Late Night with Seth Meyers
Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014) is an American late-night news and political satire variety talk show hosted by Seth Meyers on NBC. The show, which premiered in February 2014, features Seth Meyers delivering monologues, conducting interviews with A-list celebrities, and performing various comedy segments. It is produced by Broadway Video and Universal Television, airing weeknights. The program is known for its topical humor, political commentary, and a diverse writing team that contributes to segments like "Jokes Seth Can't Tell." Full episodes are available on Peacock the day after airing, with clips also provided on social media platforms. As a late-night talk show, the content is generally aimed at an adult audience, often discussing current events, social issues, and pop culture. The show frequently includes mature language, references to alcohol, and discussions of sexual and gender identity as part of its comedic and interview segments. Its humor can range from lighthearted to biting political satire. The overall content appropriateness leans towards mature viewers due to its consistent use of adult themes, language, and the nature of late-night talk show discussions. Parents should be aware of the show's TV-14 rating, which signifies content that may be unsuitable for children under 14, including strong language and suggestive dialogue.
Concerns
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
HighLate Night with Seth Meyers frequently features LGBTQ+ themes and representation, particularly through its "Jokes Seth Can't Tell" segment. This segment explicitly addresses LGBTQ+ topics, often with lesbian writers Amber Ruffin and Jenny Hagel delivering punchlines to jokes Seth Meyers, as a straight white male, feels he cannot. The content acknowledges and normalizes LGBTQ+ identities and relationships through humor.
1. In the "Jokes Seth Can't Tell" segment, co-writer Jenny Hagel, who identifies as a Puerto Rican lesbian, often delivers jokes pertaining to LGBTQ+ experiences. An example includes a joke about a woman proposing to her girlfriend during a professional women's hockey game, with the punchline, 'experts are calling it the gayest sentence ever said.' 2. Another instance in "Jokes Seth Can't Tell" features a joke about a reality show exploring the lives of '12 lesbians,' which is then humorously referred to as 'a lacrosse team.' The segment also included a joke in 2019 about 178 cats in a home, with the punchline "even lesbians think that's too much pussy."
Profanity
HighThe show frequently uses strong coarse language. While broadcast television typically censors profanity with bleeps, live episodes have aired some uncensored swear words, and the nature of comedic and political commentary often involves implied or bleeped strong language.
1. During a live episode featuring Leslie Jones, Seth Meyers joked with her about not swearing because the show was live, but Jones ultimately did swear, which the network censor caught. In the same episode, writer Amber Ruffin used the phrase "bigger dicks though" as a punchline in "Jokes Seth Can't Tell," which aired live. 2. The "At This Point in the Broadcast" segment features Meyers pantomiming a profane rant against mundane topics while a disclaimer about technical difficulties scrolls on screen, implying strong language through visual cues and audience reaction.
Substance Use
HighSubstance use, specifically alcohol consumption, is a recurring and often central element in several segments of 'Late Night with Seth Meyers'. The "Day Drinking" segment explicitly features Seth Meyers and celebrity guests consuming various alcoholic beverages and discussing their effects.
1. The popular "Day Drinking" segment features Seth Meyers engaging in heavy drinking with celebrity guests like Kelly Clarkson, Rihanna, Paul Rudd, and Dua Lipa. They consume multiple alcoholic drinks, play drinking games, and exhibit signs of intoxication, often for comedic effect. 2. Seth Meyers has also done "Day Drinking" segments with his own family members, including his mother, where they discuss their alcohol tolerance, further normalizing casual heavy drinking.
Romance and Sexual Content
MediumRomance and sexual content are present in the form of suggestive dialogue, adult humor, and occasional innuendo, fitting the late-night talk show format. While explicit sexual acts or graphic nudity are absent, discussions can be mature and include suggestive themes.
1. In a "Jokes Seth Can't Tell" segment, a joke about 178 cats in a home concluded with the suggestive punchline, "even lesbians think that's too much pussy." 2. Seth Meyers, in a stand-up segment about his wife and her sister's arguments, recounts a sister saying "You were a slut in high school" during a fight, indicating mature and potentially crude language within discussions of relationships.
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumDisrespect and rebellion are present, often as a form of comedic expression and political satire. Seth Meyers and his guests frequently offer critical, sometimes biting, commentary on political figures, current events, and societal norms. This can involve sarcastic remarks and challenging established ideas.
1. The show's political satire often involves critical commentary on elected officials and government policies, which can be perceived as disrespectful to authority, such as Meyers' segment taking on "English-Only Politicians" where he critiques their stance. 2. Segments like "Ya Burnt" involve Seth Meyers offering "biting critiques" of various subjects, including institutions or social phenomena, which by nature can be seen as disrespectful or rebellious in tone.
Anti-Christian Themes
MediumThe show occasionally touches upon religion, including Christianity, typically within the context of political or social commentary. While direct mockery of Christian beliefs may occur through satire, it is not a central or pervasive theme, but rather part of broader critiques of current events or public figures. One segment mentioned the "Trump administration's relationship with religion."
1. A segment titled "The Check In" explored topics such as "the Trump administration's relationship with religion," suggesting that religious topics, including Christianity, are open for discussion and potentially critical analysis within the show's political commentary. 2. Although not directly from 'Late Night with Seth Meyers', general concerns about 'mocking Christianity and God' in the entertainment industry are expressed by some Christian viewers. Given the show's satirical nature, it is reasonable to expect that religious topics could be subjected to humor that some may find irreverent or disrespectful, though specific examples were not universally highlighted as anti-Christian.
Violence
LowThe show is a late-night talk show and does not typically feature graphic physical violence. However, it includes comedic references to violence, often in the context of political satire or exaggerated scenarios. Mentions of violence are generally verbal and not visually depicted in a graphic manner.
1. In a "Really!?! with Seth and Amy" segment, there's a satirical discussion about protests related to a play depicting Julius Caesar getting "pretend-stabbed with a fake knife," contrasting it with political events. 2. A segment discussing political infighting used the metaphor of a "knife fight" within Donald Trump's team, describing shouting matches and top lieutenants trying to shake each other down for money, but this is clearly metaphorical and not a depiction of actual violence.
Witchcraft & Occult
LowThere is no evidence to suggest that 'Late Night with Seth Meyers' features witchcraft, occult, or supernatural themes. The show's genre as a late-night talk and political satire program does not typically incorporate such content.
1. No instances of witchcraft, sorcery, magic rituals, demons, or spells were found in content reviews or show descriptions. The program focuses on current events, celebrity interviews, and comedic sketches. 2. The content does not involve any depiction or discussion of supernatural powers or occult practices in its regular segments or special episodes.
Scary & Intense Content
LowThe show does not contain scary or frightening content typically found in horror or suspense genres. Any intense content is generally limited to discussions of serious political or social issues, which are presented within a talk show format and comedic lens, rather than designed to induce fear.
1. While political discussions can be serious, such as a segment called "The Check In" which examines important but less-covered political topics, these are presented as commentary and satire, not in a way that creates a scary or frightening atmosphere. 2. The "Ya Burnt" segment involves Seth Meyers delivering "biting critiques" or roasts, which are intense in a comedic, sarcastic way, but not genuinely scary or fear-inducing.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
14+ with parental guidance, due to frequent strong language, consistent alcohol references, and regular discussions of sexual and LGBTQ+ themes within a comedic and political satire context. The show's TV-14 rating indicates it may be unsuitable for children under 14.
Additional Notes
Late Night with Seth Meyers is a broadcast television program and as such, explicit content like strong profanity or nudity is typically censored (bleeped/pixelated) for air. However, the themes and implied content remain, and uncensored versions or moments of oversight can occur, especially in live broadcasts or online clips. The show relies heavily on current events and political humor, making its content highly variable depending on the news cycle and guests. Parents should be aware that the comedic tone often utilizes sarcasm and satire, which may be misinterpreted by younger audiences. The show's diverse writing staff contributes to a range of perspectives, including LGBTQ+ voices.
Related Reviews
Is Late Night with Seth Meyers right for your family?
These concerns are a starting point — what many Christian parents care about. Want to screen for other themes? Define your own concerns.
Screen any book, movie, or show — even titles no one else has reviewed.
“StoryScanner gives us clarity and confidence. It's become our go-to for checking books at the library and movies on family night.”
— Cristi & Brian, Dallas TX
“StoryScanner has been such a BLESSING for researching books for our children. You can set filters for your concerns, enter a book title, and it lets you know what's present.”
— Christian Book Reviews for Families (Facebook)
No credit card required