While major network television has an obsession with only choosing white men to host late night talk shows in real life, Emma Thompson’s Katherine Newbury has broken through that barrier in the first look at Late Night, the latest film from Amazon Studios which debuted at Sundance this year. But when the “pioneer and legendary host” of the fictional Tonight, who isn’t exactly the kindest boss in the world (to put it mildly), learns she’s on her way out when her contract is up, she realizes that her all white male staff might not be her best hope to improving her ratings and keeping her job. That’s when she turns to her new writer Molly, played by Mindy Kaling, whom Newbury only hired after being accused of hating woman.
Sadly, the least believable part of this trailer is that a modern major network wouldn’t default to a male host for its late night talk show. And a white guy on a staff made up exclusively of other white guys complaining about how easy it is for a woman of color to get his job might as well be a scene in a documentary instead of a comedy.
Directed by Nisha Ganatra, and also starring Amy Ryan, Reid Scott, John Lithgow, Megalyn Echikunwoke, and Ike Barinholtz, Late Night opens in theaters everywhere this summer on June 7.
Featured Image: Amazon Studios
