A quiet crisis is unfolding in the world of late-night television. Once a cultural cornerstone, these shows are facing a stark reality: dwindling audiences and a growing perception of irrelevance. The core issue isn’t simply changing tastes, but a perceived lack of originality and a heavy reliance on predictable political jabs.
Recently, a curious echo chamber emerged across three major late-night programs. Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, and Jimmy Fallon all independently landed on the same joke – a connection between former President Trump, Venezuela, and the release of the Epstein files. The synchronicity wasn’t clever; it felt scripted, a sign of a shared, uninspired playbook.
Kimmel framed the situation as a modern retelling of the movie “Wag the Dog,” suggesting a deliberate distraction tactic. Colbert mirrored this sentiment, suggesting the Epstein files must be explosive if a military operation was launched in response. Fallon, not to be left out, similarly posited that the Venezuela action was a ploy to divert attention.
The repetition wasn’t lost on observers. The identical punchlines, delivered within days of each other, highlighted a troubling trend: a lack of independent thought and a reliance on pre-packaged talking points. It raised the question of whether genuine humor had been sacrificed for easy political commentary.
This isn’t an isolated incident. Critics point to a broader pattern of predictable jokes and a homogenous approach to comedy. The result is a landscape where late-night shows increasingly blend together, offering little to differentiate themselves and failing to capture the imagination of viewers.
One program stands apart from this trend. Greg Gutfeld’s show consistently outperforms its competitors, suggesting an appetite for something different. His success hints at a desire for comedy that isn’t solely defined by political outrage or predictable narratives.
The decline of late-night isn’t simply about changing times. It’s a consequence of a creative drought, a reliance on tired tropes, and a failure to connect with audiences on a genuine, humorous level. The current model appears unsustainable, leaving the future of these once-dominant programs uncertain.
The shared joke about Trump and Venezuela wasn’t just unfunny; it was symptomatic of a larger problem. It revealed a lack of originality and a dependence on pre-approved narratives, ultimately contributing to the erosion of trust and interest in these long-standing institutions.
