Commentary

Late Night Improv Entertainment: More Politicians, Please

by Wayne Friedman , Staff Writer, February 23, 2026

Why do we watch politicians on late-night TV? Not always to get their positions on major policy topics.

Viewers want to have some unexpected talk. Or entertainment. Perhaps politicians do as well.

Sometimes we want to see them make fools of themselves. They may stay stupid or outrageous things -- in between more serious discussion topics.

Best of all, we are uncertain what might happen. And that’s the whole point.

This is why many Republican-minded voters like President Trump. Because his remarks can be crazy, impromptu, entertaining, or totally off the cuff -- filled with lots of wild insinuations and of course, mistruths and outright lies.

All this reflects on where the Federal Communications Commission is going with its hard-edged “equal time” rules over the air daytime or late-night talk shows, which has had a pseudo-exemption when it comes to politicians as guests sitting alongside celebrity and Hollywood talent.

This comes in the midst of much scrutiny over ABC’s “The View” and more recently CBS’ “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," which intended to have James Talarico, a Texas Democratic candidate for Congress, on its show.

But corporate executives at Paramount Skydance put the kibosh on it. In turn, “Late Show" producers decided to air a 15-minute segment on YouTube that pulled in some 8.2 million views.

TV Watch took a spin on what fellow MediaPost columnist Adam Buckman referenced when he said watching politicians can be a waste of time when they make “fools of themselves” on TV shows.

Sure, and perhaps that is the point. Viewers will want to watch that.

Running for Congress can be about presenting a profile that largely offers politicians a pristine, honest image. But they are human. In the hands of a quality late-night comedian-interviewer, this can also mean good “entertainment.”

With a politician on late-night shows, we don’t know what we are going to get. However, if we see Brad Pitt, Scarlett Johansson, Margot Robbie, or George Clooney on a late-night show, we know pretty much why they are there -- to promote their latest TV show, movie, cause or specific product/service -- and that is very predictable.

In the current political environment, not only do we need more politicians, but we should find better ways of talking with them.

The best TV is the unexpected -- and hopefully entertaining.

content, entertainment, fcc, news, policy, politics, television

3 comments about "Late Night Improv Entertainment: More Politicians, Please".

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Dan C. from MS Entertainment, February 23, 2026 at 2:15 p.m.
Social media and podcasting offers politicians more than enough off the cuff opportunities. They don't need a platform that is dying from self-inflicted wounds.

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Ed Papazian from Media Dynamics Inc, February 23, 2026 at 5:24 p.m.

The problem with this, Wayne, is that the broadcast TV networks' late night hosts and staffs are 100% in bed with the left, politically. As a result, you won't get much balance in terms of guests--many Dems but few Republicans and MAGAs. That's a boring menu--even for liberal viewers--they've heard it all before. As the available audience--what's left of it--is mostly people over the age of 55--many of whom are Republicans--- how do you convince people who represent their way of thinking to come on? Different kinds of hosts may be the answer, or, failing that, the introduction of conservative minded co-hosts, might give these shows a sense of balance that captures conservative viewers.

tyler lubbers from clench Media, February 24, 2026 at 4:47 p.m.

Late night host are about as relevant as SNL. And it is a complete echo chamber, void of any real honest debat. Very similar to most aritcles in Media Post. For example if I see Wayne wrote the article, I know there will be some TDS commnet in there somewhere. Like most in mass media, their opinions are transparent and always at the forefront of their articles.