Seth Meyers was a sensible selection for Jimmy Fallon's replacement, having experience as a Weekend Update anchor on Saturday Night Live for an impressive six years and being someone with whom Lorne Michaels, executive producer of both Late Night and SNL, was familiar.
So, two years after Meyers took the reigns of Late Night, why is he still not getting the praise he should?
Fallon is clearly killing it in the late night scene (and will always have my heart), but Meyers isn't doing too bad himself. So why does no one give him the credit he deserves? Here are the top reasons Seth Meyers is currently the most under appreciated man of late night television.
1. His writing is so ridiculously intelligent.
Meyers is a graduate of Northwestern and studying comedy for many years before getting shining as head writer on SNL, so it's no question he knows what he's doing. Meyers surpasses the trivial, funny-because-it's stupid bits that are common in late night television and has created clever segments that are just the right amount of informative while still making his audience laugh.
2. The "A Closer Look" segment.
This is a masterpiece. Meyers knows what he's good at and he made the smart decision to return to his Weekend Update ways with this segment bursting with social commentary. Making fun of news and politicians is arguably what this man was born to do, and this segment allows me to watch it and die of laughter, but also close my computer feeling like I learned something about the world.
3. His "desk-ologue."
There is not a crazy amount of diversity in the late night set up - monologue, a bit at the desk, a few guests and then some music. But, as any fan who has watched from the beginning can tell you, Meyers' monologues were painfully awkward. So he did the unheard of and went against the status quo. His "deskologue" again makes a return to his SNL days, but this is not a bad thing. Clearly more at home making jokes behind a desk instead of center stage, Meyers is doing what he needs to to keep up the funny, and it also reminds us all of his glorious SNL days.
4. Fred Armisen.
Though Armisen isn't a regular on the show as often as one would like, when he's there a whole other level is brought to the show. The chemistry between these two and the short bits at the beginning of shows Armisen is there for as band leader are priceless and adorable and beloved by all.
5. His interactions with his guests.
Admittedly, most late night hosts are good at this or they wouldn't have their jobs. But Meyers really kills it. He makes the interviews feel personal, but never seems to make a wrong move. His guests often appear, whether they are or not, as his friends and that makes for an interview worth watching. Also, there is arguably nothing sweeter than when Meyers has his family on as guests. Like, come on, why watch J-Lo on Jimmy Kimmel when Meyers is drinking with his dad on live television?
6. His ability to laugh at himself.
This alone is one of the most underrated traits of a host. Jokes bomb, it happens. And it may be tempting to cut it and use the version from dress rehearsal where people actually laughed. But when a joke bombs or the audience hates something, Meyers embraces it like no other. This works for him as an endearing characteristic because on some level, we all want to be able to laugh at ourselves. But also, it's just so damn funny when a joke tanks and he gets up from his desk saying he knew it wasn't going to work.
Seth Meyers is killing the late night game, and hopefully he's not going anywhere any time soon (at least not before the election, because his presidential commentary is key).
Keep doing you, Seth, because it's working.
