Just this week, CBS announced that Stephen Colbert will replace David Letterman on “The Late Show,” marking the third major late-night talk show host transition this year. First, Jimmy Fallon replaced Jay Leno on “The Tonight Show.” Then, everyone’s favorite news anchor on SNL, Seth Meyers, replaced Jimmy Fallon on “The Late Night Show.” To anyone that doesn’t know about late-night talk shows, this might all seem a bit confusing. But it’s about to be summer, which means no homework and no more excuses to avoid late-night TV. To reduce the intimidation factor, I’m here to guide you through the ins and outs of these late-night shows, as well as what you can expect from Stephen Colbert in his new gig. Enjoy!
The Tonight Show, 11:35/10:35c on NBC
This is probably the most-watched late-night talk show, especially now that Jimmy Fallon is in charge. It was getting a little stale under Leno, but Fallon has brought youth and his trademark humor to the show, making it the absolute must-watch (or must-record) of late-night television. He tends to attract the biggest guests, and he also has a killer band, The Roots. You can expect to see a lot of his show on YouTube, as his segments are often funny enough to go viral online. Some of my favorite moments of the show thus far have involved Will Smith in “The Evolution of Hip-Hop Dancing” and Billy Joel in the 2-man Doo-Wop version of “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.” Make sure to check out those links, and if you like what you see, plan to start watching “The Tonight Show” at home this summer!
The Late Night Show, 12:35/11:35c on NBC
Seth Meyers was my favorite person on SNL, so when he made the jump to talk shows, I was beyond excited. While his talk show comes on later than Fallon’s, perhaps too late for us morning people, I always try to record his show for a dose of sarcasm and wit the next morning. I love the way he does his monologues, and his band, featuring SNL pal Fred Armisen, is also top-notch. Basically, if you liked Seth Meyers on Weekend Update, then you’ll love him on his talk show, as they’re both pretty similar.
Jimmy Kimmel Live, 11:35/10:35c on ABC
Honestly, with Jimmy Fallon kicking a$$ ratings-wise, I wouldn’t recommend tuning into Kimmel’s show. He’s funny, sure, but he’s no Jimmy Fallon. However, Kimmel does attract some popular guests, leading to some must-see interviews that you can check out via YouTube. I loved Mindy Kaling’s interview on Kimmel, which you can watch here. But it’s obvious that once Fallon gains some experience as a late-night host and starts getting more famous guests, Kimmel will really have to watch out.
The Late Show, 11:35/10:35c on CBS
Unfortunately, Letterman will not be retiring until “sometime in 2015,” so I wouldn’t recommend watching this show quite yet. Letterman is honestly pretty old and boring, and I think it’s fabulous that Stephen Colbert will be replacing him soon. Colbert says that he won’t be bringing his character from his Comedy Central hit to his new gig, so I’m really interested to see what he’ll be like on his own talk show. I think this was a great casting choice by the people of CBS, and I can’t wait to start watching him on late-night TV! In the meantime, you can always tune in to The Colbert Report on Comedy Central for a dose of laughs and hardcore conservatism.
There are some other late-night shows, including the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and Conan, but they really pale in comparison to the ones previously listed. I honestly recommend The Tonight Show and The Late Night Show over all other competition, especially since we’re college kids and probably not interested in the older dudes still trying to make it work. That said, keep your eyes peeled for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in 2015! And if you’re into morning TV at all, make sure to watch Kelly & Michael- they’re the best.