Missing Late Night Shows?

[yourlibrarian]

It's surprising that it hasn't been that long since late night shows have been off the air, but it's been long enough that I've frequently forgotten about them. We have always watched them during meal times (as we never watch anything live). So instead we have been going through various other shows during those times (the latest has been the Marie Antoinette series aired on PBS).

It was 3 months yesterday that the WGA struck, and some of this time would have been a hiatus for these shows anyway. John Oliver in particular usually had several months off at a time and sadly Samantha Bee got cancelled before the strike even happened. James Corden's show has ended, to be replaced by something different. But generally it wasn't more than a few weeks to a month that these shows would be on break. So this is a really long time for them to be unavailable.

It makes me wonder if when they return if their audience will return in the same numbers. I think the pandemic made obvious that when normal habits grind to a halt due to some change, they don't necessarily get picked up again or in the same way. I seem to remember reading that this has been true for the long gaps for streaming shows as well, in that there is often a drop off between a first and second season, in part because people just forget about them. (I can't say for sure since streaming services don't generally release viewing numbers, but I gather it's factors into why so many shows only run a few seasons).

I'm particularly wondering what will happen with The Daily Show, which was in the midst of guest host weeks and so has no set host or format to come back to.

Anyone else miss these talk or variety shows?

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Comments

[starwatcher]

I'm catching reruns of folks (Seth Meyers, Jimmy Fallon) I didn't follow before. The monologues are a bit dated (but still scarily relevant, dammit! Why can't we get rid of the orange blob? [/rhetorical]), but the interviews are new to me. OTHO, I'd forget, too, if my DVR didn't automatically catch them for me, and I can see them in my lineup.

Yeah, I expect things won't be the same... but something has to fill those hours. Perhaps the shows will continue, even with lower numbers, until viewing habits adjust again.

I actually liked the "weekly guest host" format of The Daily Show, with a format similar to what Trevor Noah established; it would be fun to see it continue that way, as a base for some established hosts and a "try your wings" for new hosts.

Perhaps more noticeable to the viewers will be the conspicuous lack of new shows and new episodes of established shows from the middle of September to the middle of October. Even if the strikes were resolved tomorrow, it's far too late to get Fall shows ready that quickly.

Of course, all of this is moot until the fat cats release their clutches of the almighty dollar and agree to give actors/writers/crews in the TV and Film industry a viable contract that assures a truly livable wage.

[yourlibrarian]

Your mention of reruns reminded me that there's channels showing old Tonight Show episodes. One could see why Carson was popular but the interviews were just death. I remember one I saw had him interviewing Jimmy Stewart. Even in the year it was done it was well past Stewart's time, and he had nothing to promote. Yet he was given a lot of deference given his status as a film star. But he wasn't that talkative and had nothing interesting to say.

I know that a lot depended on the guest and it wasn't always the case that the interviews were dull, but some of it came down to pacing which was a lot slower in those days.

I liked the weekly host concept for Daily Show as well, though it was somewhat up and down. Some people were great whereas others weren't such a good fit. Given how things stand I suspect that when they come back they're going to try to get someone experienced and a "get" in order to bring the show back on people's radar. They're in a tricky spot since the other shows, people will know what they were missing.

Yes, things look grim for the strikers. I really hope they're able to secure some gains.