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The Late Shift (1996) (TV)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Release Date:
24 February 1996 (USA)
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Tagline:
Two heads fighting for the late night crown - One head's gotta roll. more
Plot:
A dramatization of the rivalry to be the successor of Johnny Carson as the host of "The Tonight Show." full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Won Golden Globe.
Another 4 wins
&
9 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(5 articles)
New York Times' Bill Carter Is At It Again
(From Deadline Hollywood. 2 December 2009, 4:06 PM, PST)
Craig Ferguson: We Need A New ‘Late Shift’
(From FilmSchoolRejects. 10 August 2009, 9:29 AM, PDT)
(From Deadline Hollywood. 2 December 2009, 4:06 PM, PST)
Craig Ferguson: We Need A New ‘Late Shift’
(From FilmSchoolRejects. 10 August 2009, 9:29 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
Excellent account of the late night wars.
more (25 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | Kathy Bates | ... | Helen Kushnick |
 | John Michael Higgins | ... | David Letterman |
 | Daniel Roebuck | ... | Jay Leno |
| Bob Balaban | ... | Warren Littlefield |
 | Ed Begley Jr. | ... | Rod Perth |
 | Peter Jurasik | ... | Howard Stringer |
| Reni Santoni | ... | John Agoglia |
 | John Kapelos | ... | Robert Morton |
| Steven Gilborn | ... | Peter Lassally |
 | John Getz | ... | Brandon Tartikoff |
| Lawrence Pressman | ... | Bob Wright |
 | Sandra Bernhard | ... | Herself |
 | Treat Williams | ... | Michael Ovitz |
| David Brisbin | ... | Alan Levine |
 | Michael Chieffo | ... | Rick Ludwin |
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated R for language.
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
95 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
A few days after the film's premiere, John Michael Higgins was booked on "Late Show With David Letterman" to talk about the movie and what it was like to portray Letterman. Higgins then sat in the green room as Letterman spent the next hour padding bits and doing filler, all the while promising Higgins was "coming up". At the end of the show Letterman apologized to Higgins for "running out of time", pointedly saying he hoped the actor could "come back again soon." Higgins was never re-booked.
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Goofs:
Factual errors: When asked if Paul Shaffer is coming with him to CBS at a press conference, David Letterman's real-life reaction was, "Oh, s***, Paul!". Not, "Paul who?".
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Quotes:
Soundtrack:
There's No Business Like Show Business
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This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (25 total)
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Captivating tale of backstabbing behind the curtains. The movie follows the plight of David Letterman and Jay Leno as they struggle for the elusive Tonight Show spot. Letterman led by his desire for the coveted time slot and Leno led by his agent and little-devil-on-the-shoulder, Helen Kushnick.
Kathy Bates (Kushnick) is excellent in this movie, alienating herself from such top dogs as Bob Wright, Warren Littlefield, and Howard Stringer. Towards the end of the film you are so entranced with how she handles every situation from guest bookings to delayed taping, that you find yourself wanting more.
John Michael Higgins (Letterman) plays his part to the tee. At times I found myself wondering if he was any relation to the real Letterman.
I highly recommend this movie to anyone interested in entertainment or the world of corporate negotiations.