What the late-night shows have planned for the political conventions
Published 1:30 am Tuesday, July 19, 2016
The Washington Post
The Republican National Convention will dominate the news this week, with the Democratic National Convention coming next week, and late-night shows are taking advantage. If you find yourself craving a satirical approach, here’s a rundown of what to expect from some of the most political savvy voices in late-night. (Note: All times listed are Eastern.)
“Full Frontal With Samantha Bee”
Bee brings her passionate commentary to the RNC this week, offering two episodes taped in Cleveland. The first airs Monday during her usual 10:30 p.m. slot. The second will air Wednesday at the same time. The Democrats won’t go unscathed either — Bee’s show has the same Monday/Wednesday lineup planned for next week’s convention in Philadelphia.
“The Daily Show With Trevor Noah”
On Monday, Noah will host “The Road to ‘The Road,’ ” the first of two election specials tied to the national political conventions.
This week’s special will chart Donald Trump’s path to becoming the presumptive Republican presidential nominee. The second, “What to Expect When You’re Expectant,” will air July 25 as the Democratic National Convention gets underway, and will recall the intense primary competition between Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. Both air during “The Daily Show’s” usual 11 p.m. time slot.
“The Daily Show” will be taped in Cleveland for the rest of the week following the Monday special, and the show will be taped in Philadelphia next week.
“The Late Show With Stephen Colbert”
Colbert gets back to his roots, broadcasting live (at the usual 11:35 p.m.) during both national political conventions.
This week, the theme is “The 2016 Trumpublican Donational Conventrump — Starring Donald Trump as the Republican Party (May Contain Traces of Republican).”
It’s been widely reported that Colbert’s former “Daily Show” boss Jon Stewart will appear on “The Late Show” Monday, though CBS has not given official confirmation. Vulture speculates that Stewart may show up as an RNC correspondent — and the network has said the show “will have an on-site presence at both conventions.”
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Jeff Daniels, Allison Janney, Keegan-Michael Key, John Oliver and former U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner are among the other guests slated to appear on the show throughout the conventions.
Next week’s shows will have the theme “The 2016 Democratic National Convincing a Technically Historic Event: Death. Taxes. Hillary.”
Colbert kicked off the festivities Sunday, when he crashed the RNC stage dressed as Caesar Flickerman from “The Hunger Games” and announced “It is my honor to hereby launch and begin the 2016 Republican National Hungry for Power Games!”
“Late Night With Seth Meyers”
NBC will broadcast Meyers’ show live on Thursday at 12:35 a.m. (OK, technically Friday) following the last session of the Republican National Convention, when Trump is expected to be named the GOP nominee.
“Real Time With Bill Maher”
Maher’s weekly HBO political show will air special half-hour episodes tied to the Republican convention on Wednesday and Thursday at 11 p.m. Democratic convention-themed episodes are scheduled for July 27 and July 28. The specials are in addition to “Real Time’s” regularly-scheduled episodes, which air Friday at 10 p.m.
