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Stephen Santora
Professor Van Aalst
English 1A
25 March 2015
Late Night Thoughts

Late-night talk shows combine pop culture, politics, and international news and present them in a facetious, lighthearted manner. Some of the subjects addressed are serious and solemn.
It would seem impossible to discuss some of this material in a way not to offend or unnerve the audience but hosts such as Jimmy Fallon seem to do so with ease, and a loyal following. As the late-night talk show has changed over time so has the audience, grabbing the attention of viewers young and old alike. The Tonight Show appeals to different groups because of its ability to make light of issues that our culture faces and turns them into something that we can all laugh about together. The late-night talk show has made a name for itself in a sub-genre of its own, setting apart from the usual day time talk show. It is specifically known for its comedy oriented monologues and interviews. Characteristics of these programs include an opening monologue in which the host pokes fun of current events, comedy sketches, celebrity interviews, usually wrapped up by a musical performance by new and current artists. Unlike other interview shows, in late-night talk shows the host always sits behind a desk. This was a tradition started by the pioneers of the genre such as Johnny Carson who spent more than 30 years in his role as the host 


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of The Tonight Show. The show’s success has caused subsequent hosts to change little about the simplicity of the format of these programs. One of the main reasons that these shows have such a loyal following is that the viewer knows what to expect. The late-night television watcher can expect to get the day’s news, be introduced to an active, relevant celebrity or musician; and all in a way that makes the viewer feel cheerful. Some of the most successful parts of pop culture have known what works over time and are reluctant to change it and for the better and the late-night talk show is no exception.
It is no coincidence that these shows air the same time as the local news. Instead, the viewer is given the choice as to how they receive the information. A major assumption of the late-night talk show is that the information is presented in a mindless yet appealing way. If someone were to only receive their international news from the late-night talk shows they would assume that no issue is too serious or offensive that it couldn’t be turned into some kind of joke.
Some of these subjects have become somewhat untouchable and left only to these hosts, the delivery and setting being pivotal. In a recent skit an actor on The Tonight Show portrays Barack
Obama giving a speech about ISIS, one of the most controversial things in our current world.
There was no backlash as the skit was done with humor tastefully. The sets of places such as The
Tonight Show or Late Night have become a special place where these hosts are given the right to tackle these issues through a carefully written script. The script then has to be brought to life by a host who is talented enough to use timing, inflection and tone to present the issue. Another distinctive quality of these programs is their unbiased way the host equally pokes fun at both sides of the political spectrum. One may assume that because current media has been given a left-wing label that they only single out the Republican Party but that is far from the truth.

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Whoever is in the news for whatever various reason is considered fair game. Jimmy Fallon in particular is known for his ability to equally call out members of both political parties. He is most likable for his more ‘clean’ version of The Tonight Show which attracts not only both conservative and liberal, but young and old.
Jimmy Fallon has quickly set himself apart from other late-night talk show hosts. He manages to do this in a number of ways. Steve Higgins, a well-known writer from Saturday
Night Live where Jimmy Fallon got his start, has become Fallon’s sidekick and the person whom he feeds off. The dynamic between this duos appears to be that of one between two close friends.
The dialogue between these two is relatable for viewers and might remind them of a playful, fun interaction or relationship they have in their own life. Most impressive about the hilarious discourse between Fallon and Higgins is that most of it appears to be improvisation. The viewer is led to believe that these are two genuinely funny people who do not always need the use of a script. Fallon is also backed up by a band with almost a dozen members, called “The Roots.” He will often interact with members of the band and include them in his skits. The band almost always plays an ironic song during the entrance of each guest of the show. They are a talented group both musically and for comedic purposes.
One of the other qualities about Jimmy Fallon that makes him unique are his own musical and dance abilities. His impressions of musical artists and celebrities are generally spot on and leave the audience extremely impressed. He has a genuinely gifted singing voice, plays multiple musical instruments, and amazes with his dance moves. David Letterman, Conan O’Brien, and
Jimmy Kimmel are not on the same playing field as Fallon when it comes to these many flairs.

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These talents are truly what will make Jimmy Fallon and have gained him an extremely diverse audience. It is a unique time for a program like the late-night talk show. With social media being so prominent in our daily lives, we have even come to rely on it for our entertainment. When someone enjoys a clip from one of these mentioned programs, the first thing they do is share it on social media for everyone else to view. This is by far the biggest promotion for these programs and also the easiest. The clips are usually short and edited perfectly to quickly grab the attention of the person scrolling through their Facebook feed. If it has shown up in your feed or was shared numerous times among your ‘friends,’ you can assume that most people on social media have watched it or at least know about it.
In an age where we can easily record a program like The Tonight Show or watch on the internet anytime and anywhere, it is more accessible than ever. What makes these late-night talk shows so popular is the ability of the content to match that accessibility. Late-night talk shows have moved with the times, embracing a younger following while remaining true to its foundations of what made them so popular in their beginnings. They continue to embrace what makes them work and are true to 


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ways. Jimmy Fallon has set a standard for late night talk show hosts that is growing higher and higher each episode that is released. Fallon is what America needed in a time where late night legend’s careers are coming to a close. He brings a new style of comedy that leaves viewers asking themselves, why don’t I stay up every night to relive this comedic adventure?