American late-night sketch comedy show on NBC
A round-up of recent podcast and TV comedy coverage shows renewed energy in long-running formats, with standout moments and notable departures. The Guardian and New York Times review seasons and spin-offs, while UK-specific ventures face mixed reception amid evolving formats.
The 72-year-old Health and Human Services secretary has posted a gym selfie with Arnold Schwarzenegger, reviving scrutiny of his public-health messaging. The image, taken at a Venice gym, follows earlier appearances alongside other public figures; supporters say the friendship is personal, critics say it complicates policy messaging.
AP and FRONTLINE investigations have shown that U.S. AI models, cloud and internet providers and satellite services have been used to run industrial-scale romance and investment scams based in Southeast Asian compounds. The tools have enabled multilingual fake personas, automated replies and performance tracking; device and routing data tie much traffic to U.S.-registered firms and to Starlink connections in Myanmar.
Dame Penelope Keith has died after a battle with cancer. Her career spans stage, The Good Life and To the Manor Born, with a lasting impact on British comedy. Tributes praise her comic genius and decades of work in theatre, television and charity.
The final season of The Bear lands with high-stakes energy. Carmy faces mounting pressure as staff, space, and supply collapse in a single-day arc. The finale delivers a tense close that redefines the show’s arc while reuniting fans with its core crew.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have married in a private ceremony at Madison Square Garden, their publicist has confirmed. The couple did not use bridesmaids or groomsmen; Austin Swift served as Man of Honor and Jason Kelce as Best Man. Adam Sandler officiated and both wore Christian Dior Haute Couture; Swift wore Cartier and Christian Louboutin shoes.
The White House has issued an executive order directing sidewalk signs around the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History to warn visitors about alleged inaccuracies in the museum’s portrayal of American history and to point to sources for a corrected narrative. Smithsonian leadership defends its scholarship and fullness of America’s story as Republicans press for hearings and potential changes on Capitol Hill.
A debut play, Sanctuary, has won the Leodis Prize, funding a first production at Edinburgh Fringe and potential future life in London. Sparrow, the 32-year-old casting director, wrote Shielded by personal history and rural queerness, the work charts encounters around a Suffolk hospice plan from the early 1990s.
NBCUniversal and YouTube strike a multi-year deal to integrate Peacock Premium into YouTube Premium in the U.S. from early 2027. Peacock content will be accessible inside YouTube without extra charge for Premium subscribers, with live sports and NBCU shows featured. The move aims to broaden Peacock’s reach, boost ads, and strengthen YouTube Premium’s offering.
The Senate Homeland Security Committee has voted 8–5 to hold Dr Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress after he invoked the Fifth Amendment repeatedly during a hearing on pandemic decisions and the origins of COVID‑19. Chairman Rand Paul has authorised sending the committees report to the DC US attorney for possible prosecution and has threatened to certify the citation to the Senate president if the chamber is not in session.
The Fauci diaries have intensified scrutiny of his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. A Senate panel has voted to hold him in contempt for refusing to answer questions, while states push for records. Republicans argue for accountability; Democrats defend the former NIH director amid a renewed focus on origins, lockdowns, and media coverage.
Fringe coverage shows comedians embracing live audiences and personal storytelling as social media helps reach targeted crowds. Performers are weaving personal experiences into sets, with some addressing race, identity and resilience amid broader global tensions.
Britney, the Edinburgh-bound duo of Clive and Robertson, are taking two Fringe shows this summer while continuing busy US and UK projects. They reflect on the strain and joy of festival life and their long-running collaboration.
The Edinburgh International Festival presents Sobelle’s Clown Show, a contemporary portrait of America as a falling-apart circus. The piece, commissioned by EIF, asks audiences to dream while tracing a nation’s fragility through circus imagery and live performance.