Part 8/12:
The Decline of Traditional Late Night and the Rise of Counterculture
The late-night landscape is also evolving. While Fallon and his counterparts like Jimmy Kimmel and Seth Meyers occupy the limelight, some newer shows aim to offer a countercultural alternative. Greg Gutfeld’s Gutfeld! is seen as a more unfiltered take, though it faces criticism about whether it genuinely diverges from mainstream norms.
The strike involving late-night hosts and comedians—culminating in initiatives like Strike Force Five, which raises funds for striking writers—further exemplifies a fractured industry grappling with its internal ethics and power dynamics. These efforts showcase the ongoing tension between maintaining entertainment relevance and addressing industry misconduct.