Seth Meyers’ prime-time special will draw on his standout feature, ‘A Closer Look’

As a seasoned movie critic who’s seen the evolution of late-night television from the black and white era to the digital age, I must say that the current political climate has given birth to a new breed of talk show hosts – warriors armed with wit and wisdom. The upcoming debate between Harris and Trump is not just a battle for the White House, but a spectacle eagerly awaited by these modern-day satirists.

Tonight, should you be reading this on a Tuesday, there’s a scheduled debate featuring presidential contenders Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. (In case you read this later, kindly adjust the verbs to the past tense.)

In challenging periods, comedy—its insightful counterpart—will tag along. Jon Stewart, who typically hosts “The Daily Show” on Monday evenings, will shift to Tuesdays for a live post-debate edition, symbolizing not just the debate’s significance but also his own increased relevance. Meanwhile, Seth Meyers, whose “Late Night” is widely recognized as the most politically-centered late-night show following “The Daily Show,” will adjust his schedule on Wednesdays, airing a special edition of “A Closer Look Primetime” at 10 p.m. on NBC and making it available for streaming the next day on Peacock.

Late-night television, primarily found on traditional TV channels, is where the medium exhibits its greatest freedom, and as the hours get later, it becomes increasingly unbounded. The time slot after midnight, where Jimmy Fallon’s “Tonight Show” is followed by that of Seth Meyers, was once a breeding ground for shows like Craig Ferguson’s improvisational talk show, Conan O’Brien’s unique brand of quirkiness (which succeeded David Letterman’s), and Tom Snyder’s late-night court where he interviewed diverse guests ranging from Marlon Brando to Charles Manson, Patti Smith to James Baldwin.

Back then, you had to stay up late when there wasn’t much internet to change TV schedules. These shows felt like secret gatherings in a clubhouse because not many people watched them at that time. They had a unique, niche quality, and their audience felt special for being part of something off the beaten path. In essence, they were like the underground punk clubs of television.

Late-night talk shows often touch on political issues by commenting on current events in their monologues. A recent Rolling Stone article suggests that Trump has expressed a desire to retaliate against late-night comedians for what he perceives as “illegal” campaign contributions, made through jokes and satire, in support of the Democratic Party. Colbert, who was broadcasting from Chicago during the Democratic National Convention and essentially provided an after-show celebration, joked about being on Trump’s enemies list, saying, “There’s no guarantee I’ll be arrested, but it’s an honor just to be nominated.

Trump isn’t entirely off-base when he claims that he’s a frequent subject of late-night jokes, but there are valid explanations behind this phenomenon. He’s an individual known for his excessive lying, bizarre conspiracy theories, and self-incrimination on a regular basis. Moreover, ever since he lost the last election, he has been actively trying to regain the presidency, often finding himself in court during that period. Given all these factors, it’s no surprise that he stands out as an easy target, difficult to ignore, and not least of all, simple to imitate.

Among all late-night TV hosts, Seth Meyers, who stepped into “Late Night” when Fallon moved to “Tonight Show” a decade ago, has become my preferred choice, as he delivers exactly what I’m looking for. During the pandemic lockdown, broadcasting from his Connecticut vacation home’s attic with a copy of “The Thorn Birds” on the side and a sea captain painting for company, along with his kids running around, perfectly encapsulated his laid-back vibe. It was only fitting that he chose to leave his suit and tie at home when he returned to the studio – he’s the only talk show host still working in the informal 12:35 AM time slot. (CBS’ “After Midnight,” featuring Taylor Tomlinson, is a game show, not a talk show.)

If you’ve been a fan of “Late Night” for some period, you’d have encountered his family members, one memorable instance being the booze-filled “Day Drinking” episode where his mother outdrank him. Despite his long history as host and head writer of “Weekend Update” on “Saturday Night Live”, he still seems to have found himself in a role that surprisingly fits him perfectly. With Meyers acknowledging the writers, interacting with cue card guy Wally Feresten, transforming interviews into dialogues, and frequently reacting with disbelieving laughter at his own jokes or performance, “Late Night” carries an informal, close-knit atmosphere, as if it’s a real-time event produced by people. Similar to Ferguson’s departed “Late Late Show”, it has an aura of being spontaneous and personal.

The highlight of “Late Night” featured on Wednesday’s special is called “A Closer Look,” a detailed, fact-filled commentary on current news events presented by Meyers at lightning speed. It shares similarities with Stewart’s “The Daily Show” and John Oliver’s “Last Week Tonight,” as it mixes laughter, shock, anger, and disgust with humor. Meyers aims to make you laugh, but he also wants everyone to become aware. NBC believes that a substantial number of the large debate audience might be searching for a place to go after the debate, seeking context, comfort, entertainment, and straightforwardness.

As a keen observer of cinematic humor, I find that the writers who weave truth within jest and jest within truth serve as far more accurate mirrors of society than the predictable pundits gracing our Sunday morning talk shows or cable news channels. They are quick to remind you, they’re not journalists in the traditional sense.

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2024-09-10 22:01