David Letterman vies with Jay Leno and his manager to succeed Johnny Carson, retiring from "The Tonight Show."
Acting
Kathy Bates devours every scene as ruthless manager Helen Kushnick.
Writing
Dialogue so petty it should have a copyright.
Production
Recreates 1992 NBC hallways with unsettling accuracy.
Director
Betty Thomas
John Michael Higgins
David Letterman
Daniel Roebuck
Jay Leno
Kathy Bates
Helen Kushnick
Bob Balaban
Warren Littlefield
Ed Begley Jr.
Rod Perth
Peter Jurasik
Howard Stringer
Reni Santoni
John Agoglia
John Kapelos
Robert Morton
John Getz
Brandon Tartikoff
Lawrence Pressman
Bob Wright
Sandra Bernhard
Sandra Bernhard
Treat Williams
Michael Ovitz
David Brisbin
Alan Levine
Michael Chieffo
Rick Ludwin
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Both real Letterman and Leno refused to cooperate; Leno later joked the actor playing him was 'too handsome.'
This HBO film invented the modern 'prestige TV movie about showbiz' template later perfected by Ryan Murphy.
US
