Whether you’re a late night junkie or new to the world of middle aged men who try to make us laugh from behind a fake desk, you may need help choosing your shows with such a busy schedule. That’s where I come in. I’ve taken painstaking measures (actually I just watched episodes of the major late night shows for the past week) to review each show and let you know which ones you should stay up late for – and which ones aren’t worth the sleep deprivation.
The Late Show with David Lettermen:
There was just one word that kept popping up in my mind as I watched Letterman – old. The host , the references and the format are old, even the main guest that night (Regis Philbin) is ancient. In a rare playful moment, Letterman even referred to the show as “the geezer hour.” The energy was dead. Letterman has obviously done this rodeo about 3000 times and it shows. It’s like he doesn’t even care anymore. My advice? Skip this show, nothing classic is happening here anymore. And let’s hope for Letterman’s much deserved retirement!
Jimmy Kimmel Live:
Jimmy Kimmel may be the fastest growing face in late night. And though he may not be the biggest personality, his show has enough interesting elements to make up for it. Kimmel integrates his personal life (tickets to The Killers, his aunt’s rant about a new fashion trend in Japan) into almost every episode. And maybe most importantly, Kimmel is hip enough for a young audience. His guest that night, Selena Gomez, and his show’s tendency to feature and instigate viral videos is a testament to how in touch this show really is. Definitely watch, especially for the special cutaway segments.
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon:
In my opinion, Jimmy Fallon is the cream of the crop in late night, maybe partly influenced by the fact that he’s the youngest guy in the rotation. His show is without a doubt the most creative and energetic late night show on the air – which really says something considering the genre’s formulaic tendencies. Fallon is a joy to watch and a totally manic social butterfly. His strength is not with his monologue, but when he’s interacting with other people (his live band The Roots, his sidekick Steve Higgins, random audience members, etc), and doing over the top impressions. Sometimes all the back and forth with Higgins can be excessive and leave you feeling like you stepped in on someone’s inside joke but nevertheless, this show is must see.
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno:
I was expecting some magic when I tuned into Leno, considering all the trouble NBC went through to keep him on the air. What I found was the TV equivalent of comfort food: nothing too edgy or particularly interesting, a polished product that is just safe enough to reach for every demographic. Leno is amiable enough, though his attempts to be hip are pretty obvious. Despite his advanced age he seems to have a little more juice in him left than Letterman. So overall it’s not exactly a revolutionary hour of television, but it’s available for a few chuckles.
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson:
It’s very difficult to describe the… experience of watching Craig Ferguson’s late show. Quirky and experimental, the show features such off-kilter components as a remote controlled “gay robot skeleton” as Ferguson’s sidekick, and a dancing horse for reasons unknown. Ferguson is an untraditional host as well. Once you get past what might be a distracting accent, you find an energetic, fun and self-conscious performer who puts very little emphasis on jokes and gives more clout to an unrehearsed, improvised vibe. Overall this show might not be for everyone – especially if you’re used to laughing at specific jokes instead of a generally funny environment. If you like your TV a little more laid back though I’d give it a try.
Chelsea Lately:
Finally, some estrogen in the mix! In a possibly symbolic move, Chelsea Handler’s show is only a half an hour – half as long as all the men’s shows. Handler’s show runs on a cable channel so she takes advantage of that freedom and allows her raunchy, no-holds-barred comedy shine through. Her show is mostly collaborative, as the majority of it is spend discussing celebrity and general news with a panel of comedians. No offense to the fine comedians, but their main job is to showcase what a dry wit and charm Handler possesses. The blunt humor may not be for everyone, but if you’re ready for a host that’s a little less polished and has a female perspective, Handler is running a fun show that you’re missing out on.
Conan:
No, I didn’t forget about Team Coco! Although relegated to an obscure spot on TBS, Conan does not use this as an excuse to lower the quality of his show. Undoubtedly the performer with the most emphasis on jokes, biting humor and sarcasm are the main characteristics of this snappy, energetic show. No wonder NBC was scared when he replaced Leno; Conan’s brand of humor is observational, envelope pushing and take-no-prisoners. A lot of great jokes and skits come from banter with sidekick Andy Richter, so much so that one wonders if the show would really be at the same quality without him. Let’s get this guy a show! Overall Conan has something really smart and special here, I highly recommend you add it to your late night rotation.