Last week, Jon Stewart announced that he intends to end his run on “The Daily Show” later this year. Every night, the final seven minutes of his show are dedicated to showcasing a different viewpoint. Stewart brought on an eclectic host of guests throughout his tenure. While Stewart sometimes interviewed popular celebrities, more often than not he interviewed guests for their expertise, not for widespread fame. With his announcement, Stewart leaves one of the only nightly television shows that focuses beyond celebrity guests.
I grew up on the big late-night talk shows. “The Tonight Show,” “Late Night,” “The Late Show” — there was no show I did not watch. I admired the hosts — fascinated by their presence, pitch-perfect reactions to everything and command of the audience. I watched reruns and YouTube videos of the greats: Johnny Carson, Dick Cavett and Steve Allen.
These were all men built for television, and they consistently brought on guests that were polished just like them. Night after night, these hosts invited countless celebrities to promote movies, television shows or music albums. The conversations centered on Hollywood and celebrity, offering a one-sided view of American life.
Now more than ever, different viewpoints should be invited into the American home. Late-night talk shows and their guests are invited into the intimate settings of American bedrooms and living rooms. People watch these hosts — Jimmy Fallon, David Letterman or Jimmy Kimmel — while curled in a blanket or with a loved one. They want to be entertained and listen to people and subjects relevant to their daily lives.
There is a desperate need for substantive conversation in the dialogue of late night television. When Craig Ferguson attempted to stay away from the scripted and pre-planned stories of guests on “The Late Late Show,” celebrities felt less interested in stopping by. He recently left the show — tired of the same stories every night. He is not alone. Back in the day, Cavett tried to hold substantive conversations with his guests and his show was canceled every few years. Substance is not a popular business model.
In the days of viral video, talk shows produce YouTube-ready clips that stretch out the success of their show and bring more people into the franchise. It becomes necessary for talk shows and their hosts to produce the kind of interviews that can make a great video title. These videos are shared on Facebook, Twitter, gossip websites and email — bringing viewers back to the show. It is a good marketing strategy, but does not go far enough in advancing the public good.
“The Daily Show,” with its nightly ridicule of the media and American politics, is unlike traditional talk shows; it presents interviews that do not aim to make headlines, but rather to inform, excite and inspire. It brings on the type of guests that deserve a more mainstream outlet — the same star treatment that many celebrities receive on network talk shows. Their voices and stories need be told and I hope that late-night talk shows soon give them a chance to speak.