Last month, his boss at CBS, Leslie Moonves, called to congratulate him on his 20th anniversary as a late-night star.

By all accounts, CBS executives did not want to offend the network's late-night star if possible.

Mr. Seinfeld got a deal to develop a sitcom, though the network was mainly interested in him as a potential late-night star.

He has talked to most of them and to most of the late-night stars as well.

She sat gazing out at the late-night stars, listening to the river.

Further, in the next few months the network must confront an extremely tough negotiation with its other late-night star, David Letterman.

It starkly demonstrated the surprising paucity of identifiable future late-night stars.

Still, as has been the custom whenever a late-night star is asked to step into prime time, Mr. O'Brien had some trepidation about the request.

If Mr. Letterman had picked up a pen and signed his name on that contract, CBS would have been looking for a new late-night star.

CBS has made no secret of its intention to woo the late-night star aggressively.