Late-Night Shake-Up: Who's Next on the Chopping Block?

EXCLUSIVE: Is Seth Meyers Next in Line for the Axe?

In a shocking move that's left the late-night television world reeling, Professor Robert Thompson, a renowned TV expert and founder of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University, has made some bombshell predictions about the future of comedy on mainstream TV. And it looks like Seth Meyers might be the next to fall.

Just days after Jimmy Kimmel's indefinite suspension over his comments about Charlie Kirk, Thompson shared his gloomy forecast with The Scholarly Note.com, leaving many wondering if this is just the beginning of a new era for late-night television. "There is a clear shift away from the politically charged jokes that have defined late-night hosts like Colbert, Kimmel, and Meyers," Thompson declared.

This seismic change in the landscape has led some to speculate that Meyers' show might be on shaky ground as well. "Meyers has managed to fly under the radar for so long, thanks to Colbert and Kimmel's star power and earlier air times," Thompson explained. "But now, with Kimmel out of commission, it will be harder for him to keep going."

Thompson pointed out that Meyers is still one of the few late-night hosts doing comedy in a way that's been deemed too edgy or provocative by mainstream audiences. "These networks don't want to be seen as 'fighting the good fight' anymore," he said, alluding to the increasingly polarized world of politics.

So, what's behind this sudden shift away from edgy comedy? Thompson believes it's a combination of two factors: fear of losing money and a changing audience. "The next generation is no longer tuning in to watch late-night TV," he stated flatly. "They're going to Substack and YouTube for their comedy fix."

In fact, Thompson predicts that the future of late-night television might be a return to its roots – think Johnny Carson's Tonight Show era. "NBC will be the only broadcast network with comedy people doing this type of format" after Colbert leaves CBS next year, he predicted.

And what about Jimmy Fallon? Could he be the last man standing in this new landscape? Thompson thinks so: "Fallon is the oldest franchise left, and I can see a period where he's the only one still going strong."

But don't count Seth Meyers out just yet. Thompson acknowledged that Meyers has managed to avoid controversy thus far but noted that it might be harder for him to keep his show on track if Kimmel doesn't return to ABC.

In fact, Thompson seemed almost sympathetic towards Meyers: "I don't envy Seth Meyers going out and doing his show after something like this. He's got to feel skittish and vulnerable." One thing is certain – the world of late-night television will never be the same again. And it looks like only time will tell if Seth Meyers will be the next casualty of a changing landscape.

What does this mean for the future of comedy?

As Thompson pointed out, "these people will go to where the changes are happening and leave late night back to its old tradition." The question is – will this be a good thing or bad thing for fans of edgy comedy? One thing's for sure: the world of TV is about to get a whole lot more interesting.

So, what do you think? Will Seth Meyers make it through this new era unscathed, or will he become the next late-night host to fall victim to the changing landscape? Sound off in the comments below!