A Duet of Heated Rivalry Bits Won Late Night This Week

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Looking at the first guests of 2026 on the late-night shows reveals a lot about each host’s image and who they’re trying to reach. Seth Meyers kicked off the year with Kristen Stewart, signaling his appeal to a cool, progressive audience. Jimmy Fallon chose Sadie Sink, reinforcing The Tonight Show‘s position as a mainstream cultural hub. Stephen Colbert brought back Ethan Hawke – for the ninth time – as he thoughtfully prepares for the show’s finale and leans into conversations about performing arts. And Jimmy Kimmel started with Ben Affleck, solidifying his status as an insider in Hollywood, building on their long-running rapport and shared experiences within the industry.

It’s notable that Jimmy Kimmel has become a late-night staple, especially since he still presents himself as an ordinary guy. Despite his connections to people like Bryan Cranston’s daughter and Ben Affleck, he remains particularly skilled at expressing genuine anger and disappointment with the state of politics. Kimmel’s recent monologue about Renee Nicole Good perfectly demonstrated this – he genuinely seemed moved by the news, and that emotional connection resonated with viewers. In 2026, late-night TV often serves this purpose: making people feel less alone in their frustrations. Here’s a look at other late-night hosts who offered that comfort during the first week of the new year.

5.
Jimmy Kimmel Aces His Cognitive Exam

https://youtube.com/watch?v=X6hFZsRGm1Q?si=c8yzf1xgO_bdar_e

Jimmy Kimmel made a strong return to late night television, immediately taking a critical stance. He started his first week back by taking the cognitive test that Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed to have easily passed. It’s likely it took some time to find a doctor willing to administer such a serious exam for a publicity stunt. However, Kimmel’s demonstration of how simple the test is highlights Trump’s boastfulness and suggests he actually performed poorly, revealing a new kind of failure.

4.
John Oliver’s Abiding Love for RHOSLC on WWHL

John Oliver is being honored with the ‘Guy Who Gets It’ award for 2025 (presented in January 2026) for his insightful understanding of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. He truly grasps the show’s unique blend of comedy and drama. While Oliver frequently praises the Bravo franchise on various shows, pairing him with rising star Angie K on Watch What Happens Live was a stroke of genius. The show needed someone witty and spirited, but not malicious, to debate with Oliver – unlike the pairing of Mary Cosby and Ziwe. Oliver is at his best when dissecting the intricacies of RHOSLC, and Angie K’s recent storyline provided the perfect material for him to analyze.

3.
A Great Question From Ronny Chieng

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=lAB6XAJ9xFA

Comedian Ronny Chieng started his interview with Stephen J. Dubner, co-author of Freakonomics, with a surprising question. After telling Dubner the book had profoundly impacted him in college, Chieng immediately asked why he now believed so much of it was incorrect. Dubner laughed nervously for a long time after this unexpected opener. While it’s a good point – science thrives on challenging existing beliefs – it wasn’t the best way to begin a conversation aimed at promoting a book. Chieng cleverly appealed to Dubner’s scientific side while simultaneously acknowledging the book’s more popular appeal, making for a brilliant interview tactic.

2.
Ancient Chicago Drama on The Late Show

https://youtube.com/watch?v=j9E5GSYV2BY?si=YxKV5IN6SuK8dNQ7

As a long-time viewer, I’ve noticed a pattern with Stephen Colbert’s interviews: he always tries to steer celebrities back to their roots in Chicago theater, and most of them love reminiscing. But his recent chat with Tracy Letts took a funny turn. Letts shared a story about how it took three separate meetings – and even a playful threat! – for Colbert to finally remember they’d met before, back when Colbert was starting out and Letts was already a respected playwright. Apparently, once Colbert finally clicked, he really clicked – Letts says he’s been a fan ever since!

1.
The Tonight Show Fujoshis Out

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=zdLeOlZPQtE
https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=SqZLCMFVKlU

The Tonight Show is surprisingly willing to address the intense, passionate, and sometimes overwhelming fan base of Heated Rivalry. A sketch on Tuesday emphasized the show’s physical energy and the fact that it openly features sex. Another segment on Wednesday, where Jimmy Fallon and Tariq Trotter debated the emotional depth of the show, highlighted the surprising drama and complexity within those explicit scenes. I keep imagining what it would be like if the legendary Johnny Carson had to make jokes about Heated Rivalry – maybe it would finally be too much for him! Ultimately, a show like The Tonight Show exists to show us how popular culture has changed, and it’s great to see more open discussion and jokes about same-sex intimacy.

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2026-01-09 18:54