Washington, D.C. – Late-night television shows in 2023 targeted conservatives in approximately 81% of their political jokes, according to a study conducted by the Media Research Center (MRC). The watchdog analyzed a total of 9,518 political jokes from six shows, including “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” “The Daily Show,” “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” and “The Late Late Show with James Corden.” Kimmel’s program had the highest rate of anti-conservative jokes, surpassing even Colbert’s show.
The study revealed that 88% of the jokes made by Jimmy Kimmel were aimed at conservatives, with 762 jokes specifically targeting former President Donald Trump. James Corden’s show was found to be the least partisan, with 54% of his jokes classified as “anti-conservative.” However, Corden is no longer a late-night host, as he left the position in April.
In addition to the overwhelming slant towards one political ideology, the MRC also found that 95% of late-night guests in 2023 were liberals. While it is acceptable to cater a show to a specific political viewpoint, late-night shows were not initially intended to be wholly partisan.
The consequences of this one-sided political “humor” can be seen in the declining viewership and revenue of late-night television. In 2023, the combined ad revenue of shows such as “Tonight Show,” “Late Night,” “Late Show,” “Late Late Show,” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live” amounted to $342.4 million. This is significantly lower than the $334 million generated by “Tonight Show” alone in 2018.
One possible explanation for this decline is the rise of cord-cutting and changes in viewing habits. However, the negative impact of the biased political content is also evident. Late-night hosts such as Kimmel, Colbert, and Fallon predominantly cater to ardent liberals, leaving a significant portion of the country disengaged. As a result, voices like Bill Maher and Greg Gutfeld, who appeal to conservative audiences, have become influential figures in late-night programming despite airing in fewer homes than their liberal counterparts.
It is unfortunate that both the left and the right provide abundant material for satirical content, yet shows like “SNL” and late-night programs have failed to tap into this potential. Instead, they have become extensions of the left-wing propaganda machine, losing their comedic appeal along the way.
The analysis by the MRC shines a light on the concerning lack of balance and diversity in late-night television. With the majority of political jokes targeting conservatives and a substantial imbalance in guest selection, it comes as no surprise that viewership and ad revenue are on the decline. The future of late-night programming may need to adapt and address these issues to regain relevance and appeal to a wider audience.