Seth Meyers Won Late Night This Week (Taylor’s Version)

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It’s been a busy week for late-night television and the news. Addison Rae’s appearance on *The Tonight Show* received attention in *Paper* magazine, though it wasn’t considered comedic material. Then, Aziz Ansari used *Jimmy Kimmel Live!* to address the controversy surrounding his performance at the Riyadh Comedy Festival, stating he’d donate his fee to Human Rights Watch – a gesture the organization publicly declined. Also on *Kimmel*, Jeff Bridges famously protested ICE by appearing as his character ‘The Dude’ from *The Big Lebowski*. While unusual, protest can take many forms, and Bridges chose to make a statement through character work.

Taylor Swift’s recent appearances on NBC’s late-night shows likely demonstrate why the format still matters. As part of promoting her album, *The Life of a Showgirl*, she did an extended interview on *The Tonight Show* and *Late Night With Seth Meyers* dedicated a whole segment – playfully called “Tay/kover” – to her. Just like with her album sales and concert numbers, Swift is proving to be a hit with late-night audiences this week.

5.
The Daily Show’s Shutdown Double Act

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=TyMZGI6TVnw

It’s always entertaining when *The Daily Show* uses its full cast of comedians. Recently, correspondent Jordan Klepper appeared on the show to give host Josh Johnson an update on a classic bit from *The Simpsons*’ “Treehouse of Horror III” – the “That’s good, that’s bad” segment. Klepper threw a series of both positive and negative potential actions by Trump towards furloughed workers at Johnson, who perfectly captured the frustrated despair needed to make the bit work.

4.
A Meeting of the Minds on WWHL

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=8Ts1WaXlLec

In the 1995 documentary *Catwalk*, a model jokingly dismissed her job, saying it lacked the high stakes of international diplomacy – comparing it to the Yalta summit. While few things in entertainment demand that level of skill, Adam Pally’s attempt to understand Mary Cosby on reality TV comes surprisingly close. Cosby presents a truly unique persona, and Pally is remarkably good at figuring her out – far better than the people on shows like *Alien: Earth*. He’s able to deduce things about her, like her fondness for the dentist, that no one would expect.

3.
Talkin’ Butt Tape on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

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

Justine Lupe didn’t get much attention while on *Succession*, but she’s really standing out now on *Nobody Wants This*! During her first appearance on *Jimmy Kimmel Live!*, she shared a hilarious and memorable story about taping her buttocks together and considering mooning someone at an awards show. It was a perfect mix of Hollywood glamour and honest talk about body image issues – and perfectly timed for ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’ week on late night TV.

2.
Channing Tatum’s Raw Physicality on The Tonight Show

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=UYYdJNm4_eQ

Channing Tatum is first and foremost a dancer, giving him incredible body awareness and coordination. This skill was hilariously demonstrated when he easily beat Jimmy Fallon in a candy-catching contest! It made me wish we could see the legendary Gene Kelly try it, but of course, that’s impossible. It was a perfect example of a fun celebrity game segment – something *The Tonight Show* often struggles to achieve. Also, I was really impressed by how confidently Tatum opened his Funko Pop figures – that takes some serious skill!

1.
Late Night Humanizes the Showgirl

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=zRxztXAi2w0

It’s becoming common for celebrities to appear on several talk shows in one week, but it wasn’t always that way – publicists still remember the intense competition for bookings in the 1990s. However, Taylor Swift doing two shows in the same week is still noteworthy, and this week, Seth Meyers had the better interview. While *The Tonight Show* is a bigger, flashier program that created a special presentation for Swift to discuss her album, *Late Night* offers a more relaxed and personal setting. Meyers dug deeper, even asking about a funny story involving Lisa Bonet’s snake and Swift’s house. In a surprisingly candid moment, Swift admitted that her constant album releases are partly due to her lack of other interests. If you’re familiar with *The Lover* arc, her appearance on *The Tonight Show* was like watching Kitty Finlay perform, while *Late Night* felt like seeing Kitty backstage, struggling with her emotions. Right now, it’s that more vulnerable side of her that’s truly captivating.

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2025-10-10 19:08