Seth Meyers Roasts ‘The Real Housewives,’ ‘Versant,’ Dick Wolf and the ‘Long Buried Secret’ of Matt Lauer at NBCUniversal Upfronts

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I was thrilled to be part of the crowd on Monday morning as Seth Meyers graced the NBCUniversal upfront stage! His monologue was packed with punch, and he didn’t shy away from poking fun at his corporate bosses – a move that earned him hearty laughter (and a few gasps!) from us all.

He started things off by remarking that “we’ve got some fantastic series coming back this year, along with some fresh ones. ‘Ted,’ previously on Peacock, is coming back for a second season, though for advertising purposes we’ll refer to it as ‘The Bear.'” (This version aims to simplify the language and make it more conversational.)

That’s a clever jab! He then took it up a notch by referencing the upcoming TV show from Amy Poehler and Mike Schur: ” ‘Dig’ is about four women digging in Greece, uncovering a hidden truth. I bet if it’s a secret at NBC, it’s probably Matt Lauer.”

He made a witty remark! He then upped the ante by hinting at the upcoming TV series from Amy Poehler and Mike Schur: ” ‘Dig’ is about a group of women excavating in Greece, unveiling an old secret. I suppose if it’s a buried truth at NBC, it must be Matt Lauer.

Just when I thought I aced it, someone suggested wrapping things up. Reminded of this moment, it’s the first time I’ve heard my name mentioned on an NBCU upfronts stage since my dismissal from ‘The Today Show’ in 2017 due to sexual harassment allegations.

Besides this, Meyers found delight in mocking Comcast for mysteriously labeling its cable offshoot, which was previously known as “SpinCo,” as the perplexing “Versant Media.

He agreed, “You’re spot on with ‘Versant’,” he remarked, pointing out that it seems like a drug brand name. “Just make sure to consult your doctor about Versant. Honestly, ‘Versant’ sounds like something you might catch in a news commercial, making you question, could I have dry AMD? When I learned the company was named Versant, I thought it was set. It feels like all good names are taken. Envious that someone nabbed ‘Tubi’, right? Could we be calling it ‘Roku’? But no, ‘Roku’ has already been claimed. Faster than a flash, even ‘Quibi’ was taken.

It was mentioned that Comcast chose ‘Versant’ for NBCUniversal’s cable division to highlight their corporate adaptability. They’re indeed flexible; they’re ready to adjust the name if it doesn’t suit you. By the way, a snappy alternative is ‘SpinCo’. The interesting part is that the name isn’t what matters, it’s the quality. Versant will include USA Network, CNBC, E!, Oxygen, Syfy, MSNBC, and the Golf Channel. So, unfortunately for you, Mr. President, if you desire the Golf Channel, you’ll have to accept MSNBC as well.

The subject of Trump’s lawsuit against Paramount over “60 Minutes” came up, but Meyers used it as an opportunity to poke fun at his superiors. “By the way, regarding President Trump, his administration is in the process of suing CBS for a whopping $20 billion. On the other hand, NBC has skillfully dodged Trump’s anger by not having that kind of money at their disposal.

By the way, I mustn’t forget to mention that we have over 25 Real Housewives gathered here today. Legally speaking, it’s like when they announce the use of strobe lights during a performance. Exciting, isn’t it? Bravo is planning a new spin-off for the Real Housewives, titled ‘The Real Housewives of Rhode Island.’ While I’m enthusiastic about this, if we’re going to make one in New England, let’s choose a place with stronger accents – perhaps the Real Housewives of Southie. Instead of sipping wine, they’d be pulling small bottles of Fireball from their handbags. ‘I can’t stand her at my birthday party; she’s a backstabber.’ ‘Oh, Kathy, you’re exaggerating.’ So, the upcoming show will likely be called VERSANT!

Meyers utilized the debut of Pope Leo XIV from Chicago as an opportunity to insert a few jokes inspired by Dick Wolf: “Allow me to remark, being a proud member of the NBC family, this year has been quite momentous for us. We’ve had ‘The Traitors,’ ‘SNL 50,’ and ‘Chicago Pope!’ I can just imagine Dick Wolf’s agent on the phone with the Vatican now, saying, ‘Dick deserves a share! You wouldn’t have thought of Chicago Pope without Dick!’ What a time to be Dick Wolf. NBC has renewed ‘Chicago Med,’ ‘Chicago PD,’ and ‘Chicago Fire.’ This is all part of our ongoing dedication to ensuring that people remain apprehensive about Chicago.

Furthermore, NBC declared on Monday that they will broadcast a special event the following year to commemorate their centennial. In response, Meyers playfully remarked, “Since NBC is a hundred years old, you can surely attract the 18-49 demographic with that, right? It’s like placing ads next to an old church. That’s correct. Next year, NBC will celebrate its 100th anniversary, but it hasn’t been particularly amusing since its first season.

It seemed the advertising audience found it hard to understand the humor initially, as it was a reference to ‘SNL’. However, Meyers clarified that it’s a sketch comedy show which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year.

Meyers humorously expressed his admiration for NBC’s consistency, stating that he feels reassured by starting and ending his day with Hoda Kotb and Lester Holt respectively. He quipped that if they were to leave, then everyone would be in trouble.

Despite any other issues, we’ve got “Wicked For Good” to anticipate in the remainder of this year. Following the director John M. Chu unveiling the movie’s trailer to the audience, he requested them not to record it. In response, Meyers jokingly remarked, “I mentioned it at last year’s presentation, and I’ll say it again now. I shot the ‘Wicked’ trailer on my phone backstage, and I’m more than willing to share it with anyone here via AirDrop.

At the start of his performance, Seth Meyers humorously proposed to the media attendees: “I’m either Seth Meyers or, for a suitable fee, ‘Tostitos Presents Seth Meyers.’ I fill the 12:30 time slot and am open to any opportunities. If I could trade my kids’ names for sponsorships, I would. Verizon would be an excellent fit for my seven-year-old, given how frequently I yell at him, ‘Can you hear me now?’

What’s my daughter’s name? It might be Adelaide or Maybelline… or even Ford F-150. I don’t have strong preferences. Essentially, everything is up for grabs. For instance, the sequel to ‘Wicked’ is due later this year, and I’m just saying – for a hefty price, she could pilot a Swiffer. They could liquefy her with Aquafina water. We’re ready to re-shoot scenes. The entertainment industry is undergoing significant changes, and we’re open to many possibilities!

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2025-05-12 21:45