Trump's Gone. How's Late Night Doing?

 

I don’t normally update these kinds of pieces, but I really thought it was worth doing so a few months into this new administration.

As we edge our way out of the current crisis, I’ve been watching some of the late-night talk shows to see how they would deal with a post-Trump world. And to their credit, many of them are adapting quite well and handling this world with a kind of grace and humor.

Desus and Mero may be the new gold standard for how late night TV can be done and should be done. Still meeting virtually, still making politics a lesser, subtler part of their work (they end every broadcast shouting out ‘Black Lives Matter’ and still pay attention to Breanna Taylor) they continue to bring new levels to their world of entertainment. Late last year, they probably realized their ambition of interviewing Barack Obama about policy matters and basketball. They still handle viral clips with incredible alacrity, and though they haven’t gotten back together, they have done impressive sketches, including a Kyrie Irving press conference, where Mero played Irving and Desus, well, played all the journalists.  If they don’t at least get nominated by the Emmys this year, there’s something seriously wrong. (Though admittedly it would be fun to hear them complain about good naturedly)

Seth Meyers is now having his show in a mostly deserted studio, but he continues to deliver great bits on ‘A Closer Look’. He’s still taking shows at the Republicans, but he’s also branching out into being bipartisan with his attacks. Just last night, he went after Andrew Cuomo, being fair to why the world gravitated towards him and equally reasonable as to why Cuomo has been well, a douche. You’d think that with Trump gone from the scene he’d have less fun, but he’s been doing a good job, even though it’s pretty clear there is a bias towards the new administration. He also has a fair chance of going into new territory – he gave a balanced look as to the whole Dr. Seuss ‘controversy’, explained why Dr. Seuss actually had a fuller picture of life then we give him credit for, and then threw in a realistic joke about a real problematic children’s figure – Babar. I had forgotten that Babar marrying his cousin.  I was pleased that he duplicated his win at the Broadcast Critics this year; can an Emmy nomination finally be in the cards?

John Oliver continues to be one of the most entertaining forces in late night. He didn’t expect things to miraculously improve when the Biden administration took office, and has been doing a good job keeping them honest as his work continues. He also continues to focus on subjects that most late night shows – and frankly, most journalism would ignore. He continues to argue for police reform and preparation for the next pandemic and he looked at the flaws of our unemployment system. All in ways you wouldn’t have thought he could – I never thought anybody would find a positive use for Cop Rock (a show which was the gold standard for camp). And he pushes his own way for trying to find solutions, even knowing how hard they will be to obtain. You can understand why he’s won Emmys four consecutive seasons. (Though maybe it’s time for a change.)

There’s only one comedian who I’ve seen who hasn’t changed anything in the last few months. Bill Maher. You’d think after four years of utter chaos, he’d at least be a little happier about things now, especially considering he was one of the earliest comedians to come out for Biden. Nope. If anything, he’s become more unpleasant, which I didn’t think was possible. I’m seriously beginning to wonder just how long even his base will remain devoted to him. Two weeks, he interviewed Megyn Kelly favorably for pulling her kids out of school, rather than deal with political correctness. If he seems aware that he just took on the epitome of white privilege, I think it’s lost on him. And his bits have been increasingly humorless and unenjoyable. Just this week, he ended his New Rules segment in what was a rave as to how well China was doing as a constructive state (something John Oliver pointed out two years ago, while adding that China was ruled by essentially a thug and a dictator) and then complaining that America was a failed state. No solutions, no apologies, and I counted just four real laughs. I can now understand why Maher has so many guests from Fox News; he may disagree entirely with their politics, but their format – where you can just complain about how miserable the country is and offer nothing in return – is essentially what his show has become. The only difference is, he has people who come in to laugh at his jokes.  Frankly Bill, I wish that HBO had stuck with Wyatt Cenac over you. At least, he showed answers to his problems.