The Most Popular Late-Night Show Hosts
When it comes to late-night talk shows, so many comedians have tried their hand, or been stand-ins for regular hosts, that choosing "the best" might seem arbitrary. But the fans have spoken and these are 20 of the best late-night show hosts of all time. Polling was conducted in June 2024 by YouGov and the data compiled by Stacker.
James Corden
It can be a difficult thing to import a British television personality onto American television and have them discuss American things, particularly politics. But a BAFTA-winning role in Gavin And Stacey saw Corden host the Brit Awards, which would eventually lead him to host The Late Late Show on CBS in 2015, after Craig Ferguson retired.
79% of fans had heard of James Corden before, but only 52% had a positive opinion of him as a talk show host.
CBS, The Late Late Show (2015–2023)
Craig Ferguson
A native of Scotland, Craig Ferguson got his big break on CBS' The Late Late Show in 2004, replacing Craig Killborn. His wit, charm, and cheeky sense of humor were seen as refreshing—and, of course, that Scottish accent certainly helped. Whilst 74% of fans had heard of Ferguson, 45% viewed him favorably.
CBS, The Late Late Show (2005-15)
Trevor Noah
Trevor Noah was born and raised in South Africa and began his comedic career in stand-up comedy before landing a gig in 2014 as a correspondent on The Daily Show. In 2015, he replaced Jon Stewart as the full-time host of the show until 2022. Noah won an Emmy for Outstanding Talk Series in his final season. 79% of fans had heard of Noah, and 46% had a positive opinion of him.
Comedy Central, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah (2014-22)
Dick Cavett
Newcomers to late-night talk shows may not know of Dick Cavett. He got his start writing jokes for Johnny Carson and Jack Paar, and in 1968, Cavett was given The Dick Cavett Show by ABC. It ran for 11 years and won multiple Emmys. Just 72% of fans surveyed had heard of Dick Cavett and 46% viewed him positively.
ABC, The Dick Cavett Show (1968-88)
John Oliver
Before moving to America in 2006, John Oliver had long plied his trade in the UK as a cutting-edge political satirist. Beginning as a correspondent on The Daily Show, Oliver got his own show in 2014 on HBO: Last Week Tonight With John Oliver. Beginning its 11th season, the show has won 28 Emmys. Among fans, 74% had heard of Oliver, with just 47% viewing him favorably.
HBO, Last Week Tonight With John Oliver (2014-)
Steve Allen
Although Steve Allen passed on in 2000, he's known throughout the American comedy world as a talk show host legend—he's also the co-creator and first host of The Tonight Show, so his interview style set the precedent for what we see today. A pioneer of the style and comedy that we've come to know and love, 78% of fans had heard of Steve Allen, while 49% viewed him favorably.
NBC, Tonight Starring Steve Allen (1953-57)
Arsenio Hall
Brought in by FOX during a period of low ratings for The Late Show With Joan Rivers, Arsenio Hall was tasked with reviving the flailing show. He did this for a period, but the show eventually folded anyway. However, execs were so impressed that they gave him The Arsenio Hall Show on Paramount, which became known for booking guests that others shied away from, like Tupac Shakur and Public Enemy. Hall's name had been heard of by 85% of fans, with 49% having a positive opinion.
Paramount, The Arsenio Hall Show (1989-94)
Jon Stewart
Stewart's position on this list of fan opinions may surprise you. But, 30 years ago, the man launched MTV's first talk show, The Jon Stewart Show, eventually leading him to Comedy Central and The Daily Show, for which he is one of their most renowned hosts. Despite a nearly 10-year hiatus from The Daily Show to launch his own show on Apple TV, Stewart returned in 2024. 86% of fans had heard of Stewart, with 49% having a positive opinion of one of the most recognizable faces in America.
Comedy Central, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (1996-)
Sinbad
After launching The Sinbad Show and A Different World, plus a few movie roles in the 1980s and 1990s, Sinbad was a hot commodity. Given the opportunity to host Vibe in 1997, Sinbad didn't disappoint, bringing in a whole sector of new viewership to the late-night show world. The gig only lasted a year, but Sinbad is recognized by 85% of fans, and viewed favorably by 50% of them.
Columbia TriStar Television, Vibe (1997-98)
Stephen Colbert
After being one of the longest-running correspondents on The Daily Show, Colbert was given The Colbert Report by Comedy Central in 2005 and then took over The Late Show in 2014, after David Letterman's retirement. Now hosting the number one show on late -ight TV, The Stephen Colbert Show, 91% of fans have heard of Colbert, with 50% viewing him favorably.
CBS, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2015-)
Conan O'Brien
Conan made his late-night hosting debut in 1993, as the host of NBC's Late Night, following the departure of David Letterman. He then left that show to host The Conan O'Brien Show in 2009. In 2021, O'Brien left late-night television entirely to begin a podcast and an HBO Max travel show. A whopping 95% of fans have heard of Conan, with 52% viewing him favorably.
NBC, The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien (2009-10)
Wanda Sykes
Fun fact: Before Wanda Sykes was the famous comedian we know and love, she was actually an officer with the National Security Agency! Leaving that career in 1987 to pursue comedy, she hosted The Wanda Sykes Show in 2009 and appeared on Black-ish, The Marvelous Mrs Maisel, and others. She's known by 81% of fans and viewed positively by 53% of them.
Seth Meyers
Being a long-time cast member on SNL, Seth Meyers was no stranger to pulling all-nighters when he landed the gig on NBC's Late Night in 2014, following Jimmy Fallon's departure. Since then, Meyers has hosted a mockumentary series called Documentary Now! and many other shows. 88% of fans had heard of Seth Meyers, with 54% viewing him favorably.
NBC, Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014-)
Jimmy Kimmel
Jimmy Kimmel first appeared on TV in Win Ben Stein's Money and was soon handed his own talk show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, in 2002 , which has been running for 22 seasons as of 2024. It's ABC's longest-running late-night program, but Kimmel hinted that he may not be renewing his contract next year. Still, 93% of fans have heard of Kimmel, with a 55% approval rating.
ABC, Jimmy Kimmel Live!(2003-)
Jimmy Fallon
The other Jimmy in late-night television is Jimmy Fallon. He began as a castmate of Seth Meyers on SNL before landing his own gig on NBC, succeeding Conan O'Brien in 2009. He then moved on to The Tonight Show in 2014. 92% of fans recognize Fallon, with a 56% approval rating.
Joan Rivers
Joan Rivers began her stand-up career in the 1960s and is viewed as a trailblazer for women in comedy (and women in television/showbiz in general). She was popular due to her blunt style and skirting the edges of acceptability in terms of joke material. After starring on The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson in 1965, her career took off. Despite her passing in 2014, Rivers was known by 92% of fans and had a 56% approval rating.
Tribune Entertainment, The Joan Rivers Show (1983-93)
Pat Sajak
Even if you've ever watched The Wheel Of Fortune, you've likely seen its infamous host, Pat Sajak. He hosted the show between 1981 and 2024, but also had a brief foray into late-night show hosting with The Pat Sajak Show in 1989, memorable for the appearance of Rush Limbaugh, who was yelled out of the studio after bringing up abortion. 89% of late-night show fans had heard of Sajak, while 56% viewed him favorably.
CBS, The Pat Sajak Show (1989-90)
Jay Leno
Jay Leno was a comedian before he was a late-night show host, beginning his career on the circuit in the 1970s, as a guest on The Tonight Show. He took over from Johnny Carson in 1992 as the host of the show until 2009, then returned a year-later (in infamous circumstances) and stayed until 2014. Leno has multiple other irons in the fire, but is recognized by 93% of fans, with a 57% approval rating.
The White House, Wikimedia Commons
David Letterman
An almost-unrivaled career as a late-night show host saw David Letterman spend 33 years on the network, hosting more than 6,000 episodes of Late Night and The Late Show. He retired in 2015 from hosting, but has his own show called, My Next Guest Needs No Introduction, where he sports a Father Christmas-like beard. 93% of fans had heard of Letterman, with an impressive 59% approval rating.
CBS, Late Show with David Letterman (1993-2015)
Johnny Carson
And, of course, the king of late-night television in the US has to be Johnny Carson, with a career spanning 30 years, hosting The Tonight Show from 1962 to 1992. Funny, entertaining, and conversational, Carson is widely viewed as a late-night pioneer and was one of the most widely-viewed people on American television. While 88% of people hearing of Carson is a little lower than expected, his approval rating of 70% is sky high.
NBC Television, Wikimedia Commons
Leno's "Make Your Best Gay Face" Comment
While Jay Leno has had a few controversial moments over the years, by far one of his worst transgressions occurred during 2008, when he had actor Ryan Philippe on the show. He asked Philippe to "make your best gay face," in what can best be described as a poor attempt at humor. Philippe responded, "Wow. I so don't want to do that". Leno received huge backlash from fans for blatant homophobia.
Big Dog Productions, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992-2014)
Do you have a favorite talk show host? Let us know if you agree with the ratings of other fans in the comments below!
