Television series

The Amber Ruffin Show

Name: The Amber Ruffin Show
Genre: Comedy
Released: 2020
Cast: Amber Ruffin

Satire
Light-hearted
Dip in and out

Amber Ruffin's late-night show strips away the interview segment filler to deliver pure comedy about the week's news. Smart, absurdist, and furiously funny, it's for people who want political humor with actual jokes—not just hot takes. Twenty-seven minutes of Ruffin's distinctive voice: urgent, hilarious, and completely unafraid to find the ridiculous in the outrageous.

TVMaze rating

2.3

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you like a host who is quick on her feet and happy to go silly, and you want a half hour that stays funny rather than earnest.

Skip it if you want the week's news handled with real weight, since the silliness is front and centre and can feel slight when a joke needs to carry an argument.

What it asks of you: Episodes around 27 minutes, moving quickly from bit to bit; you can dip in without setup and it rewards a light, unhurried evening over close attention.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver2014

Oliver's long-form segments dissect news with surgical precision and genuine rage, landing jokes that resonate precisely because they're rooted in real reporting. Densely funny and genuinely informative.

But Each episode is heavy—the comedy serves the argument, so there's no lightness or whimsy. Can feel like homework if you're not in the mood for anger.

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver poster

The Daily Show with Trevor Noah2015

The template for smart political comedy: rapid-fire jokes, recurring segments, guests who can spar. The best version of late-night's news-plus-laughs formula, executed with genuine wit and timing.

But Varies wildly depending on the host. Some episodes feel scattered; the format can mean good jokes get buried in segments that don't land.

Saturday Night Live1975

Live sketch comedy at its best is irreplaceable—that danger, that speed, the bits that go beautifully wrong. When it works, nothing else feels as alive. Ruffin herself has been brilliant here.

But It's ninety minutes of variable quality. You'll sit through clunkers to reach the gems. Some sketches outstay their welcome by half.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from The Amber Ruffin Show

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Insecure2016

Both Ruffin and Rae have unmistakable comedic voices rooted in observation and specificity. They refuse to make the 'easier' joke. The comedy comes from seeing clearly, not from punching targets.

Issa Rae balances comedy and genuine emotional weight, tackling race, work, and friendship with humor that never punches down. It's funny because it's true, not the other way around. A masterclass in voice.

But It's not a joke delivery system—comedy serves character and story, so if you want wall-to-wall laughs, you'll find stretches of real drama or vulnerability instead.

I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson2019

Absurdist sketch comedy that finds the grotesque and painful in ordinary situations. Hilarious, weird, and deeply committed to each ridiculous premise. Completely its own thing.

But The humor is confrontational and doesn't explain itself. If you prefer comedy that lands gently, this will feel alienating or mean-spirited.

I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson poster

Desus & Mero2016

Two hosts with genuine chemistry riffing on pop culture and politics with infectious energy. The comedy comes from their rapport and willingness to follow a joke anywhere, however strange it gets.

But Episodes are shapeless by design—no real structure means they can meander. If you want tight construction, this feels baggy and repetitive.

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert2015

Colbert brings theatrical energy to political comedy and can actually conduct an interview that reveals something. The desk bits are frequently brilliant, and he's unafraid of genuine emotion.

But The format dilutes the comedy with talk-show obligations. Too many segments feel obligatory, and the interviews often overshadow the comedy.

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert poster

Full Frontal with Samantha Bee2016

Bee uses gonzo reporting and attitude to uncover absurdities in politics. Smart, propulsive, and genuinely angry in ways that fuel the comedy rather than replace it.

But The righteous anger can feel repetitive. Some segments rely on the shock of Bee's audacity rather than actual jokes underneath.

The Eric Andre Show2012

Chaotic, absurdist talk-show parody that treats comedy as performance art. Genuinely surprising and unhinged in ways that feel dangerous. Comedy for people who want to feel anything.

But It's often deliberately uncomfortable and intentionally unfunny in conventional ways. Long stretches are just bizarre rather than funny; patience required.

Catch Me If You Can2002

Both operate in the space between sincerity and mischief. Ruffin's comedy often comes from presenting absurdities with complete seriousness; this film does the reverse—treating a con as a dance between two people who respect each other.

Spielberg and DiCaprio tell a con story with genuine charm and wit. It's a heist comedy disguised as a thriller—funny without ever breaking the tension, clever dialogue that doesn't announce itself.

But It's leisurely and digressive, more interested in character than plot. Younger audiences find it slow; it moves like a conversation, not a thriller.

Killing Eve2018

Both Ruffin's comedy and this show understand that the funniest thing is often the specific detail—the moment someone's mask slips. Comedy and drama aren't opposites here; they're the same observation.

A psychological thriller where the comedy emerges from character—two brilliant, broken women in an obsessive game. Villanelle is funny because she's real, not because she's trying. Darkly hilarious.

But The humor exists in a story about violence and death. Some viewers find the tonal mix unsettling. Later seasons lose focus and become frustratingly uneven.