The COVID-19 pandemic is challenging everyone right now, and that includes late night talk show hosts. Making millions of viewers laugh every night is hard enough. Doing that without the benefit of a live studio audience is that much harder.
At this point, most of these talk shows have joined the numerous TV and movie projects that have suspended production during the pandemic. Still our favorite late night hosts are persevering. We thought it would be fun to take a look at how stars like Conan O’Brien and Stephen Colbert are handling the impact of COVID-19 and the challenge of creating comedy in the era of social distancing.
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Stephen Colbert Takes a Bath
The Late Show host Stephen Colbert tried to lighten the mood with “a special social-distancing” installment of the series filmed in his own bathroom. Renamed “The Lather Show With Scrubbin’ Colbath,” this segment is aimed at showing solidarity with the millions of Americans currently self-quarantining in their homes. The jury is still out as to whether Colbert was wearing pants in this segment. But then again, how many of us are these days?
John Oliver Delivers the News
It’s still mostly business as usual for Last Week Tonight host John Oliver, despite the fact that the series has shifted to a remote location with no live audience. Few can match Oliver’s knack for delivering the news with a combination of no-nonsense earnestness, insightful humor and genuine, infectious optimism, and that certainly hasn’t changed now. Check out the latest Last Week Tonight opening segment for a full breakdown of where things currently stand with the virus, though it’s definitely NSFW (assuming you’re one of the few still able to watch from work).
Conan O’Brien Practices Puzzle Piece Etiquette
Also trapped in the confines of his own home, Conan O’Brien is partaking in that most exciting of quarantine pastimes – jigsaw puzzles. Conan posted a helpful video explaining the necessary precautions to take before assembling a puzzle. Those precautions include boiling the pieces in water and singing “Happy Birthday” to each individual piece.
Seth Meyers Asks Ron Swanson for Advice
Former Parks and Recreation star Nick Offerman was a guest on the final episode of Late Night With Seth Meyers before the show went on hiatus. Naturally, Meyers inquired how Offerman’s character Ron Swanson, a consummate man’s man, would react to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Offerman, Ron probably wouldn’t even notice. And if he did, he’d simply do what a Swanson always does when he wants to get away from people – retreat to a cabin in the woods and fish. At least someone has it all figured out.
Star Trek Trivia: Mayor Pete vs. Captain Picard
While Jimmy Kimmel himself was absent from the March 12 episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live, he had an unexpected replacement ready to take charge and entertain an extremely small live audience – former presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg. Buttigieg not only proved to be a surprisingly capable host, he even squared off against Patrick Stewart in a game of Star Trek Trivia. We guess Mayor Pete has a new career path if he ever gets tired of politics.
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For other ways to stay entertained during these trying times, check out IGN’s picks for the best feel-good movies to stream while working from home — of, if you want something heavier, what you should stream on Shudder — and learn more about TokuSHOUTsu, the new streaming service that specializes in Japanese series like Kamen Rider and Ultraman.
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Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.
Source: IGN.com How Talk Show Hosts Are Coping With the Coronavirus Outbreak