Andrew Schulz's Flagrant with Akaash Singh
Andrew Schulz's Flagrant with Akaash Singh
"late night is where comedians go to die. Pack it in and let the big dogs take over pal." — Speaker 1
"What happened to the old Kimmel? You know, the Kimmel, though, do blackface. He changed so much. Like, back of the day, he used to have real teeth. You know, he was great. He was funny when he was black. He was black. He was a black dude." — Speaker 2
"Man show agree or disagree with it. That she had teeth. You were going to feel away about it earlier. Kimmel earlier, Kimmel, dude, and you didn't like it, but remember when he went on Leno and Leno was taking his show back from Conan and he just starts grilling Leno about why are you taking Conan show back on Leno? Oh, yeah, that was fine. That shit. You go like it or not, but they had teeth." — Speaker 1
The discussion begins with a reference to a perceived insult directed at Joe Rogan on The Simpsons, which prompts a broader conversation about the declining relevance and perceived lack of edge in contemporary late-night comedy. Speakers express surprise that new episodes of The Simpsons are still being produced, and criticize its attempts at social commentary as embarrassing and unfunny compared to its past output. This criticism extends to Jimmy Kimmel, with specific mention of a joke made about "the Nelka boys" and a perceived disconnect from reality and younger audiences. The speakers argue that Kimmel's show, and late-night television in general, has lost its "teeth" and comedic impact, relying on promotion rather than genuine humor or insight.
A key point of contention is the perceived disparity in influence and audience reach between traditional late-night hosts and emerging digital content creators, particularly YouTubers. The analogy is made of young YouTubers gaining massive viewership and engaging directly with their audience, while figures like Kimmel seem out of touch. The conversation touches on the idea of being "washed up" and irrelevant, suggesting that late-night hosts are often detached from the current cultural zeitgeist, living in a "Hollywood bubble." The speakers believe that the writers are feeding Kimmel outdated or irrelevant material, leading to his perceived foolishness and lack of sharp commentary.
The debate highlights a generational shift in media consumption and comedic taste. While older audiences may have grown up with hosts like Kimmel and perceive them as relevant, younger demographics are gravitating towards digital platforms and creators who offer more direct and unfiltered content. The speakers posit that for late-night shows to survive, they need to embrace the digital world and its creators, rather than dismissing them. The perceived lack of "balls" or edge in modern late-night comedy is a recurring theme, with comparisons made to past instances where hosts displayed more confrontational or insightful humor, even if it was controversial.