Late-night TV hosts like Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert have been actively involved in fundraising for President Biden’s campaign as the November election approaches. Critics argue that their political activism is causing them to lose viewers and impacting the nature of comedy on their shows.
Recently, Jimmy Kimmel organized a star-studded celebrity fundraiser for Biden’s 2024 campaign, raising over $30 million. Similarly, Stephen Colbert participated in a lavish fundraiser that brought in $26 million for Biden’s campaign. Other hosts like Seth Meyers have also been using their platforms to support Biden, blurring the lines between comedy and activism.
Critics like Jimmy Failla believe that late-night hosts should focus on entertaining their audiences rather than getting involved in political campaigns. They argue that the shows have become more partisan and one-sided, alienating viewers who do not share the same political views.
Despite the criticism, hosts like Seth Meyers continue to make jokes about Biden’s age while cautioning viewers not to compare him to former President Trump. However, the jokes often come across as partisan rather than purely comedic.
A study by the Media Research Center found that the majority of political jokes on late-night shows target conservatives, reflecting a bias in the content presented to viewers. This bias may be contributing to the decline in viewership for late-night shows, as audiences who do not share the same political views may be tuning out.
Comedians like Johnny Carson and Jay Leno are cited as examples of hosts who were able to entertain audiences without taking a partisan stance. Critics argue that real comedy should be inclusive and bring people together, rather than dividing them based on political beliefs.
In conclusion, the involvement of late-night hosts in political fundraising and activism has raised concerns about the impact on their shows and viewership. Critics believe that comedy should remain separate from politics in order to appeal to a wider audience and maintain the tradition of entertaining late-night programming.