History of Late-Night Comedy: 7 Decades of Iconic TV Moments

Steve Allen Spills the Tea (1957) Image Credit: Archive Photos/Getty Images

Allen, the first host of The Tonight Show , isn’t afraid to be ridiculous. In one now-legendary bit, he conducts interviews while soaking in a giant teacup. A pianist, intellectual and comic all at once, Allen sets the tone for what late night could be — smart, silly, surreal and just a little strange after midnight.

Jack Paar Walks Off the Set (1960) Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection

When NBC censors a joke about a “W.C.” (British slang for toilet), Paar, the show’s second host, quits mid-broadcast. “There must be a better way to make a living,” he says, before storming off. He returns weeks later with the immortal line: “As I was saying before I was interrupted …”

Ed Ames’ Tomahawk Toss (1965)