With thoughtful adoration, I bid each of you lovely individuals hello, and as I am writing this entry at an unholy hour, it is only appropriate that I discuss the topic of the hour: the changing face of late night TV. For those of you who don’t call your home the nether region of a rock, we know that recently one of the Late Night greats (and certainly a comedy legend I grew up watching) David Letterman officially resigned from his late night post after 33 years and issued his final celebrity-laden top 10 list. The final show included celebrity cameos, memorable moments (Dave taking over a Taco Bell drive thru-yes please!), and sentimental words about Dave’s nearest and dearest, from his wife to his long time musical sidekick Paul Shaffer.

Letterman’s final show was a wonderful way to say good-bye, but it is indeed not the first time we have to had to say farewell to a late night jewel. For more than 15 years, Jay Leno famously hosted The Tonight Show, bringing the world a range of comedic delights such as Jay Walking, Headlines, and yes folks, even Ross the Intern. Though I still hold personal feelings of resentment over certain entertainment matters (may I not so subtly remind everyone of the Conan O’Brien debacle of ’09), Leno was a true comedic pro and a legend, and a late night staple who I also watched as a young lass and loved to watch up until its final days. As a small sidenote, while I love the buzzworthy comedy genius that is Jimmy Fallon, it still must have stung for Leno to be replaced by a “younger model”…but friends and family, I digress! While I hate to utter the thought, I suppose all good things must come to an end, which is a truth that has not been more evident than it is now as we say our final “good night” to the comedy idols of the midnight hour.

In the infamous words of Boys II Men, it is indeed always hard to say good-bye to yesterday, and as we usher in a new era of late night, I wistfully salute the comedy heroes who graced the TV sets of night owls young and old and gave us laughs and memorable moments worth the yawns and under eye bags the next day. And though our small screens will be rendered near unrecognizable come 11:30 pm on school nights, I look forward to welcoming a new generation of comics who will undoubtedly be vying for the crown of the late night king. So with that said, stay tuned and let the comedic sparring and viral comedy skits begin!