Late Show

Just the ticket for talk-show fansVacations sometimes mean missing your favorite talk show. But they don't have to if you're heading to New York, Los Angeles or Chicago, where you can see a host of stars taping their namesake programs.Tickets to shows are free -- as long as you have a date you'd like to attend -- but often book months in advance. If they're booked, you'll have to pay a price.But first, try for freebies and keep in mind that most shows have a minimum-age limit of 14 to 18. Here's how to make contact:"The Rosie O'Donnell Show": write to "Rosie O'Donnell" Tickets, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, N.Y. 10112.

It seems like we've been talking about it for months. But there's a changing of the guard finally about to take place on late, late night CBS.Tom Snyder leaves "The Later Late Show with Tom Snyder" at the end of the week. And, then, on Tuesday starting at 12: 35 a.m., it becomes "The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn."Kilborn, the former host of "The Daily Show" on Comedy Central, is going from the network of "South Park" to the network of "Diagnosis Murder." Will he have to adjust?"Well, I think of it as more as I'm following David Letterman, which to me is the greatest," Kilborn said.

His cutting edge may have dulled a bit and his Top-10 lists are looking a little long-in-the-tooth these days, but David Letterman is still the best thing on late-night television.Tonight, the gap-toothed one celebrates his fifth anniversary on CBS with a 90-minute "Late Show with David Letterman" special beginning at 9: 30. Filled with clips, guest cameos and reprises of the best Stupid Human and Stupid Pet Tricks, the show is a riot.There's Dave trolling a New Jersey neighborhood with Siskel and Ebert; Dave and Steve Martin on a beach, exchanging knowing glances; Dave manning a Taco Bell drive-through; Bill Cosby climbing a ladder to the balcony of the Ed Sullivan Theater; and, best of all, Dave working with kids who, unlike their adult counterparts, have no trouble saying what they think.

HOLLYWOOD -- No official fight bell will clang when the two latest entries in the late-night talk-show arena, "Vibe" and "The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show," square off tonight.But publicists, agents and talent managers are getting their scorecards ready for what they say will be one of the fiercest late-night showdowns since CBS' "Late Show With David Letterman" first went toe to toe with NBC's "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" in 1993."Vibe" and "The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show" -- both syndicated one-hour programs -- are competing to put the funk back in late night, employing comedy, music and fashion to bring an urban flavor to the post-prime-time period missing since Arsenio Hall ended his talk show in 1994.

If you're sick of those pesky commercial interruptions during "Late Show With David Letterman," then CBS' one-time-only show with no commercial breaks is just for you.No date yet, but one night this month, Letterman's one-hour show will run without interruption, although there will be some mention, some way, of sponsors. (After all, they've got to get something for the money they're paying.)"We're going to go to four advertisers and for one night get some notoriety and some spin," said Joe Abruzzese, CBS' president of ad sales.

No man was responsible for more great movie musicals than the late Gene Kelly. Tonight, Turner Classic Movies offers the proof. Watch, and enjoy.* "The X-Files" (9 p.m.-10 p.m., WBFF, Channel 45) -- In this first of a two-parter, Nick Lea returns as Alex Krycek, an out-of-control agent who killed Mulder's father. Also, divers salvaging a downed World War II fighter plane suffer radiation burns. Not a good sign. Fox.* "Hangin' With Mr. Cooper" (9:30 p.m.-10 p.m., WMAR, Channel 2) -- The Harlem Globetrotters show up to try to give this series' ratings a little artificial respiration.

Want to know the main difference between Jay Leno and David Letterman?Last week, Jay took his show on the road to America's heartland, Chicago. This week, Dave takes his show on the road and decides to check out the fringe, San Francisco.* "Champions of Magic" (8 p.m.-9 p.m., WMAR, Channel 2) The greatest piece of magic on exhibit here may have been getting Princess Stephanie of Monaco to serve as be host. ABC.* "The Nanny" (8 p.m.-8: 30 p.m., WJZ, Channel 13) Is the woman with the most irritating voice on television really getting married?

David Letterman was pretty thoroughly savaged by the press for his performance as host of the Academy Awards broadcast. But he's ready to do it again, he said in his first interview since the Oscars. "Overall, I enjoyed the experience, as strange as that may sound. The only thing that is sort of residually troubling to me is the notion that I embarrassed myself. But having developed fairly thick skin over my 48 years, that's not too much of a problem."What was a problem, he said, was trying to re-create the seat-of-the-pants feeling of his "Late Show" on CBS."

There's not a lot on television today, unless you happen to live in Baltimore, appreciate good TV drama and are a fan of Edgar Allan Poe. If so, may I suggest you hit your local wine cellar, pour yourself a glass of amontillado and tune in to Channel 11 at 10 tonight. But be sure the brick wall surrounding you has an opening in it.* "The Simpsons" (6 p.m.-6:30 p.m., WBFF, Channel 45) -- Michelle Pfeiffer's voice guest stars in this repeat, as Homer finds himself attracted to a new co-worker.

David Letterman will be the host of the Academy Awards telecast this year, the first purely television star to fill that role since Johnny Carson handled the job in the 1960s and 70s.The motion picture academy and ABC, which is to broadcast the awards show on March 27, made the announcement of Mr. Letterman's selection yesterday. Ted Harbert, the president of ABC Entertainment, said he hoped this would be the "long-term solution" to the question of who would be host."If Dave likes the experience, this could be a great answer for the show, just the way Carson did the show for many years," Mr. Harbert said.

Talk-show host David Letterman said Thursday that he was the victim of a $2 million extortion attempt related to his sexual relationships with staff members on CBS' "Late Show With David Letterman." During a taping for Thursday night's broadcast, Letterman told viewers that three weeks ago, he was approached by a person who claimed to have information about the host's affairs with female staff members. This person, Letterman said, threatened to expose the relationships unless payment of $2 million was received.

Series Parks and Recreation:: Saturday Night Live's Amy Poehler and The Office's Rashida Jones headline this new sitcom. (8:30 p.m., WBAL-Channel 11) Samantha Who?: : Andrea's (Jennifer Esposito) latest boyfriend may be keeping a secret in this new episode. (8:30 p.m., WMAR-Channel 2) 30 Rock:: Impending budget cuts cause uneasiness among the TGS staff in this new episode. (9:31 p.m., WBAL-Channel 11) Krod Mandoon and the Flaming Sword of Fire: : An unlikely hero arises in this new series spoofing the conventions of the medieval fantasy flicks.

Series Survivor: Tocantins: : A fake immunity idol is introduced into the game. (8 p.m., WJZ-Channel 13) ER: : This one-hour retrospective features clips from the past 15 seasons, along with interviews with past and present cast members. (8 p.m., WBAL-Channel 11) CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: : Academy Award winner William Friedkin directs the 200th episode of the series. (9 p.m., WJZ-Channel 13) ER: : Alexis Bledel and Ernest Borgnine guest star in the series finale, which features the appearance of some former series stars.

Phoenix on Letterman keeps entertaining It became an overnight sensation: Joaquin Phoenix's appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman on Wednesday night during which the actor appeared to forget the name of his Two Lovers co-star, Gwyneth Paltrow, stuck gum under the edge of Letterman's desk and apparently cursed at bandleader Paul Shaffer for laughing at him. There were also intervals of silence. Hours afterward, video of the visit had become an Internet sensation: By Thursday evening, a posting of the interview had been seen more than 180,000 times on YouTube.

Sunday Morning is turning 30, and the CBS mainstay is celebrating this weekend. If you have never seen the program - and sometimes it is the best thing on TV all weekend - think of it as an upbeat newsmagazine with a feel for humor and culture. Sunday, they will be looking at the way the world - including technology, popular culture and religion - has changed since the show made its debut three decades ago with Charles Kuralt as host. These days, it's the forever-in-bow ties Charles Osgood at the helm.

CBS anchorwoman Katie Couric and the CBS Evening News come to prime time tonight, and if you haven't been watching the broadcast the past six months or so, I urge you to take this opportunity to check Couric and her newscast out. Here's the cynical explanation as to why the evening news for the first time will be shown in prime time: Fox has American Idol scheduled in the same time slot, so what has CBS to lose by throwing Couric up against it? In fact, CBS will save money by not having to put an expensive entertainment show on only to see it clobbered in the ratings.

David Letterman's 'Great Moments' segment to end as Bush leaves office The end of the Bush administration also marks the end of "Great Moments in Presidential Speeches," an enduring feature on David Letterman's Late Show that pokes fun at the president's vocal stumbles. Late Show writer Tom Ruprecht may remember Tuesday as the day he was sprung - from hours spent in his office watching Bush speeches to find those magic moments. The first "Great Moment" came on March 30, 2006; it was followed by 377 more.

Tonight, Faith Hill headlines The 10th Annual "A Home for the Holidays" Special, the latest edition of this program aimed at raising awareness of adoption. Initiated by the late Wendy's restaurant founder Dave Thomas - who was an adoptee - and the Children's Action Network, the program offers true stories of youngsters and the families who took them in. But that's only half the show. Country queen Hill performs, of course, and she has plenty of help, including husband Tim McGraw, Melissa Etheridge, Jamie Foxx and Gavin Rossdale.

Apparently airing in the morning isn't enough. NBC's Today show is going prime-time, for tonight only at least. Matt Lauer, Meredith Vieira, Al Roker and Ann Curry host 2008: Today Looks Back, A Holiday Special, a one-hour review of the year's biggest news events. It won't be strictly serious; the show will include big moments in pop culture and Today show bloopers. It's the first time they've tried something like this in more than a decade. "It was such an incredible year, with the economy and the election and the Olympics, just for starters," executive producer Jim Bell told The Hollywood Reporter.

First of all, let me tell what is not on tonight, so you can plan your viewing accordingly. While the Fox reality show, Secret Millionaire, returns for its second week, the segment featuring Baltimore's Molly Shattuck will not air until Dec. 17, according to a Fox spokesman. Executive producer Greg Goldman had told The Baltimore Sun that he thought the Shattuck episode would air this week, but viewers will just have to wait. This is the show that features millionaires going undercover to spend a week with people from less-privileged backgrounds, and them giving at least $100,000 to one of the people they meet.