When a late-night talk show is successful, the host and their showwill be remembered for decades. The late-night space is an exclusive club, with mainstays likeThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonandThe Late Show With Stephen Colbertexisting as pieces of television history to be handed down to the next worthy heir. However, that same exclusivity makes it extra daunting for new players to enter the space of nighttime talk show hosts.
Over the years, numerous challengers have stepped up to be the next member of late-night royalty, only to last weeks before shutting down production.These short-lived shows were, for the longest, doomed to be footnotes in television history and forgotten–until now. Ranging from a sports star out of their depth in an unfamiliar medium, or an entertainer with the right approach but the wrong timing, these are the late-night talk shows that faded out of the public’s memory.
10’The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers’ (1986-1987)
Hosted by Joan Rivers
WhenJoan Riversstepped onto the stage ofThe Late Show Starring Joan Rivers,the comedian made history as the first woman to host a late-night talk show.Fox wanted to get into the late-night space, and Rivers had demonstrated her skill in the position with her numerous guest-hosting appearances onThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.Rivers’ show would be in direct competition with Carson, a fact that caused a permanent falling out between the two entertainment personalities.
“Rivers’ show would be in direct competition with Carson, a fact that caused a permanent falling out between the two entertainment personalities.”
A mixture of A-list guestschoosing not to do Rivers’ showdue to her unpredictable line of questions, and certain affiliates not carrying the show out of loyalty to Carson, hurt the ratings for the fledgling talk show.Rivers was a natural host, but the low ratings caused a strain between Rivers and Fox executives,leading the comedian to be fired from the show in 1987, seven months after it debuted. WhileThe Late Show Starring Joan Riversdid not enjoy the years it could have, it still opened the door for future women to host shows of their own.
The Late Show Starring Joan Riversis currently not available for streaming or purchase in the U.S.
9’The Wanda Sykes Show’ (2009-2010)
Hosted by Wanda Sykes
Wanda Sykesis a multi-talented performer known for her stand-up comedy and acting work, so it was an ideal match for Sykes to get a crack at a late-night talk show.Sykes was no stranger to the talk-show format, winning an Emmy for her writingon HBO’sThe Chris Rock Show.When Fox needed a replacement for the canceled Mad TV, they struck a deal with Sykes andThe Wanda Sykes Showpremiered on August 16, 2025.
Every Saturday night,The Wanda Sykes Showwould feature Sykes performing a brief monologue and then, along with her sidekickKeith Robinson, conduct a panel with guests where they would discuss cultural and political issues of the day. Ratings started strong but decreased steadily enough for Fox to seek alternatives for their troubled Saturday nighttime slot.The Wanda Sykes Showwouldn’t make it past one season and was canceled after 21 episodes.
The Wanda Sykes Showis currently not available for streaming or purchase in the U.S.
8’The Jon Stewart Show’ (1993-1995)
Hosted by Jon Stewart
BeforeJon Stewartbecame theface of political satirewithThe Daily Show, the comedian called a different basic cable channel his home. MTV’sThe Jon Stewart Showpremiered to favorable reviews in 1993, eventually becoming one of the most popular shows on the network.The Jon Stewart Showutilized a 30-minute format that featured monologues, skits, and celebrity interviews.
Stewart’s intelligent and witty presence struck a chord with viewers, and afterThe Arsenio Hall Showwas canceled,The Jon Stewart Showwas named its successor. Taking over forThe Arsenio Hall Showwould require retooling for a broader syndicated audience that required a new set along with a shift from the 30-minute format to a full hour.The Jon Stewart Showended up being a victim of its own success, where what constituted good ratings for MTV were not as impressivemeasured against the expectations of national syndication.The year in syndication would be the show’s last, andThe Jon Stewart Showwas canceled on August 19, 2025.
The Jon Stewart Showis currently not available for streaming or purchase in the U.S.
7’The Whoopi Goldberg Show’ (1992-1993)
Hosted by Whoopi Goldberg
Comedian and entertainerWhoopi Goldbergmight be most commonly recognized for her work as host on thedaytime talk showThe View, but she previously worked in the late-night space when she hostedThe Whoopi Goldberg Show. The nightly talk show would showcase Goldberg conducting a relaxed celebrity interview in a 30-minute format. The formalized desk and chairs of most talk shows were nixed in favor of the more intimate setting of large plush chairs for Goldberg and her guests to talk in.
Whereas typical new hosts might struggle with booking A-list guests, Goldberg booked top-tier names such asRobin WilliamsandElizabeth Taylor.Goldberg was a natural at carrying a conversation with guests from varied backgrounds and specialties, maintaining a warm environment that felt like a day at the spa being filmed. Although Goldberg put an original spin on a by-then stagnant format, viewers didn’t tune in and ratings remained elusive forThe Whoopi Goldberg Show.
The Whoopi Goldberg Show is currently not available for streaming or purchase in the U.S.
6’Joe Buck Live' (2009)
Hosted by Joe Buck
In the world of sports,Joe Buck is a widely respected sports broadcaster,his voice commonly heard as the play-by-play announcer for multiple baseball and football games. Buck’s broadcasting experience made him an easy choice for HBO when they needed to replace the exitingBob Costaswho was hostingCostas Nowon the premium cable channel. From there,Joe Buck Livewas born, a talk show that would feature sports stars and celebrities chatting about current topics.
Joe Buck Livegot off to a rocky start on its very first episode when a panel featuringPaul Rudd,Jason Sudeikis, andArtie Langewent off the rails afterLange hijacked the segment by roasting the show and Buck himself.Unlike most late-night talk shows, Buck wasn’t going to adhere to a nightly schedule, with HBO airing a new episode every three months. It’s wild to think a schedule like that made it hard for the show to find an audience, but low ratings ensured thatJoe Buck Livewould be canceled after three episodes.
Joe Buck Liveis currently not available for streaming or purchase in the U.S.
5’The Chevy Chase Show' (1993)
Hosted by Chevy Chase
Fox took a gamble on a Griswold when they offered actor and comedianChevy Chasethe chair for alate-night talk show,The Chevy Chase Show.Ignoring the fact thatDolly Parton was the network’s first choice, the decision to put support behind Chase made sense on paper.Johnny Carsonhad just retired, so this was a perfect time to grab viewers looking for a new show, and a comedy star would be a reliable bet. Chase was a recognizable, mostly bankable star who still maintained a healthy level of goodwill with audiences.
Unfortunately,The Chevy Chase Showwas plagued with issues, including a Chase thatlooked uncomfortable in a format unsuited to his strengths. Cringe-worthy segments included guestGoldie Hawnsinging a song to Chase inches away from his face, and a rubber band race, that saw Chase and guestDan Aykroydsee who could force a rubber band down their face the fastest without using their hands. The little-watched show ultimately became known primarily because of its failures, but that still didn’t drive viewers to check in for a curiosity watch.The Chevy Chase Showwould be canceled less than two months after it aired.
The Chevy Chase Showis currently not available for streaming or purchase in the U.S.
4’McEnroe' (2004)
Hosted by John McEnroe
Fiery tennis playerJohn McEnroekept his cool on the unlikely nightly talk show,McEnroe.McEnroe is considered an all-time great tennis player, but he was an unconventional choice to host a nightly talk show on the equally unconventional destination of CNBC. Mondays through Thursdays, host McEnroe would perform comedy bits and conduct celebrity interviews alongside his sidekick, comedian and radio hostJohn Fugelsang.
“…McEnroe continued to struggle in the ratings,getting a 0.0 Neilsen rating twiceduring its run.”
Despite having an impressive lineup of guests such asElton John,Will Ferrell, andAdam Sandler, the ratings were considered abysmal even by cable standards. Attempts were made to retool the show by changing McEnroe’s attire to a more professional appearance and reducing Fugelsang’s contributions, but McEnroe continued to struggle in the ratings,getting a 0.0 Neilsen rating twiceduring its run. The troubled late-night show never found its footing, and CNBC would finally pull the plug in December 2009, five months after it began.
McEnroeis currently not available for streaming or purchase in the U.S.
3’Thicke of the Night' (1983-1984)
Hosted by Alan Thicke
Sitcom dad to many and actual dad to singerRobin Thicke,Alan Thickewas once the host of his very own talk show,Thicke of the Night, airing in first-run syndication.Thicke was unfamiliar to U.S. audiences in 1983,but he had previously hosted a Canadian talk show, so his skill set was sharpened before debuting withThicke of the Night.Ambitions were to take on Carson with a younger, hipper, style that would appeal to a new generation of viewers, but low ratings andanoverly ambitious designfor the show would leadThicke of the Nightto cancelation after one season.
“Ambitions were to take on Carson with a younger, hipper, style that would appeal to a new generation of viewers…”
Losing to Carson in the ratings was more expected than success, asThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carsonwas an establishment of television that was bullet-proof until the day Carson retired.Thicke fans curious to see his talk show skills in action will have a hard time finding quality clips, but thankfully the theme songcan still be heardin all its 80s glory. While late-night might not have worked out for Thicke, he would later find acclaim as Dr. Jason Seaver on the ABC sitcom,Growing Pains.
Thicke of the Nightis currently not available for streaming or purchase in the U.S.
2’The Magic Hour' (1998)
Hosted by Earvin “Magic” Johnson
NBA superstarEarvin “Magic” Johnsontook his unlimited charisma from the court to the late-night desk when he hosted the short-lived talk show,The Magic Hour.Premiering on June 30, 2025, the first-run syndication talk show would not paint the basketball star in the best light, as Johnson himself described his first week’sperformance as, “like a robot,”leaving audiences unsure if they would tune back in for a second chance.
Critics were generally unkind to the show, pointing out that Johnson wasn’t trained in broadcasting, andhis presentation and comic timing were woefully underdeveloped for the job of late-night host.The Magic Hourproducers attempted to tweak the show by swapping out his sidekick and allotting more time to interviews and less time for comedy-related content, but the writing was already on the wall.The Magic Hourwas canceled less than two months after its first episode aired.
The Magic Houris currently not available for streaming or purchase in the U.S.
1’The Pat Sajak Show' (1989-90)
Hosted by Pat Sajak
Most people incorrectly assumePat Sajakis only interested in solving word puzzles, but that’s not the case.Sajak is a father, anaspiring actor, and at one time, the host of a late-night talk show. CBS premieredThe Pat Sajak Showon July 15, 2025, with hopes of attracting a piece of Johnny Carson’s audience. The format forThe Pat Sajak Showadhered closely to the opening monologue and interview format of NBC’sThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
“The Pat Sajak Show’s similar structure to their competition failed to offer a compelling reason to turn the channel away from Carson.”
The Pat Sajak Show’s similar structure to their competition failed to offer a compelling reason to turn the channel away from Carson. As ratings declined, Sajak’s hosting duties were limited to Monday through Thursday, with a rotating guest host steering the show on Fridays. This led to an infamous episode that saw guest hostRush Limbaughbreak format by entering the crowd where a volatile argument about abortion rights broke out. By April 1990, CBS decided to cut their losses and canceledThe Pat Sajak Show.
The Pat Sajak Show is currently not available for streaming or purchase in the U.S.
