The First TV Appearances of 13 Legendary Late-Night Hosts

Becoming a late-night talk show host doesn’t follow a conventional career trajectory. Even the most famous hosts began their journeys in unexpected ways, such as working as a local weather reporter or making anonymous calls on morning shows. Many of their early on-screen moments were undeniably awkward, especially when viewed today. This might be why some of these now-celebrated figures have rarely discussed their initial roles.

1. STEPHEN COLBERT

Stephen Colbert, hailing from South Carolina, showcased his distinct southern accent during his debut on television in 1993. He played the role of a husband in the last few minutes of an episode of the now-obscure ABC series Missing Persons, where his character’s wife was portrayed as injured.

Two years after that, Colbert took on a co-starring role in Comedy Central’s sketch series Exit 57, a project he developed alongside fellow Second City alumni, including Amy Sedaris and Paul Dinello, who would later collaborate with him on Strangers with Candy.

2. JIMMY FALLON

During his time at The College of Saint Rose, Fallon landed a role in the pilot episode of Metroland’s Loose Camera, intended for broadcast on the Fox affiliate in Albany, New York, in September 1994.

While it’s unclear if the episode ever made it to television, Fallon undeniably showcased his stand-up skills on the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon in 1996.

3. CONAN O’BRIEN

Conan O'Brien began his comedy writing career with HBO’s Not Necessarily the News and Fox’s brief series The Wilton North Report. He later joined Saturday Night Live as a writer, sharing the workspace with Bob Odenkirk, and occasionally appeared as an extra in sketches. His first on-screen moment likely occurred during Tom Hanks’ opening monologue on the season 14 premiere, broadcast on October 8, 1988.

4. JIMMY KIMMEL

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Before co-hosting

Win Ben Stein’s Money, Jimmy Kimmel had a minor role in the 1995 indie short Delinquent’s Derby, which humorously showcased “geriatric pugilism.” Earlier, while working as a radio DJ, Kimmel appeared on a Seattle TV show to discuss movies. "I remember it clearly," Kimmel recalls. "I recently watched it and realized how stiff I was, wearing red glasses reminiscent of Sally Jessy Raphael ... It was quite the look for a young man. I thought, 'I’ll never make it on TV; radio is my future.'" Unfortunately, no footage of this appearance seems to exist online.

5. JAMES CORDEN

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The host of The Late Late Show recounted his first TV appearance in his autobiography, May I Have Your Attention, Please?. At 14, he skipped school and watched an episode of ITV’s This Morning with Richard and Judy about bullying. For reasons he still can’t explain, he called in, pretending to be a victim of bullying, and managed to get his voice—albeit in disguise—on air. Later, in 1998, at 19, Corden appeared in the second episode of Nickelodeon’s Renford Rejects as a character named “Razor 1,” a bully. Interestingly, his name was misspelled as “James Cordon” in the credits.

6. SETH MEYERS

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7. JON STEWART

The previous host of The Daily Show (still feels odd to say) landed his first comedy writing role on A&E’s Caroline’s Comedy Hour in 1989. He appeared on screen in several sketches he co-wrote, alongside fellow writers like Louis C.K., Susie Essman, and Dave Attell. By 1991, Comedy Central offered him an on-camera role as co-host of Short Attention Span Theater.

8. TREVOR NOAH

The current host of The Daily Show “accidentally landed” his first television role at 18, playing a gangster on the South African soap opera Isidingo.

9. LARRY WILMORE

The host of The Nightly Show portrayed Officer Ziaukus in a few episodes of The Facts of Life from 1983 to 1984. This role boosted his stand-up career in the 1980s before he transitioned into comedy writing for shows like In Living Color in the 1990s.

10. ARSENIO HALL

Hall, who hosted both versions of The Arsenio Hall Show, first appeared as a stand-up comedian on Soul Train in May 1981. His second performance that same year is available to watch here.

11. JOHNNY CARSON

Carson became the third permanent host of The Tonight Show in 1962, 14 years after his on-screen debut as a milkman in WOW-TV’s Omaha special The Story of Undulant Fever. Unfortunately for those curious about brucellosis, the special was only broadcast on the University of Nebraska’s first television set in the Lincoln campus auditorium. The production took place in the basement of the university’s theater building. Carson later reminisced about this unusual debut on a 1985 episode of Late Night with David Letterman, where he understandably misremembered the year.

12. JAY LENO

In 1975, both Leno and David Letterman were budding stand-up comedians in Los Angeles when Jimmie Walker recruited them to write jokes for him. This opportunity led to Leno’s first on-screen appearance as a clinic patient in an episode of Good Times, where he informed Walker’s character J.J. about the epidemic of VD.

13. DAVID LETTERMAN

After graduating from Ball State University and working at its campus radio station, Letterman secured a role at Indianapolis’ WLWI-TV in 1970. His voice first aired on TV as the station’s identification announcer. Later, he appeared on camera as a part-time weatherman and hosted the children’s show Clover Power, where he interacted with 4-H members and introduced a band named L.C. Soul Unlimited, featuring a young Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds. He also hosted Freeze Dried Movies, famously dubbing a spaghetti Western with ukulele music performed by him and his friends. He relocated to Los Angeles in 1975.