Late Night

Directed by Nisha Ganatra, written by Mindy Kaling, who for a time was the only female writer on The Office and was also an intern on Conan O’Brien, so she does have a lot of reality to bring to this comedy; which shines through, allowing the movie to be more situational humor and less jokes. Although writing jokes is a big part of what a comedy writer on a late-night talk show does, and often more or less anonymously.

I’ve been reading this book “Just the Funny Parts” by female TV writer Nell Scovell, she wrote on everything from “The Simpson” “Monk” ‘Newhart” “Coach” “Murphy Brown” created “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” and more, like her stint as the only female writer on the staff at David Letterman. She informs us that Letterman never met with his show writers, she said he’d walk passed the writer’s offices with blinders on after each show ended, then once he was in his car, the head male writer would call him to discuss how the show went and ideas for the next, but never in person during the time she was there.

In LATE NIGHT Emma Thompson plays Katherine Newbury, a legendary late-night talk-show host who has been at the top of her profession for almost 30 years. Her entire staff is male, and everyone has become complacent over time to a point now where Katherine’s ratings have plummeted. This brings her to the writer’s room to talk to a staff of people she’s never met, except for one who’d been there since the early days; when Newbury asks about his child, he responds that she’s a college grad. Newbury can’t take the time to learn each writer’s name, so she gives them all numbers. She’s also been known to be a woman who doesn’t particularly like women, in an effort to combat that persona, she instructs the show’s producer to find a female writer.

Molly (Mindy Kaling), is a chemical plant efficiency expert from a suburb in Pennsylvania, but she loves comedy, particularly Newbury’s show, so she devises a convoluted “in” to get an interview. Becoming not only the shows first female writer, but a diversity hire as well – opening up endless debate on everything from sexism to white male privilege to diversity within the workplace, but done in an entertaining manner, that at least I didn’t find heavy-handed.

After some stumbles, Molly does bring to the table some honest and contemporary ideas, but I like that her relationship with Newbury stays professional, it’s not about the women becoming BFFs.

PS. Thompson really shines in this role, it’s up there with her best work. And whoever the hairstylist is on this movie deserves kudos for giving Emma Thomson several stunning haircuts and coloring.

T&T the Large Association of Movie Blogs (aka the LAMb) rating: 3.5 outta 5