| The Late Shift [Region 2] |  | Director: Betty Thomas
Actors: Kathy Bates, John Michael Higgins, Daniel Roebuck, Bob Balaban, Ed Begley Jr.
Category: DVD
This item is no longer available
Rating:  21 reviews
Format: Pal
Rating: R (Restricted)
Region: 2
Discs: 1
EAN: 5031932109023
ASIN: B0000CGCX8
Theatrical Release Date: February 24, 1996
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Amazon.com
Loyalties ran deep. People were polarized. And, for a while, folks followed it in the news with bated breath. No, it wasn't an election year; it was the battle for late-night television, bitterly fought by Jay Leno and David Letterman. Even before Johnny Carson retired, Letterman and Leno were jockeying for The Tonight Show. Letterman had a proven record, but at a later time slot, with an edgier crowd. Leno had the guest-host position and the support of the network. HBO dramatizes the struggle for the 11 p.m. slot in The Late Shift, a made-for-cable movie that reveals the seedier side of talk television. Kathy Bates gives a hysterical--both in the funny and the manic sense--performance as Leno's manager. John Michael Higgens is a convincing Letterman and Daniel Roebuck (with mounds of latex on his chin) gets the Leno voice right. And while the studio execs and agents (played humorously by Bob Balaban, Ed Begley Jr., Treat Williams, among others) appear as sharks, both Leno and Letterman come off sympathetically. Even though the outcome is well known, The Late Shift is an entertaining look at the craziness that is late-night TV. --Jenny Brown
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| Customer Reviews: Read 16 more reviews...
 Great Movie June 24, 2009
Sandra A. Liscio (Ft Pierce, FL)
Hi, I am a big fan of Dave and Jay I remember all the hype when Jay got the tonight show but this movie really gives you the story that we didn't read in the papers.
We enjoyed it. To bad after 17 years they gave Jay the shaft by putting Conan in. He stinks!
Very entertaining May 29, 2009
Chris Anderson (Dover, DE USA)
The movie presents a fun inside view of the back room workings of network TV. The actor who played Warren Littlefield was spot on. I can't help thinking of this movie anytime I see Letterman or Leno.
Great (and timely) must see movie March 30, 2009
Charles Pappas (Dallas, TX, USA)
This is an HBO-made movie I originally saw back when it came out. I recently thought about it, as Jay Leno is preparing for his departure and David Letterman enters his 25th anniversary on late night television. I enjoyed it as much as I remember I did originally. And Kathy Bates is outstanding! I still like Letterman best, incidentally, but think it worked out best for all parties.
Very entertaining February 22, 2009
T. Lawrence
Great insight into a well known television venue. From what I have found out this is a very close to accurate depiction of what transpired during the transition of the 'Carson' show. The actual story would need a lot more time to tell and this movie condenses it pretty good for the time allowed. The acting is great. Note that none of the main real life characters would dispute or comment on this film.
When The Name Of 'The Tonight Show' Actually Meant Something... January 9, 2009
Eric Ericson (Venice, Florida USA)
Alot of twenty-somethings today don't remember the late-night chaos the former king of late night, the late great Johnny Carson, made when he left The Tonight Show after 30 years it's host in mid-1992. There was only two guys even considered for the chair, Jay Leno, a former stand-up comedian who recently took up sub-hosting it when Carson needed a weekly break, and David Letterman, the sarcastic follow-up host who over 10 years held NBC's 12:30 late night anchor. What this film dramatises is all the back-stage fighting between the three parties, including the suits of GE/NBC at the time. So many great things are going on in this film, including Leno's foul-mouthed rude female manager (Kathy Bates in one of her best performances), former teenage character actor (River's Edge Daniel Roebuck as Leno with prosthetic believable chin), and newcomer at the time John Michael Higgins, who is amazing as Letterman, down to a tee of the host's former 44 year old attitude and appearance at the time. Even 70's impressionist Rich Little as Carson (an impersonation he did for years, played realistically this time) is enjoyable to watch. This is one made-for-cable film that truly deserved a theatrical run, no matter what the real life Letterman thought, he hated the film but then again, he never liked himself on screen anyway.
Though made in 1996 for cable, this film is Anamorphic Widescreen (1.85:1) with a 2.0 Stereo channel (but sorry, bare-boned with no extras), but what really gets to you is how even in the 90's what big decisions were made to forever change television history by so few people involved. If you are a fan of either late-night host currently, or waiting to see Conan take the 11:30 reins (not me), this is one film you cannot miss. One of HBO's best original films ever. Ever.
(Redsabbath Rating:9.0/10)
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