Sometimes, the late night show courts it, like in the case of Chevy Chase, who purposely said the N-word live on air during SNL’s debut season. Other times, a backlash may spring up without warning.

Among viewers under age 50, the late-night show is more popular than anything ... if it should still be going on.” Substitute the word “shows” for “years” in that quote, and it still ...

Among viewers under age 50, the late-night show is more popular than anything ... if it should still be going on.” Substitute the word “shows” for “years” in that quote, and it still ...

Alumni have gone on to become Oscar and Emmy winners, box-office superstars, late-night hosts ... the best sketches the show ever did, like racial-boundary-pushing "Word Association" with Richard ...