leno (Daniel Roebuck) and David Letterman (John Michael Higgins) were both vying for the position, but Leno's tough manager, Helen Kushnick (Kathy Bates), got him the spot. In the wake of some of her more fierce tactics, she was pushed out of her job as The Tonight Show executive producer and dropped by Leno as his personal manager. Letterman, devastated by his being passed over, brought in superagent Mike Ovitz (Treat Williams) to negotiate on his behalf, resulting in his move to CBS. For other persons named John Carson, see John Carson (disambiguation). ... Rich Little performing (as George Burns) in 2004 Richard Caruthers Rich Little (born November 26, 1938) is a Canadian comedian best known for his celebrity impersonations. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... This article is about the television network. ... James Douglas Muir Jay Leno (April 28, 1950) is an Emmy Award-winning American comedian and television host, who succeeded Johnny Carson as host of The Tonight Show in 1992. ... Daniel Roebuck as Leslie Arzt in Lost. ... David Michael Letterman (born April 12, 1947, in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.) is an award-winning American comedian, late night talk show host, television producer, philanthropist, and IRL IndyCar Series car owner. ... John Michael Higgins (born February 12, 1963, in Boston, Massachusetts) is an American actor whose film credits include Christopher Guests mockumentaries and the role of David Letterman in HBOs The Late Shift. ... Helen Kushnick was the agent of comedian Jay Leno for much of his career. ... Kathleen Doyle Bates (born June 28, 1948) is an Academy Award-winning American theatrical, film, and television actress, and a stage and television director. ... Michael S. Ovitz (born December 14, 1946) is a former talent agent and Hollywood powerhouse who served as the head of the Creative Artists Agency from 1975 to 1995. ... Treat Williams (born December 1, 1951) is an American film, stage and television actor. ... This article is about the broadcast network. ...

It was nominated for seven Emmys at the 1996 awards, including Outstanding Made for Television Movie, although it won in no categories. Kathy Bates won a Golden Globe for her supporting role in a TV movie and a SAG Award for Best Female Actor in a TV Movie or Miniseries. An Emmy Award. ... The Golden Globe Awards are American awards for motion pictures and television programs, given out each year during a formal dinner. ... The Screen Actors Guild Awards are an annual award given by the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) to recognize outstanding performances by members. ...

The movie was often mocked on Letterman's Late Show around the time of its initial airing, particularly for Higgins' lack of resemblance to Letterman and the red hair Higgins had in the movie. Higgins had been booked to appear on Late Show at least twice and was bumped each time. However, when a guest brings up the film on The Tonight Show, Leno often praises Roebuck's portrayal of him. Late Show redirects here. ... Late Show redirects here. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

DVD Release

The DVD of the film was released in the USA on August 30, 2005, and in the UK on March 27, 2006. In both locations, the DVD contains no extras. is the 242nd day of the year (243rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 86th day of the year (87th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Controversy

Kushnick filed a $30 million lawsuit against the author of the eponymous book upon which the HBO film was based, claiming libel. Specifically, her case related to a claim that she planted a story about Carson's retirement in a New York tabloid. [1] The then-pending lawsuit was noted in the closing credits of the film -- as the Broadway tune "There's No Business Like Show Business" played -- but it is unclear whether the legal action was settled before August 1996, when Kushnick died of cancer. An eponym is a person (real or fictitious) whose name has become identified with a particular object or activity. ...

Film cast

Kathleen Doyle Bates (born June 28, 1948) is an Academy Award-winning American theatrical, film, and television actress, and a stage and television director. ... Helen Kushnick was the agent of comedian Jay Leno for much of his career. ... John Michael Higgins (born February 12, 1963, in Boston, Massachusetts) is an American actor whose film credits include Christopher Guests mockumentaries and the role of David Letterman in HBOs The Late Shift. ... David Michael Letterman (born April 12, 1947, in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.) is an award-winning American comedian, late night talk show host, television producer, philanthropist, and IRL IndyCar Series car owner. ... Daniel Roebuck as Leslie Arzt in Lost. ... James Douglas Muir Jay Leno (April 28, 1950) is an Emmy Award-winning American comedian and television host, who succeeded Johnny Carson as host of The Tonight Show in 1992. ... Bob Balaban (born August 16, 1945) is an Academy Award-nominated American actor and director, best known for his collaborations with Christopher Guest. ... Warren Littlefield is the head of programming for Sony Pictures Television and the former president of NBC Entertainment. ... Edward James Begley, Jr. ... Peter Jurasik in Stuttgart, Germany in 2000 Peter Jurasik (born 25 April 1950, Queens, New York) is an American actor best known for his television roles as as Londo Mollari in the 1990s science fiction series Babylon 5, and Sid the Snitch on the 1980s series Hill Street Blues. ... Sir Howard Stringer Sir Howard Stringer (born 1942) is a British-American businessman and Chief Executive Officer of Sony Corporation, before that he was CEO of the Sony Corporation of America. ... Reni Santoni, born April 21, 1939 in New York City, is a film, television and voice actor. ... John Kapelos (b. ... Robert Morty Morton is an American television producer most notable for his work as a producer and later co-executive producer of the NBC program Late Night with David Letterman. ... Steven Gilborn is an American actor he has guest starred in a number notable television series including JAG, ER, The West Wing, NYPD Blue and among other shows just to name a few. ... Peter Lassally is a former Carson Productions executive who served as the executive producer of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Late Night with David Letterman, and the Late Show with David Letterman. ... John Getz (b. ... Brandon Tartikoff (January 13, 1949 — August 27, 1997) was a popular NBC executive who was credited with turning around NBCs low prime time reputation with such hit series as Hill Street Blues, L.A. Law, ALF, Family Ties, The Cosby Show, Cheers, Miami Vice, The Golden Girls, Knight Rider... Lawrence Pressman (born July 10, 1939 in Cynthiana, Kentucky, USA) is an actor, probably best known for roles on Doogie Howser, M.D., Ladies Man, a recurring role on Profiler, and as the titular character on Mulligans Stew. ... Robert (Bob) Charles Wright (born 1943) is a U.S. television businessman. ... Sandra Bernhard (born June 6, 1955 in Flint, Michigan) is an American actress, comedian, author and singer. ... Treat Williams (born December 1, 1951) is an American film, stage and television actor. ... Michael Ovitz (born December 14, 1946), talent agent and Hollywood powerhouse, served as the head of the Creative Artists Agency from 1975 to 1995. ... Keith Rupert Murdoch AC, KCSG (born 11 March 1931) is an Australian born United States citizen who is a global media executive and is the controlling shareholder, chairman and managing director of News Corporation, based in New York. ... Michael Gartner (born October 25, 1938, in Des Moines, Iowa) is an American journalist and businessman. ... Ken Kragen is an entertainment lawyer and activist. ... Aaron Lustig (b. ... Paul Allen Wood Shaffer (born November 28, 1949 in Fort William (now Thunder Bay), Ontario, Canada) is a Jewish-Canadian-American musician, actor, voice actor, author, comedian and composer currently seen as the bandleader on the Late Show with David Letterman. ... Duncan Dick Ebersol (born July 28, 1947 in Torrington, Connecticut) is an American radio and TV manager. ... Jack Welch as CEO of GE John Francis Jack Welch, Jr. ... Rich Little performing (as George Burns) in 2004 Richard Caruthers Rich Little (born November 26, 1938) is a Canadian comedian best known for his celebrity impersonations. ... For other persons named John Carson, see John Carson (disambiguation). ... Richard Wayne Penniman (born December 5, 1932), better known by the stage name Little Richard, is an African-American singer, songwriter, and pianist, who began performing in the 1940s and was a key figure in the transition from rhythm & blues to rock and roll in the mid-1950s. ...

External links

• The Late Shift at the Internet Movie Database