Egregoros

I'd have to put Carson above Letterman. Johnny was faster and could get into quip exchanges with funny guests when Letterman would just have been laughing along with the audience. Letterman was a bit more in tune with the younger generations, though. But either of them could run circles around pretty much any of the other hosts I've ever seen. Conan was the only one funny enough to shine their shoes, in my opinion.

It's bewildering to anyone who saw Carson, Letterman, or O'Brien in their heyday to see the modern hosts like Colbert or Kimmel and try to understand what the fuck they're watching.