The show began in 1953 as a local show on WNBT-TV, the NBC station in New York City. Steve Allen was the original host and he remained with the show when it became a national show on September 27, 1954.
When Steve Allen began hosting "The Steve Allen Show" (1956), he cut back his "Tonight" hosting duties to Wednesdays to Fridays. 'Ernie Kovacs' became the permanent Monday to Tuesday.