The Top 10 Late-Night Hosts

Dave and Milt hit record for a special edition of Past 10s marking the end of an era: the final episode of Stephen Colbert’s Late Show. But instead of hopping into the Billboard Hot 100 time machine, the boys pivot to late-night television, counting down their Top 10 Gen X-era talk-show hosts — complete with favorite moments, grudges, nostalgia, and the occasional completely unnecessary tangent. Along the way: Michael speed-runs a Chinese-food dinner before airtime, Dave delivers another riveting update on the bird building a nest outside Milt’s house, and the guys take a crack at the famously weird “Colbert Questionnaire,” revealing opinions on smells, mottos, Journey songs, the afterlife, and apparently Die Hard. The countdown itself becomes a love letter to late-night TV history, featuring Bill Maher at #10, Samantha Bee at #9, John Oliver at #8, Jimmy Fallon at #7, Conan O'Brien at #6, Jimmy Kimmel at #5, and the King himself, Johnny Carson, landing at #4. Then things get controversial: Jon Stewart and Colbert tie for #2, before the ultimate crown goes to gap-toothed genius David Letterman at #1. Naturally, there are arguments over the near-misses and “also-rans,” including Jay Leno narrowly missing the Top 10 at #11, plus shout-outs to James Corden, Craig Ferguson, Seth Meyers, Chelsea Handler, Arsenio Hall, Dennis Miller, Joan Rivers, and Larry King. By the end, the guys are emotionally preparing for Colbert’s finale, reflecting on what late-night TV used to mean when everybody actually watched the same thing at the same time — and wondering whether anybody under 30 even knows who Carson is.   Topics 00:00 Cold Open Live Audience 00:59 Knicks Night Chinese Food 02:44 Bird Nest Update 03:54 Tonight Colbert Finale 06:29 Top 10 Setup Rules 08:39 Number 10 Bill Maher 15:52 Number 9 Samantha Bee 21:17 Number 8 John Oliver 28:27 Number 7 Jimmy Fallon 37:00 Number 6 Conan OBrien 44:53 Colbert Questionnaire Game 46:31 Rapid Fire Favorites 49:08 Afterlife and Die Hard 50:44 Smells and Memories 52:43 Journey Pick and Life Motto 54:24 Kimmel at Number Five 01:00:09 Carson at Number Four 01:06:06 Jon Stewart Tie for Two 01:12:57 Colbert Legacy and Farewell 01:18:25 Also Rans Countdown 01:22:40 Letterman Takes Number One 01:29:09 Wrap Up and Sign Off