The Story of Late Night Inventing Late Night (Season 1, Episode 1)
TV Episode | Documentary, History

The Story of Late Night

Inventing Late Night (Season 1, Episode 1)

TV Episode | Documentary, History

Steve Allen's zany spontaneity turns Tonight into an unexpected hit, but it's Jack Paar and Johnny Carson that transform late night into an enduring television staple.

Director

Writer

Producer

Cinematographer

Editor

See all filmmakers & crew (27)

Edit Released

Updated May 2, 2021

Release date

May 2, 2021 (United States)

Contacts

+ Add

Become a member to see contact information for Inventing Late Night.

Cast	+ Add Cast
47 cast members

Name	Known for
Byron Allen Self Self See fewer	America's Court with Judge Ross (2010)
Steve Allen Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage) See fewer	Casino (1995)
Ed Ames Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage) See fewer	Daniel Boone (1964)
W. Kamau Bell Self Self See fewer	We Need to Talk About Cosby (2022)
David Bianculli Self Self See fewer	Quality Balls: The David Steinberg Story (2013)
Lewis Black Self Self See fewer	Inside Out (I) (2015)
Steve Carell Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage) See fewer	The Office (2005)
Johnny Carson Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage) See fewer	The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962)
Bill Carter Self Self See fewer	The Late Shift (1996)
Fidel Castro Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage) See fewer	Araaayyyyy!!! (1986)
Dick Cavett Self Self See fewer	Forrest Gump (1994)
Bradley Cooper Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage) See fewer	A Star Is Born (2018)
Bob Costas Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage) See fewer	BASEketball (1998)
Billy Crystal Self Self See fewer	Forget Paris (1995)
Faye Emerson Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage) See fewer	Between Two Worlds (1944)
Jimmy Fallon Self Self See fewer	The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014)
Wayne Federman Self Self See fewer	Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000)
Whoopi Goldberg Self Self See fewer	Ghost (1990)
Merv Griffin Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage) See fewer	Jeopardy! (1984)
Arsenio Hall Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage) See fewer	Coming to America (1988)
Ernie Kovacs Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage) See fewer	Bell Book and Candle (1958)
Jay Leno Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage) See fewer	The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992)
David Letterman Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage) See fewer	Late Show with David Letterman (1993)
Jerry Lewis Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage) See fewer	The Nutty Professor (1963)
Rick Ludwin Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage) See fewer	The Story of Late Night (2021)
Mark Malkoff Self Self See fewer	Mark Lives in IKEA (2008)
Merrill Markoe Self Self See fewer	Late Night with David Letterman (1982)
Ed McMahon Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage) See fewer	The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962)
Molly McNearney Self Self See fewer	Murder Mystery (2019)
Lorne Michaels Self Self See fewer	Saturday Night Live (1975)
Robert Morton Self Self See fewer	Late Show with David Letterman (1993)
Kliph Nesteroff Self Self See fewer	Whoopi Goldberg Presents Moms Mabley (2013)
Richard Nixon Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage) See fewer	Frost/Nixon (2008)
Conan O'Brien Self Self See fewer	The Lego Batman Movie (2017)
Jack Paar Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage) See fewer	Walk Softly, Stranger (1950)
David Pollock Actor Actor See fewer	With Friends Like These... (1991)
Gene Rayburn Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage) See fewer	Match Game (1973)
Paul Reiser Self Self See fewer	Mad About You (1992)
Andy Richter Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage) See fewer	Madagascar (2005)
Joan Rivers Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage) See fewer	Spaceballs (1987)
Sarah Rodman Self Self See fewer	The Story of Late Night (2021)
Amber Ruffin Self Self See fewer	Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014)
Robert Smigel Self Self See fewer	Saturday Night Live (1975)
Jeff Sotzing Self Self See fewer	The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962)
Jon Stewart Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage) See fewer	The Daily Show (1996)
Robert J. Thompson Self - Robert Thompson Self - Robert Thompson See fewer	Up Front Tonight (1998)
Sylvester L. Weaver Jr. Self (archive footage) Self (archive footage) See fewer	Your Show of Shows (1950)