PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA, THE: PALEYFEST NY 2017: LATE NIGHT WITH SETH MEYERS {LONG VERSION}
Summary
One in a series of evenings and special screenings presented as part of The Paley Center for Media's PaleyFest New York 2017. This evening celebrates "Late Night With Seth Meyers," the comedy/variety talk show hosted by Seth Meyers.
Host Ron Simon (curator, The Paley Center for Media) offers opening remarks and introduces a brief highlight reel of "Late Night," featuring political commentary, musical performances, and interviews with celebrities Jennifer Lawrence, Larry David and others. After the clips, Simon introduces Colin Jost (writer and cast member, "Saturday Night Live"). Jost moderates the following panelists: writers Alex Baze, Sal Gentile, Amber Ruffin, Jenny Hagel; and Seth Meyers.
The panelists touch on such topics as: taping that day's episode, including long-winded stories from guest James Spader; why the writers no longer bother sitting backstage during tapings; the writers' past career experience, including how Meyers "stole" Baze from "SNL" boss Lorne Michaels and Gentile's "dual life" writing comedy and actual news for cable television; Jost's current residence in Meyers' former office; the writers' use of rejected "Late Night" jokes and bits for their onstage comedy performances, including an election-themed video that was scrapped when the results were not as predicted; the "Jokes Seth Can't Tell" segment, inspired by Hagel's writing of many jokes about lesbian-themed movie "Carol" (2015); how the show changed after the 2016 election, including the use of the "Closer Look" segment; how "Closer Look" differs from the opening monologue and the importance of not neglecting important stories in favor of "chasing crazy"; the loose Thursday pitch meetings, during which writers "follow their dumb hearts" and toss out a variety of ideas; Baze's perpetually "crabby" nature; why they are no longer influenced by the "interesting and different voices" of other late-night talk shows; their creation of a "newsmakers' desk," which was ultimately not used on the show; employing a diverse writing staff in order to avoid writing in a "bubble"; and Meyers' keen awareness of jokes that are too specific to certain cultures and identities.
Questions from the audience then lead to a discussion of the following topics, among others: advice on screenwriting careers and controlling one's own goals; Ruffin and Hagel's experiences working in the male-dominated field of comedy writing, including Ruffin's "alpha" status in the "Late Night" writers' room; why all of the writers have "veto power" over new hires; whether Meyers fears being placed on vindictive President Trump's "enemies list," as famed host Dick Cavett was with Nixon; their advice to their younger selves, including the importance of being ready for unexpected opportunities and working on projects that one genuinely enjoys; the popularity of the "Closer Look" segment on YouTube, despite the "Golden Rule" that users will only watch very short Internet clips; and the decision to distinguish the show by opening with Meyers behind his desk, rather than the famous standing monologue, as used on "The Tonight Show."
Simon then introduces Julie Menin, Commissioner of the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment, who presents Meyers with the Spotlight Award for his work in comedy and political commentary.
Details
- NETWORK: N/A
- DATE: November 30, 1999 8:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: N/A
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 130812
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Ron Simon … Host
- Colin Jost … Moderator
- Alex Baze … Panelist
- Sal Gentile … Panelist
- Amber Ruffin … Panelist
- Jenny Hagel … Panelist
- Seth Meyers … Panelist
- Julie Menin … Guest
- Dick Cavett
- Lorne Michaels
- Richard Nixon
- James Spader
- Donald Trump