S ▁and ▁The ▁Real ▁World ). ▁A ▁new ▁variant ▁– ▁competition ▁series ▁placing ▁ordinary ▁people ▁in ▁unusual ▁circumstances ▁or ▁in ▁talent ▁cont ests , ▁generally ▁elimin ating ▁at ▁least ▁one ▁particip ant ▁per ▁week , ▁expl oded ▁in ▁popular ity ▁in ▁turn ▁of ▁the ▁mill en ni um ▁( with ▁shows ▁such ▁as ▁Sur viv or , ▁Big ▁Bro ther , ▁The ▁Ama zing ▁Race , ▁American ▁Id ol , ▁America ' s ▁Next ▁Top ▁Model , ▁Dan cing ▁with ▁the ▁Stars , ▁The ▁Bach elor ▁and ▁its ▁spin - off ▁The ▁Bach elor ette , ▁So ▁You ▁Think ▁You ▁Can ▁Dance ▁and ▁The ▁Vo ice ). ▁ ▁T alk ▁shows ▁ ▁The ▁most ▁successful ▁talk ▁show ▁has ▁been ▁The ▁Ton ight ▁Show , ▁particularly ▁during ▁the ▁ 3 0 - year ▁run ▁of ▁third ▁host ▁Johnny ▁Car son . ▁Ton ight ▁us her ed ▁in ▁a ▁multi - de cade ▁period ▁of ▁domin ance ▁by ▁one ▁network ▁– ▁N BC ▁– ▁in ▁American ▁late - night ▁programming ▁and ▁p aved ▁the ▁way ▁for ▁many ▁similar ▁programs ▁combining ▁comedy ▁and ▁celebr ity ▁inter views , ▁such ▁as ▁The ▁Mer v ▁Griff in ▁Show ▁and ▁Late ▁Night ▁with ▁David ▁Let ter man . ▁Despite ▁initial ▁failed ▁attempts ▁during ▁the ▁late ▁ 1 9 8 0 s ▁by ▁Fox ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁the ▁success ▁of ▁The ▁Ar sen io ▁Hall ▁Show ▁in ▁synd ic ation ▁during ▁its ▁first ▁five - year ▁run ▁beginning ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 9 , ▁the ▁late - night ▁talk