Polymath Amanda Seyfried Won Late Night This Week

Casting directors, you seeing this? Photo: The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon/YouTube

Well, what a dang eventful week in late night. This week marked Donald Trump’s first joint address to Congress in his new term, and we all talked about it. Stephen Colbert went live to really unpack the madness that went down, whereas Seth Meyers looked at Trump’s address and decided that, actually, you can just watch his dumb comedy show for news now. This will be the true point of distinction between late-night shows that remain in the political-commentary format and those that perhaps evolve beyond it.

Most late-night shows had unkind words to say about the politicians who made theatrical performances against Trump during his address. Compared to what has gone down recently in South Korea and Serbia, the level of resistance in legislative bodies is — in the words of Azealia Banks — Nathan. Some late-night outlets applauded the efforts of those who work within the system, and others found the funny outside of it. Is there a right answer? It depends on what you want out of late night. Pre–Jon Stewart’s Daily Show, the nightly boys stayed away from politics. That can be a funnier tack, if one that is more removed from the audience’s lived experience. Here’s who walked that balance best this week in late night.

5.

Jon Stewart Explains Kayfabe

Politics is just pro wresting, and it’s huge that a late-night host finally admitted it. Jon Stewart compared Trump’s meeting with Zelenskyy to John Cena’s heel turn with the Rock and Cody Rhodes. Politics, stan wars, other pro sports: It’s all been wrestling for a minute! And what’s more, his comparison made room for the “invisible hand of capitalism” to be the actual Worst Heel (Vince McMahon) in the situation.

4.

A Homoerotic Compliment to Stephen Colbert

Stephen Colbert should be lauded for Strangers With Candy every day. And considering how many days of the week he’s televised, it’s fucked up how little of that time is dedicated to praising Colbert and Paul Dinello for their campy yet deeply accurate abusive gay relationship. Shoutout to Brian Tyree Henry for derailing his own network air time to give flowers to his special guy.

3.

Three Busy Debras Ride Again

After Midnight had on three of the best Debras to ever do it. Alyssa Stonoha, Sandy Honig, and Mitra Jouhari got back on the late-night tip a few years after their Adult Swim show ended. It’s the best thing After Midnight does with its budget: reuniting big-dick-swinging motherfuckers in the comedy world, for the casual enjoyment of CBS viewers. The elimination game the Debras played, generating new security questions for password recovery, allowed each woman to display the thing they think is funniest with an economy of words. And when Stonoha “lost,” real Deb-heads knew she’d won because she’s grown her hair the longest since her show was on the air. It’s incredible, and I am insanely jealous.

2.

Amber Ruffin Adopts Seth Meyers

This is the most palatable I’ve found a recent recap of events, basically all year. When Amber Ruffin said “There’s a new hell and it’s the skyyyy!” I felt that. Ruffin found exactly the right balance between what is crazy about living in unprecedented times and what is awesome about those aforementioned times. Most importantly, this feels like a time when you could adopt and/or fire your boss, which is what she does to Seth Meyers in this segment. My only note is for Seth: Always rub facial products into your face upward; it helps with any lifting properties therein.

1.

Will You Take Me As I Am?

This was one of those rare late-night clips that broke through into the greater online discourse. Is it because Amanda Seyfried was in Twin Peaks: The Return, and all the Lynch-heads were on high alert post-Oscars? Highly likely. But when Seyfried broke out the dulcimer and chirped “California” by Joni Mitchell like a cartoon songbird, the world took notice. So often, celebs go on late night with an alleged “skill.” Rarely do they crush so thoroughly that people are now preemptively against any Mitchell biopic not starring Seyfried. And all us marshmallows knew, long, long before.