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I was watching a clip on YouTube last night from one of the Late Night Shows and it wasn't funny in the least. They have turned into political platforms. If I want politics, I'll watch the news. These are just lame shows with idiotic gags, that aren't original or with any semblance of humor. In the days of Carson, Paar, Cavett, Griffin, Letterman, Leno, you tuned in to watch the celebs promoting their latest gig. Now the monologues are lame and the ratings have tanked. You have literally 1000+ options and these are less appealing by the day.
I was watching a clip on YouTube last night from one of the Late Night Shows and it wasn't funny in the least. They have turned into political platforms. If I want politics, I'll watch the news. These are just lame shows with idiotic gags, that aren't original or with any semblance of humor. In the days of Carson, Paar, Cavett, Griffin, Letterman, Leno, you tuned in to watch the celebs promoting their latest gig. Now the monologues are lame and the ratings have tanked. You have literally 1000+ options and these are less appealing by the day.
I think your conclusions are all wrong.
First of all, it doesn't matter what time of day it is. When I was growing up there were 3 choices -- NBC, ABC, and CBS. I now have several hundred choices.
I was watching a clip on YouTube last night from one of the Late Night Shows and it wasn't funny in the least. They have turned into political platforms. If I want politics, I'll watch the news. These are just lame shows with idiotic gags, that aren't original or with any semblance of humor. In the days of Carson, Paar, Cavett, Griffin, Letterman, Leno, you tuned in to watch the celebs promoting their latest gig. Now the monologues are lame and the ratings have tanked. You have literally 1000+ options and these are less appealing by the day.
At it's peak, the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson averaged 9 million viewers a night. During his final year in 1992, he averaged 6.5 million. Leno averaged 3.8 million during his run. Fallon gets 1.3 million. More competition carved up the late night pie - Letterman drew fewer than Leno and Colbert draws about the same as Fallon.
Late Night shows simply aren't a needed platform for promoting a project in today's world. One curated social media post will generate better viewership than a 20 minute interview on a late night show.
I was watching a clip on YouTube last night from one of the Late Night Shows and it wasn't funny in the least. They have turned into political platforms. If I want politics, I'll watch the news. These are just lame shows with idiotic gags, that aren't original or with any semblance of humor. In the days of Carson, Paar, Cavett, Griffin, Letterman, Leno, you tuned in to watch the celebs promoting their latest gig. Now the monologues are lame and the ratings have tanked. You have literally 1000+ options and these are less appealing by the day.
I watched Carson all the time and loved to tune in and see Joan Rivers or George Carlin guest hosting. I also enjoyed SNL in the early days. Sadly many of the guests on Carson that would bring comedy are long passed away, Rivers, Carlin, Rickles, Delouise ,Brenner etc and current comedians don't hold a candle to those legends.
I have not watched late night TV regularly since the late 90s. Really, what soured me on late night tv was when Carson retired. He was by far the best and it has not been the same since. I watched Letterman on CBS and then Tom Snyder for a few years afterwards, but I soon became bored with the whole thing.
I have not watched late night TV regularly since the late 90s. Really, what soured me on late night tv was when Carson retired. He was by far the best and it has not been the same since. I watched Letterman on CBS and then Tom Snyder for a few years afterwards, but I soon became bored with the whole thing.
I might have written this post. Carson was the king, of course; but after he retired, Letterman on CBS became my go-to.
Neither was terribly political in their monologues, and what there was, was more funny to everybody of all political leanings, than anything else. Of course, such comments were buried in a pile of other jokes and humorous commentary about current events that had nothing to do with politics. ("So the Canadians got six Americans out of Iran. I understand the six Americans went through intensive lessons on how to say 'eh' correctly. And I see where there was an anti-nuclear march in Central Park. Wonder how many protesters had glow-in-the-dark watch dials thanks to radium?")
And of course, there were the skits and sketches--the Mighty Carson Art Players, and Letterman's visits with Rupert Gee of "Hello Deli." And so on.
Celebrities plugging their latest movies, books, albums (musical artists might do a song from their recent album before talking with Johnny/Dave), standup comedians, and so on. Carson was especially good at locating people who had, or could do, weird things--the woman who collected potato chips, each of which bore a resemblance to a famous person, for example.
That was late-night TV, back in the day. Light entertainment for everybody, with which they can close their day. Nothing requiring heavy thought or the taking of a side. Just a fun way to end your day.
I miss those days. I don't like today's (tonight's?) late night shows. If I'm up late at night, it's either TCM or a DVD.
I might have written this post. Carson was the king, of course; but after he retired, Letterman on CBS became my go-to.
Neither was terribly political in their monologues, and what there was, was more funny to everybody of all political leanings, than anything else. Of course, such comments were buried in a pile of other jokes and humorous commentary about current events that had nothing to do with politics. ("So the Canadians got six Americans out of Iran. I understand the six Americans went through intensive lessons on how to say 'eh' correctly. And I see where there was an anti-nuclear march in Central Park. Wonder how many protesters had glow-in-the-dark watch dials thanks to radium?")
And of course, there were the skits and sketches--the Mighty Carson Art Players, and Letterman's visits with Rupert Gee of "Hello Deli." And so on.
Celebrities plugging their latest movies, books, albums (musical artists might do a song from their recent album before talking with Johnny/Dave), standup comedians, and so on. Carson was especially good at locating people who had, or could do, weird things--the woman who collected potato chips, each of which bore a resemblance to a famous person, for example.
That was late-night TV, back in the day. Light entertainment for everybody, with which they can close their day. Nothing requiring heavy thought or the taking of a side. Just a fun way to end your day.
I miss those days. I don't like today's (tonight's?) late night shows. If I'm up late at night, it's either TCM or a DVD.
As I noted, competition for eyeballs moved. Late night shows adapted to the what the eyeballs wanted to see. As my Dad used to say "Things change, figure out how to change too."
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