The current era is challenging for the late-night TV landscape, as shown by theshocking July 17 announcement that CBS’s “The Late Show featuring Stephen Colbert” will come to an endits 10-year tenure in May.
Falling profits and audience numbers, along with increasing expenses (and often regular criticisms of a delicate president),Made the late-night talk show host one of the nation’s riskier professions. Still, every week, Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers, Jon Stewart, and others take the stage to discuss global issues, interview celebrity guests, and bring humor to America. Here are the ones who continue to thrive in the late-night scene.
The Late Show featuring Stephen Colbert
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The Show:“The Late Show featuring Stephen Colbert” is recorded in front of a live audience at the Ed Sullivan Theater, a historic venue in New York City, and broadcasts on CBS for four nights each week.
The Run:Colbert, 61, assumed control of “The Late Show” in September 2015, succeeding David Letterman. Previously, he served as a correspondent on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” and expanded his conservative-blowhard character into a separate series, “The Colbert Report,” which ran from 2005 to 2014.
Fun Fact: CBS may have decided to end Colbert’s show and the “The Late Show” brand, but the comedian still has 10 months left to deliver some late-night humor. AndBy the looks of it, it’s already going to be chaotic.
Late Night with Seth Meyers
The Show:NBC’s “Late Night” is filmed in Studio 8G located at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York City, close to Meyers’ former Studio 8H space where he hosted “Weekend Update” on “Saturday Night Live.”
The Run: Meyers, 51, has served as the host of “Late Night” for over 11 years, assuming the role in February 2014 after Jimmy Fallon was moved to “The Tonight Show.”
Fun Fact: The “Late Night” in-house group, The 8G Band, was discontinued because of financial constraints at the conclusion of Season 11 in May 2024.
The Tonight Show Hosted by Jimmy Fallon
The Show:Former “SNL” cast member Fallon hosts “The Tonight Show” from Studio 6B at Rockefeller Center.
The Run:Fallon, 50, has been with “The Tonight Show” since February 2014. He is the sixth individual to host this well-known series and assumed the position following Jay Leno’s second period in the role.
Fun Fact:In 2024, Fallon became the final late-night host to reduce his schedule to four days as part of an additional budget-saving initiative.
‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’
The Show: ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” remains the final late-night program filmed in Los Angeles, recorded on Hollywood Boulevard within the structure previously called the Hollywood Masonic Temple.
The Run:Four-time Academy Awards emcee Kimmel, aged 57, has been the host of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” since January 2003. (Kimmel takes a break during the summer months, with substitute hosts covering until Labor Day.)
Fun Fact: Although the show is called “JKL,” it has not been broadcast live since its initial season.
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
The Show:“Last Week Tonight” is recorded at the CBS Broadcast Center in NNew York City and broadcasts on HBO Sundays (11 ET/PT).
The Run: A former “senior British correspondent” for Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show,” Oliver, 48, has been the host of the satirical program “Last Week Tonight” since April 2014.
Fun Fact:Oliver’s weekly HBO program received the top talk show Emmy for seven straight years beginning in 2017, leading to an award division into two categories—talk show and scripted variety series—to offer more conventional talk shows a chance to win.
‘The Daily Show’
The Show: Jon Stewart hosts “The Daily Show” on Monday for Comedy Central, joined by a rotating group of other hosts such as Ronny Chieng, Jordan Klepper, Michael Kosta, Desi Lydic andnew host Josh Johnson.
The Run:Stewart, 62, took over from Craig Kilborn, hosting “The Daily Show” since JanuaryFrom 1999 until August 2015, and later came back as the Monday host of “The Daily Show” in February 2024.
Fun Fact:Stewart’s comeback signified the first instance of a former long-term late-night host returning—not merely for a brief appearance, but as a regular, must-see weekly event.
‘Gutfeld!’
The Show:Greg Gutfeld’s show “Gutfeld!” is recorded five nights a week at the Fox News studio in New York City.
The Run: Originally called “The Greg Gutfeld Show,” it aired on Saturday nights. In April 2021, the Fox News Channel shifted the humorous take on current events to weeknights and rebranded it as “Gutfeld!”
Fun Fact: The top-rated late-night program, drawing an average of 3.1 million viewers, has a significant supporter – President Trump,who was featured on “Gutfeld!” in September 2024, drawing the program’s highest viewership of 4.9 million people.
This piece first was published on USA TODAY:Following Stephen Colbert’s dismissal, these individuals stand out in late-night television.
