Hello. Here is today's movie. I hope you enjoy it and watch it tonight.
THE LATE SHIFT
We see David Letterman’s press
conference when he signs on with CBS. We then flashback three years. CBS wants
to emulate the success and profitability of the Tonight Show. Letterman feels that NBC gives him no
respect, with Leno as Carson’s permanent guest host. Letterman really wants to
host the Tonight Show. CBS meets with Leno’s agent, Helen Kushnick. Then
there is a change at the top at NBC and the network makes a deal with Leno to
become the host when Carson leaves. Carson announces his retirement. When NBC
says Leno will replace Carson, Letterman says he wants out of his contract.
Letterman hires Michael Ovitz as his agent. On May 22, 1992 Carson hosts the Tonight
Show for the last time. [37:40 to 41:03] Other networks pitch to Letterman.
Leno’s tenure gets off to a rocky start as Kushnick starts bullying guests and
their agents as well as canceling the show when it looks like it might start
late due to coverage of the Republican National Convention. NBC tells Leno
either she goes or he goes. After a bitter public fight, Leno dumps her. CBS offers Letterman $12.5 million a year,
with a $50 million penalty if they don’t give him a show at 11:30. NBC can
match this offer, but since they’ve given the Tonight Show to Leno, if
they match they’ll have to pay Letterman the $50 million. The president of NBC
tries to make a deal with Letterman, but Letterman says he wants the Tonight
Show or nothing. Leno eavesdrops on
an NBC executive meeting about the late night schedule. NBC offers Letterman a deal to give him the Tonight
Show in 18 months. Letterman calls Johnny Carson who says he would walk
from that deal, so Letterman does. He signs with CBS.
A good film about an
entertainment controversy. This movie shows the seamy underside of television.
Even though you know how it comes out this film still manages to make the story
interesting enough so you want to keep watching.
Stay Tuned: Television’s
Unforgettable Moments by Joe Garner (Andrew McNeal Publishing, Kansas City,
2002) at page 48 gives the date of the broadcast
Producer - Ivan Reitman and Don
Carmody
Director - Betty Thomas
Screenplay - George Armitage and Bill Carter
Awards – The film was nominated for the Outstanding
Individual Achievement in Casting for a Miniseries or a Special, Outstanding Individual
Achievement in Directing for a Miniseries or a
Special, Outstanding Individual Achievement in Makeup for a Miniseries or a Special, Outstanding Individual Achievement
in Writing for a Miniseries or a Special, Outstanding Made for Television
Movie, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Special(Williams), Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Special (Bates)
Emmys, but
did not win any of these awards.
Released - February 24, 1996
Runtime – 1 hour 35 minutes
Starring –
Kathy Bates as Helen Kushnick
John Michael Higgins as David Letterman
Daniel Roebuck as Jay Leno
Bob Balaban as Warren Littlefield
Ed Begley, Jr. as Rod Perth
Peter Jurasik as Howard Stringer
Reni Santoni as John Agoglia
John Kapelos as Robert Morton
Steven Gilborn as Peter Lassally
John Getz as Brandon Tartikoff
Lawrence Pressman as Bob Wright
Sandra Bernhard as Herself
Treat Williams as Michael Ovitz
Paul Elder as Rupert Murdoch
Michael Fairman as Michael Gartner
Ken Kragen as Himself
Aaron Lustig as Paul Shaffer
Kevin Scannell as Dick Ebersol
Edmund L. Shaff as Jack Welch
Rich Little as Johnny Carson
Little Richard as Himself
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