Many late-night talk shows went off the air in the days following the September 11 attacks of 2001 , while many of their networks aired round-the-clock news coverage . Letterman was the first to return on September 17 , addressing the situation in an opening monologue . The show was not presented in its normal jovial manner , and featured Dan Rather , Regis Philbin , and a musical performance from Tori Amos . '' Politically Incorrect '' also resumed on September 17 and immediately drew controversy due to remarks Maher and a guest ( Dinesh D'Souza ) made concerning the " coward " label given to the terrorists by President George W. Bush . '' The Tonight Show '' returned the following night , featuring John McCain and a performance from Crosby , Stills , and Nash
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Late-night talk show