Tom Snyder’s ‘Late, Late Show’ debuts after Letterman on CBS
By Scott Williams
NEW YORK — The man who virtually invented late-night network TV
returned to it early today with CBS’ "Late, Late Show with Tom
Snyder."
Seeing Snyder’s prickly, ego-driven style back on network air
made it seem as if he’d never been away.
"Dottie," he told a call-in viewer wishing him luck, "I’m in the
same position I’ve always been in. I’m just on a different
television network right now." Then, in the next breath, "But
how’re we doing tonight? Are we OK so far?"
"You’re doing great!" Dottie answered.
His guests included Candice Bergen and Robert and Kathleen
Gingrich, the parents of House Speaker Newt Gingrich. A week ago,
Mrs. Gingrich made the much-publicized remark that her son had
called Hillary Rodham Clinton a bitch.
Mrs. Gingrich said she and her husband had been invited to the
White House, and Snyder wanted to know what Mrs. Gingrich would say
to Mrs. Clinton.
"I can always talk about my granddaughters," she said. "I’ll
tell her how gracious it is that she invited me to the White House.
… It is a lovely gesture on her part."
Snyder debuted NBC’s "Tomorrow" show in 1973. It followed the
"Tonight" show  then TV’s most popular late-night show.
On Monday night, Snyder acknowledged his gratitude to David
Letterman, whose "Late Show" precedes him on CBS. Snyder’s show
also is produced by Letterman’s Worldwide Pants, Inc.
"In the 8 1/2 years that I was on the other network, never once
did Johnny Carson say, ‘Now stay tuned for Tom Snyder.’ I thank
David Letterman for that courtesy," Snyder said.
Letterman also extended the courtesy of taking a few jabs at
Snyder. "Even the rats here in the Ed Sullivan Theater have been
combing their hair like Tom Snyder" he said in his monologue.
Later, at his desk, Letterman boasted of a "live satellite feed"
from Snyder’s studio in Hollywood, then showed 1950s-vintage
footage of a sweaty, nervous guy who looked like a youngish Sen.
Joseph McCarthy.
Snyder, however, was totally cool, and "Late, Late Show" was
stylish, with opening titles and credits over a slow saxophone
theme and late-night scenes of Los Angeles.
The set was a chair within a carpeted circle on a square, raised
dias, set before a stylized Los Angeles skyline and a floor-level
grid of city lights extending back to the cyclorama.
Snyder’s first guest was Bergen, star of CBS’ "Murphy Brown."
She asked whether Letterman would call in. "No, he will not,"
Snyder said.
Later, Snyder delivered the best comedy shot of the night back
at his boss: "David Letterman is resting comfortably. That’s my
story and I’m sticking to it."