(He is the person Howard Stringer mistakes for Perth in the CAA lobby). in the film) appears briefly in a cameo role. Real-life CBS executive Rod Perth (played by Ed Begley Jr. John Michael Higgins as David Letterman.
NIGHT SHIFT FOR MAC REDDIT TV
Letterman and Leno ultimately go head to head at 11:30, with Letterman initially winning in the TV ratings in the beginning, before Leno firmly re-establishes The Tonight Show 's dominance. Letterman rejects NBC's counteroffer and accepts CBS's offer to host his own 11:30 show beginning in the fall of 1993. Taking Lassally's suggestion, Letterman calls Carson to ask for advice Carson says he would probably leave NBC if he were in Letterman's position. In addition, Lassally warns Letterman that he will be vilified in the press for forcing Leno out. Lassally, disappointed at NBC's offer, makes it clear to Letterman that the Tonight Show job is now "damaged goods" and Dave would be working with the very people who passed him over and may yet double-cross him. However, NBC's offer is substantially weaker than CBS's and would force Letterman to wait until May 1994 to take over the show. Producer Peter Lassally, close to both Carson and Letterman, finally convinces NBC to offer Letterman the Tonight Show position. Per Letterman's contract with NBC, the network still has several months to either match CBS's offer or present an acceptable counteroffer to keep Letterman. He provisionally accepts an offer from CBS that gives him an 11:30 p.m show, but continues to hold on to his lifelong dream of hosting The Tonight Show. True to Ovitz's word, Letterman is courted by all the major networks and syndicates. show, he will be offered it by every network. Letterman, devastated at being passed over, hires Hollywood superagent Michael Ovitz to negotiate on his behalf Ovitz promises that not only will Letterman be offered an 11:30 p.m. Later, Leno eavesdrops on an executive meeting in which NBC executives discuss the possibility of replacing him with Letterman. After a heated argument, Leno fires Kushnick and ends their friendship. Despite Kushnick's pleas to keep his promise to take care of her and her daughter, Leno is angry because she nearly cost him a dream job.
Kushnick is dismissed by NBC and barred from the studio lot. NBC executives warn the mild-mannered Leno that they are going to fire Kushnick and, if he sides with her, he will be let go as well. Leno takes over in May 1992, but Kushnick's bullying manner angers his colleagues, potential guests, and others to the point of interfering with network airtime and relationships. NBC executives inform an angry Letterman they have selected Leno to replace Carson. In the spring of 1991, Carson unexpectedly announces his retirement, effective in one year. Letterman continues to believe he is still in contention for the position. Surely enough, Kushnick secures the producer's position for herself at The Tonight Show, on the condition that no public announcement will be made. Kushnick harshly instructs Leno to just keep telling jokes and leave the business end to her. Leno is concerned that her methods might alienate Carson, but does not wish to be disloyal as he believes that she has been responsible for his success in addition, he had promised to take care of her after her husband's death. Leno's manager, Helen Kushnick, secures the spot for Leno with negotiating tactics that could be construed as either shrewd or unethical. They also would not have to deal with Letterman's stipulation for ownership rights to the show. ( ET/ PT) slot, as well as easier for the network to control. It is widely assumed that Letterman is the hand-picked heir apparent whom Carson favors, but NBC executives privately speculate that Leno could be more popular with audiences in the 11:30 p.m. Carson's permanent guest host, Jay Leno, and the host of the show that follows Carson's each night, David Letterman, both vie for Carson's job. Johnny Carson has hosted The Tonight Show for decades, but he and his audience are both growing older, leaving NBC to anticipate the day when a new host will be needed. In 1991, behind-the-scenes network politics embroil television executives responsible for NBC's late-night programming.