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Late Night: Difference between revisions
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[[NBC]] [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin|late-night]] (specifically, 12:35-1:35 AM) [[Talk Show]] and training ground for other networks' 11:35 hosts. Began in 1973 as ''The Tomorrow Show'' hosted by Tom Snyder, but replaced in 1982 due to lower ratings and stations dropping it for [[Rerun|Reruns]] with the current format. Originally hosted by [[David Letterman]] in the 1980s and early '90s. When [[Johnny Carson]] stepped down in 1992, Letterman expected to inherit ''[[The Tonight Show]]''. Instead, NBC gave it to Jay Leno, previously a regular guest host, and Letterman jumped ship to [[CBS]], taking the show lock, stock and barrel with him. That is, aside from the title "''Late Night''", which was owned by NBC. Letterman's new show, ''The Late Show'', was placed opposite Leno's ''Tonight Show''. For reasons no one was quite sure of at the time, NBC filled Letterman's old post with an unknown ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' and ''[[The Simpsons|Simpsons]]'' writer named
O'Brien was largely not expected to last much longer than a week, and indeed was on the verge of cancellation for years, with only the fact that there was nothing to replace him with the only saving factor. (The critical consensus, O'Brien included, is that the show was terrible for its first three years.) However, O'Brien grew into the role and ended up hosting for nearly sixteen years. NBC made darn sure not to lose another ''Late Night'' host to a rival network and plans were drawn up as early as 2004 for him to take over ''The Tonight Show''. After O'Brien did inherit ''The Tonight Show'' in 2009, ''Late Night'' went to former ''SNL'' cast member [[Jimmy Fallon]] (who if he's smart already has [[Alternate Company Equivalent|alternate names for all his characters and routines]] memorized or on undated handwritten papers kept strictly in his home).
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* [[The Bus Came Back]]: [[David Letterman]] appeared as a guest a few times, complementing Conan on being able to sucessfully put his own spin on the ''[[Late Night]]'' set and formular.
* [[The Elevator From Ipanema]]: One skit involved two contestants racing turtles representing the New York Giants and New England Patriots to determine who would win the 2008 Super Bowl. At one point, the contestants and turtles entered an elevator and guess what song was playing inside?
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* [[Fauxtastic Voyage]]: In a recurring sketch, Conan interviews a cast member who claims to be reporting from a distant location while actually standing in front of a projected background. When Conan expresses skepticism that the correspondent is actually at the distant location, the correspondent insists he really is there and purports to prove it by walking to another location (represented by another projected background). The sketch typically ends with Conan walking to where the correspondent is standing (a few feet away on the stage) to hit him with a chair.
* [[Good Angel, Bad Angel]]: The recurring sketch [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKQ-pvm0f3I "Moral Dilemma"], where Conan would be faced with a small one -- e.g. finding a wallet full of cash and deciding whether or not to keep it or return it to its rightful owner. Suddenly, a little devil urging him to do the wrong choice would appearing on one shoulder. On the other shoulder, instead of an angel, it would be something like a bear or an astronaut, giving advice pertaining to that character.
* [[Hypocritical Humor]]: In one of the Clutch Cargo segments, Conan interviewed Arnold Schwarzenegger on the subject of immigration. Arnold stated:
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* [[I Comma Noun]]: "I, Rowboat", a parody of the then-recently-released ''I, Robot'' movie.
* [[Impersonation Paradox]]: Robert Smigel's impression of [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]] in the Synchro-Vox segment got more and more exaggerated over time to the point where Arnold shouted every line.
* [[Incredibly Lame Pun]]: This example, which was so bad that the audience booed him.
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* [[Lame Comeback]]: A recurring gag when Conan interviews [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]] in the Synchro-Vox segment. Example:
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'''Conan''': That is not...
'''Arnold''': Jingle All the Way!
'''Conan''': That is ''not'' the American dream.
'''Arnold''': ''You're'' not the American dream!
'''Conan''': [[Sarcasm Mode|Oh, good one. Yeah.]] }}
* [[No Indoor Voice]]: Joel Godard. Dear God. "PLUS '''''MAX WEINBERG''''' and the MAX WEINBERG SEVEN!!! Now, here's your host, CO-nan '''''O-BRIIIIIIIIYUUUUUHN!!!!!!!!!'''''"
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* [[Psychic Nosebleed]]: Parodied in one episode, where a psychic guest loses copious amounts of blood while using telepathy. The psychic's spoon is indeed ''nudged'', although he is now wearing a wet red shirt for it.
* [[Public Service Announcement]]: Parodied, of course. For example, during 2008, Conan and his band created some mock "Green Your Routine" ads, which NBC was running at the time.
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* [[Screen Shake]]: In a monologue during the Writer's Strike, Conan wanted to re-enact [[Cloverfield]]. What followed was Conan running around the stage while the camera shook violently.
* [[Shoot the Money]]:
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* [[Affectionate Parody]]: Of everything from ''[[Lost]]'' to ''[[Jersey Shore]]''. The elaborate taped parodies of popular TV shows, all set within the ''Late Night'' universe, have become a hallmark of Fallon's run on the show.
* [[Crosscast Role]]: The "Real Wives of Late Night" have the cast of the show playing their wives. [[Lampshade Hanging|Lampshaded]] when the Indianapolis Colts' wives (the players also in drag) come over for a party and Higgins wife offhandedly mentions they look like dudes.
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* [[Precious Puppies]]: From "If Puppies Could Vote" (''Gary Frick, you stop it!'') to their 2011 Emmy nomination reel, which featured a puppy dressed up as each member of the writing staff, this incarnation certainly loves a puppy gag.
* [[Homemade Sweater From Hell]]: During the twelve days before the show takes its Christmas break, Fallon gives them away to members of their audience.
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* [[Undesirable Prize]]: Exaggerated in the "Wheel of Carpet Samples" game. The "losers" get $300 Apple gift cards. The "winner" gets a carpet sample.
* [[What Could Possibly Go Wrong?]]: Jimmy Fallon used this in a joke while hosting the 2010 Primetime Emmys:
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* [[Zonk]]: Some of the contestant games involve these. In "Doll Posin'", the losers get a doll-sized "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" T-Shirt. In the [[Spit Take]] game, the losers get moist towelettes.
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