What Joan Rivers’ Legacy Means For Women of Late Night

As a movie lover and someone who has followed the history of late-night television with great interest, I can’t help but be in awe of Joan Rivers’ groundbreaking legacy. Nearly four decades before Taylor Tomlinson made history as the first female host in the current landscape, it was Rivers who paved the way for women in this male-dominated realm.


In the world of 2024 late-night television, Taylor Tomlinson, who has been recognized as the Creative Impact in Comedy honoree by EbMaster, stands out as the sole female host. This is a significant achievement, marking progress in one of the longest-running battles for gender equality in American entertainment. Forty years prior to Tomlinson’s debut on “After Midnight” on CBS, Joan Rivers made history by becoming the first female host when “The Late Show” premiered on Fox Broadcasting Co. on October 9, 1986.

In the male-dominated late-night television scene, where Johnnies, Davids, Mervs, Mikes, Dicks, and Joeys reigned supreme, Rivers was the trailblazer, bravely paving the way for women – until then, conspicuously absent from this realm. However, her determination to challenge the status quo came at a steep price: the strained relationship with the undisputed king of late-night, Johnny Carson.

When Carson’s dream show was set to debut, it brought her many sleepless nights instead. Rivers had been a frequent guest host for Carson, but she jumped ship to Fox, which was just starting up under Barry Diller and Rupert Murdoch. Carson was supposed to retire around that time, but he unexpectedly continued hosting the Tonight Show for another five years. The rift between Carson and Rivers due to his fury over her betrayal was so deep that they never reconciled.

As a huge fan, I can’t help but draw parallels between the captivating “Hacks” series and the influential lives of Johnny and Joan. Jean Smart brilliantly portrays Deborah Vance, a seasoned comedian whose characteristics bear striking resemblances to Rivers, in this year’s most entertaining shows. Deborah’s compelling story arc in Season 3, where she aspires to secure a coveted late-night talk show host position, is a testament to the impact that Johnny and Joan left behind.

The first episode of Rivers’ talk show on Fox, which we reviewed as “unsuccessful,” raised some doubts about her “too trendy” personality being suitable for long-term success. However, we couldn’t ignore her remarkable ability to draw in megastars like Elton John and Cher to appear on the show and perform together.)

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2024-07-17 00:46