Stephen Colbert. Jimmy Fallon. Jimmy Kimmel. Seth Meyers. Historically, most late-night hosts have come up from the comedy world. However, a select few have been able to take the road less traveled to late-night stardom, such as former basketball player Magic Johnson and model Lauren Hutton.

In the same vein is actress Busy Philipps. Best known for her work in “Dawson’s Creek,” “Freaks and Geeks” and “Cougar Town,” Philipps has entered the competitive late-night field with her new E! talk show “Busy Tonight.” The show looks to build off Philipps’ social media persona and will see her give her hilarious and outspoken opinions on the latest pop culture headlines and trending topics. The four-night-a-week series will also feature celebrity guest interviews and comedic segments.

Here’s a look back at seven other celebrities who also had an unconventional journey into late-night TV and how they fared.

Pat Sajak (CBS).“The Pat Sajak Show” was hosted by Sajak, a former weatherman best known as host of the TV game show “Wheel of Fortune” since 1981. CBS initially recruited Sajak to compete with and potentially overthrow NBC’s king of late-night, Johnny Carson. However, Sajak failed to take the late-night throne. Executives and producers tried to change course midway through the show’s run. Despite those adjustments, the show was still canceled. Thankfully, “Wheel of Fortune” has provided him with steady employment.

Time on the air: Jan. 9, 1989-March 9, 1990

Number of seasons: 1

Number of episodes: 156

Space Ghost (Cartoon Network).“Space Ghost Coast to Coast,” Cartoon Network’s first (and for several years only) original program, refurbished a 1970s superhero cartoon into a quippy late-night talk show with a bricolage of guests — think Weird Al Yankovic, R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe, Jim Carrey and Fran Lebowitz. Critics embraced the series, billed as the world’s first late-night talk show hosted by a cartoon superhero.

Time on the air: April 15, 1994-May 31, 2008

Number of seasons: 10

Number of episodes: 113

Lauren Hutton (syndicated).“Lauren Hutton and ...” was hosted by American model and actress Hutton during the mid-’90s. Hutton spoke with a diverse range of guests on her show. “I talk quite a bit myself. I force the guest to fight for time,” she said in 1995. However, the show fell flat for critics, including Entertainment Weekly’s Ken Tucker, who gave the show a D rating. The show lasted one season.

Time on the air: Sept. 11, 1995-May 10, 1996

Number of seasons: 1

Number of episodes: 150

Magic Johnson (syndicated). Seven years after leaving basketball, former Los Angeles Lakers point guard Johnson entered the late-night arena with “The Magic Hour.” The charismatic basketball superstar brought admirable energy and enthusiasm to the gig, but the critical reception to the show was predominately negative. Critics also lambasted Johnson’s lack of chemistry with sidekick Craig Shoemaker.

Time on the air: June 8, 1998-Aug. 6, 1998

Number of seasons: 1

Number of episodes: 12

Mo’Nique (BET). With the comedian and newly minted Academy Award winner at the helm, “The Mo’Nique Show” aimed to merge the gap between “old-school” and contemporary entertainment culture. Mo’Nique used comical segments to pay tribute to classical stars as well as up-and-comping icons. The show’s format comprised celebrity interviews, monologues and musical performances. But despite her newfound standing in Hollywood in the wake of her success with the Lee Daniels drama “Precious,” the show lasted for just two seasons

Time on the air: Oct. 8, 2009-Jan. 28, 2012

Number of seasons: 2

Number of episodes: 309

Russell Brand (FX). After finding success in the U.S. with “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and later “Get Him to the Greek,” the English actor-comedian was tapped to host his own late-night series on FX in 2012. “Brand X with Russell Brand” displayed Brand’s raw take on current events, politics and pop culture, attempting to merge stand-up comedy with celebrity interviews. But while Brand was praised for being hyper-articulate via written interviews and radio, ultimately he was unable to bring all his talents together for a cohesive televised talk show. After two low-rated and poorly reviewed seasons, the series was pulled from FX.

Time on the air: June 28, 2012-May 2, 2013

Number of seasons: 2

Number of episodes: 28

Andy Cohen (Bravo). “Watch What Happens Live” centers on conversations between Cohen and his guests, who primarily hail from the pop culture and the celebrity sphere, most notably “Bravo-lebrities” like the “Real Housewives” and other “stars” of the network. He got his start behind the scenes. After years spent as a producer at CBS News and later as a programming executive at Bravo, Cohen was able to successfully move in front of the camera first as the host of various Bravo reunions, most famously the “Real Housewives,” and later “Watch What Happens Live.”

Time on the air: June 16, 2009-present

Number of seasons: 15 (to date)

Number of episodes: 856 (to date)