During a recent interview, late-night host Seth Meyers shared that he had adjusted his approach after President Donald Trump was re-elected. In conversation with Nayeema Raza, who hosts the “Smart Girl Dumb Questions” podcast, he reflected on whether political comedy might make audiences too complacent. While he acknowledged this concern, he expressed uncertainty about how to tackle it without sounding alarmist regarding the Trump administration each night on his show.
“We had a discussion about our tone,” Meyers said, noting his surprise at Trump’s re-election. He emphasized that they realized they couldn’t maintain the same tone as they had during Trump’s first term. It needed to feel different; otherwise, it would just come across as “a little like neutered,” going through the motions again with the same issues.
Meyers explained that he strives to create a joyful atmosphere during the show, despite discussing serious topics. “This show is joyful to do… I don’t want to perform with the weight of it all on top of me,” he stated, adding that he wants to be honest and factual while still embracing some joy in the shared absurdity of the situation.
Additionally, he commented on Jimmy Kimmel’s recent suspension after controversial remarks related to a conservative activist’s death. He described the unpredictability of such situations, recalling how Kimmel likely didn’t anticipate being sidelined that day. “The scariest thing about the second term… is the need to go back to the drawing board if you don’t get it right the first time,” he noted.
Meyers praised NBC News for not dictating his words, calling it a “special thing.” In response to criticisms about late-night hosts leaning into fear and negativity, Curtis Houck from Newsbusters argued that while they claim to promote joy, their history shows otherwise, emphasizing their focus on Trump and a generally alarmist view.
Recently, during a joint appearance with Kimmel on his show, Meyers and fellow comedian John Oliver discussed the intense scrutiny Kimmel faces from Trump. Oliver mentioned that audiences often ask about the challenges of being disliked by the president, to which they responded that as long as they are still on air, everything is alright. “You draw all the ire,” Meyers added, with Oliver expressing full support for Kimmel, likening it to being “fully behind a bulletproof vest.” They even speculated on Kimmel’s notoriety with Trump, suggesting that maybe the president would prefer hanging out with Kimmel.
