In a raw, emotional moment that stunned viewers and media insiders alike, Seth Meyers — the long-standing host of Late Night with Seth Meyers — just admitted what many in the industry have whispered for years:

“I don’t know how much longer we have.”

Yes, you read that right.

Seth Meyers, the face of NBC’s iconic 12:35 a.m. slot and one of the last torchbearers of traditional late night comedy, has publicly questioned the survival of his own show — and possibly the entire genre — in a candid and brutally honest interview that’s sent shockwaves through the entertainment world.

 The End of an Era?

For over a decade, Meyers has delivered sharp monologues, viral segments like “A Closer Look,” and witty interviews with everyone from A-list celebrities to sitting senators. But as ratings continue to plummet across linear TV, and audiences flock to YouTube, TikTok, and streaming platforms, the future of late-night programming is looking more uncertain than ever.

Speaking with Vulture this week, Meyers pulled no punches.

“The truth is, this ecosystem is changing so fast, we can barely keep up,” he said. “I love doing the show. But I’d be lying if I said we weren’t having tough conversations about what comes next.”

 Late Night Ratings Are In Freefall

The numbers don’t lie.

Since 2020, late-night ratings have dropped by more than 40% across all major networks. NBC’s Late Night, once a ratings powerhouse under hosts like David Letterman and Conan O’Brien, is now clinging to a fraction of its former audience.

YouTube clips still go viral — sometimes — but the nightly broadcast? Barely a whisper in the age of on-demand content and endless scrolling.

Even Meyers admitted:

“Most people watch us the next day on their phones — if they watch at all.”

 A Broken Format?

In perhaps his most biting critique yet, Meyers hinted that the traditional late-night format — monologue, sketch, celebrity interview — may be completely outdated.

“It’s weird to pretend it’s 2005,” he said. “We’re in a studio, doing a show like people are sitting down to watch it live, when in reality most of our viewers are catching it in clips or TikToks — if we’re lucky.”

Industry experts are calling this the beginning of a late-night identity crisis.

“If someone like Seth is sounding the alarm,” said media analyst Laura Fenwick, “you can bet the foundation is crumbling.”

 Behind the Scenes: NBC in Panic Mode?

Insiders tell us that NBC executives have already begun internal discussions about “reformatting or retiring” several late-night shows in 2026 — and Late Night with Seth Meyers is allegedly on the chopping block.

“It’s a cost issue, an audience issue, and a relevance issue,” one former NBC exec confessed. “You’re spending millions a week on a show that gets beaten by random YouTubers with webcams. It’s unsustainable.”

And it’s not just Seth.

Earlier this year, James Corden left CBS, Trevor Noah departed The Daily Show, and even Jimmy Fallon has reportedly been asked to consider “rebranding” to appeal to younger audiences.

 The Streaming Tidal Wave

Streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Apple TV+ are pouring money into comedy specials, talk formats, and satirical news, effectively replacing traditional late-night content — but on demand, without the commercials or the 12:35 a.m. time slot.

Meyers admits the pressure is real.

“People want content that fits into their schedules, not ours. They want 8-minute hits, not 40-minute episodes. I get it. But where does that leave us?”

The irony? Meyers has been praised for some of the smartest, most political late-night content in years — but even that hasn’t been enough to save the sinking ship.

 “I Don’t Want to Be the Last One Standing”

Meyers ended the interview on a surprisingly emotional note.

“I don’t want to be the last guy taping a show to an empty room. I don’t want to be the musician playing while the ship sinks. But sometimes, it feels like that’s what we’re doing.”

Fans across social media were devastated.

@ComedyNerd83: “Seth is one of the few who still has substance. If he’s going down, we’ve lost something big.”
@MediaLeaks247: “Late-night TV is dead. It just doesn’t know it yet.”

 What’s Next for Seth?

Rumors are already flying about Meyers potentially moving to streaming, launching a solo political podcast, or even stepping into a Netflix-style weekly comedy format more suited for modern audiences.

“Whatever comes next, I want it to be honest,” he said. “We can’t pretend we’re living in the same media world we were 10 years ago.”

Some believe Seth could be one of the first major hosts to break away from the network system entirely — a move that could trigger a chain reaction among his peers.

 Is This the End of Late-Night TV as We Know It?

With Seth Meyers questioning his future, Fallon facing declining numbers, Colbert skewing older, and the Daily Show rotating through guest hosts with no permanent replacement — the golden age of late-night might officially be over.

The new kings of comedy?
Not on TV.
They’re streaming, podcasting, live on Twitch, or going viral on TikTok with political rants and hot takes in under 60 seconds.

“The old model just doesn’t work anymore,” Meyers admitted. “And I’m not sure anyone knows how to replace it.”

 One Foot in the Past, One Eye on the Future

For now, Late Night with Seth Meyers continues to air — but for how long? With Meyers sounding the alarm and NBC reportedly reconsidering its entire late-night lineup, we may be witnessing the last days of a television institution.

And if that’s true?

Seth’s quiet warning may go down in history as the eulogy for late-night television.