Television series
The Late Late Show with James Corden
- Comedy
- Light-hearted
- Dip in and out
James Corden's high-energy late-night show reimagined itself around participation and spectacle rather than interview monologues. Kinetic, music-forward, and unafraid of silly stunts—think if a party host could book anyone and had a TV budget. It's for people who like seeing celebrities slightly unmoored, with a soundtrack by Reggie Watts's genuinely inventive band.
If you liked this
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon2014
The gold standard of modern late night: Fallon nails the interview-game-sketch balance, the house band elevates everything, and his emotional range runs from genuinely hilarious to genuinely moving.
But If you find his wholesome enthusiasm exhausting, or if you want your late night with an edge rather than a dad-joke warmth, this won't convert you.
Late Night with Seth Meyers2014
Sharper political commentary than most late night, great interviews that dig deeper, and a band that's genuinely inventive. Feels like a show for people who actually want to think.
But Slower pacing, less music spectacle, and if you're not interested in topical stuff, long segments on politics will feel like homework.
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah2015
Took the late-night format and weaponized it—sharp writing, visual comedy, and a genuine point of view. Interviews that matter, segments that land, a band that knows what it's doing.
But Heavy on politics and current events; if you want pure entertainment over commentary, this skews toward the latter. Can feel a bit relentless.
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The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
The Muppet Show1976
Same DNA of orchestrated chaos, musical performance as equal to comedy, and the energy of a host trying to wrangle beautiful weirdness. Both are about making entertainment feel like a party.
The template for celebrity-music-sketch shows: guest stars, original songs from a talented band (Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem), games, and genuine weirdness. Timeless because it understood joy as much as it understood comedy.
But Puppets and a very 1970s sensibility—if you want naturalism or contemporary pop culture, you're watching the wrong thing. Some bits feel slow by modern pacing.
More like this (6)
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert2015
The most formally inventive of the late-night bunch. Colbert's a genuine performer, the band is exceptional, and the show isn't afraid to swing for the fences with format and tone.
But Sometimes the ambition outpaces execution. If you prefer straightforward comedy over experimentation, it can feel like too much.
Conan2010
Conan O'Brien's the closest thing to anarchic energy on network late night—absurdist comedy, real musicians, and he seems like he's having more fun than anyone else doing this job.
But Can be uneven; some bits go nowhere, and if you're watching for celebrity interviews or topical relevance, you'll be disappointed.
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver2014
The format freed Oliver to do real investigative comedy. Long-form segments that actually build, a distinct point of view, and consistently smart writing about things that matter.
But It's half an hour of one man talking. If you need variety, energy shifts, and music, this is the opposite. Also: HBO subscription required.
The Kelly Clarkson Show2019
A daytime talk show that remembers music matters and that hosts don't have to be cynical. Warm, genuinely funny, and Clarkson's joy feels authentic rather than performed.
But It's a daytime show, which means different energy and audience. If you want late-night edge, this trades it for something gentler.
Saturday Night Live1975
The ancestral form: sketch comedy, live music, celebrity, the thrill of something potentially going wrong. When it works, nothing's better. When it doesn't, it fails fast.
But Deeply uneven—some sketches crash, some musical acts misfire, and 90 minutes means you're sitting through a lot of filler to find the gold.
Schitt's Creek2015
Not late night, but it has that same energy of performers having enormous fun in an ensemble setting. Music-forward, absurdist, and genuinely joyful about its own ridiculousness.
But A scripted dramedy, not improv. If you specifically want the unpredictability of live TV, this is the opposite: everything's planned.
People
Cast
James CordenHost
Production
- Ben WinstonExecutive Producer
- Rob CrabbeExecutive Producer
Recommended by
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Conan, Busy Tonight, The Ellen DeGeneres Show