• by Colin Kirkland , Yesterday

YouTube is launching its own late-night talk show in which social-media personality, comedian and actor Julian Shapiro-Barnum will host a live weekly program called “Outside Tonight,” per an announcement made at a YouTube creator event on Thursday in New York City.

While X has invested in “video-first” updates, introducing in-app programming hosted by current and former television personalities like Don Lemon and Tulsi Gabbard, “Outside Tonight” will mark the first major attempt by a social media network to run a live late night talk show. 

However, similar to Shapiro-Barnum’s popular creator series “Recess Therapy,” which has 1.3 million subscribers on YouTube, “Outside Tonight” is expected to replace the traditional studio setting with New York City’s parks, plazas, and street corners -- in an effort to expand the definition of the well-known format via new settings and the spontaneity that comes with it.

In outside locations, Shapiro-Barnum will host celebrities and feature live music and audience-centric games, per the announcement from YouTube, currently the dominant TV distributor in the U.S., with the largest share of monthly viewing among all streaming platforms. 

As the Google-owned company attracts more viewers across social and connected TV (CTV), it has also announced other exclusive projects slated to launch in the following months. Hosts and creators will include former “Daily Show” host Trevor Noah, film producer Dhar Mann, YouTuber Cleo Abram, “Brave Wilderness” host Mark Vins, and others popular creators on the platform. 

At its New York City event, Google president of Americas and Partners Sean Downey addressed advertiser interests. 

“The number one thing I hear from you as advertisers and partners is, how can I do more with creators, to get integrated, to be a part of this authentic storytelling, other than just running advertising like I always have,” he said, adding that “Outside Tonight” and other slated program are Google’s solution.