What makes America laugh before bed? Or rather who does… Monologue is a book about late night and the importance it has not just in pop culture but in the fabric of the US. Written by Jon Macks a writer for Jay Leno, you’ll get a unique view on how critical Late Night truly is to the US.
America Laughs Before Bed
It might sound silly, but Late Night shows allow us to digest important information and laugh simultaneously. It’s a time when we are relaxed open to new ideas and hopefully some laughter. At this point in time in the midst of a pandemic and America wrestling with systemic racism, we could all use a good laugh for sanity’s sake.
Macks runs through the history of Late Night and how we got to where we are today. He then looks at the different styles from the more educational approaches like John Oliver and Stephen Colbert to the more lighthearted like Jimmy Fallon or James Corden. One thing is clear though, Late Night has a prominent place in politics, culture, and the way we think.
Late Night Politics
Interestingly enough, politicians who appear on Late Night shows get boosts in the polls. Even their approval ratings jump up… if they don’t completely flub it up that is. A good politician on a Late Night show combines a bit of self-deprecation while playing along with the host. Who knew late-night laughs could dictate America’s elections?
Late Night even has the power to shape our opinions of politicians even if it never happened. Tina Fey’s portrayal of Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live will forever go down as one of the prime examples. Everyone remembers Sarah Palin she can see Russia from her house? Yeah, I thought I did too… except it never happened. Palin never said she could see Russia from her house. But the overall portrayal of Palin that Tina Fey put on forever cemented that non-real-world event into our minds. The crazy thing is it doesn’t matter what Palin actually said. Late Night caused America to make up its mind based on a good laugh and seemingly accurate portrayal.
Through the Hard Times and the Good
Additionally, Late Night helps us process the difficult things that happen as well. John Macks gives examples throughout of how Leno to Lettermen and others handled difficult situations. Macks uses the monologue excerpts following September 11th, 2001, and how following President George W. Bush’s call for normalcy Late Night approached the topic. The power of these moments when a humor based Late Night host turns somber has a way of emphasizing the seriousness of a situation. Truthfully, I started crying when I read those 9/11 monologues.
As we have seen through the pandemic, Late Night continues to adapt and each host has their own style. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve seen hosts recording in make-shift home studios, bringing in their families and allowing us, the audience to grow even closer through a challenging time.
It is clear how critical Late Night laughter truly is to the fabric of the US and America’s sanity. It’s worth a read or listen if you prefer audiobooks.