late night comedy
Post-primetime humor shows
Late night comedy refers to television programs that air after 11 PM, typically featuring a host who delivers topical monologues, interviews guests, and performs comedy sketches.
The format was established by Johnny Carson and continued by hosts like Letterman, Leno, and Colbert.
The monologue material draws heavily on current events and political figures: Did you catch what they said about the president on late night last night?
The phrase can also refer to the comedic style itself—punchy, topical jokes designed for a tired but engaged audience.
- cold openPre-title sequence segment
- opening monologueSolo introductory address
- monologueUninterrupted solo address
- hostOne receiving guests
- sketchHasty informal drawing
satirical · SNL · Colbert · Fallon · Kimmel · talk show · celebrity guest · jokes · audience · applause · desk · couch · celebrity · interview · live audience · topical · punchline · punch up
- comedyjokes, humor, puns, sarcasm, stand-up
- political satireeditorial cartoons, political cartoon, visual satire, caricature, political satire
- American SatireThe Onion, SNL, The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, Colbert Report
- satirelampoon, parody, parody account, political satire, spoof
late night comedydaytime television
Shows airing midday hours
Good Morning America · morning show · morning news · Today Show · prime time
late night comedytragedy
Disastrous or sorrowful event
hard news · prestige drama · documentary · investigative journalism · tearjerker
late night comedyevening news
60 Minutes · Meet the Press · C-SPAN · investigative reporting · Face the Nation
late, lately, later, latest, lateness, night, nightly, nights, nighttime