- Several late-night television hosts returned to their shows after the Writers Guild of America strike ended.
- Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, and Seth Meyers each added unique touches to celebrate their comebacks.
- Guests on the various shows included Will Smith, Tina Fey, Mandy Moore, and others.
Late-night television’s most popular hosts returned to their shows with gusto following the end of the Writers Guild of America strike. Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, and Seth Meyers each celebrated their post-strike comebacks with individual flair, showcasing special guests, humorous skits, and poignant moments.
“The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” host, known for his quirky demeanor, addressed the audience in a monologue describing the agreement between writers and producers as “a beautiful baby girl weighing in at $130 million in additional compensation.” Jokingly, he added that all the writers got in the deal were “these stupid pencils.” Colbert took advantage of his newfound freedom to flex his comedic muscles, entertaining guests like Will Smith and Broadway star Ben Platt.
Over on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” the host welcomed viewers back with a rousing rendition of The Temptations’ classic “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,” backed by The Roots. Fallon also interviewed former “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) colleague Tina Fey about her new Broadway musical, “Mean Girls,” and sparked laughter with a segment in which famous Olympians read “superlatives” about themselves from a high school yearbook.
Jimmy Kimmel pulled out all the stops for his return to “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” inviting A-list guests like Mandy Moore to promote her new movie “47 Meters Down: Uncaged” and Emily Ratajkowski to discuss her book “EmRata.” Kimmel also revealed a new segment titled “Drunk Groceries,” in which he presented audience members with various snacks and beverages that could be purchased at a recently opened bar inside a California grocery store.
Seth Meyers, host of “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” marked his return with an audience Q&A session that featured questions about the strike and a hilarious sketch poking fun at President Donald Trump’s preoccupation with “bad hombres.” Meyers also interviewed actress and comedian Leslie Jones, who made viewers laugh with her take on the Olympic figure skating competition.