As the days get longer and warmer, you'll no doubt want to spend your free time outside or with your friends and family. However, for late evenings at home when you have some time to yourself, consider indulging in the wonderful world of late night television if you haven't already.
There are currently a wide variety of comedians hosting diverse late night shows, from satirical news parody programs to sillier variety-type shows. The following five comedians are only a selection from the current landscape of late night hosts, but they're my picks for hosting the most enjoyable programs to add fun and laughter to your summer.
1. Jimmy Fallon
Fallon is currently at the helm of "The Tonight Show" on NBC, which receives about 4 million viewers nightly. This strong viewer base is likely due to the show's many fun games and segments, such asLip Sync Battles, Water Wars, and Thank You Notes, which keep viewers laughing at the utter goofiness of it all.
Fallon has said in multiple interviews that his goal with "The Tonight Show" is for "people can go to sleep with a smile on their face," and this is exactly what his show achieves. You've likely seen some of his show bits thanks to his enormous YouTube popularity; the official "Tonight Show" YouTube channel has over 10 million subscribers.
If you've never investigated Jimmy Fallon, consider tuning in to "The Tonight Show" this summer for much singing, dancing, game-playing, and maybe an interview or two. It is everything that summer television should be: lighthearted, joyful, and spirited.
2. Stephen Colbert
Though Colbert also features fun games and segments, his humor on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" is more thoughtful and topical and less goofy than Fallon's. Nonetheless, his "Late Show" is just as worthy of your summer TV time.
Colbert carries over his signature razor-sharp wit from "The Colbert Report" into a broader focus on "The Late Show." He has a certain natural chemistry with his guests that is always entertaining to watch, and his own presence makes you laugh before he even says a word.If you're looking for quality, interesting, funny interviews with the stars of this summer's blockbuster movies, Colbert is your guy.
3. James Corden
Though Corden has not been on TV as long as the other comedians on this list, his "Late Late Show" on CBS has gained attention for its focus on Corden singing with his guests.
He comes from a song-and-dance background, winning the Tony for Best Actor in a Play for "One Man, Two Guvnors" and starring in the film version of the musical "Into The Woods" in 2014. This background leads him to be most amusing in segments such as his immensely popular "Carpool Karaoke" segment, which has received up to 100 million views on one of its installments.
Corden may not be as funny in his interviews as Colbert or play as wide a variety of fun games with his guests as Fallon, but his British charm and carefree attitude are extremely fun. If you're looking for a late-night comedian who just so happens to be hosting the Tony Awards on June 12 and is a hilarious showman, check out James Corden!
4. John Oliver
John Oliver is the only comedian on this list who does not host a "traditional" late-night talk show. Instead, his "Last Week Tonight" takes seemingly mundane issues, such as the congressional fundraising, and creates long, humorous segments unpacking these issues and relating them to comical aspects of everyday life.
Oliver's show is also on HBO, which allows him to let the expletives fly and add to the humor of his segments. Though Oliver began as a correspondent on "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," his strength here is his intense leading energy and passion. It spills into every single topic discussed on the show, in often uproarious fashion. His show is funny and also informative, so if you want a late night show that may teach you a little about a small foreign country, invest your time in John Oliver.
5. Conan O'Brien
An oldie but a goodie, Conan manages to be consistently hilarious with his monologue delivery and timing on his late-night gig on TBS. His interviews frequently devolve into investigating a random detail that the guest happened to mention off the cuff, which often leads to hilarious tangents.
His formula for humor is simple: create clever, witty joke that riffs on a current news or pop culture story, deliver said joke with a couple of well-timed pauses, and wait for the audience to laugh. Conan's humor is also quite self-deprecating, which leads to even more funny moments when conversing with his guests. If you would rather watch a more traditional, yet still riotously funny late night show this summer, go for some Conan.
Between these five comedians, you should be able to find someone whose sense of humor resonates with you. Don't let late night television take over your summer, but recognize that it could provide valuable viewing pleasure. And if you don't actually want to watch any of them live on TV, there's always YouTube!