First on LateNighter: Jason Kelce is wasting no time honing his monologue skills ahead of the January premiere of his new ESPN late night show, They Call It Late Night with Jason Kelce.
Just three days after announcing his new gig during a guest appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the retired Philadelphia Eagles star took to the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre stage at its Franklin Avenue location in Los Angeles where he served as the surprise monologist for Sunday night’s live and livestreamed “ASSSSCAT” show,
“Our monologist tonight is a very funny podcaster,” show co-host Jon Gabrus began his introduction, drawing laughs from the other performers who already knew the secret guest’s identity. Kelce is the host of the New Heights podcast with his brother Travis, the Kansas City Chiefs star.
Kelce then took the stage, beer in hand, where he was tasked with delivering a series of autobiographical stories, intended to inspire scenes from the improvisers on stage with him. The football star remained on stage with the troupe throughout the hour-long performance.
Theater tech Beowulf Jones shared with LateNighter that, behind the scenes, Kelce was “totally kind, gracious, and approachable to everyone at the theater.” That was reflected as the show ended, with seen Kelce high-fiving or embracing each of the performers as they stepped off stage.
Gabrus closed the show by telling the crowd, “We’ve got live shows seven nights a week—not all of them have huge NFL stars in them, but you never know.”
They Call It Late Night with Jason Kelce has been picked up for a five-week run starting Friday January 3rd, 2025. The hour-long show will be shot in front of a live audience in Kelce’s adopted hometown of Philadelphia.
“I love late-night shows. I’ve always loved them. I remember at sleepovers watching Conan O’Brien with my friends,” Kelce told Kimmel last week.
Although the show will take the form of a traditional late-night show with all the usual trappings (including a live house band— Philadelphia-based seven-piece brass ensemble SNACKTIME), the show’s primary focus will be on sports personalities.
“We’re going to have a bunch of guys up there,” Kelce told Kimmel. “Legends of the game, friends that I played the game with, coaches, celebrities.”
Sunday night’s “ASSSSCAT,” featuring Jason Kelce, is available to livestream for the rest of this week before being taken down next Sunday. The improv show’s archived livestream costs $10.
