Talking today

David Letterman: former president Bill Clinton, Chris Rock (R)

Jay Leno: Dana Carvey, Zack Hemple, Marc Broussard (R)

Late Late Show: Project Runway winner Leanne Marshall, Laura Marling

Conan O'Brien: Harrison Ford, Eric McCormack, Atmosphere (R)

Last Call: David Nadelberg, Bo Burnham (R)

Daily Show: Christopher Buckley

Colbert Report: Mike Farris

Jimmy Kimmel: Lisa Kudrow, the latest Dancing with the Stars castoff, Jesse McCartney

The View: John Lithgow, Eve

Regis and Kelly: Vanessa Hudgens, Jason O'Mara, Gavin Rossdale

Ellen DeGeneres: Kristin Chenoweth, Robin Thicke

Tavis Smiley: Paul Theroux

Chelsea Lately: Sally Pressman, Rachel Zalis, Ralphie May, Greg Proops

George Stroumboulopoulos: David Suzuki, Alanis Morissette

Bonnie Hunt: Jimmy Kimmel, Joe Mantegna, the Wiggles

Late-night laughs

(from Oct. 17, 2008)

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

John McCain got some good news today: The Charleston Daily Mail endorsed him, saying that since he will only be a one-term president, he can do the right thing to make tough decisions. When they told him the endorsement was for only four years, McCain said, "Four years -- that's great. My doctor only gave me two."

Late Show with David Letterman

McCain has unveiled his new campaign persona: "Fighting Underdog." And if that doesn't work, he's going to be "Tyrannical Sea Captain." And if that doesn't work, "Fun-Loving Gaucho." "Cruise Ship Gigolo." "Heartless Press Agent."

Late Night with Conan O'Brien

In a speech earlier this week, John McCain said, "I've been fighting for the United States since I was 17." Then he said, "Of course, back then, it was called Pangaea."

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Obama and McCain appeared together at the annual Al Smith dinner in New York City. It's traditional for candidates to giver funny speeches. Obama and McCain were both funny. McCain said, "Even in this room full of proud Democrats, I can't shake that feeling that some are pulling for me . . . I'm delighted to see you here, tonight, Hillary."

Today in music history

* In 1958, Buddy Holly made what were to be his last studio recordings at the Pythian Temple Studios in New York City. Among the tracks were It Doesn't Matter Anymore and True Love Ways, which were later overdubbed with strings and released after Holly's death in a plane crash in February 1959.

* In 1971, a daughter, Jade, was born to Mick and Bianca Jagger.

* In 1992, the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations hired a steamroller and crushed records, tapes and CD's by Sinead O'Connor on New York's Sixth Avenue. The music mangling was a protest against O'Connor's ripping up a picture of Pope John Paul during a Saturday Night Live.