Late-night talk shows are struggling, with ratings down across the board. Shows like Late Night With Seth Meyers and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon have been forced to make cuts in production due to NBC’s budget trimming. Meanwhile, celebrities are shifting their attention to YouTube for more casual content.
Enter John Mulaney, who is launching a new weekly live talk show, Everybody’s Live With John Mulaney, on Netflix. This marks a departure from his earlier experiment, Everybody’s in L.A., which debuted last May and received positive buzz. To achieve long-term success, Mulaney will need to shake up the struggling genre and find ways to engage audiences.
Mulaney’s new show faces an uphill battle due to its streaming format. Unlike traditional talk shows, streaming services cater to individual viewers’ pace, with no incentive for binge-watching old episodes. However, Netflix has learned from its previous attempts at talk shows, including Chelsea Handler’s Chelsea and The Break With Michelle Wolf.
To succeed, Everybody’s Live needs to differentiate itself from other celebrity interview content on YouTube. Mulaney’s focus on taking calls from viewers, hiring psychologists to analyze comedians, and spoofing traditional formats like “Reverse Borat” might just do the trick. His live element also adds an edge, making it feel more electric and challenging.
Mulaney’s background as a stand-up comedian serves him well in this regard, allowing him to seamlessly transition from crowd work to live TV hosting. His experience on Saturday Night Live also gives him insight into what works and what doesn’t in a live setting. With its unique blend of modernized talk show elements and live component, Everybody’s Live has the potential to capture late-night magic.
Will Mulaney’s new show break Netflix’s losing streak in talk shows? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain – this is an experiment worth watching.
Source: https://www.insidehook.com/television/can-john-mulaney-save-late-night-tv-everybodys-live