The Future of Late Night TV: A Crossroads Moment for Fans

As the landscape of entertainment continues to evolve, the future of late night programming on network TV is looking increasingly uncertain. While some may see this as a sign of the apocalypse, Jimmy Kimmel and Seth Meyers offer different perspectives on the matter.

According to Jimmy Kimmel, the host of Jimmy Kimmel Live, we may be down to one late night show on network TV within the next 10 years. In an interview with the podcast Politickin' with Gavin Newsom, Marshawn Lynch, and Doug Hendrickson, Kimmel explained that the internet has changed the way people consume late night content. With so many options available and the ability to easily watch monologues online the next day, there is less of a need to watch them live. This, in turn, could lead to networks reducing their investment in late night programming.

Kimmel's prediction is supported by the fact that the internet has also reduced the level of competition among late night hosts. While fans still rank their favorite hosts and ratings reports still trumpet who's on top this week, the intense competition between hosts like Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Fallon is not what it used to be in the '90s.

Seth Meyers, host of Late Night with Seth Meyers on NBC, shares a similar sentiment but with a touch of optimism. In an interview with Variety, Meyers reflected on the potential decline of late night and expressed his gratitude for how he entered the game. While he is "bummed" for those who want to be the next late night hit but won't have that specific shot in the future, he remains optimistic about the future of topical comedy.

Meyers believes that podcasts have just as big of a reach as late night TV shows ever had, and that interesting voices will always use the technologies they have at hand to find an audience. So while there may be some sadness in the future for those who love the institution of late-night talk shows, there will always be funny people telling funny jokes and talking to people in interesting ways.

For now, you can still catch Jimmy Kimmel Live on ABC at 11:35 p.m. ET and Late Night with Seth Meyers on NBC at 12:35 p.m. ET. But as events like After Midnight's cancellation leave CBS without a post-Colbert program and Kimmel's own continued talks of retirement, we may be seeing a new age unfolding yet again.

The future of late night TV is a crossroads moment for fans, especially those who grew up in the waning Carson years. While it's sad to see the medium shift so far from those halcyon days, it's comforting to know that topical comedy will always find an audience. The only real change may be the format and the venue it's presented in.