Mr. Fallon
Late night TV has been a part of American culture for
decades. As millions watched, it routinely allowed us to take a breath from the
seriousness of life. No matter if there was war, tragedy or celebration, we
could all count on faithful late nights hosts for a light-hearted way to end
our day.
This appears to be a nostalgic look back. The divisiveness
in our country has now swept so far into culture, even our beloved late shows
have morphed into political soap boxes. Humor in opening monologues now takes a
back seat to grandiose speeches about inequity and injustice, complete with
tears and emotional outrage. This sadly had become the case for most late night
programming except for the Tonight Show. You were the remaining bright spot of
late night.
Well, that ended the other evening when you chose to make an
impassioned political diatribe regarding the recent tragic massacre in Florida.
Please understand it is absolutely your right and privilege to voice your
opinion but the Tonight Show is not the platform. Your personal politics do not
shock me as I would have assumed your position correctly, but I and most
viewers do not tune you in for political op-ed pieces. If people want expertise
and towering intellect on complex issues, a late night show is not where they
will seek it out.
This may come as a surprise, but viewers don’t want to be
lectured, ridiculed, insulted, nor do they want to see emotional diatribes
about hot button issues, regardless if they support or oppose them. We simply
want to relax, get in a laugh or two and end the day with a smile. It appears
that option is gone.
Thank you for the memories of what you used to be. It’s time
to find a new way to wind down before bed.
