TELEVISION: JOINING THE BOYS' CLUB

In planning late-night programming, television executives have traditionally taken their cue from the dictates of military history: keep women out of combat. The late-night wars, it seems, are meant to be fought by people in dark suits and cigars, not slip dresses and Virginia Slims. While Leno and Letterman steal the headlines, the ladies play host in the afternoons, minding and mending America's luridly fractious families.

With a few exceptions--Joan Rivers and Whoopi Goldberg both had short-lived late-night shows--women have been left to amuse from the guest chair. But the fall TV season has brought two new women to late night:...