Late-night talk show hosts live podcast Strike Force has been canceled. This weekend, Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, and Jimmy Kimmel were scheduled for a live show in Las Vegas.
Jimmy Kimmel tested positive for COVID-19 and had to cancel. And then there were two; however, instead of Fallon and Colbert taking the stage minus Kimmel, the other two decided to cancel the show.
“Strike Force Five” Was Born
A weekly podcast called Strike Force Five was initiated in August. Colbert, Fallon, Kimmel, Oliver, and Meyers started their podcast to help their late-night staff monetarily until the strike ends.
Not to mention, the podcast serves as a much-needed creative outlet for the five comedians. Everyone has been out of work since May, and it was an excellent idea for these men to “join forces” (so to speak.)
The hosts were to do at least twelve episodes of their podcast, and they would get together for an amusing chat about everything they cannot talk about on their respective shows right now.
In the first episode, Kimmel joked he had been thinking about retiring before the strike but realized it was too much fun to do his job.
Kimmel announced,
“Well, Las Vegas, I got COVID, and sadly, we need to cancel this weekend’s Strike Force Three show. I could never live with myself if I got my hometown friends sick. Thanks to all who purchased tickets; everyone will get full refunds, and we will try to reschedule if possible.”
The show was scheduled for Saturday, September 23rd. This appearance would have been the first time the three funnymen would all be onstage together.
Three Late Night Hosts Were to Perform in Las Vegas
Only the three hosts (Colbert, Fallon, and Kimmel) were supposed to attend, and John Oliver explained his absence with,
“I’m not allowed back in Vegas until I’m cleared of all charges.”
Seth Myers reportedly told his podcast listeners that he would be in Vegas but was too busy playing the slots to participate in the show.
Spirits giant Diageo and Ryan Reynolds’ Mint Mobile were to sponsor the show. Back in 2007, late night hung in the balance as there was also a writer’s strike that affected Hollywood.
During the strike of 07-08, Late Night resumed only when David Letterman made a generous deal with the WGA—the deal allowed the show to re-start production with its union writers.
The other late-night shows came back without writers. The late-night hosts who returned, minus their writers, include Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart, and Conan O’Brien.
Today, in 2023, it would be a serious risk to late-night hosts to return without writers. The stakes are too high, and there would be significant pushback.
Strike Force Five was the closest the hosts came to returning, and the proceeds would have been promptly given to the staff and crew not working.
Spotify hosts Strike Force Five. Some of the shows featured by the hosts included news stories they wished they hadn’t missed. It also features awards show screwups, answering questions from the listeners, and a game show hosted by Jimmy Fallon.
Until late night comes back in full force, the podcast will help listeners get their fix.
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