10 Late Night Talk Shows You Forgot

 Netflix is stepping back into the late night TV space as it pushes the limits of streaming. Premiering  Everybody's Live With John Mulaney this week on the platform. New episodes will be released every Wednesday for the next 12 weeks. The show got the wheels running in my brain about late night talk shows.

More specifically late night shows that did not last, often times because the host wasn't the right fit. There are other reasons as well, but it led me down my rabbit hole. Here are 10 Late Night talk shows you likely don't remember 

10. The Jay Leno Show

In 2004 Jay Leno announced that he would retire from The Tonight Show in 2009, and Conan O'Brien would take the reigns. Well 2009 comes and Leno has a change of heart, so to keep peace NBC gave Leno a show as the lead in to The Tonight Show.

After initial curiosity fans tuned out, and after a debacle of PR and talent nightmares. Conan O'Brien was out and moved on to another network, and Leno was back hosting The Tonight Show.

9. Whoopi Goldberg Show

Before she became a co-host of The View on weekday mornings. Whoopi Goldberg attempted to rule late night TV. Likely riding the wave of Arsenio Hall, Whoopi Goldberg was given her own show in 1992.

The half hour syndicated program featured Whoppi interviewing one guest in a sit down format. It was able to last a full season, producing 112 episodes before being canceled in 1993.

8. Chevy Chase Show

Back in 1993 Fox was still working to compete with the big three networks (ABC, CBS, NBC). They figured all those networks had late night talk shows, so they needed one. They hired comedy "legend" Chevy Chase to host his own talk show.Show.

Debuting in September that year, Chase's style of comedy and likely his personality. Just didn't resonate with a new generation, along with other hiccups the show was canceled by October. 

7. The Jon Stewart Show

Before he gained fame talking politics on The Daily Show, Jon Stewart had a little show that could on MTV. Debuting on MTV in 1993, The Jon Stewart Show was a 30 minute late night show that appealed to Gen X. With topics and guests that they could connect to.

The show gained so much popularity on the network, that it was reformatted and aired in syndication in the fall of '94. However the goodwill didn't extend in syndication and the show was canceled in June of '95.

6. Late Night With Zach

In 2002 long before gaining fame as the eccentric member of the wolfpack. Zach Galifianakis hosted a late night show on VH1. Well it was kind of a hybrid late night show and mockumentary. And Galifianakis's style of humor may have been too zany for alot of folks.

Debuting in March, the series was done and over with by May. It would take Zach another 7 years of grinding, before The Hangover made him a star.

5. VH1 Live

Before VH1 went full throttle into reality shows and reruns, they tried to expand their programming. VH1 Live! was born, hosted by a relatively unknown Marc Lamont Hill. Debuting in July of 2016, I'm not sure if people didn't know about the show. Or just didn't care for it, but it was canceled in September of that year. Helping pave the way for the VH1 we know today.

4. Busy Tonight

Busy Phillips is a Hollywood actress best known for playing the bubbly sidekick role. A lucrative career for her so far, someone came up with the  idea to give her a talk show. Airing on E! network in 2018, the show was able to produce over a 100 episodes. 

However Busy's style, topics, and guests seemed to cater to a niche audience, and the masses couldn't vibe with her. Resulting in the show ending in May of 2019.

3. Brand X With Russell Brand

In the early 2010's Russell Brand was one of the hottest comedians on the planet. After achieving success in a few film roles, FX decided to give him a late night talk shows. 

Debuting in 2012, Brand X with Russell Brand offered an unique concept initially as Brand did a monologue the entire time. The format switched up a bit later on to include guests, but Brand's style of comedy wasn't for everyone. It was a less is more approach for him and the show ended in May of 2013.

2. Too late with Adam Carolla

In 2005 after The Man Show ended and Jimmy Kimmel moved to ABC. Comedy Central wanted to keep his co-host Adam Carolla on the network, and Too Late With Adam Carolla was born. Debuting August that year, the show featured Carolla's brand of humor in a 30 minute format.

By himself he didn't connect with audiences, resulting in the show ending in November.

1. ALF's Hit Talk Show

In 2004 TV Land did what I thought was a genius move. They revived the character from 80's sitcom Alf and gave him his own talk show. With Ed McMahon as his sidekick, Alf actually interviewed guests and had banter with them.

The concept may have been ahead of its time, and maybe too meta for the audience. It ended after 7 episodes, but bought eyeballs to the network to watch Alf reruns.