What was the competing comedy-variety show called, and on which network did it air?

What was the competing comedy-variety show called, and on which network did it air?

• A. Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell on ABC
• B. The Tonight Show on NBC
• C. The Ed Sullivan Show on CBS
• D. The Muppet Show on ABC

Answer: (A)

Understanding which show defined the late-night comedy-variety space helps explain this question. The competing show most closely described is The Tonight Show, which aired on NBC. It was the long-running flagship in the 11:30 pm slot and set the template for late-night talk and comedy—monologue, guest interviews, and sketches—that later programs, including new formats, aimed to imitate or compete with. The other options don’t fit the pairing: Ed Sullivan Show was a much earlier program on CBS; The Muppet Show aired on ABC and isn’t the standard late-night competitor; and Saturday Night Live is on NBC, but the version described with Howard Cosell on ABC isn’t accurate. So The Tonight Show on NBC best matches the idea of a competing comedy-variety show.

Understanding which show defined the late-night comedy-variety space helps explain this question. The competing show most closely described is The Tonight Show, which aired on NBC. It was the long-running flagship in the 11:30 pm slot and set the template for late-night talk and comedy—monologue, guest interviews, and sketches—that later programs, including new formats, aimed to imitate or compete with. The other options don’t fit the pairing: Ed Sullivan Show was a much earlier program on CBS; The Muppet Show aired on ABC and isn’t the standard late-night competitor; and Saturday Night Live is on NBC, but the version described with Howard Cosell on ABC isn’t accurate. So The Tonight Show on NBC best matches the idea of a competing comedy-variety show.