The Amber Ruffin Show
Comedy monologues and sketches on current events and politics.
The Amber Ruffin Show is an American comedy late-night talk show produced by Universal Television and Sethmaker Shoemeyers Productions, starring Amber Ruffin. It premiered on NBCUniversal's streaming service Peacock on September 25, 2020, and features a mix of sketches and monologues covering current events and politics. The show received critical acclaim and multiple award nominations, and as of its premiere, Ruffin was the only Black woman on television in the United States headlining a late night talk show.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Late-night talk show
- Creator
- Amber Ruffin
- Starring
- Amber Ruffin / Tarik Davis
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Num Seasons
- 3
- Num Episodes
- 36
- Executive Producer
- Jenny Hagel / Amber Ruffin / Seth Meyers / Mike Shoemaker
- Producer
- Jason Carden / Jennifer Sochko / Zoie Mancino / Justin McGriff
- Location
- Studio 8G, NBC Studios / Midtown Manhattan
- Runtime
- 30 minutes
- Company
- Sethmaker Shoemeyers Productions / Universal Television
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The show was announced on September 17, 2019, with an initial order of 13 half-hour episodes for Peacock. It premiered on September 25, 2020, and on December 10, 2020, Peacock ordered an additional ten episodes. The series was promoted with a brief run on the NBC broadcast network on February 26 and March 5, 2021, replacing A Little Late with Lilly Singh in its timeslot. The second season premiered on October 8, 2021, and the third season premiered on September 30, 2022. In 2023, it was announced the program would only return on occasion as specials, but these were never ordered.
Reader's Guide
The Amber Ruffin Show is significant as a late-night talk show that featured a Black woman as its sole host, a first in U.S. television at its premiere. The show's format included comedic monologues and sketches with sidekick Tarik Davis, and a recurring segment 'How Did We Get Here' that examined race, gender, and politics. It received critical acclaim, with a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes for its first season based on 8 reviews. The show earned nominations from the Primetime Emmy Awards (Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series at the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards), TCA Awards, Critics' Choice Television Awards, and GLAAD Media Awards across its first two seasons. Its legacy includes demonstrating the viability of streaming-exclusive late-night programming and providing a platform for Ruffin's distinctive comedic voice.
Did You Know?
- The show uses the same studio (Studio 8G) as Late Night with Seth Meyers, with a more intimate set placed in front of the regular Late Night set.
- A running gag at the end of each week's Thursday/early Friday morning Late Night is Ruffin comically intimidating Seth Meyers off his set so her show can set up and record.
- The show tapes on Fridays for same-day airing when Late Night is usually dark.
- Ruffin co-writes the show while retaining her job as a writer on Late Night with Seth Meyers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Amber Ruffin Show?
It is a late-night comedy talk show hosted by Amber Ruffin that blends personal monologues with sketch segments to take on politics and trending news stories.
Who produces The Amber Ruffin Show?
The series is a joint production between Universal Television and Sethmaker Shoemeyers Productions, with Ruffin serving as both star and on-screen face of the program.
Where and when did The Amber Ruffin Show first air?
The show debuted on September 25, 2020, exclusively on Peacock, NBCUniversal's streaming platform, and later expanded its initial run with ten extra episodes in December of that year.
What does a typical episode of The Amber Ruffin Show look like?
Each installment pairs a comedic monologue with short sketch bits, all centered on the week's political headlines and cultural moments.
Why is The Amber Ruffin Show considered a milestone in late-night television?
At the time of its launch, Ruffin became the first Black woman to headline a U.S. late-night talk show, and the series went on to earn strong critical praise along with several award nods.
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