Part 6/7:
The consensus among commentators indicates that the late-night landscape is fundamentally changing. The current hosts may have exhausted their appeal, and the networks are hesitant to admit defeat by pulling the plug on their shows. However, with less than 10% combined ratings share during their time slots, the viability of this format is hard to justify.
The late-night category may not need to be eliminated entirely; rather, it may simply require an overhaul. Fresh audiences demand authenticity, spontaneity, and relatability—traits that are often absent from the current offerings. As viewing habits continue to shift and evolve, networks might find themselves needing to re-evaluate their strategies to connect with an increasingly discerning audience.