In an epic late night match-up, post-prime time hosts are facing off in a battle for the ages.  It’s a contest of wills that dares a meeting of cable and network TV that could rock more than one snarky show.

Well, perhaps it isn’t as big as all that - but it is mildly entertaining and it’s giving Comedy Central a little much-needed fodder in this strange world without TV writers. Like as not, even the best late night programs have been faltering. Jon Stewart is opening every episode by flicking paper footballs randomly toward his audience, and on Tuesday’s episode Stephen Colbert played with clam shells instead of monologuing. Thankfully, Colbert recently picked a fight with fellow host Conan O’Brien to keep us all amused.

Here’s the breakdown: Colbert invited Presidential contender Mike Huckabee onto The Colbert Report, thus granting him the highly coveted “Colbert bump.” Naturally, Huckabee’s popularity increased - and even he attributed this climb to Colbert. So, when Conan O’Brien claimed to be the real puppet master behind Huckabee’s success, Colbert was affronted.

Thus began the battle royale. Colbert called O’Brien out on national TV, O’Brien responded by saying he personally made Stephen Colbert the man he is today - and by extension, Mike Huckabee. Colbert was ready to admit defeat when Jon Stewart arrived on his show with video evidence that in fact Jon Stewart made Conan O’Brien the man he is today. Ergo, Jon Stewart made Mike Huckabee. Stewart extended an invitation to O’Brien so that the hosts may continue to “waste time on all three of our shows.” Yes, please. Anything to keep you from flicking paper footballs on screen.