The following is alist of programs that are currently airing or have previously aired during thelate nightdaypart on Americantelevision networks and streaming services.
For the purposes of this page, shows that air after midnight (in the early morning) are considered to have been broadcast late night, the previous day.
TheLes Crane Show (November 9, 1964 – February 25, 1965) – interview/tabloid talk format with audience questions
ABC's Nightlife (March 1–November 12, 1965) – talk/variety series serving as a reformatting ofThe Les Crane Show; originally featured rotating hosts, before Crane returned as host in June 1965
Wide World of Entertainment (January 8, 1973 – October 22, 1982, retitledABC Late Night in January 1976) – originally a block of comedy/variety programs, talk shows hosted by Dick Cavett (The Dick Cavett Show) andJack Paar (Jack Paar Tonite), concerts, documentaries and specials; reformatted asABC Late Night in 1976, featuring reruns of ABC prime time shows (such asSoap,The Love Boat andStarsky & Hutch)
In Concert (November 24, 1972 – April 25, 1975) – aired Friday nights
Good Night America (1973–1975) – hosted byGeraldo Rivera; aired as part ofABC's Wide World of Entertainment
Fridays (April 11, 1980 – April 23, 1982) – sketch comedy series
The Last Word (October 1982–April 1983) – hosted byPhil Donahue and Greg Jackson
One on One (April–August 1983) – hosted by Greg Jackson
Eye on Hollywood (August 1983–July 1986) – entertainment news/interview program
ABC Rocks (June 22, 1984 – August 2, 1985) –music video program; aired Friday nights
Nightline Up Close (July 8, 2002 – January 24, 2003) –ABC News spin-off ofNightline, featuring one-on-one interviews conducted byTed Koppel; temporary replacement forPolitically Incorrect following cancellation due to Maher's comments about the perpetrators of theSeptember 11 attacks
The Faye Emerson Show (October 24, 1949 – June 22, 1951) – 15-minute chat show, began as an East Coast program before expanding to the full network, airing three nights a week, by March 1950; Emerson also concurrently hosted a show on NBC for several months in 1950.[2]
The CBS Late Movie (February 14, 1972 – September 20, 1985) – originally formatted as a weeknight movie showcase; began incorporating reruns of CBS series as well as some first-run British imported series during the block's timeslot in 1977
CBS News Nightwatch (October 3, 1982 – March 27, 1992) – overnight topical discussion program; hosted byHarold Dow,Christopher Glenn, Karen Stone, Felicia Jeter, Mary Jo West (1982–84),Charlie Rose and Lark McCarthy (1984–90); various hosts were used from 1990 to 1992[3]
CBS Late Night (September 23, 1985 – January 6, 1989, October 30, 1989 – March 29, 1991) – reformatting ofThe CBS Late Movie block featuring reruns of CBS series, imported and first-run programs; block was replaced byThe Pat Sajak Show in January 1989, and returned following the reduction ofSajak to an hour-long format (from 90 minutes)
Keep on Cruisin' (January–June 1987) – weekly variety series produced byDick Clark; hosted byStephen Bishop andSinbad; aired Fridays
In Person from the Palace (June–August 1987) – weekly music series produced byDick Clark, featuring taped concert performances from thePalace Theater in Hollywood; aired Fridays
The Pat Sajak Show (January 9, 1989 – April 13, 1990) – featuredDan Miller as announcer/sidekick andTom Scott as bandleader; originally running for 90 minutes, for its second season, the talk show was reduced to 60 minutes and began utilizing guest hosts substituting for Sajak on Fridays (such asPaul Rodriguez andRush Limbaugh)
America Tonight Friday (October 7, 1990 – March 29, 1991) – Friday edition hosted byRobert Krulwich and Edie Magnus
Crimetime After Primetime (April 1, 1991 – January 5, 1995) – weeknight showcase of first-run and Canadian-imported crime dramas
Personals (September 1991–December 1992) –dating game show in which a contestant would choose from three potential dates; the final round featured a series of yes or no questions for the winning couple, with a date destination that declined in quality each time their answers were incompatible (ranging from as high as an exotic location to as low as a trip toPink's Hot Dogs'Los Angeles stand); hosted byMichael Burger
Night Games (October 1991–June 1992) – dating show in which three men and three women are asked questions containing sexual innuendo, with the winning contestant choosing whom he or she would take on a date; hosted by Jeff Marder, withLuann Lee as his announcer/assistant
Up to the Minute (March 30, 1992 – September 18, 2015) – overnight newscast; replacedCBS News Nightwatch
The Kids in the Hall (September 18, 1992 – January 6, 1995) – sketch comedy series, aired Fridays; moved from HBO
The Talk After Dark (January 12–16, 2015) – nighttime edition of CBS daytime program; temporary replacement for theLate Late Show during transition from Craig Ferguson to James Corden.
CBS Summer Showcase (May 21–September 7, 2015) – showcase of CBS drama reruns; temporary replacement for theLate Show during transition from David Letterman to Stephen Colbert as host.
CBS Overnight News (September 21, 2015 – May 28, 2024) – overnight newscast; replacedUp to the Minute
After Midnight (January 17, 2024 — June 13, 2025) - withTaylor Tomlinson.Comedy panel game show featuring comedians and celebrities competing for fictional prizes. Aired at 12:30 AM in the formerLate Late Show slot followingThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert and produced by Colbert's production company.
Party Time at Club Roma (October 1950–January 1951) – variety show hosted byBen Alexander, described as "partTruth or Consequences-type stunt show and part talent contest".[5]
Dagmar's Canteen (November 30, 1951 – June 14, 1952), continuation ofBroadway Open House with a military theme in which Dagmar and service members would take part in sketches[6]
Mary Kay's Nightcap (June 1951–July 1952) – 15-minutesign-off show in whichMary Kay Stearns would preview NBC's schedule for the following day, with occasional interviews.[7][8]
Tonight Starring Ernie Kovacs (October 1, 1956 – January 22, 1957), aired Monday and Tuesday nights to relieve Allen who was also hosting a weekly prime-time show, while Allen continued hostingTonight Wednesdays through Fridays.
The Tomorrow Show (October 15, 1973 – December 17, 1981, retitledTomorrow Coast to Coast in September 1980) – hosted byTom Snyder and co-hosted byRona Barrett from October 1980 until mid-1981; aired Monday–Thursday nights followingThe Tonight Show, with reruns continuing following its cancellation until January 28, 1982
The Midnight Special (February 2, 1973 – May 1, 1981) – music series; aired Friday nights
Weekend (October 20, 1974–December 1978) –NBC News newsmagazine hosted byLloyd Dobyns, and co-hosted in its final year byLinda Ellerbee; aired about one week per month in lieu ofSaturday Night Live reruns, before being moved to prime time until it ended in April 1979
NBC News Overnight (July 5, 1982 – December 3, 1983) – overnight news/discussion program; hosted by Lloyd Dobyns (later replaced by Bill Schechner) and Linda Ellerbee
Friday Night Videos (July 29, 1983 – May 24, 2002, retitledFriday Night in 1994) – weekly series; originally formatted as a music video showcase, converted to a variety format in 1994
Late Friday (January 5, 2001 – May 24, 2002) – reformat ofFriday Night focused on stand-up comedy routines
Saturday Night's Main Event (May 11, 1985 – April 27, 1991) – World Wrestling Federation (WWF, nowWWE) wrestling showcase; aired occasionally as filler in place ofSaturday Night Live reruns
Later (August 22, 1988 – January 18, 2001) – switched between one-on-one interview (1988–1994, 2000–2001) and conventional late-night talk/monologue formats (1994–2000) during its run; reruns ofSCTV Network 90 aired under theLater banner for the latter's final year after its talk format was discontinued in January 2001
Last Call with Carson Daly (January 8, 2002 – May 24, 2019) – originally maintained conventional late-night talk/comedy format; switched to on-location, documentary-style interview format in 2009
A Little Late with Lilly Singh (September 16, 2019 – June 3, 2021) – replacedLast Call with Carson Daly in the 1:37 a.m. ET timeslot; format was a mixture of interviews, comedy sketches, and commentary "rants"
The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers (October 9, 1986 – May 15, 1987)
The Late Show (various hosts) (May 18–December 8, 1987; January 11–October 28, 1988)
The Wilton North Report (December 11, 1987 – January 8, 1988) – satirical newsmagazine/talk/variety show hosted by Phil Cowan and Paul Robins; aired as a temporary replacement forThe Late Show
Comic Strip Live (August 12, 1989 – January 15, 1994) – weekly stand-up comedy series; depending on themarket, it aired on either Saturday or Sunday evening
The Chevy Chase Show (September 7–October 1, 1993) – infamously panned talk show cancelled after a five-week run, which became Fox's last regular weekday late night programming effort to date
Monodrama Theater (May 1952–December 7, 1953) – variety series, aired Monday–Friday at 11:00 p.m. ET, featuring an actress or actor performing plays solo in front of a curtain in a form ofmonodrama
The Ernie Kovacs Show (April 12, 1954 – April 7, 1955) – the DuMont version of the program aired Monday–Friday 11:15 p.m. to 12:15 a.m. ET, ending as the network began winding down operations; Kovacs moved to NBC and hosted theTonight Show on Mondays and Tuesdays for one season
Soul! (September 12, 1968 – March 7, 1973) – syndicated byWNDT–WNET/Newark–New York City
Late Night America (January 4, 1982 – December 20, 1985; March 25–December 30, 1989) – talk and viewer call-in program hosted byDennis Wholey; originally titledPBS LateNight from 1982 to 1984, formatted as a half-hour weeknight program (1982–1985) and later as a two-hour weekly show (1989); syndicated byWTVS/Detroit
Charlie Rose (September 30, 1991 – November 17, 2017) – syndicated by WNET/Newark–New York City
Charlie Rose: The Week (July 19, 2013 – November 24, 2017) – "week-in-review" program featuring interviews fromCharlie Rose, and news and cultural summaries; aired Fridays, and syndicated by WNET/Newark–New York City
Tavis Smiley (January 5, 2004 – December 13, 2017) – syndicated byKCET/Los Angeles (2004–2011) and WNET/Newark–New York City (2011–2017)
Beyond 100 Days (January 2–September 6, 2018) – rebroadcast of BBC World News world affairs newscast primarily covering the early days of thefirst Donald Trump presidency; syndicated by KCET/Los Angeles
BBC World News on PBS (January 12–September 7, 2018) – late night international newscast; syndicated by KCET/Los Angeles
This list does not include the numerousgame shows aired during the mid-1980s that often received late-night clearances (such as the 1985 run ofThe Nighttime Price Is Right) but were not expressly intended for late night audiences, nor does it includetalk shows meant for daytime broadcast that air in late night slots in many markets due to either low ratings in their original timeslot, a lack of an available prime daytime slot or as a secondary run.
The Steve Allen Show (April 1968–November 1969) – a revival of Allen's originalTonight format; syndicated byFilmways
Almost Live! (September 23, 1984 – May 22, 1999) – weekly sketch comedy/variety series fromKING-TV inSeattle; was briefly syndicated in the early 1990s
Nightlife (September 8, 1986 – June 19, 1987) – hosted byDavid Brenner; syndicated by King World
Ask Dr Ruth (January 1987) – sex advice talk show hosted by sex therapistDr. Ruth Westheimer and Larry Angelo
Sunday Night (1988–1990) – weekly music showcase for jazz and eclectic artists; syndicated byBroadway Video
TheByron Allen Show (1989–1992) – originally formatted as an hour-long weekly program, converted to a half-hour weeknight format in 1992; syndicated byGenesis Entertainment
The Jon Stewart Show (September 12, 1994 – June 23, 1995) – Season 1 originated onMTV; season 2 was syndicated by Paramount Domestic Television
Last Call (September 12, 1994–September 1995) – discussion show featuring five panelists (which included, among others,John Melendez andBrianne Leary), syndicated by MCA Television
Comics Unleashed withByron Allen (September 2006–September 2007, 2014; reruns aired on CBSowned-and-operated stations until 2025) – syndicated byEntertainment Studios (now Allen Media Group Television); repeats and some previously unaired episodes aired on the full CBS network from 2023 to 2024 as a temporary replacement forThe Late Late Show during the transition to its timeslot successorAfter Midnight. The show returned to the full CBS network in September 2025 following the cancellation ofAfter Midnight.
The Merv Griffin Show (February 14, 1972 – September 5, 1986) –King World assumed syndication rights in 1984, although the show continued to be carried on Metromedia-owned stations until shortly after the group's sale to Fox/News Corporation in 1986
Programs syndicated by Group W Productions aired on Westinghouse-owned stations and were syndicated to other markets; merged withCBS in 1996 to becomeEyemark Entertainment, and folded intoKing World in 2000 by CBS.
The Steve Allen Show (July 1962–October 1964) – a revival of Allen's originalTonight format; unofficially known as "The Steve Allen Westinghouse Show" or "The Steve Allen Playhouse" (in reference to the renamed theater that served as its taping location) to distinguish it from the prime time show of the same name
Man of the People with Pat Tomasulo (WGN-TV/Chicago, January 2018–July 2019) – weekly series
Talk Tonight (KTSF/San Francisco, February 13, 2006 – December 27, 2019) – weekly series
The Nite Show with Danny Cashman (WABI-DT2 1997—1999,WSBK-TV 2001—2002,WABI-TV/Bangor, Maine, October 2010—May 17, 2025), aired late Saturday nights. Original version of show aired on Bangor's WB affiliate and then on its UPN outlet. Final version syndicated throughoutMaine. Final guest wasDavid Letterman.[12][13][14]
Talking Saul (February 15, 2016 – August 8, 2022) – live aftershow discussing episodes of the AMC scripted dramaBetter Call Saul (during seasons2–3 and6), hosted by Chris Hardwick
Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher (July 25, 1993 – November 5, 1996) – topical panel talk show; subsequently moved to ABC, where it continued until September 2002
USA Up All Night (January 1989–March 1998) –B movie showcase; hosted byGilbert Gottfried and, for much of its run,Rhonda Shear; title remained in use after the program's cancellation as an umbrella title for USA's late-night movie presentations until 2002
^Total duration includes allocated commercial time, unless otherwise noted.
^First-run episodes air Monday–Thursdays (except on certain major federal holidays) during weeks when the program is in production; Friday episodes are typically reserved for reruns, although recorded first-run episodes occasionally air on certain Fridays.
^Since November 2005,Nightline has maintained a rotating anchor format; presenters listed each solo anchor on assigned nights.
^abcTransmitted in a continuoustape delayed loop until 8:00 a.m. ET/PT for stations in westward time zones toair at accordant airtimes. Local airtimes may vary (usually to be joined in progress) depending on scheduling of late-night syndicated programs, network early-morning newscasts and, except where inapplicable, local morning newscasts as well as delays caused by overruns from network event programming.
^During weeks when the program is in production, Monday–Thursday episodes (except on certain major federal holidays) are taped and broadcast on a same-day basis; Friday episodes are recorded following production of the Thursday episode.
^CBS News Roundup is also broadcast on co-owned streaming networkCBS News 24/7 starting at 1:00 a.m. ET, one hour before the loop feed is made available to local CBS stations and aired in partial simulcast with them.
^Since 2017,Saturday Night Live is broadcast live across the contiguous United States and Alaska. Because the show airs outside of thesafe harbor outside of the Eastern and Central Time Zones, a briefbroadcast delay is implemented to meetFCC indecency regulations in the event thatfleeting expletives or other objectionable material occur during the broadcast.[1]
^First-run episodes air Monday–Thursdays (except on certain major federal holidays) during weeks when the program is in production; Friday episodes are typically reserved for reruns year-round.
^On September 11, 2017, NBC began feedingEarly Today to its owned and affiliated stations at 3:00 a.m. ET (since moved to 2:30 a.m. ET). The early morning newscast's shift to an earlier live feed—which replaced the second hour of the overnight block formerly branded as "NBC All Night" (then offering a same-day repeat ofCNBC'sMad Money) and intended to accommodate expansions of local morning newscasts into the 4:00/4:30 a.m. slot in some markets—resulted inEarly Today doubling as a de facto overnight newscast, of which NBC had not offered since the 1998 cancellation ofNBC Nightside.
^abcdRunning time does not include commercials (note that certain listed cable networks maintain commercial-free programming formats and listed streaming services maintain ad-free tiers, and therefore the program length mentioned alongside this explanatory note is the total running time).
