After more than a year away from American late-night TV, James Corden is making his comeback. The former Late Late Show host will guest on NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers on Monday, September 8 — his first U.S. late-night appearance since bowing out of CBS in May 2023.

And while it’s framed as just another guest booking, the reunion carries a special twist: for nearly a decade, Corden and Meyers were friendly competitors in the same timeslot, each carving out their own identity in the crowded world of late-night television. Now, the two men will sit across from each other for the first time since Corden left the scene, setting the stage for what could be a fascinating, funny, and maybe even nostalgic conversation.

Corden’s Big Return

For fans who’ve missed Corden’s larger-than-life personality, his Late Night appearance is a long-awaited return. He hasn’t graced an American late-night stage in nearly 18 months, opting instead to focus on stage work, family life, and projects outside the U.S.

But he’s back for a reason: to promote his return to Broadway in the revival of Yasmina Reza’s acclaimed 1998 play Art. The production, currently in previews, officially opens on September 16, and Corden’s appearance with Meyers is perfectly timed to drum up buzz.

Corden, of course, is no stranger to Broadway. He won a Tony Award in 2012 for his lead role in One Man, Two Guvnors, a performance that cemented his reputation as a stage actor long before he became a household name in America. His return to the theater is both a homecoming and a reinvention — one that he’ll no doubt unpack in detail during his chat with Meyers.

A Reunion of Rivals

Corden and Meyers’ relationship adds another layer of intrigue to the booking. From 2015 to 2023, the two shared the same timeslot — 12:37 a.m. ET — with Meyers on NBC and Corden on CBS. Far from being bitter rivals, they developed a reputation as friendly contemporaries who respected each other’s approaches.

Meyers leaned into his Weekend Update roots with sharp political commentary and scripted segments like “A Closer Look,” while Corden carved out his niche with viral-friendly comedy, most notably Carpool Karaoke. Each cultivated a different audience, and together, they helped define the post-midnight era of late-night TV.

Now, with Corden sitting in Meyers’ guest chair, viewers will see that dynamic from a new angle — two veterans of the same late-night battlefield swapping stories and maybe even a few war wounds.

The Last Goodbye — and What Came After

Corden’s final episode of The Late Late Show in May 2023 was a major television event. The finale featured appearances from Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers, and Jimmy Fallon, along with cameos from legends like David Letterman and Trevor Noah. It was a rare moment of unity in a genre often defined by competition.

Since then, Corden has kept a relatively low profile on U.S. television. He popped up on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel Live! in early 2024, but has largely focused on stage and personal projects. Meyers, meanwhile, has continued to hold down his NBC slot with a mix of political humor, quirky celebrity interviews, and digital-friendly sketches.

Notably, the one network late-night desk Corden hasn’t visited since leaving CBS belongs to Stephen Colbert. While Corden did appear on The Late Show six times between 2015 and 2020, his absence post-finale has fans wondering whether that reunion might ever happen.

What to Expect from the Interview

Corden and Meyers have plenty of ground to cover when they sit down next week. Likely topics include:

Corden’s Broadway return: Why he chose Art as his comeback project and how it feels to return to the stage.

Life after late-night: What Corden’s been up to since leaving CBS, from family time to personal projects.

The state of late-night: With Colbert’s show canceled and the genre in flux, both men could share candid thoughts on where late-night TV is heading.

Memories of their timeslot rivalry: Expect some jokes, some nostalgia, and maybe even a behind-the-scenes anecdote or two.

Also appearing on Late Night that evening is musician and actress Ashlee Simpson, ensuring the episode will have both a theatrical and musical flair.

Corden’s Legacy

Love him or loathe him, James Corden left a mark on late-night television. His Carpool Karaoke series became a global sensation, pulling in billions of views online and winning multiple Emmy Awards. His mix of Broadway energy and affable charm brought a fresh, international flavor to CBS’s late-night lineup.

At the same time, Corden faced his share of criticism — for overexposure, for controversies about behavior, and for sometimes leaning too heavily on viral gimmicks. Yet his finale proved that he was respected by his peers, with nearly every major late-night host turning up to bid him farewell.

Returning to Broadway may give Corden a chance to reframe his career, reminding audiences that before he was a talk-show host, he was an acclaimed actor with serious theater chops.

Meyers’ Steady Hand

While Corden reinvented CBS’s 12:37 slot, Seth Meyers has provided consistency at NBC. Known for his incisive political satire, Meyers has built Late Night into a smart, niche player that thrives both on television and online. Segments like “A Closer Look” regularly go viral, and his interview style has been praised for its mix of humor and insight.

Meyers, too, understands the challenges facing late-night. Ratings have dipped across the board, budgets are tightening, and streaming platforms are reshaping viewing habits. His conversation with Corden is likely to reflect that shared reality, as both men have firsthand experience navigating the genre’s shifting tides.

Why This Reunion Matters

On the surface, Corden’s guest spot might look like just another late-night booking. But in context, it’s something more: a symbolic reunion between two hosts who defined an era of late-night together. Their conversation will serve as both a look back at the last decade and a glimpse forward at what’s next — for Corden, for Meyers, and for late-night itself.

With Colbert exiting soon, Fallon experimenting with new formats, and Kimmel balancing tradition with modern twists, the genre is once again in a period of reinvention. Seeing two veterans like Corden and Meyers side by side is a reminder of what late-night can be at its best: funny, smart, and unafraid to evolve.

The Last Word

James Corden is back — at least for one night — and he’s chosen to reunite with his former late-night rival Seth Meyers. It’s a booking filled with symbolism, nostalgia, and the promise of lively conversation.

Whether they reminisce about their overlapping timeslots, dig into the future of late-night, or just swap Broadway stories, the episode is already one of the fall’s most intriguing late-night events.

And for fans who’ve missed Corden’s energy on American TV, his September 8 sit-down with Meyers is a reminder that while he may have left The Late Late Show, he hasn’t left the spotlight.