Pioneers of Television

Late Night

Season 1, Episode 2 of 4

The stories of Steve Allen, Jack Paar and Johnny Carson headline this episode about the formative years of late-night television. Merv Griffin also emerges as a key player on the late-night scene. (His interview for PIONEERS was his last before passing away.) Regis Philbin offers revelations about his years as a late-night sidekick (to Joey Bishop). Dick Cavett and Arsenio Hall also discuss their years in the mix, and Sigourney Weaver offers personal details about her father, Pat - the inventor of "Tonight." The episode is peppered with dozens of never-before-seen clips, including Johnny Carson performing in his early 20s.

Previously Aired

Day
Time
Channel
2/15/2011
9 p.m.
2/16/2011
2 a.m.
5/7/2012
10 p.m.
5/8/2012
3 a.m.
AZPM is a service of the University of Arizona and our broadcast stations are licensed to the Arizona Board of Regents who hold the trademarks for Arizona Public Media and AZPM. We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples.
The University of Arizona