S2·E72 Will Forte, Ellie Kemper, Sleater-Kinney

Episode recap

Late Night with Seth Meyers Season 2, Episode 72 continues the series’ established format as a late‑night talk and comedy program that premiered on NBC in 2014. The episode is hosted by Seth Meyers, who previously served as the longest‑running anchor on Saturday Night Live, a fact noted in the series overview. In keeping with the show’s typical structure, the episode opens with Meyers delivering a monologue that blends current‑event commentary with his trademark humor, setting the tone for the evening’s conversations.

The guest segment of this installment features two prominent figures from the world of television comedy. Actor Will Forte appears for an interview, offering viewers insight into his career and recent projects. Actress Ellie Kemper also joins the conversation, discussing her work and experiences in the industry. While the specific topics of their dialogue are not detailed in the supplied synopsis, the presence of both guests aligns with the program’s focus on featuring notable performers from film and television.

Following the interview portion, the episode showcases a musical performance by the alternative‑indie rock band Sleater‑Kinney. The band’s appearance fulfills the show’s tradition of concluding each broadcast with a live musical set, providing a contrast to the preceding comedic and interview segments. The performance is presented in the program’s standard live‑music format, allowing the band to display their repertoire to the late‑night audience.

Throughout the broadcast, Meyers intersperses the guest interviews with brief comedic interludes and occasional audience interaction, maintaining the pacing characteristic of the series. The episode’s composition—monologue, guest interviews, and a musical act—mirrors the structure identified in the series description as a blend of talk and comedy. As part of the second season, this episode contributes to the series’ ongoing run, which has been recognized for its quality with an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Variety Talk Series in 2022, as noted in the Variety profile of Meyers. The combination of Will Forte, Ellie Kemper, and Sleater‑Kinney offers a varied entertainment experience that reflects the show’s commitment to featuring both comedic talent and contemporary music within a single broadcast.