You haven’t heard of these late-night shows (but they’re worth watching)
It's a good time to be in latenight television. Donald Trump's unorthodox presidency has primed America's appetite for shrewd commentary from a range of hosts including Stephen Colbert, Seth Meyers, Trevor Noah, Samantha Bee, Bill Maher and John Oliver. Even more entertainment-minded hosts (Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel and James Corden) have upped their political ante to varying degrees of success.
But those are just the prominent examples. Latenight's increasingly crowded roster has given way to a number of intriguing alternatives. We've rounded up some shows that add to the conversation while breaking late-night TV's traditional mold.
DESUS & MERO
The gist: Bronx-bred comedy duo Desus Nice and The Kid Mero offer frank and spirited takes on the day's headlines from behind a graffiti-
covered desk, which they occasionally swap for two scholarly-looking leather armchairs. The New York Times aptly describes Viceland's first late-night show as "loose, cheerful and profane."
Recent guests: Actor Jesse Williams, MSNBC host Chris Hayes, singer Faith Evans, activist Johnetta Elzie. What you might be miss
ing: Refreshingly candid celebrity interviews and hiphop-fluent banter.
In a December appearance on the show, Rashida Jones recalled being bitten by Michael Jackson's famed chimpanzee, Bubbles, when she was a teenager. Hayes, in an earlier appearance, detailed his high school run-ins with rapper Immortal Technique and "Hamilton" creator Lin-Manuel Miranda.
The hosts, who honed their comedic rapport on Complex's web series Desus vs. Mero and their long-running podcast "Bodega Boys," also use their hip-hop and social media savvy to explain news in unique ways. For example, their analysis of Diddy's new charter school, where, Desus mused, "Your kids could learn the Harlem Shake and give people terrible record deals."
How to watch: Desus & Mero airs Monday through Thursday nights at 11 p.m. on Viceland (formerly H2). You can also watch episodes on the show's official YouTube channel.
UNCOMMON SENSE LIVE
The gist: Charlamagne Tha God, who hosts Power 105's boisterous morning show "The Breakfast Club," takes a weekly look at pop culture and politics with the help of panelists including comedian Jordan Carlos and The Read co-host Crissle West. Recent guests: Former
CBS anchor Dan Rather, TV personality and GQ host Keith Olbermann, author and Georgetown University professor Michael Eric Dyson. What you might be miss
ing: No-holds-barred critiques of the Trump administration and often-overlooked perspectives.
"Daylight savings is this Sunday, but we may not need it because Ben Carson just set us back 400 years," Charlamagne quipped after the Housing and Urban Development secretary likened slaves to immigrants.
The show shifted to a live format for its third season, allowing viewers and guests to send questions in real time via video chat and social media. After Trump's meeting with representatives from historically black colleges and universities generated headlines and memes, "Uncommon Sense" featured a first-hand account from Dillard University president Walter M. Kimbrough, who explained over video chat that the HBCU leaders had really been at the White House to speak with education secretary Betsy DeVos.
How to watch: "Uncommon Sense Live" airs Friday at 11:30 on MTV2.
@MIDNIGHT WITH HRIS HARDWICK
The gist: Ubiquitous TV host Chris Hardwick and a trio of comedians riff on politics and Internet culture in a gameshow format.
Recent guests: "Saturday Night Live" cast member Sasheer Zamata, "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" star Stephanie Beatriz, comedian Ricky Velez, comedian Flula Borg. What you might be miss
ing: Expert comedic timing and internet jokes from people who understand the internet.
Hardwick, who hosts 100 different shows (OK, more like three) isn't really the draw here, though he has certainly gained a following helming aftershows for AMC's "The Walking Dead" and "Better Call Saul." Watch for the guest comedians, who need to be able to think on their feet, as Hardwick challenges them to create hashtag-inspired puns (while viewers tweet their own takes), help him get Alec Baldwin to unblock him on Twitter or introduce Trump Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch as if he were a standup comic coming to the stage.