The jokes may have stopped, as a nation turned to comedians for comfort.
Comedy and current events have historically intersected on late-night television, but the laughs came to a screeching halt after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, putting the programs and their hosts in an unfamiliar position. While humor was not something Americans necessarily sought in such a turbulent time, these shows became a de facto town square where viewers could find solace as they struggled to make sense of the madness that surrounded them.
“The idea of going on TV and making a joke about anything just seemed gone,” she said about the days and weeks that followed. “Another smaller group of people stole some airplanes and crashed them into buildings,” he said. “And we’re told that they were zealots fueled by religious fervor. Religious fervor. And if you live to be a thousand years old, will that make any sense to you? Will that make any goddamn sense?”
“The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn” followed Letterman that night, also eschewing its traditional fare in favor of chats with Lawrence O’Donnell, Dr. Drew Pinsky and Patricia Heaton.Seth Meyers currently hosts "Late Night," a position once filled by late-night titans Conan O'Brien and Jimmy Fallon.about the task of returning to work."But at some point you want to get back and do the things that you do.
Conan O'Brien, who was hosting "Late Night" when the attacks of Sept. 11 happened, appeared with Sarah Jessica Parker on the live broadcast of "America: A Tribute To Heroes" on Sept. 21, 2001, proving comedians have a voice that extends beyond just generating laughs.Jokes about President George W. Bush, whose penchant for mispronunciation was a staple of the pre-Sept. 11 late-night landscape, were off-limits as the nation rode a wave of patriotism.
“We have been the cowards, lobbing cruise missiles from 2,000 miles away,” Maher had said in response to a comment that the terrorists were not cowards. “That’s cowardly. Staying in the airplane when it hits the building, say what you want about it, it’s not cowardly.’’The voices of late-night shows developed into a beacon of hope and solace.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
11 Times Actors Dressed Like Their TV CharactersIs that Sarah Jessica Parker, or Carrie Bradshaw? Hard to tell.
Read more »
Netflix Releases ‘Midnight Mass’ Trailer (TV News Roundup)Netflix released a trailer for “Midnight Mass,” Mike Flanagan’s upcoming supernatural horror limited series, premiering on Sept. 24 on the streamer. The series follows a small, isolated island comm…
Read more »
Breakingviews TV: SoftBank pop | Reuters VideoThe Japanese group’s stock jumped around 20% after it swapped some T-Mobile US shares for a stake in Deutsche Telekom. It also bagged $2 bln-plus in cash. That has investors hoping for a big share buyback. But they may have the wrong number in mind, says Jennifer Hughes.
Read more »
Pact Census: UK TV Revenues Fall As Pandemic Hits Sector; Indies Target SVOD CommissionsTwo new reports from leading UK producer group Pact show the stark impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the UK independent production sector, with the group’s CEO John McVay warning that &8220…
Read more »
Gambling wave coming to NFL TV screens, but in moderationThree years after the Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act and allowed states to legalize sports betting, the NFL has embraced gambling as part of the landscape.
Read more »
Peter Kay on new book, top TV gossip and secret friendship with Ronnie BarkerFans of the comedian will be able to listen to his voice even if they missed out on ticket sales to his live tour as he has recorded his autobiography The Sound Of Laughter
Read more »