What We’ll Lose When After Midnight Ends

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This week, CBS announced it’s cancelling “After Midnight” and will no longer produce content for the late-night second slot. Farewell to comedy opportunities in general, as well as to a show that frequently brought laughter and refreshing humor. Unlike many topical comedies trying different angles to depict Mitch McConnell as a turtle, “After Midnight” often took a unique approach, such as referring to a faucet as vulgar.

Providing a platform for those on the brink of fame to shine in front of television cameras and grow their popularity. (The British have mastered this concept.) As we bid farewell to the show before it disappears from our TVs or TikTok feeds, let’s take a moment to appreciate the best moments of After Midnight.

RIP Tiny Couch

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=OmhVV_NaiZ0

Reflecting on the past, it seems obvious now that something significant was about to change when they swapped their small couch for a larger one during the early days of ‘After Midnight.’ Initially, host Taylor Tomlinson would bring out a petite couch from her podium for what was known as the “talk-show segment” of the show. This little couch perfectly captured the quirky essence of ‘After Midnight.’ If you were expecting a traditional talk show, well, too bad! We had a lavish budget for unusual props instead. However, this apparently didn’t help, and it certainly wasn’t anything that mattered to others. But to me, it was everything.

Comedians Could Let Their Freak Flag Fly

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=YNuxC2GMkzU

In nearly every appearance on After Midnight, Chris Fleming would stage a small skit. During this particular segment, comedians took jabs at Sam Taggart, who was portrayed as an ordinary guy (in reality an AM writer and co-host of StraightioLab). The routine primarily focused on Taggart being roasted excessively and his feelings being genuinely hurt. However, Fleming flipped the situation. He exposed Taggart with personal details gleaned from their long-standing friendship, which was one of the highlights of the show as it often revealed deep friendships over their careers.

Dudes Being Buds

https://youtube.com/watch?v=OQPenrYw69k?si=EChvzolf6A06fJqC

Following midnight, it mixed things up with its assortment of opponents. At times, these were complete strangers. At other times, they hailed from the cast of Ghosts. On occasion, it even felt like a mini revival of The Groundlings. Stephanie Courtney, Jim Rash, and Nat Faxon have since embarked on distinct professional paths – one as a wealthy insurance-mascot figurehead, while the other two have won Oscars for screenwriting. However, they previously shared a stage on Melrose Avenue. And they reunited once more on After Midnight. (Just a side note: The Groundlings Theatre and the Paramount Lot are both located on Melrose in Hollywood.)

Talk-Show Anecdotes Only As Needed

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=b-OqiGjyUXQ

The show After Midnight was primarily known for its simple games, with some viewers even suggesting that everything was staged and the scores didn’t matter much. However, every now and then, authentic talk-show stories would slip through. In the featured clip, Thomas Lennon discusses his strained relationship with Barbara Broccoli, former James Bond producer (she wasn’t fond of Night at the Museum ), which culminates in a cleverly executed pun. Lennon triumphantly celebrates when it’s over, and rightfully so. The reason such moments worked was because they were spontaneous. Most of the episode, though, remained…

Dumb, Dumb Games

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=dR5W2HajsfQ

Among the various quirky games in the annals of “After Midnight,” none has captured my fondness quite like the one where you guess which lamp actually functions. It’s not about cunning strategies or clever gameplay; it’s simply a matter of choosing between unattractive lamps and atmospheres. Many games were on par with this level of absurdity, such as Which Nick Is Taller? or Which Sweater Is Softest? There was also the one where contestants crafted little figurines from clay only to have them demolished by a massive hammer wielded by Tomlinson. However, when reminiscing about this show at a future gathering, I’ll undoubtedly share tales of the enigmatic game: Which Lamp Works?

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2025-03-28 17:55