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Like kind and television, the evening talk show is a static business. This does not easily invite change. While newcomers like Jimmy Fallon and James Corden are trying to animate the format with viral videos and karaoke clips, it has not changed much since Johnny Carson's days. Still, if he wants to stay relevant, he will have to. That's why when the Showtime brand Desus & Mero The first took place last night – note that the first late-night effort for the premium cable channel – took place in a climate where the evening gabfest model never felt more unstable, uncertain or out of place .
Despite being away from television for seven months, the two men left Viceland last June to sign a more lucrative deal with Showtime, mostly for the same program: Desus Nice (Daniel Baker) and The Kid Mero (Joel Martinez). the cold very woozy open). In many ways, the current model reflects the old. The structure is sporty and deliberately overflowing, free form. In place of a usual monologue, Desus and Mero exchange lyrics about the week's news in the form of video clips interspersing their comments. An interview with a political or creative personality usually concludes the show. Their first guest under the Showtime banner was the US representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (originally from the Bronx without any coincidence, as the hosts of the show), who spoke not only about memes used by her online trolls, but also about criticisms made about it.
The opening segment of the premiere was a kind of master class in cultural criticism, and it's usually there that the duo hit its favored target. About Barack Obama's speech in Oakland at the initiative of My Brother Keeper: "He's everywhere. He looks like a Dominican father at a wedding," said Desus, to whom Mero (a Dominican and father of four children) went on the field. Perfect parody of the archetype. Sure Green paper, The Oscar-nominated film that sparked controversy over its misrepresentation of the famous black pianist Don Shirley: "Green paper is basically just Friday with racism. "On Vladimir Putin practicing with the Russian national judo team:" He has a black belt, but I do not think that means his knowledge of karate. He had this shit from H & M. "
Their report comes easily because both are multi-platform avatars of particular skill. They first made some noise as frank Twitter personalities, which they then turned into a series of podcasts (the most recent is Bodega Boys), a televised deal with Viceland (which ended after two seasons) and a live comedy show. There is an intimacy and an advantage in their partnership; they operate with more self-awareness, their social commentary is on the rise and they are able to tap into the youngest group of viewers among late-night viewers. Watching Desus & Mero can feel connected to Twitter without the regret that it often leaves users with power ("Why did I connect!?!" is an all too common chorus). It's a tiny mix of new and explosive spirit – and always the right amount.
Watching Desus & Mero can feel connected to Twitter without the regret that it often leaves users with power ("Why did I connect!?!" is an all too common chorus). It's a tiny mix of new and explosive spirit – and always the right amount.
Again, Desus & Mero is an outlier. It would not be an exaggeration to think that late-night television is going through an identity crisis for some time now. New shows like Late at night with seth meyer and The Late Late Show with James Corden try to push the boundaries with the comic news analysis and "Carpool Karaoke", but the setup is still a host and a few guests. Netflix has made unique advances in the genre, but consider the position of the broadcast giant: it is able to play big on stylish imports like The break with Michelle Wolf and Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj because he has money. And the formats of these shows – and their ruthless honesty – are still rare in advertising-sponsored TV channels.
The daily show Jon Stewart at the time was a delightful agitator in his own right, but he had more in common with his predecessors than we want to admit. It was designed for a certain class of people (in this case, educated people who are hungry to wake up politically). Also think about this: late-night television is a particularly stubborn variety that can be excluded. Despite their comical agility, David Letterman and Jay Leno mainly addressed adults five nights a week. It was a softball comedy, rarely with a genuine commitment – honest questions, honest answers. The genre has flourished like that for decades on large networks. And little changed with Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Fallon, respectively, taking the reins of The show late and Tonight's show. (Young fans hoping the same insolent spirit that Colbert staged The Colbert Report or little zany gloss of Fallon on Saturday Night Live were in a surprise.)
Of course, the interim saw the rise of a cabal of acolytes Stewart, John Oliver, Samantha Bee and Trevor Noah, led by experts in treats – who found a place in the firmament of the show of debate. They have forged singular identities, but often end up getting stuck in the daily flow of political mud. Desus and Mero do not have this problem. Back in the nightlife, they bring cultural knowledge that requires little or no barrier to entry. It's like taking the best of Rachel Maddow's show, Everything is with Chris Hayes, and black cultural vortices like Bossip and The Shade Room, and merging them into an almighty entity, waving shit. From Viceland to Showtime, Desus & Mero is now able to reach a much wider audience, proving that maybe, perhaps, that late at night is finally ready for a shake of change.
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