Top 10 TV Shows Shooting During Quarantine

The world needs laughter now more than ever and late-night hosts have fortunately found a way to keep bringing the funny. The catch is that most of them are doing their shows from home. When you’re Conan O’Brien, though, you don’t need a live audience or camera crew. All that’s required is a quirky sense of humor and an iPhone. Conan isn’t alone either, as he continues to banter with sidekick Andy Richter and interview guests like Adam Sandler through video chat. If you want to forget about your worries for a little bit, Conan has you covered with his trademark goofy comedy, plus a bedtime story for the kids. Even when quarantined, Conan maintains a lively attitude and even livelier head of hair.

You know that late-night is being shaken up when Stephen Colbert trades in his desk for a bathtub. In addition to the change of scenery, you might have noticed that the title changed to “A Late Show” shortly after Colbert started taking work home with him. While it’s not “The Late Show” experience we’ve come to expect, Colbert is as hilarious as ever, which is what matters most. As per usual, Colbert is keeping us up to date with topical humor, ranging from politics to the butthole cut of “Cats.” Colbert has also used his show as a platform to spread a universal message. There aren’t any red states or blue states now. Just pale states and we’re all in this together… even when self-isolating.

Given everything that’s going on in the world right now, watching “Last Week Tonight” every Sunday has become almost therapeutic. John Oliver is a comedian who not only makes us laugh, but also makes us think. While it’s the comedy that draws us in, we walk away from each show wiser. During these uncertain times, Oliver has educated his viewers on how the pandemic has impacted the workforce, the media, and the government. Most importantly, though, Oliver has introduced us to the art of Brian Swords, shining a spotlight on his intimate rat paintings. Just remember, if Oliver could track down “Stay Up Late,” arguably Swords’ magnum opus, then anything’s possible. Hope really can be found in the most unlikely of places.

Before making the leap to Showtime, Desus Nice and The Kid Mero gained a following through their podcast and web series. So, doing an at-home version of their late-night talk show doesn’t seem like the biggest stretch. That said, Desus and Mero are a comedy duo, meaning the show relies on their interactions. While this presented some difficulties, the two made it work with Desus operating in his “sneaker room” and Mero setting up shop in his “weed-smoking basement.” Despite being in different locations, the chemistry between them is still present. Watching these guys every week feels like catching up with some good friends, reminding us that just because we’re social distancing doesn’t mean we can’t find other ways to socialize.

Trevor Noah left his studio audience on a high note, but he won’t be saying goodbye to TV audiences anytime soon. Like “The Late Show,” “The Daily Show” has gone through a name change to reflect the current times. Nevertheless, “The Daily Social Distancing Show” still finds Noah delivering the top headlines with dry wit and biting commentary. Dulcé Sloan, Roy Wood Jr., and other correspondents are keeping in touch from home as well. Noah has also done video chats with some of this pandemic’s most significant figures, from Bill Gates to Dr. Anthony Fauci. It’s imperative that we all stay well-informed right now, making these interviews essential viewing. Honestly, you’re inclined to learn more from Noah than from some actual news shows.

Stuck at home, Trevor Noah joked that he’s never been happier not to have any kids. Jimmy Kimmel, on the other hand, has two young children at home and it really shows. Although he’s clearly getting tired of watching “Frozen II,” Kimmel’s family is giving him plenty of material to work with. Kimmel is also pulling comedy gold from the comments section, poking fun at his own appearance. The quarantine hasn’t halted Kimmel’s interview segments either, most notably saying goodbye to the “Modern Family” cast. Of course, Kimmel’s funniest guest during quarantine would have to be Samuel L. Jackson, who has a message we should all take to heart. Above all else, Kimmel has kept up morale with his lighthearted humor and charity donations.

Quarantine life has raised countless questions, but there’s one in particular that’s kept us wide awake at night: what’s up with the tiny door in Seth Meyers’ attic? Well, we can assure you that he doesn’t imprison his children in there… they get locked in the closet. In all seriousness, Meyers has been one of the most informative late-night hosts during the pandemic. He may be social distancing, but that hasn’t stopped him from taking a “closer look.” If you haven’t been following Donald Trump’s press briefings, good old Seth will tell it like it is. He’s also reunited with his “SNL” alumni via video chat, even resurrecting the Weekend Update segment, “Really!?! with Seth and Amy.” Will Meyers ever finish reading “The Thorn Birds,” though?

Jimmy Fallon recorded the first installment of “The Tonight Show: At Home Edition” with his wife behind the camera, his offspring helping out with the visual media, and their dog Gary serving as a guest. Speaking of which, Gary sounds suspiciously like Drew Barrymore, doesn’t she? Although he’s far from the only late-night host working remotely, few have embraced home movie production values as much as Fallon. He’s also been one of the most charitable hosts during this crisis, as well as one of the most musical. Fallon has been especially on top of social media with fun hashtag games like #QuarantineAMovie. We don’t know about you, but we think “A Star Is Bored” is a pretty ingenious title. Thanks for the shoutout, Jimmy!

“A Quiet Place Part II” was one of the first major movies to be delayed due to the pandemic, which was the rotten cherry on top of a bad news sundae. Rather than dwell on all the bad news, though, John Krasinski took this opportunity to create a show dedicated to good news. They might not make as many headlines, but these uplifting stories will make your day a little easier to get through. Krasinski has gone beyond spreading heartfelt news. Along with wife Emily Blunt, he made a young Broadway fan’s dream come true by reuniting the cast of “Hamilton” for an epic Zoom performance. And until we get an official “Office” reunion, seeing Krasinski interview Steve Carell will more than do.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen” (2009-)

“Live with Kelly and Ryan” (2017-)

“The Wendy Williams Show” (2008-)

“Full Frontal with Samantha Bee” (2016-)

“The Late Late Show with James Corden” (2015-)

#1: “WatchMojo”
Juust kidding, although we are working from home too!

A talk show is one thing, but how can an ensemble piece like “SNL” adjust to quarantine life? How about a sketch about a Zoom conference call gone awry, or another that turns to animation with the Middle-Aged Mutant Ninja Turtles? It’s going to be an interesting era for “SNL” and while it’s now not technically a live show, all the essential pieces are present, including the whole cast, musical accompaniment, and a celebrity host. In an inspiring comeback, Tom Hanks demonstrated the power of laughter and perseverance by hosting the first “SNL At Home.” The episode also saw the return of Larry David as Bernie Sanders, and Alec Baldwin, who’s still playing Trump with or without a hair and makeup crew.