When you’re done reading this – and only when you’re done, log off you computer and go to your Amazon Prime account (you do have a Prime account right?) and watch “Steve Byrne: The Last Late Night”.
Byrne is a breath of fresh air and a quaint look-back to the golden age of the late-night talk show. I didn’t know who Steve Byrne is before hearing of this special but now realize I should have.
“The Last Late Night” is his stand up comedy special staged to look and feel like a Johnny Carson “Tonight Show” set complete with a house band. It’s a beautiful homage to that era.
Byrne opens with a current monologue and slyly works in Carson’s gestures and mannerisms when a joke fails to land. Then there’s audience banter spliced in where the commercials are supposed to be. Finally when we get back, Byrne’s guest is Byrne and the comedy just keeps flowing.
As with any stand-up, we learn about the comedian’s life through the bit. He’s Irish-Korean, from Pittsburgh and had his own TBS sitcom which should have had more success than it did.
Although the special is hilarious, I felt a little sad that he reminded us of how funny and fair late night comedy used to be. Watching Carson, Letterman and even Leno back in they day, you wouldn’t be able to tell what their political leanings were. Carson was beloved, Letterman, subversive and Leno, safe. Today’s crop offers Two Minutes Hate – Comedy Edition and outright banality.
Steve Byrne appears to be right-leaning, despite his very good Trump impression. But nowadays, being fair makes you look right-wing so who knows.
That said, you should check out “Steve Byrne: The Last Late Night” – free with Prime*.
* Not a paid endorsement. I am not receiving cash, clout or even a seductive wink from Mr. Byrne.
