After nearly two decades on the air, NBC has announced that Last Call With Carson Daly will end its historic run later this season. The show, which first premiered in 2002, will conclude with Carson Daly stepping away to focus on his growing presence across NBC programming and to spend more time with his family. By the time the final episode airs, the show will have surpassed 2,000 episodes—an impressive milestone for one of late night’s most unique formats.

In a statement reflecting on his long career in late-night television, Daly expressed gratitude and disbelief. “If you had told me in 2002 I would be a part of the historic NBC late-night family for 17 years, I would have said you were crazy!” he joked. “It’s time to move on to something new and let someone else have access to this incredible platform.”

Over the last several years, Carson Daly has been one of NBC’s most versatile and visible on-air personalities. In addition to his late-night duties, he has anchored the Today show’s Orange Room, served as host and producer on The Voice, and led NBC’s annual New Year’s Eve broadcasts. With such a stacked calendar, the decision to step back from one piece of the puzzle comes as a strategic shift in how he approaches his career.

“My 20’s was about finding a good job. My 30’s was about taking on as many of them as I could,” Daly explained. “Now, in my 40’s, I’m focused on quality over quantity.” With that mindset, he emphasized that his commitment to his family has only strengthened. “I could have all the jobs in the world, but none of them are more important to me than that of Dad.”

Last Call carved out a distinct space for itself in the 1:30 a.m. timeslot. Rather than following the traditional desk-and-monologue structure, the show leaned into intimate conversations, profile-driven storytelling, and spotlighting emerging musical artists before they hit the mainstream. In fact, the show helped introduce major talent early in their careers, including Maroon 5, Halsey, Twenty One Pilots, Kendrick Lamar, and Ed Sheeran—many of whom later became global superstars.

The program also became known for taking cameras outside the studio environment, giving audiences a cinematic look at live performances and on-location interviews. Daly’s relaxed, conversational style gave guests—from actors to athletes to musicians—a refreshing break from typical late-night spectacle.

Carson Daly served as both host and executive producer of Last Call, working closely with longtime collaborator Stewart Bailey. Daly credits Bailey with keeping the show going strong through constant reinvention. “I owe our executive producer Stewart Bailey a huge bottle of something expensive,” Daly joked. “He masterfully kept this train on the track for many years.”

While the exact date of the final broadcast has not yet been announced, NBC has confirmed that it will continue to fill the late-night slot at 1:30 a.m. A replacement show is expected to be revealed soon, and Daly will remain a prominent figure within the network. In addition to his current roles, he hinted at new projects in development—particularly with NBCUniversal’s Golf Channel, one of his longtime passions.

“I’m very excited to fulfill other areas I’m passionate about within our company,” Daly shared. “The Golf Channel has always been a favorite of mine and we have a few exciting things in the works.”

Though the program became less traditional over the years—shifting away from the signature desk setup and leaning more on pre-taped content—it continued to serve as a launching pad and a trusted platform. The late-night landscape has grown crowded and competitive with streamers, YouTube creators, and evolving viewing habits. Yet Last Call managed to adapt while staying true to its mission: real conversations, real talent, and real growth.

As NBC prepares to transition to the next chapter in that timeslot, Daly’s influence on late night won’t be forgotten. His easygoing personality has become a recognizable part of the NBC brand, his hosting skills are sharper than ever, and the artists who were once welcomed into small studios at 1:30 a.m. are now selling out arenas.

While fans may feel bittersweet about losing Last Call, Daly isn’t going anywhere. Between Today, The Voice, special event broadcasts, and new opportunities unfolding, he remains one of the network’s most dependable faces.

Seventeen years in late night is no small achievement. Many shows never last a single season, let alone two decades. But Carson Daly built something enduring, something distinct, and something that helped shape the careers of countless rising stars.

As he reflected on the journey, Daly summed up his pride simply:

“I’m forever grateful and proud to all who have worked with us at Last Call over the years. So many have gone on to achieve incredible success. It’s been really awesome to watch.”

And with that, the host who brought music discovery, heartfelt storytelling, and quiet innovation to late night takes a well-earned bow—ready for what comes next, but always grateful for the ride.