{{short description|American TV talk show}} {{Distinguish|Nightline}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox television | image = The Les Crane Show 1964.JPG | image_alt = | caption = Host Les Crane on the show in 1964 | alt_name = {{Plainlist| * ''The Les Crane Show'' * ''Nightlife'' }} | genre = | creator = | based_on = | developer = | writer = | director = | creative_director = | presenter = | starring = Les Crane | judges = | voices = | narrator = | theme_music_composer = | open_theme = | end_theme = | composer = | country = United States | language = English | num_seasons = 1 | num_episodes = | list_episodes = | executive_producer = | producer = | editor = | cinematography = | camera = | runtime = | company = | network = ABC | first_aired = {{Start date|1964|11|09}} | last_aired = {{End date|1965|11|12}} }} '''''ABC's Nightlife''''' is an American television talk show carried by the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) from November 9, 1964, until November 12, 1965.<ref name="cd">{{cite book |last1=Brooks |first1=Tim |last2=Marsh |first2=Earle F. |title=The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present |date=2009 |publisher=Random House Publishing Group |isbn=9780307483201 |page=5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w8KztFy6QYwC&dq=%22ABC%27s+Nightlife%22&pg=PA5 |accessdate=19 December 2018 |language=en}}</ref> It was an effort by ABC to compete with ''The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson'' on NBC.<ref name="etvs">{{cite book|last1=Terrace|first1=Vincent|title=Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010|date=2011|publisher=McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers|location=Jefferson, N.C.|isbn=978-0-7864-6477-7|page=4|edition=2nd}}</ref>
Initially known as ''The Les Crane Show'', the program had included Crane's exchanges with members of the audience in addition to celebrity guests. Crane's style was described as "informal, highly spontaneous, and often controversial".<ref name="cd" /> The show was renamed when Crane left after four months.<ref name="cd" /> A revised format used a rotation of stars as hosts, beginning with Shelley Berman.<ref name="bc">{{cite news |title=ABC-TV drops Les Crane for rotating hosts |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/65-OCR/1965-03-01-BC-OCR-Page-0060.pdf |access-date=20 December 2018 |work=Broadcasting |date=March 1, 1965 |page=60}}</ref> Other hosts included William B. Williams, Nipsey Russell, Jimmy Cannon,<ref name="cd" /> Pat Boone,<ref>{{cite news |title=(untitled brief) |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/60s/1965/Billboard%201965-03-13.pdf |access-date=19 December 2018 |work=Billboard |date=March 13, 1965 |page=73}}</ref> and Allan Sherman.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sherman as Host |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/60s/1965/Billboard%201965-04-03.pdf |access-date=19 December 2018 |work=Billboard |date=April 3, 1965 |page=47}}</ref> Orchestra leaders were Cy Coleman, Elliot Lawrence, and Donn Trenner.<ref name="cd" /> In June 1965, Crane returned as the regular host, accompanied by Russell.<ref name=tt>{{cite book|last1=McNeil|first1=Alex|title=Total Television|date=1996|publisher=Penguin Books USA, Inc.|location=New York, New York|isbn=0-14-02-4916-8|page= 604|edition=4th}}</ref>
After the series ended, ABC would not return to the late-night television picture until ''The Joey Bishop Show'' began in April 1967.
==See also== {{Portal|Television}} *{{section link|Les Crane|Television}}
== References == {{Reflist}}
Category:1960s American late-night television series Category:1964 American television series debuts Category:1965 American television series endings Category:American Broadcasting Company late-night programming Category:English-language American television shows Category:American Broadcasting Company original programming