brian_m_hass During the early 1980's, NBC viewers could stay tuned after "Late Night with David Letterman" to enjoy one of the most unique newscasts on American television. Anchored by Lloyd Dobyns (later replaced by Bill Schechner) and Linda Ellerbee, "NBC News Overnight" was American television's first full length late night newscast; and, it was a newscast with a difference. Dobyns and Ellerbee presented the news in a tongue-in-cheek manner. The program had a sense of humor. In addition to the national headlines, this newscast presented some of the most unusual and quirky human interest stories on television.Why was this newscast ultimately taken off the air? During the early 1980's, most television stations went off the air at around one in the morning; so, most people were not in the habit of staying up for an extra hour after Letterman's show to watch more television. At the time, there were no other late night newscasts; and, there were definitely no newscasts which broadcast throughout the overnight hours. In short, this newscast was an experiment; and, it was probably too far ahead of its time.Those who managed to stay awake long enough to watch the news program will remember it fondly. The show's small number of fans will remember the show's warmth, humor, and intelligence. Its legacy lives on with other late night newscasts, including "ABC World News Now" (which followed in the footsteps of "Overnight"). And, so it goes!

regis-15 This show was so excellent in its substance and style that every intelligent viewer benefited. I never missed a show while I was single and desperately have been seeking its replacement. NPR and Keith on MSNBC often come close to its performance, but they are not as dependable with worthy items that thinking humans should be considering. I miss the show and feel that our society and culture are spiraling downward faster than you can say "Fall of the Roman Empire." Avoidable items with true information would minimize or even stop such trends as the US population becoming drug dependent and electrical appliance dependent. Knowledge properly shared would stop America from seeking fast solutions at the expense of real sustaining solutions, and even alter our approach to being in a war without most Americans truly feeling the war because we are being insulated by an ineffective media. The founders of our country must be rolling over in their graves at what a shamble our Fourth Estate has deteriorated into.

sondheim-1 This show held me together; I'm a videomaker/writer with leftist leanings - and for me this was ground-breaking, one of those moments when everything comes together. It was my peak experience in television - I wish there were reporters and shows like this today. We were all saddened to see it end.One of the elements I liked so much - the apparent neutrality of the imaging - there were segments without voice-over at all. You'd end up crying watching some sort of truth emerge from the screen. We knew it wouldn't last of course...I wish she'd return...

Zorro-3 If only we had a news show like this today! NBC Overnight circled the globe with footage of what was going on at every hot spot. It went on at length about what all was REALLY going on there. Even for its time, it was amazing that they were allowed to be that honest. I can't imagine a major network showing us those sorts of things today. Perhaps WE CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!!!!Cost me some credits in college. I'd stay up way too late watching the blasted thing. I couldn't turn away.