close Late-Night TV Is Now Just Political Theater Ben Bankas calls out late-night TV for losing its bite—saying it’s no longer about laughs, but pushing the same tired narratives. Late-night talk shows used to be a unifying force in American television. Millions and millions of people tuned in to watch Johnny Carson poke fun at everyone, identify and support up-and-coming comics, entertain with clever and timeless skits, bring on musical guests and tell jokes. Those days are long, long gone.