Actor Jon Lovitz Speaks Out Against Late Night Hosts Kimmel and Colbert
Actor and comedian Jon Lovitz recently addressed the current state of late-night comedy in an exclusive interview with FOX News Digital, taking aim at the politicization of popular late-night shows and calling out liberal hosts Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, and Seth Meyers.
Lovitz, a comedy icon with nearly 40 years in the business, rose to fame during his days as a cast member on "Saturday Night Live." When asked about the transformation of comedy over the years, Lovitz drew attention to the polarizing nature of late-night shows since the Trump era.
"I don't like it. I don't like it," Lovitz stated. "They were comedy shows. And now, except for Jimmy Fallon, they've all become very political. And for me, it's just too much."
Lovitz went on to express his disappointment in the shift towards political content on these late-night shows, stating that they were initially meant to be entertainment shows, not platforms for political commentary.
"Johnny Carson would do a few jokes about the president or current events and then move on," Lovitz recalled. "But now it's all just one-sided political agenda. It's not the same shows that I used to appear on. It was more about comedy and less about politics."
The veteran comedian also reminisced about his experiences appearing on "The Late Show with David Letterman" during the early years of his career. He described it as a "comedy show" in the talk show format, with interviews that were more for routine and entertainment rather than political discussion.
Lovitz also acknowledged that while it is ultimately the host's decision on how they run their show, he personally prefers the old format of late-night comedy.
"They can do whatever they want. But you're asking me, do I like it, and I'm like, no," Lovitz said. "If I want the news, I'll watch the news. I'm not watching those shows. They're late night entertainment, but it's all political, except for Jimmy Fallon."
Lovitz noted that Fallon has faced backlash from liberals for his friendly interview with then-candidate Donald Trump in 2016. Fallon, who had previously welcomed Hillary Clinton onto his show twice, chose to treat Trump similarly, which drew criticism for humanizing the controversial figure. However, Fallon has since apologized for the interview.
While Fallon has not taken a partisan stance, his late-night counterparts, such as Colbert and Kimmel, have made it a central focus of their programs. Lovitz criticized this emphasis on politics, stating that it has taken away from the comedy that used to be the main element of these shows.
"They just hammer it to death," Lovitz explained. "They've become, 'Here's my political agenda.' They're very open about it, and I'm like, well, all right. But I don't particularly like that they've become that, because where's the comedians and the stand-up and the bits, like Letterman? It was comedy."
Lovitz, who continues to tour the country doing stand-up and appears regularly on Byron Allen's game show "Funny You Should Ask," hopes to see a return to the days when late night comedy was purely for entertainment and not a platform for political agendas. With his successful career in comedy, Lovitz's opinion carries weight in the industry, and many fans will be interested to see if his words will have any influence on the future direction of late night programming.