Why can't conservatives make a breakthrough on late-night TV? For years, it has been a cultural unresolved issue. Of course, the left had “The Daily Show” and “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver.” As the Trump era began, progressives could also point to hosts like Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, and Seth Meyers as politically sympathetic. On the right, well, there was no one.
That is, until Greg Gutfeld. Mr. Gutfeld, previously an editor for health and men's magazines, joined Fox News in 2007 to helm Red Eye, a free chat after midnight. He moved up the network's schedule, and 2021 saw the launch of a new show, “Gutfeld!” Broadcasts begin on the East Coast at 11 p.m. on weekdays. (Currently airing from 10 p.m.) The format is different from traditional late-night shows led by hosts. Rather than interviewing celebrity guests, Gutfeld presides over a roundtable of regular panelists, including former professional wrestler Tyrus and (occasionally) designated contrarian commentator Cat Timpf. The overall atmosphere is insulting, aggressively anti-woke, and unapologetically conservative. It's a successful formula. The show averages more than 3 million viewers a night, a number that dwarfs its competitors.
So Gutfeld, who also hosts the daytime show “The Five” with Dana Perino and Jesse Watters, can now firmly claim the title of “King of Late Night.” (It's also the name of his 2023 nonfiction book.) But the kingdom is in turmoil, with CBS announcing it will cancel “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” next year and ABC suspending Jimmy Kimmel's show following remarks related to Charlie Kirk's murder. These decisions were considered by many to be politically motivated and a potential violation of freedom of speech. This comes at a time when questions about late night's long-term future as a viable genre, as well as censorship in comedy, are in the air thickly. Gutfeld had a lot to say about all this and more in his bellicose way.
I'd like to start with the biggest late night news of the year. That means suspensions for Colbert and Kimmel are imminent. Do you remember your immediate reaction when you both heard the news? What took me so long? I crushed them like bugs, David. I crushed them and threw them to the wind, but they were still here. I call it recreational welfare. The only reason they were able to exist for so long, despite their dwindling numbers, was the fact that they put up a front. I don't think it was political. I didn't know anyone who had seen this movie. I've counted my liberal friends, but I think it's because it's not entertainment anymore. It was more like a therapy session for people who are upset with the world.
You don't buy the idea that what happened was that there were larger corporate political considerations? i don't think so. Not a single person has truly given up because of President Trump's “sucks.'' Did it add extra noise to the story? probably. But honestly, I think that grievance was already there.
