Las Vegas -- For many years the television industry has always dubbed an individual as the King of Late Night referring to a popular late night television host... Johnny Carson. However to name one individual as king of a late night programming time slot is silly. There is no doubt that the real king of late night isn't a person but an actual program. Hands down that would be NBC's Tonight Show, which originally launched in 1954 with host Steve Allen.

The Late Night genre had become a niche programming game of its own in the 1990s as Johnny Carson left the Tonight Show, passing the torch on to Jay Leno. A slew of competitors jumped to steal the coveted time slot as Carson's heir-apparent David Letterman jumped to CBS, after being jilted by NBC for the Tonight Show seat.

Since then a colorful band of late night shows have signed on to grab a piece of Tonight's loyal audience, such as Jimmy Kimmel, Arsenio Hall, Chevy Chase, Magic Johnson, and the list goes on.

The Tonight Show continues to be the old standard for late night viewing, even with its new younger skewing host Conan O'Brien, who took the torch from Leno in June 2009. The origins of The Tonight Show begin with NBC's attempt to have a late night show to compliment their popular morning Today Show broadcast in the mid 1950's. Originally named Tonight, Steve Allen created the original set-up with a sidekick (Gene Rayburn of Match Game fame was the first), an opening monologue, desk interviews, comedy bits, audience participation skits, and a house band.

Allen's Tonight matched the feel of Letterman's style we see today, with out of the box wacky segments and taking the show outside of the studio. However, Allen would leave Tonight to concentrate on his NBC variety series which went head to head with CBS's Ed Sullivan Show on Sunday nights.

NBC tried a few other guest hosts and format changes before naming the new permanent host as Jack Paar in 1957. The show which was officially named the Tonight Show, also carried the moniker The Jack Paar Show. Paar's show revived the entertainment and talk format, but also had a serious edge to it with political commentary from Paar.

After several years of Parr staging walkouts and continuous arguments with the NBC brass, he announced he could no longer go on. NBC Moved Jack Paar to prime-time and began to relaunch The Tonight Show once again.

In 1962 the Peacock network announced that game show personality Johnny Carson would be tapped as the new host of the popular broadcast franchise. Originally based in New York City, Carson launched The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson with Ed McMahon as sidekick and band leader Skitch Henderson (still conducting the NBC Orchestra from the Allen days), eventually to be replaced by Doc Severinson for the rest of its run.

Carson ruled late night television for 30 years, taking down occasional competitors such as Merv Griffin, Joey Bishop, Joan Rivers, and Pat Sajak without any effort. During this period of time Johnny was dubbed The King of Late Night by the industry. Johnny, Ed and the gang reshaped American late night viewing habits and became members of the family, rather than just TV personalities.

In 1972 The Tonight Show moved from New York City to NBC's West Coast Studios in Burbank California, even though it was announced as Hollywood.

When Carson retired from The Tonight Show in May 1992, all hell broke out in the broadcast business. The networks scrambled to launch their own late night franchises to eat away at Johnny's core audience and lucrative fortunes.

Permanent guest host Jay Leno would succeed The Tonight Show throne, even though Carson chose Letterman as his successor. This move gave CBS its first shot at the time slot on an even level, with the Late Show with David Letterman. The new CBS entry actually took over the slot in the ratings beating Leno head to head, before reversing fortunes in the late 1990s.

NBC continued to struggle with The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, even as top late night show, the ratings never held on to Carson's legacy. Leno held the post until 2009, while battling a new generation of network and syndicated competitors.

The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien scrapped the longtime Burbank studio in exchange for a new million-dollar facility on the Universal Studios back lot in Hollywood. O'Brien recruited former Late Night partner in crime Andy Richter as his announcer and sidekick, as well as band leader Max Weinberg.

In January 2010, NBC executives decided to return Jay Leno to The Tonight Show, after O'Brien's brief stint due to low ratings. The Peacock network settled for about $40 million to let Conan out of his contract and pursue other opportunities. Crowning Jay Leno as King of Late Night once again.

Late night television has become a very lucrative business for the networks and a growing staple to viewers. Many spin-off fill the landscape such as ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live, CBS's Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, and NBC's Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

The antics of Allen, Carson, and Letterman will continue as the genetic code for the late night television format. Today The Tonight Show is watched by millions across the globe and continues to lead and serve at the King of Late Night.

*Guy W. Giuliano is a veteran broadcaster and media entrepreneur, with over 25 years experience in the industry.