The world of late night talk shows has had plenty of hosting drama in the past. Whether it’s Jay Leno replacing Johnny Carson decades ago or Leno himself being replaced by Conan and Fallon, the idea of hosts being pushed out to make room for new blood is far from a crazy idea. But in the new film “Late Night,” that idea has an added wrinkle that brings a bit more relevance to the story.
“Late Night” tells the story of an aging female late night talk show host. She’s the first of her kind, in a world dominated by men. However, her reign is thrown into question when she gets word that the network is looking to replace her with someone younger…and male. The host must then rely on a new female writer to liven up her image and help her keep her job.
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The cast for the comedy includes Emma Thompson, Mindy Kaling, Max Casella, Hugh Dancy, John Lithgow, Denis O’Hare, Reid Scott, and Amy Ryan. The film is written by Kaling and is directed by Nisha Ganatra.
“Late Night” hits theaters on June 7.
Here’s the synopsis:
Legendary talk-show host Katherine Newbury (Oscar® winner Emma Thompson) is a pioneer in her field. The only woman ever to have a long-running program on late night, she keeps her writers’ room on a short leash ― and all male. But when her ratings plummet and she is accused of being a “woman who hates women,” Katherine puts gender equality on her to-do list and impulsively hires Molly Patel (Mindy Kaling), a chemical plant efficiency expert from suburban Pennsylvania, as the first and only female on her writing staff. With rumors swirling that Katherine is being replaced by a younger, hipper male host, she demands that the writers make her funny and relevant again. A lifelong fan, Molly is determined to prove she’s not just a diversity hire, but the one person who can turn her idol’s career around. Going against everything Katherine has staked her reputation on, she urges her to make the show more contemporary, authentic and personal, a move that could make Molly’s career ― or send her back to the chemical plant for good.