Since I've spent the last few months as a gentleman of leisure (read: unemployed), I've watched a lot of late night TV. Here's how I rank the current crop of late night talk shows and I'd like to know what your ranking is. Enjoy!
1. The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien.
Conan O'Brien is simply a master at the form. He has great interplay with the energy of the audience. He's a great stand-up comedian. His guest interviews are always fun & entertaining. I think moving from Late Night to The Tonight Show has taken away some of his edge but that's balanced out by the return of Andy Richter!
2. Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.
The most purely funny man on TV. He doesn't need writers, "bits," or guests. Just point the camera at him and he's an automatically funny guy. (Although, would he be as funny if he didn't have a Scottish accent?)
3. The Jay Leno Show.
He still can't interview a guest to save his life but he's a modern master of the art of stand-up comedy.
4. Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
He's struggling but he's getting better. I'm not sure Fallon has the temperament for a talk show host. However, many of his ideas are pure comedy gold. If you haven't seen them already, YouTube his "Head Swap" segments.
5. Talk Show with Spike Feresten.
His schtick is starting to wear thin with me. "Idiot Paparazzi" is brilliant but his "Hollywood Douchebag" segments are just insulting.
6. Late Show with David Letterman.
10 years ago, the man was brilliant. Now, he's resting on his laurels. He's mostly just a cranky old man now. I'd put him out to pasture.
7. Jimmy Kimmel Live!
I think he's just speaking to a different demographic or something. He seems like a nice, entertaining guy. We're just on different wavelengths.
8. Last Call with Carson Daly.
Why does anyone allow this man to be on TV?! He's not funny. He's not entertaining. He seems to hate his own show. NBC was better off when they used to fill his timeslot with old reruns of SCTV.
So how do you rank the late night talk show hosts?
1. The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien.
Conan O'Brien is simply a master at the form. He has great interplay with the energy of the audience. He's a great stand-up comedian. His guest interviews are always fun & entertaining. I think moving from Late Night to The Tonight Show has taken away some of his edge but that's balanced out by the return of Andy Richter!
2. Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.
The most purely funny man on TV. He doesn't need writers, "bits," or guests. Just point the camera at him and he's an automatically funny guy. (Although, would he be as funny if he didn't have a Scottish accent?)
3. The Jay Leno Show.
He still can't interview a guest to save his life but he's a modern master of the art of stand-up comedy.
4. Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
He's struggling but he's getting better. I'm not sure Fallon has the temperament for a talk show host. However, many of his ideas are pure comedy gold. If you haven't seen them already, YouTube his "Head Swap" segments.
5. Talk Show with Spike Feresten.
His schtick is starting to wear thin with me. "Idiot Paparazzi" is brilliant but his "Hollywood Douchebag" segments are just insulting.
6. Late Show with David Letterman.
10 years ago, the man was brilliant. Now, he's resting on his laurels. He's mostly just a cranky old man now. I'd put him out to pasture.
7. Jimmy Kimmel Live!
I think he's just speaking to a different demographic or something. He seems like a nice, entertaining guy. We're just on different wavelengths.
8. Last Call with Carson Daly.
Why does anyone allow this man to be on TV?! He's not funny. He's not entertaining. He seems to hate his own show. NBC was better off when they used to fill his timeslot with old reruns of SCTV.
So how do you rank the late night talk show hosts?
