Is one half of Desus & Mero ready to make a return to late night?
The Kid Mero has scheduled two “test shows” for what he’s calling “A Work in Progress Talk Show” at New York City’s famed Comedy Cellar comedy club. He’ll host the first one on Friday, September 6 at 4 p.m. and another on Tuesday, September 17 at 6 p.m.
While details are scarce, the Comedy Cellar’s website offers a small hint at what audience members can expect. Before purchasing tickets, users are warned: “This is a late night talk show-style show and NOT a traditional Comedy Cellar show. This is a test show and taping.”
Mero hosted Desus & Mero alongside Desus Nice on Viceland from 2016 through 2018, then on Showtime from 2019 through 2022 (where it won a WGA Award for Comedy/Variety Talk Series in 2021). The show even found a fan in David Letterman, who guested in 2020.
Desus & Mero came to an end when the pair decided to terminate their partnership following professional differences. Mero later said the split came after his realization that the duo’s relationship was “corroding,” adding that he and Desus were “on different wavelengths.” (Desus, for his part, implied he disputed that story.)
When it comes to talk show startups, it seems great late-night minds think alike. SNL “Weekend Update” co-anchor Michael Che has been staging “test episodes” of Don’t Sleep With Michael Che, his own late-night show—first at City Winery last week, then again at the Comedy Cellar on Monday night. According to the Comedy Cellar’s schedule, Che has a third show scheduled for Monday, September 9 at 10 p.m. (which is less than 72 hours before he and “Weekend Update” co-anchor Colin Jost co-host New York After Dark, Peacock’s first-ever live comedy event).
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