List
The Late Shift
General Details
Director:
Betty Thomas
Writer:
Bill Carter, Bill Carter
Producer:
Daniel Goldberg, Don Carmody, Ivan Reitman, Joe Medjuck
Theatrical:
1996
Rated:
R
Studio:
Home Box Office (HBO)
Genre:
Comedy
Duration:
95
IMDb:
0116835
DVD Details
Languages:
English
Sound:
Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio:
1.33:1
UPC:
026359128424
Discs:
1
Region:
1
Release:
Aug 2005
Price:
$9.97
Credits
Helen Kushnick
Kathy Bates
David Letterman
John Michael Higgins
Jay Leno
Daniel Roebuck
Warren Littlefield
Bob Balaban
Rod Perth
Ed Begley Jr.
Howard Stringer
Peter Jurasik
John Agoglia
Reni Santoni
Robert Morton
John Kapelos
Peter Lassally
Steven Gilborn
Brandon Tartikoff
John Getz
Bob Wright
Lawrence Pressman
Herself
Sandra Bernhard
Michael Ovitz
Treat Williams
Alan Levine
David Brisbin
Rick Ludwin
Michael Chieffo
Cinematographer
Mac Ahlberg
Summary
HBO movie about the behind-the-scenes network politics responsible for the changes in late-night talk-show hosts, after the retirement of Johnny Carson from the Tonight Show on NBC. Jay Leno and David Letterman were both vying for the position, but Leno's tough manager Helen Kushnick got him the spot. In the wake of her 'stepping on the toes' of powerful network executives and 'playing hardball' tactics with guest bookings, she found herself being pushed out of her job as Tonight Show Executive Producer and Jay's manager. Letterman, devastated by his being passed over, brought in superagent Mike Ovitz to negotiate on his behalf, resulting in his move to CBS.