The Late Shift is a 1996 American made-for-television biographical film directed by Betty Thomas, and written by New York Times media reporter Bill Carter and George Armitage.

It is widely assumed that Letterman is the hand-picked successor whom Carson favors, but NBC executives privately speculate that Leno could be more popular with audiences, as well as easier for the network to control.

Leno is concerned that Kushnick's 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.

Surely enough, Kushnick secures the producer's position for herself at The Tonight Show, on the condition that no public announcement will be made.

Leno takes over on May 25, 1992, but Kushnick's bullying manner angers his colleagues, potential guests and others to the point of interfering with network airtime and relations.

After securing more lenient terms from NBC, Ovitz receives a lucrative offer from CBS which effectively guarantees Letterman an 11:30 p.m show.

Real-life CBS executive Rod Perth (played by Ed Begley Jr. in the film) appears briefly in a cameo role.

Actor Ed Begley Jr. and Rod Perth share an extraordinary physical resemblance, something the film makers milk for humor in the scene.

Kushnick filed a $30 million lawsuit against Bill Carter, author of the eponymous book upon which the HBO film was based, claiming libel.

[9] On January 19, 2010, during Conan O'Brien's final week as host of "The Tonight Show," guest Quentin Tarantino jokingly suggested he direct a sequel to The Late Shift, cast O'Brien as himself and make it a revenge movie in the style of his film Kill Bill with the title Late Shift 2: The Rolling Thunder of Revenge.

[15] When asked in a June 2010 Movieline interview if there was going to be a film adaptation of The War for Late Night, Carter responded that plans were not serious at that point, stating, "Not really.