Conan O'Brien maintains that replacing David Letterman on late night television was a task that was fundamentally impossible.

“I don't think anyone can replace letterman i mean i was saying that uh and thinking that and actually still believe it”

Jeff Ross believes the early period of producing Late Night was defined by a high risk of being canceled due to the show's unconventional approach.

“solid two years of we're in terrible terrible danger of being canceled any second we were canceled at one point but also justified fear”