Late-night TV is dead; Here's who can revive it
American audiences are ready to trade nightly dogma for a fresh, fun Friday-night talk show
Zombies are real — they’re prowling the late-night network TV talk shows.
Hosts once included Johnny Carson, David Letterman, Arsenio Hall, Jay Leno, and Conan O’Brien.
Today’s offerings shamble along, mimicking their predecessors without wit or innovation.
Like the daily corporate newspaper and public trust in politicians, late-night TV is dead — and has been since Letterman, the last of the old guard, retired in 2015.
COLBERT’S MONOLOGUE MONOTONY
Stephen Colbert inherited Letterman’s CBS slot and showed early promise with ceiling-cartoon sermons and skits.
Then he decided it was his job to defeat Donald Trump. Carson maintained a three-joke rule to keep topics fresh; Colbert’s relentless monologues on Trump and Republicans feel like overkill.
By 10:30 p.m., viewers want relief, not partisan dogma. Colbert isn’t a commentator; he’s a comedian whose job is to be funny or, at least, interesting. He’s neither.
Instead, he’s another rich, white liberal lecturing an exhausted audience about how terrible they are. His few bright spots — mocking Kum & Go’s name change or adding farts to Gary Oldman clips — are too rare to revive the show.
KIMMEL AND FALLON FALTER
Over on ABC, Jimmy Kimmel longs for Letterman’s zany mantle but must peddle Disney movies in mass cast interviews that feel like cliques bragging on their coolness.
His on-air tears over Trump policies may be heartfelt, but viewers tune in for escape, not another sermon.
Jimmy Fallon, perpetually giggling and overshadowing guests on NBC’s “Tonight Show,” peaked playing board games and tossing water on “Late Night.”
He refuses to step aside even when musical legends like Neil Young appear. Nobody watches Fallon to see Fallon.
MEYERS AND CORDEN’S DOWNFALL
Seth Meyers fares worse. His show is little more than Trump tirades and “SNL” reminiscences from ex-castmates. His news barrage belongs on cable snark shows, not network TV.
Craig Ferguson proved there was life after Letterman. With a talking robot skeleton, snake-cup, and genuine flirtation, he coined “It’s a great day in America!” until CBS replaced him with insufferable James Corden and his attention-seeking “Carpool Karaoke.”
TOMLINSON’S BRIEF SPARK
Taylor Tomlinson’s brief “After Midnight” offered fresh, game-show formats and comedian guests rarely seen on TV. But network pressure forced it back into the tired monologue-plus-couch formula. Tomlinson returned to stand-up, where she thrives.
BRITISH INVASION NEEDED
American late-night needs a British invasion — specifically “The Graham Norton Show,” which is ironically hosted by an Irishman.
On BBC America, Norton corrals all his guests at once, creating a relaxed dinner-party vibe. They sip drinks, riff off one another like Carson’s guests did on the couch.
They reveal anecdotes Norton teases out with his staff’s masterful research. When Charlize Theron brays like a goat and Tom Cruise imitates Donald Duck — on the same show — it’s organic and hilarious.
Norton also hosts the weekly U.K. “Wheel of Fortune,” which only underscores our loss since Ryan Seacrest replaced Pat Sajak.
Norton has an advantage over his U.S. cohorts — his show is once a week on Friday nights. That’s a trade I would make: one night of must-see TV for five nights of the American ignorables.
Daniel P. Finney is a member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative, but don’t hold that against them. Please visit their page to view a full roster of writers and consider subscribing to their columns. Writing is hard work; people ought to get paid for it. If you enjoy it, throw them a couple of bucks. They earned it.
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Ever watch Bill Maher? Seems we do, not sure why but... It is like he has his interviews with people who definitely are interesting, he then gets upset if they disagree, always something about the president in a not nice way.
I miss Sonny and Cher who sang, or the carol burnet show and other entertainment. I don't need another dose of talk show hosts acting the part, and I definitely do not want to see Fallon act like he is high or low on something. Talk about an ego trip
Graham Norton is a hoot!