Late Night with Seth Meyers
| Late Night with Seth Meyers | |
|---|---|
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| Also known as | Late Night (franchise brand) |
| Created by | David Letterman |
| Directed by | Alex Vietmeier |
| Presented by | Seth Meyers |
| Starring | The 8G Band with Fred Armisen (house band) |
| Narrated by | Ron McClary |
| Opening theme | Late Night with Seth Meyers theme |
| Composer(s) | Fred Armisen |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 327 (as of February 15, 2015) (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Lorne Michaels |
| Producer(s) |
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| Location(s) |
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| Running time | 62 minutes (with commercials) |
| Production company(s) |
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| Release | |
| Original network | NBC |
| Picture format | HDTV 1080i |
| Original release | February 24, 2014 – present |
| Chronology | |
| Preceded by | |
| External links | |
| Website | |
Late Night with Seth Meyers is an American late-night talk show hosted by Seth Meyers on NBC. The show premiered on February 24, 2014 and is produced by Broadway Video and Universal Television. It is the fourth incarnation of NBC's long-running Late Night franchise. The show also stars bandleader Fred Armisen and the 8-G Band, the show's house band. Late Night is produced by former Saturday Night Live producer Mike Shoemaker and executive-produced by Lorne Michaels. The show records from Studio 8G at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York City.
The program airs Monday through Thursday nights at 12:37 a.m. ET/PT. The show opens with Meyers' topical monologue, which he delivers from his desk. The program also contains comedy bits, sketches, interviews with a myriad of guests, and occasionally a musical or comedy performance. The show attracts an average of 1.5 million viewers nightly.
Format
The show opens with Ron McClary proclaiming "From 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York, it's Late Night with Seth Meyers!" and announcing that night’s guests and The 8G Band with Fred Armisen, or guest musicians, including Jeremy Gara, Jon Theodore, Chad Smith, etc. Ron introduces Seth with "Ladies and gentlemen, Seth Meyers." Previously, the introduction to Seth was "And now here he is, Seth Meyers!". Meyers performs a monologue from his desk based around recent news, punctuating jokes with on-screen images and video.[1] For the first year and a half of the program, Meyers performed a traditional stand-up monologue, before changing to a format he felt more comfortable in. His opening monologue has been described as reminiscent of his tenure hosting the Weekend Update segment of Saturday Night Live.[2] The show's guests often include celebrities and actors, literary figures, people in fashion, artists, athletes, and politicians.[3]
The show has gradually increased its focus on politics.[4] After Jon Stewart left The Daily Show in 2015, both The Atlantic[5] and Vanity Fair[6] have noted that Meyers' program has been slowly moving towards the "longer-form political comedy" style The Daily Show is known for. In an interview with Chris Hayes, Meyers acknowledged this change, saying that the show was always intended to be politically minded, but when the show started, the creators opted to only gradually work the political material into the content to measure the amount of workload following the 24-hour news cycle would cause.[7]
History
The series is the fourth incarnation of the Late Night franchise, originated by David Letterman. Meyers was appointed host when Jimmy Fallon was announced to become the next host of The Tonight Show (currently The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon), where he succeeded the previous host Jay Leno on February 17, 2014. Meyers' first guests were fellow SNL alum and Weekend Update co-anchor Amy Poehler, Vice President Joe Biden, and musical act A Great Big World.[8][9][10] The show's house band, The 8G Band, features members of the indie bands Les Savy Fav and Girls Against Boys,[11] and is typically led by SNL alum Fred Armisen. Every episode features a coffee mug on Meyers' desk from a different NBC affiliate.
On September 2, 2014, the show premiered an overhauled set.[12]
Format
While Meyers delivered a traditional stand-up monologue for more than a year after starting the show, he has since switched to a seated, Weekend Update style monologue.[13] The monologue is normally followed by a long-form desk piece, or an interaction with bandleader Fred Armisen. The desk piece then leads to a commercial break.
After the first commercial, one of various recurring segments appears, followed by the first guest. The first guest may return after the second commercial break, or be followed by the second guest.
The third commercial break is normally followed by either a musical guest or a segment featuring that night's regular guests. Alternatively, a third guest may be featured.
On some occasions, Meyers does not follow this pattern at all; rather, he will perform a monologue followed by a long series of interviews without other segments. This first occurred following the series finale of Parks and Recreation, a long-running NBC sitcom starring Meyers' former co-anchor and close friend Amy Poehler.[14] This occurred again with the cast of the then-upcoming film Sisters (which coincidentally also starred Poehler), although the episode featured a short desk segment between the monologue and interviews.[15]
Recurring segments
- A Closer Look: In a desk piece that normally follows the monologue, Meyers explains and ridicules a difficult or misunderstood political issue.[16]
- A Couple Things: Meyers gives a few quick comments in response to, and pointing out the inaccuracies of, a news story.
- Actathalon: One of the night's guests, normally an established or applauded actor, participates in a series of challenges based on stereotypical movie tropes. Challenges in the ten event series including "looking in the mirror and wondering who you've become", "quitting a job angrily", "hanging up the phone then swiping everything off a desk", and "doing an interview for a movie that you know is horrible".[17]
- Day Drinking: Meyers takes the members of his family around New York City for drinks in the morning, seeing who has the best tolerance. In each segment, everyone in the family always agrees that Seth's mother is the best drinker among them.[18]
- Deep Google: Meyers reads progressively deeper into the last pages of a Google search with "millions of results"[19]
- Fake Or Florida: a game show parody where contestants have to guess whether or not a bizarre crime or incident set in Florida was real. Any contestant from Florida proper is blindfolded in order to level the playing field. Score is kept with manatee cutouts on dowels stuck into a holder.[20]
- Fred Talks: Bandleader Fred Armisen improvises an answer to a question from Meyers. Meyers will normally claim that he heard Armisen was involved in a new project (opening a store, working with a charity, etc.) and ask if what he heard was true. Armisen always says that it is true, but then elaborately twists the story into being about a service that no one needs.[21] When Armisen is absent due to his other projects, Meyers will instead mail him a FedEx package with a costume inside, from which Fred creates a character. In these cases, the segment is called FredEx. Additionally, whenever an SNL alumni is on the show, they will pretend to not remember, or have had a negative relationship with, Fred.[21]
- Really?!: Amy Poehler returns to reprise her role alongside Meyers in their Weekend Update segment. The two lambast a current topic by angrily and varyingly exclaiming "really".[22]
- Second Chance Theatre: Meyers gives a fellow former Saturday Night Live cast member a chance to stage a sketch they wrote that never made it on the show. Will Forte and Jason Sudeikis have both participated so far.
- Seth Explains Teen Slang: Meyers takes current pop culture topics and changes them into words that he claims teenagers are using to describe things, followed by an example sentence.[23]
- At This Point In The Broadcast: Meyers shares an unpopular opinion while a "network apology" scrolls on the screen (which the announcer reads, claiming that the segment of the show could not be removed for technical reasons). Meyers rants against mundane topics such as trees or Netflix.[24]
- This Week in Numbers: Meyers uses data, both real and fictional, to set up jokes on pop culture and the news.
- Venn Diagrams: Meyers looks at two different categories, using the spot where they overlap to tell a joke about pop culture and the news.
- Ya Burnt: Smoke in the studio means it's time for a roast. Meyers tells jokes about six to ten topics, ending each joke with the signature line "ya burnt". Since the second installment, most weeks also feature an "unburnable" topic, which Meyers praises rather than roasts.[25]
Production
Late Night with Seth Meyers originates from NBC Studio 8-G in the GE Building at 30 Rockefeller Center in New York City. The studio is housed directly above Studio 6B, the home of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon; the combination created logistical challenges for executives, who were concerned about "sound bleed" (as the GE Building was built with steel girders, sound is too easily conducted floor to floor). As a result, The Tonight Show tapes at 5:00pm,[26] and Late Night tapes later in the evening, at 6:30pm.[27] The studio seats nearly 180 individuals, and is housed directly beside Studio 8H, longtime home of Saturday Night Live.[28] Architectural Digest writes that the stage "strikes an Art Deco tone, with its illuminated proscenium arch reminiscent of the Chrysler Building’s iconic crown."[29] Seth's Late Night has a house band, called The 8G Band, and led by Fred Armisen who also acts as the show's sidekick. He also performs as backing & co-lead vocals, rhythm guitars, bass and drums. The other personnel in the band are Seth Jabour on lead guitars and backing vocals, Marnie Stern on lead & rhythm guitars and backing vocals, Syd Butler on bass, and Eli Janney on keyboards, programmer and lead vocals. Just before Marnie Stern took over for Fred Armisen as guitarist on 2015, the role of drummer was held by Kimberly Thompson, who has performed trumpets, backing vocals and melodicas since the premiere of Late Night on February 24, 2014.
Episodes
Reception
Ratings
Late Night with Seth Meyers premiered to high ratings. It debuted to 3.4 million viewers and a 1.4 rating among the key demographic of adults aged 18–49—the best ratings for the Late Night franchise since January 2005.[30] Several months into its run, the show averaged 1.5 million viewers nightly, which was slightly down from Fallon's final average as host.[31] It remained at the same average one year later, in July 2015.[3]
Critical reception
The show initially received mixed reviews. The Hollywood Reporter's Tim Goodman referred to Meyers' monologue as "staccato and hit and miss—sounding more like his 'Weekend Update' bits rather than a real monologue." On the other hand, USA Today's Robert Bianco felt Meyers was "shifting the show to suit his talents," making the show stronger and more traditional than Fallon's.[32] Reviewing the debut week, The A.V. Club gave a B grade: The show begins with, "essentially, a carbon copy of Meyers' Weekend Update / 'what's in the news' jokes [...] Meyers will settle in to the formulaic parts of this job quickly enough—he's a pro, and it shows... "[33] A month later, Jeff Jensen of Entertainment Weekly gave the program a B+ and wrote, "In his first week, the very smart, very smiley former Saturday Night Live head writer gave stiff monologue, which was basically his Weekend Update newsreader shtick, delivered in his shouty, wiseassy, talk-to-the-camera manner, but standing up; he improved the more he connected with the studio audience. He rolls when sitting down. Meyers seems capable of creating chemistry and having quality chats with anyone, from riding the wild waves of Kanye West to spinning a funny anecdote with pal Brad Paisley about accidentally stealing a Porsche."[34]
Reviews have grown more positive as the show has evolved. In 2015, David Sims of The Atlantic wrote that the program "quietly [became] a heavy hitter, mixing a solid monologue with great scripted and semi-improvised bits from its writers."[1] The Wall Street Journal's Sophia Hollander, with regard to the show's emphasis on authors, considered it "something of an intellectual salon, with authors and biting political commentary as well as celebrities."[3] Bruce Fretts of New York felt the show distinguished itself from its contemporaries with a heavier focus on politics.[4]
References
- 1 2 David Sims (August 13, 2015). "What Seth Meyers Is Doing Differently". The Atlantic. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
- ↑ Dave Itzkoff (August 11, 2015). "Seth Meyers Decides to Take a Seat to Deliver His ‘Late Night’ Monologue". The New York Times. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
- 1 2 3 Sophia Hollander (July 16, 2015). "Seth Meyers’s ‘Late Night’ Literary Salon". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
- 1 2 Bruce Fretts (June 11, 2015). "How Seth Meyers Is Positioning Himself As Late Night’s Political Kingmaker". New York. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
- ↑ http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2015/10/seth-meyers-and-the-late-night-takedown/408442/
- ↑ http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/10/seth-meyers-planned-parenthood-daily-show-jon-stewart
- ↑ http://www.msnbc.com/watch/extended-interview-with-seth-meyers-542041667855
- ↑ Carter, Bill (2013-05-12). "Seth Meyers to Succeed Fallon on NBC's Late Night". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2013-05-12.
- ↑ Evans, Bradford. "Here's Your 'Late Night with Seth Meyers' Writing Staff". splitsider. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
- ↑ Adalian, Josef. "Seth Meyers Gave Reporters a Late Night Update". Vulture. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
- ↑ Monez, Mindy. "Fred Armisen Is the "Late Night with Seth Meyers" Band Leader! - Blog - Late Night with Seth Meyers - NBC". NBC. Retrieved February 19, 2014.
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyIe8XeCglc
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6E3z5Rbkt0
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZQQfkJ7hZY
- ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5255254/
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEf3iaARPwE
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0nNEdfGTvg
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwuY5wBw70s
- ↑ http://www.nbc.com/late-night-with-seth-meyers/video/deep-google-fathers-day-edition-part-1/2874649
- ↑ "Seth Meyers wins with Fake or Florida game show on 'Late Night'" by Drusilla Moorhouse, Today.com, February 27, 2014
- 1 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLTFAUZ13iE
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmEoKXgBvSI
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMFuz2RfJTw
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bN2G0qzXuA
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuQ8k449AHw
- ↑ "Tickets and NBC Studio Tour". NBC.com. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
- ↑ Carter, Bill (February 16, 2014). "Tonight Show Returns to New York After Nearly 42 Years". The New York Times. Retrieved February 18, 2014.
- ↑ Jason Gay (February 24, 2014). "Seth Meyers: From Saturday Night Live to Late Night". Vogue. Retrieved December 23, 2014.
- ↑ Samuel Cochran (2014). "TOUR SETH MEYERS'S HANDSOME LATE NIGHT BACKSTAGE SPACES".
- ↑ Michael O'Connell (February 25, 2014). "TV Ratings: Seth Meyers' 'Late Night' Debut Tops Fallon's, 'Tonight' Opens Week 2 Strong". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
- ↑ Rick Kissell (September 24, 2014). "Latenight Ratings: NBC’s Fallon, Meyers Easy Winners for Q3; ABC’s Kimmel, ‘Nightline’ Up". Variety. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
- ↑ Brzeski, Patrick (February 25, 2014). "Seth Meyers on 'Late Night': What the Critics Are Saying". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ↑ Sims, David (February 28, 2014). "Seth Meyers has the chops, but is that enough to get audiences to care?". The AV Club. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
- ↑ Jensen, Jeff (March 20, 2014). "Late Night (2014)". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
External links
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