A Juvenile Story From the Creator of Adolescence Won Late Night This Week

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Let’s dive into the top late-night moments of the week, but first, let’s acknowledge some cringe-worthy instances that made us roll our eyes instead. The most eye-rolling moment was when an audience overreacted to a joke, like when Stephen Colbert recapped the Trump-Elon drama or during the Etsy Witches segment on After Midnight. It felt like a paid audience from The Nanny. However, one instance where an overly enthusiastic audience actually enhanced the show this week was the audible gasp during Dakota Johnson’s interview on The Tonight Show. After all, quirky is Johnson’s forte.

In comedy, especially political humor, Clapter has been a recurring problem. However, this year, it’s reached an unprecedented level of negativity. It’s not even clapter anymore – that usually comes after a joke. Instead, there’s been a surge in loud booing directed at public figures during the setup of jokes, often before the punchline can even land. It’s unclear if this is an outlet for audience frustration or a deliberate action to boost video views on social media, but it needs to stop.

We should consider changing the “APPLAUSE” sign in theaters to one that reads “ACT NORMALLY,” and keep it permanently illuminated. As for this week’s standout moments in late-night comedy, here they are: [list of comedic moments]

5.
Owen Wilson Performs a Trick!

https://youtube.com/watch?v=eRFs2FQ9yUA?si=3AOwk3g9ASwZvjJj

On Monday night’s episode of Kimmel, Owen Wilson performed a trick reminiscent of a childhood game, where one imagines a kangaroo eating an orange in Denmark. Jimmy Kimmel seemed to take it well, though I can’t be sure if he was pretending not to recognize the trick or if he was genuinely surprised by Wilson’s mind-reading ability. This playground magic trick was quite popular back then, much like the impact Bart Simpson’s naughty rendition of “Jingle Bells” had when it debuted on the very first episode of The Simpsons. For Gen-Xers, it was like stepping back in time to see such nostalgia on network television.

4.
A Well-Constructed Joke From Jon Stewart

https://youtube.com/watch?v=WIhlC3L99x8?si=7QJb19xfUWEhBJbP

As a film enthusiast, I can’t help but appreciate the clever wordplay when Elon Musk mentioned he wanted to “spend more time with family.” It’s always refreshing to see a classic phrase given a twist, and Jon Stewart certainly delivered on that front. Even though the rest of his headlines segment seemed to lose some initial focus, as someone who loves a good play on words, I can’t help but tip my hat to an unexpected cliché well executed. And let’s not forget the amusing graphic of Trump reacting in surprise at the end – a fitting ending to the segment!

3.
The Best Plug in After Midnight History

https://youtube.com/watch?v=5-Ul06UQRqI?si=r47IZGQ7Wlp7Msg7

On Wednesday’s episode, the creators of “After Midnight” were featured as guests. The atmosphere reminded many of the covert vaping during lockdown episodes of “After Midnight,” which was a spin-off from “The Late Late Show With James Corden.” It had an understated yet rebellious feel, as if daring anyone to cancel them. This was particularly evident when writer Zach Noe Towers casually asked viewers to Venmo him for his pet’s recent medical bills during the commercial break. It wasn’t just a humorous commentary on Hollywood’s hierarchy; it was incredibly relatable.

2.
Exactly the Kind of Story You Want to Hear About Christine Baranski

https://youtube.com/watch?v=vIWQd9lXzsE?si=lD5cZ4UE2F-i5bG2

In a manner reminiscent of Christine Baranski speaking to you, Annie Murphy, during filming: When capturing scenes, there’s often idle time to fill. Legend has it that Joan Crawford knitted to keep her hands busy and calm her nerves. However, one can only give away so many sweaters. Instead, consider Kegels; they’re a worthwhile investment! If you find yourself waiting for the best boy to adjust the key light perfectly, seize those moments for 45 seconds of pelvic-floor exercises! By the time we finish this project, dear, you’ll be able to open pickle jars with ease using your strength!

1.
Pissing Blood on Late Night With Seth Meyers

https://youtube.com/watch?v=MleKLXB5OnI?si=BteTg4cDKE0rU1_i

The past week saw an unprecedented level of frankness on late-night television. On The Tonight Show, Kegels were discussed, Hoda Kotb admitted that Gayle King’s space flight was considered outdated on Watch What Happens Live, and Stephen Graham talked about his mid-flight surgical procedure on Late Night. This conversation took the cake for boldness and detail shared. Creator of Adolescence, Stephen Graham, shared a story about experiencing blood in urine during a transatlantic flight, getting re-catheterized in the business-class lounge, and the sense of relief when one can — as defined by the AMA — urinate normally again. To add to the anecdote, there was even a tasteful photograph to accompany it! We’ve certainly come a long way in discussing/circumventing the topic of male genitalia since Johnny Carson’s well-known ax-throwing ad lib.

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2025-06-06 17:55