What is the best late-night talk show of all time?

Which late-night talk show is the greatest of all time? From Johnny Carson's Tonight Show institution to John Oliver's HBO investigative comedy, vote for the show that best defined what late-night television can be.

1

The Tonight Show (Carson)

Johnny Carson's 30-year Tonight Show reign from 1962 to 1992 that defined late-night television and set the template every host since has followed.

2

Late Show with Letterman

David Letterman's iconic CBS run from 1993 to 2015, where his sardonic wit and reinvented talk-show format influenced an entire generation of hosts.

3

Late Night with Letterman

Letterman's original NBC late-night run from 1982 to 1993, where he shattered the traditional talk-show formula with surreal humor and Top Ten Lists.

4

The Daily Show (Stewart)

Jon Stewart's 16-year tenure at The Daily Show from 1999 to 2015, which revolutionized political satire and became appointment television for millions.

5

Late Show with Colbert

Stephen Colbert's acclaimed CBS tenure that became the no. 1 late-night show, blending sharp political commentary with genuine celebrity interviews.

6

The Colbert Report

Stephen Colbert's 2005-2014 satirical alter-ego show on Comedy Central, a brilliant long-form character study that skewered cable news culture.

7

Late Night with Conan O'Brien

Conan O'Brien's inventive and surreal NBC Late Night run from 1993 to 2009 that pioneered absurdist comedy and beloved recurring characters.

8

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Jimmy Kimmel's long-running ABC franchise that produced viral cultural moments, celebrity pranks, and the beloved Celebrities Read Mean Tweets segment.

9

The Tonight Show (Fallon)

Jimmy Fallon's high-energy NBC Tonight Show era known for viral games, musical parodies, and A-list celebrity chemistry.

10

Last Week Tonight (Oliver)

John Oliver's HBO deep-dive weekly show that transformed long-form investigative comedy journalism into an art form and spurred real-world change.

11

Late Night with Seth Meyers

Seth Meyers's NBC show known for sharp political A Closer Look segments and a welcoming, writerly sensibility that attracts literary and political guests.

12

The Late Late Show (Ferguson)

Craig Ferguson's wildly creative CBS run from 2005 to 2014, featuring his robot sidekick Geoff Peterson and a refreshingly unscripted, intimate style.

13

The Tonight Show (Leno)

Jay Leno's dominant 22-year NBC run that consistently won the late-night ratings race, making him the most commercially successful host of his era.

14

Conan (TBS)

Conan O'Brien's 2010-2021 TBS show that evolved into a travel-heavy, experimental format and built a passionate global fan community.

15

The Tonight Show (Conan)

Conan O'Brien's brief but beloved seven-month Tonight Show hosting stint in 2009 that ended in the notorious NBC-Leno controversy.