The Story of Late Night

As a fan of the Late Night Wars, and read both of Bill Carter's book's, I just finished this mini series and am somewhat torn. I didn't hate it, but, it felt biased and un even maybe even uncomplete? We get a lot of Fallon ( maybe too much, he pops up too soon and too early on) and Amber Ruffin is on too much .

Another review said how there was no Craig Ferguson. They mention him, but, for someone who was on the air for a decade, on a major network, all you get is a quick 30 seconds?? Even Wanda Sykes, who's show lasted a season got more air time.

Another thing I found odd, Colbert is featured in archive only. I can't imagine he turned the opportunity down to speak. It was fairly good mini series though until the last 30 minutes, it becomes to political and woke.

Terrific interviews, clips, and insights into how and why late night has evolved. Unfortunately CNN in this, and in all its most recent documentaries that I've seen, thinks it's an asset to have nonstop loud, intrusive percussive music (if you can call it music) played on top of ANYONE who is being interviewed - and I mean everyone. The first time I heard it I thought I was watching an SNL parody of Investigative Reports. It is so predictable, so obnoxious, and such an assault on the ears that as soon as there was a scene that wasn't a historical clip, I turned off the sound and just read the subtitles. The music is actually ON TOP of the interviews, not under them. It is HUGELY distracting and unbalanced, with the effect of undermining the impact of the interviews rather than enhancing them - it's like a 5th grade kid's idea of how to make something dramatic that he got from playing video games.

I would have given 'The Story of Late Night' 10 stars because it's really good but I can't because they only mention Craig Ferguson very briefly to introduce James Corden... Ferguson killed after Letterman for 10 years, his show was amazing and even though the format wasn't very different than other shows, he really changed the way of talking to the audience.

In terms of information, the first three episodes are a nice introduction to late night history. The remaining 3, though, are very superficial.

Two very important points: First of all, except for the last episode, they do not even mention Craig Ferguson. There is only a 1 second still of his in the 3rd or 4th episode.

Second and most importantly, they do not understand why the audience turned to TV comedians for trusted journalism. CNN does not have any self-awareness or self-reflection on that matter. When Johnny Carson was the host of the Tonight Show, U. S. audience had outlets to get information from T. V..

However, in the time of "post-truth", the audience only had TV comedians. And today, as all the TV comedians have the same idea as if they were dictated with one script from one source, the audience runs from the TV comedians and to the online comedians and commentators. There is no longer time slots to fill. There is only content with insights to what is going on in the world and in the U. S. A.

The final episode of the CNN "programme" misses out on that point in quite an ironic way.

"CNN" has once again done it well with a culture historical like look at entertainment this latest "The Story of Late Night", from the early days of the 1950's and "The Tonight Show" with Steve Allen till the modern day digital computer era these episodes show vintage clips that tell it all. Plus interviews are given with insights and takes from network and studio bosses on the backroom deals and plots to change the landscape. And media critic and author Bill Carter gives his knowledgeable thoughts. From Carson, Leno, Letterman, Conan, Fallon, and Kimmel this is one funny business with constant changes as the series documents in fine fashion. The series goes in depth with time and change with each decade and era, most I can all recall. Really a must watch for any pop culture history buff or late night TV show fan it will bring back memories of yesterday.