How funny; I was just thinking of him yesterday and wondering what he's up to. I don't see him fading completely from public view as Johnny Carson did. Yes, though we only watched his show once in awhile in recent years now that we're older and tired-er, I definitely do miss him. Change is so hard, isn't it? I don't deal very well....

I used to switch off between him and Leno depending on who the guest was, but have pretty much cut late night out completely now. I liked Jimmy Fallon at the start but the show just feels like one great big infomercial for the network and he is, IMHO a one trick pony. Same jokes, same digs to the same people, same routine, different night and phony to boot. They butchered the show, so No thanks! (Can you tell I'm disappointed? LOL)

Kimmel is ok, I like when he goes out and asks questions to people who have no clue, but he can be a little too dry or boring. Haven't watched Conan...just not interested and I really don't want to watch something that is like you said, just "fine", maybe Colbert will fill the gap, if anyone can...he is probably the one can do it. Fingers crossed, right?

Yep....change gets harder and the "new" shows are targeting the younger masses. I guess "we" had our turn with the past greats, so miss them we must; and hope Colbert fills the gap for next winter.

I am already missing Jon Stewart and he's not even gone yet.

ML

Heck, I still miss Johnny Carson! Never started watching anyone else in his place.....

Moni

I'm in the same camp as Moni Never cared for David…Did watch him occasionally, same with Jay. Nobody could compare with Johnny.

I never watched Johnny. I did not think he was funny or entertaining. I know I was/am in the minority on that one but that's the way it is. I did not like Jay at all; just the sound of his voice was annoying to me. I like Jimmy Fallon and I find him to be talented and amazing but he is just too hyper for me. Loved him on SNL and his old Late Nite show, but as nanny98 said, shows are targeting the younger masses. I am not in their demographic. I like Seth Myers but I wish he had stayed on SNL. At least Stephen Colbert is older, 51 so he may be able to bridge the age gap. Yes, lukkiirish, fingers crossed.

maddielee, I'm with you. We better start a support group for when Jon Stewart leaves. Trevor Noah will have huge shoes to fill and I don't think he will be able to do it. That will be a very sad day.

sooey

I'm in bed by 10pm. :0)- The alarm goes off @5:30. I did like David....appreciated him from afar.....

Never cared for him! I found him to be rude!!

I watched Johnny Carson and liked him. Liked Jay Leno. Letterman was o.k. They were all ok. I never watched any of them regularly. I've seen Jimmy Fallon a couple times, he's o.k. too. I like the lip sync routine he does. I absolutely will not watch Steven Colbert, ugh, don't like him at all.

I miss David Letterman like I miss an ear ache. I agree with Susie.

Dave is the only late night show that I watched. Even went up to see his show in person many times.

Couldn't stand Leno,..he was a pompous ass. Stewart and the newer guys make me think of Leno - Sarcastic and obviously following a script.

What most people don't know, was he did the "warm up" before taping...asking the audience questions, etc.

I'll miss him....he was the greatest.

Johnny Carson set the standard I think and the one plus about him was he didn't lean on mean or crude to make his show. Jay Leno, leaned on mean and David could get really crude, neither of which I enjoyed, towards the end, I'd just record and watch the parts that interested me.

Hubby and I used to watch Letterman and Tonight show, switching between channels depending on who the guests were. Now we watch Jimmy Fallon, and yeah he's getting boring, not edgy enough for my tastes.

My viewing enjoyment is rattled, that's for sure. Losing Letterman was a sad day for me and I find the others either unwatchable or too immature, predictable. I will also greatly miss Stewart...another big loss for me.

On the opposite spectrum of early morning viewing, Don Imus is no longer broadcasting his program on television and I practically sobbed on his last morning. That happened just a few days after Letterman retired.

On the good side, I'm hoping that Colbert will be good. I'm not sure that he's going to be performing as his usual character or if he will let us see his real personality.

Never cared for Carson or Letterman. Love Stewart and Colbert because there is such 'meat' in their skewering of public figures.

Actually, I'm just not interested in this kind of show or its guests -- or any other spin-offs of the equally hard sell, publicist-driven "reeely big shew".

Doesn't anyone miss Steve Allen or Jack Parr?

Allen, yes. Parr, no.

I didn't like Letterman. I still miss Jay Leno

Letterman was too political and snide for my taste, and I did not like his time filling gags. He and Conan shared this annoying habit of mugging up close to the camera for laughs which I found indicative of a lack of mental effort at smart comedy.

Paul was no Doc Severinson either. So no, late night is pretty much a desert for us now- and has been so for a long time. I did enjoy Craig Ferguson occasionally when I had insomnia, but he too has left the building. He had his mugging issues too, unfortunately.

Paul is just creepy to me, he's always given me the willies....

Can we include Dave Garroway in this discussion? (How old can we go?)

There were a big assortment of old guys (plus Joan) who set the bar pretty high for endurance and being 'one-of-a-kind'. I consider myself lucky to have been around for the likes of those mentioned as well as Merv and Cavett and the comedians and authors and interesting people (Carl Sagan) they promoted. A different era. Will be interesting to see what Stewart does in the future....and yes, Colbert. Bridge builders I hope.

I remember Dick Cavett and Merv Griffin, Phil Donahue too. Back then the expectations were so different and much more conservative.

Now we have the scum like Jerry Springer! and Montel Williams

Oh, I loved Dick Cavett. Didn't he get fired because he wasn't conservative enough?

I miss Letterman but liked him more in his younger days when he did wacky stuff....the show was more imaginative. Never cared for Leno...he always seemed like he was trying too hard. I like Fallon OK but not his sidekick.

What I dislike about all the talk shows is that the stars are only on to promote a tv show or movie, unlike the olden days when they were on to just chat and entertain.

I loved Mike Douglas as a kid and always enjoyed Donahue...he retired way too soon.

marcammona...thank you for remembering Steve Allen. He was an original and someone who I loved to watch! He was smart, funny and I loved his silly laugh. Steve Allen was one of the greats! I liked Jack Parr but he could be a little prissy.

What about women talk show hosts? Who is/was your favorite woman? I think Oprah even with her faults did the best job and Ellen of course is a champ. Loved Joan Lundon and Meredith Viera. The worst of the worst to me is Wendy Williams and Kelly Rippa, can't stand either but for different reasons.

Never cared for Letterman enough to stay up that late. I'm showing my age, but I'm not sure I ever missed a Johnny Carson episode. The king of late night, as far as I'm concerned. I laughed myself silly. IMO, Letterman had an attitude.

As for women? I don't really get to watch during the day because I work, but Ellen makes me laugh out loud when I watch youtube videos. She's fabulous.

NBC News Overnight with Linda Ellerbee