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Letterman to break record

1

1069_KIFR

From The Late Show newsletter. In The LS Factiod section:

This Saturday, September 24, Dave surpasses Johnny Carson
as the longest-running talk-show host in network television history.
Johnny's 29-year, 7-month run as host of "The Tonight Show"
totaled 10,826 days. Saturday will mark Dave's 10,827th.

Since his Friday night show ends at 12:30 AM, it is noted
as Saturday
 
it does not sound like a legitimate record since the show is technically a monday to friday show.
 
I can't believe anyone has called out the "one network" factor here. David, while a great performer, has spread his tenure out over two networks. Johnny did it with one. I think this is an important distinction.
 
searadiofreak said:
I can't believe anyone has called out the "one network" factor here. David, while a great performer, has spread his tenure out over two networks. Johnny did it with one. I think this is an important distinction.
Click to expand...

Conan Obrien with help from an audience member marked his 18th year on the air last week.even though he's only been TBS for 1 year if that.
 
1069_KIFR said:
From The Late Show newsletter. In The LS Factiod section:

This Saturday, September 24, Dave surpasses Johnny Carson
as the longest-running talk-show host in network television history.
Johnny's 29-year, 7-month run as host of "The Tonight Show"
totaled 10,826 days. Saturday will mark Dave's 10,827th.

Since his Friday night show ends at 12:30 AM, it is noted
as Saturday
Click to expand...

David Letterman has certainly "earned his letter" as far as the all-time greats go in the category of Late Night Talk Show hosts.

But from another angle, I'm guessing that he hasn't hosted as many hours as Johnny Carson did.

For years, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson ran for ninety minutes. I don't know when the show was cut down to an hour. Someone I'm sure will know the answer, I don't.

Another consideration: From the beginning of Carson's tenure to sometime in the mid-to-late 60s, the show started at :15 after the hour. As I faintly remember that (I was an adolescent at the time), I don't remember if Carson did the first 15 minutes or not. Jack Paar before him had the same format, but IIRC, Hugh Downs hosted the 15 minute pre-show, and Paar would make his entrance at :30.

Most NBC affiliates didn't carry the 15 minute pre-show.

At any rate, I hope Letterman keeps Top Ten - ing us for many years to come.
 
Something else to consider is how much from the 70's on that Carson used guest hosts. The only time Dave used guest hosts was when he had health problems that kept him from working.
 
^while thats true letterman had a week night show that went into the past midnight slot.not a weekend show.

even late night with david letterman was actually a weeknight show.
 
Letterman used to go Monday thru Thursday for a good while (Friday Night Videos filled that spot) and then eventually went Monday thru Friday. Maybe he would have surpassed Carson if he wasn't off on all those Fridays?
 
These comparisons are somewhat academic.

Carson is the leader, one network, 29 years.

Letterman is in 2nd place, two networks, 30 years.

Leno doesn't even place.

O'Brien is finding his place, although he cracks me up more than Letterman/Leno combined. Unfortunately, he will probably never find a prime spot again. Thanks to NBC's huge blunder.
 
searadiofreak said:
I can't believe anyone has called out the "one network" factor here. David, while a great performer, has spread his tenure out over two networks. Johnny did it with one. I think this is an important distinction.
Click to expand...
But, remember Letterman was Al Gore-ed out of the Tonight Show or he would still be at NBC..
 
searadiofreak said:
I can't believe anyone has called out the "one network" factor here. David, while a great performer, has spread his tenure out over two networks. Johnny did it with one. I think this is an important distinction.
Click to expand...

Carson did it with one show. I believe Letterman has to count his original daytime show, which was not a success.
 
RicoGregg said:
From the beginning of Carson's tenure to sometime in the mid-to-late 60s, [The Tonight Show] started at :15 after the hour. As I faintly remember that (I was an adolescent at the time), I don't remember if Carson did the first 15 minutes or not. Jack Paar before him had the same format, but IIRC, Hugh Downs hosted the 15 minute pre-show, and Paar would make his entrance at :30.

Most NBC affiliates didn't carry the 15 minute pre-show.
Click to expand...

At the start, Carson did the entire show, beginning at 11:15PM; however, many stations with 11PM newscasts refused to join the network until 11:30PM, resulting in viewers in those areas missing Johnny's monologue. As a result, Johnny did not join in until 11:30PM, and Ed McMahon and Skitch Henderson kept company with viewers for the first 15 minutes. In fact, the NBC Peacock and intro ran at both 11:15 and 11:30, so those who did not get the show could join in without having to join in progress.

After a couple of years of this, as more stations began showing a half hour of news at 11, the 15-minute "warm-up" show was discarded.
 
Lkeller said:
searadiofreak said:
I can't believe anyone has called out the "one network" factor here. David, while a great performer, has spread his tenure out over two networks. Johnny did it with one. I think this is an important distinction.
Click to expand...

Carson did it with one show. I believe Letterman has to count his original daytime show, which was not a success.
Click to expand...

wasn`t it a weekday daytime show ?
 
flashback said:
Lkeller said:
searadiofreak said:
I can't believe anyone has called out the "one network" factor here. David, while a great performer, has spread his tenure out over two networks. Johnny did it with one. I think this is an important distinction.
Click to expand...

Carson did it with one show. I believe Letterman has to count his original daytime show, which was not a success.
Click to expand...

wasn`t it a weekday daytime show ?
Click to expand...

Yes. I caught it only a couple of times and thought it was entertaining. But I don't think Dave really has that daytime talk-show sensibility. He wasn't a good fit for daytime.
 
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