The late-night lineup across networks is famously white, with Trevor Noah of “The Daily Show” now the only other person of color heading up a late-night show.
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Wilmore is also now an executive producer on the ABC sitcom Black-ish, for which he served as the creative head until The Nightly Show began, which replaced The Colbert Report when Colbert left the network to host CBS’ The Late Show.
As for Wilmore’s network, Comedy Central, where does it stand now? “Unfortunately, it hasn’t connected with our audience in ways that we need it to”, Comedy Central President Kent Alterman told The Hollywood Reporter this morning.
Fellow “Daily Show” graduates John Oliver and Samantha Bee have proven particularly popular on rival networks, with Mr. Oliver’s HBO show “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver” and Ms. Bee’s TBS program “Full Frontal With Samantha Bee” doing well in the ratings. He created “The Bernie Mac Show” (for which he shared a Peabody Award) and with Eddie Murphy co-created the animated series “The PJs”.
So instead of trying to go over Donald Trump or focus on new subjects, Wilmore is dedicating the week to the best segments the show has done over its run.
As was reported on Monday, Comedy Central made a decision to cancel The Daily Show spin-off and Colbert Report replacement due to low ratings and a lack of trending segments that would catch on with a digital audience. His departure in late 2014 to host CBS’ “The Late Show” was much-mourned by his devoted fans who continue to miss the bloviating commentator he portrayed on “The Colbert Report”.
Prior to hosting “The Nightly Show”, Wilmore, 54, wrote for “In Living Color” and “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”, and most recently served as the “senior black correspondent” on “The Daily Show”. Its current midnight slot will be filled by repeats of other Comedy Central shows.
“I’m also saddened and surprised we won’t be covering this insane election or “The Unblackening, ‘ as we’ve coined it”, Wilmore said in a statement. “I guess I hadn’t counted on ‘The Unblackening” happening to my time slot as well”.
Comedy Central reportedly says it’s canceling the show because of trouble with ratings.
Said Alterman conclusively, “We’re all in with Trevor Noah”, who is black.
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In a statement, Comedy Central said, “We thank Larry and The Nightly Show staff for their tireless efforts across the past two years and the conversations the show generated by addressing social issues of great importance to the country, always challenging people’s attitudes, perceptions and bias”.
