Late night TV is back! And it’s better than ever. At least according to The Watchers Podcast, where they posted an article compiling links of recent late night talk show clips for our viewing pleasure. The videos featured include clips from all our favorite late night shows, meaning The Colbert Report and Late Night with Conan O’Brien.
And The Watchers are right—these are some of the funniest, freshest bits to hit late night TV in quite some time. The Writers Guild of America strike, which (as you know) has been going strong for over two months now, has debilitated television since its start back in November. Daily programming (daytime and late night talk shows) was knocked out first as those shows depend on writers for last minute changes or updates, and they do not tape episodes far enough in advance to compensate for the effects of the strike.
And since many of the show hosts started out as comedians and writers themselves (including Ellen DeGeneres, Craig Ferguson and Conan), they sympathized with the cause and were not inclined to continue without their writing staff. The production of late night TV halted completely for two months. Well, if you don’t count whatever Carson Daly does as television, then it was a steady two months.
But as of January 2nd, because of a deal struck up with the WGA by David Letterman’s production company Worldwide Pants, late night television has returned. The Watchers Podcast asserts that without writers, the comedians that actually star in these shows have been allowed to flex their muscles (metaphorical ones, of course) for the first time in years. The audience can finally see their unbridled talent—no scripts, no time limits, just laughs. And with clips like Conan’s Rock Band performance and Colbert’s guided tour of a new Smithsonian exhibit, I’ve got no problem agreeing with them.
You should go check out the clips for yourself here.
Image: TV Squad.
