Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore Review

The newest show on the late night block is The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore.  So far three episodes have aired and thus the show is game for judgment and harsh critiquing.  The show so far has been a worthy successor to my beloved Colbert Report and will no doubt be around for a bit.  This show must have set a record for the largest disparity between quality of the show and awfulness of the promos (they were very bad especially when paired with the hilarious promos of Broad City).  Larry Wilmore has delivered in his first week with great topics and interesting panels.  His first ten minute monologue segment is consistently funny and does a great job setting up the panel discussion.  The panel is where I can really see this show succeeding.  On all three shows he’s had a wide array of voices and opinions that are not typically found on TV or the 11:30 slot.  It’s been a great mix of politicians, writers, musicians, and comedians that can make for good discussion (and it serves as a nice precursor to my favorite panel show of Real Time with Bill Maher).  For the panel to be good though, it needs to have a wild card or somebody who will disagree with what the majority says.  The Bill Cosby episode had that in the form of Keith Robinson saying some of the women were lying.  The first show had Bill Burr discussing how violence is needed in protest movements and last night’s show had Amy Holmes saying she would not stand when Obama said we need equal pay of women during the Keep it 100 segment.  The outliers of the panel will provide the fuel for good debate and it is necessary for Wilmore and his staff to keep booking these voices or else the show will be just a round table of predictable agreement.  This show will thrive on differences of opinion.

I also feel that Wilmore is cutting off people and debate a little too quickly at times, but I imagine that once the show progresses, he’ll become a master at guiding the discussion.  I have another complaint with the Keepin’ it 100 segment because it seems like Larry Wilmore already has a correct answer in mind and will only give out a 100 sticker if the person goes along with what he thought.  If you go against Larry Wilmore’s opinion you will get a weak tea.  Otherwise the show has been great and we couldn’t ask for a better follow up to Colbert.  The show is giving different voices and perspectives a chance to shine and will allow for an interesting discussion to take place rather than force people into making unfunny jokes.  I like the dual format and always enjoy a late night talk show that doesn’t serve to promote people’s boring movies or projects.  It is great show and I wish Larry Wilmore and the Nightly Show good luck.