Strike Force Five

Strike Force Five
Presentation
Hosted by	Stephen Colbert Jimmy Fallon Jimmy Kimmel Seth Meyers John Oliver
Genre	Comedy
Language	English
Length	51–72 minutes
Production
No. of episodes	12
Publication
Original release	August 30 (2023-08-30) – October 10, 2023 (2023-10-10)
Provider	Megaphone
Related
Website	strikeforcefive.com

Strike Force Five is a limited series podcast hosted by American comedians and talk show hosts Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers, and John Oliver. Each episode features conversations between the comedians on different subjects defined by an alternating leading host. Running 12 episodes from August 30 to October 10, 2023, it was created to support the five hosts' employees who were out of work due to the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike, and its improvised nature aimed to demonstrate their importance to their shows.

Upon its debut, Strike Force Five hit the top charts on Spotify and Apple in the United States. The podcast received positive to mixed reviews, with many critics praising the motives but also commenting on the lack of coherence in discussions and the uneven quality of the recording.

History

Background

On May 2, 2023, the Writers Guild of America (WGA), representing 11,500 screenwriters, went on strike over a labor dispute with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). Productions for many shows employing WGA members were immediately halted, including the hosts' respective talk shows, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Late Night with Seth Meyers, and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.^[1] Stephen Colbert suggested that the hosts keep in touch more during the strike, citing poor communication among the late-night hosts during the last writers' strike in 2008 as one of the reasons. The hosts began having weekly Zoom meetings to discuss the strike, which eventually led to Kimmel creating the podcast named after their personal text chain.^[2][3] The podcast was distributed by Megaphone, with alcoholic beverages company Diageo and network operator Mint Mobile serving as sponsors.^[2][4][5] The proceeds went to support the hosts' employees, who were out of work because of the strike.^[5][6][7]

Post-debut

On September 13, it was announced that Fallon, Kimmel, and Colbert would be performing together in a live show called "Strike Force Three" at the Dolby Live theater in Las Vegas on September 23. Much like Strike Force Five, the show was set to raise money for their staff members.^[8][9][10] However, the live show was canceled because Kimmel tested positive for COVID-19.^[11][12]

Rolling Stone published a report on alleged toxic work environment on The Tonight Show caused by Fallon's "erratic behavior" on September 7.^[13] The nature of the report deeply contradicted the podcast's primary goal, so several critics called for the podcast to address the issue, even if the episodes had already been recorded.^[14][15] It was later revealed that at least two upcoming episodes were pre-recorded before the publication of the report.^[16] The controversy remained unaddressed throughout the podcast and was forgotten thereafter.^[4][17]

Several celebrities made guest appearances on the podcast, including Jon Stewart,^[18][19] David Letterman,^[4][20] and Ryan Reynolds.^[21] Conan O'Brien was set to be one of the guests, but the strike ended before he could be scheduled.^[22] Additionally, Jon Hamm made a cameo appearance as the podcast's announcer.^[14]

As the writers' strike ended on September 27, allowing the production of shows to resume, the hosts announced that the podcast would conclude at an unspecified date.^[23][24] Four more episodes were released before it ended on October 10.^[4][17]

Format

The podcast ran for 12 episodes, with each episode lasting approximately 60 minutes. During each episode, the five hosts would discuss one or more subjects, such as fishing, interesting facts about their parents or their late-night shows, on a Zoom call.^[7] The leading host, who is different for every episode, would usually decide on the subjects.^[25][26] A thunder sound effect played every time the podcast title is mentioned for the first three episodes, until it was removed per Meyers' request.^[2][27] Pre-production for each episode was highly limited, and no supervision was provided during the recording, so the discussions were mostly improvised; these measures were intended to highlight the importance of staff members, such as researchers and writers, to the hosts' late-night shows.^[28][2]

Jimmy Fallon hosted a game show called "Strike Force Wives!", similar to The Newlywed Game, in the fifth episode of Strike Force Five. The game show included Fallon asking the other hosts questions about their wives, but due to Fallon's inept preparation, it did not go as planned.^[4][17][29] Meyers commented that the hosts incorporated a more casual approach in later episodes after discovering that the audience enjoyed it.^[30] A second part of the game show, "The Return of Strike Force Wives!", aired on October 6.^[31]

Episodes

No.	Title	Leading host	Length	Original release date
1	"Five Late Night Hosts Talk at the Same Time for the First Time"	Jimmy Kimmel	1:06:31	August 30, 2023 (2023-08-30)
2	"A Second Episode About First Episodes"	Seth Meyers	1:03:31	September 3, 2023 (2023-09-03)
3	"Stories We Missed, Vasectomies and Moby Dick"	Stephen Colbert	59:29	September 7, 2023 (2023-09-07)
4	"Awards Show Screwups, Late Night Multiverse & Batman Wants to Murder Kimmel"	John Oliver	51:07	September 12, 2023 (2023-09-12)
5	"Strike Force Wives!"	Jimmy Fallon	1:01:39	September 15, 2023 (2023-09-15)
6	"The Guys Answer Questions from Listeners"	Jimmy Kimmel	51:42	September 19, 2023 (2023-09-19)
7	"Jon Stewart Makes it Six"	Stephen Colbert	57:44	September 22, 2023 (2023-09-22)
8	"The Talk Show Hosts Name Sneaky Great Talk Show Guests"	Seth Meyers	57:11	September 26, 2023 (2023-09-26)
9	"David Letterman Makes it Six"	Jimmy Kimmel	1:12:49	September 29, 2023 (2023-09-29)
10	"The Strike is Over But the Podcast Isn't Yet"	John Oliver	42:09	October 3, 2023 (2023-10-03)
11	"The Return of Strike Force Wives!"	Jimmy Fallon	1:06:40	October 6, 2023 (2023-10-06)
12	"The Strike Force Five Says Goodbye (with a Special Guest)"	Seth Meyers and Stephen Colbert	55:51	October 10, 2023 (2023-10-10)

Reception

Strike Force Five received generally favorable reviews from critics. Alexi Duggins of The Guardian found the conversations interesting,^[32] with Sarah Larson of The New Yorker writing that it was refreshing to hear the hosts having friendly discussions while also supporting the strike.^[33] However, the unscripted nature of the podcast received criticism since it sometimes led to unfocused discussions and forced the hosts to interrupt each other,^[28][34][35] which was characterised by Brianna Wellen of Primetimer as "an unofficial battle to be the top late night star".^[36] Sean Malin of Vulture noted that the format and quality of the episodes largely depended on personality of the leading host.^[29] Some critics considered that the comedic potential of the podcast remained unfulfilled as a result of format implications.^[37][38] The sound quality limitations of Zoom also drew occasional criticism.^[7][28]

The fifth episode, "Strike Force Wives!", was singled out as the best episode of the podcast. Hillary Busis of Vanity Fair commented that it was "charmingly unpolished, apparently organic chaos".^[4] Sean Malin, remarking on Oliver's bickering with Fallon, wrote, "That sequence — the funniest of any episode yet, as well as the meanest — is emblematic of the larger dynamic at play between these five sharply defined male archetypes, the heartfelt camaraderie and fratty sarcasm shifting from moment to moment."^[29]

The podcast also saw responses from late-night staff members, subject-matter journalists, and other late-night hosts. Bill Carter, journalist and author of The Late Shift and The War for Late Night, praised the idea and said that the hosts "get along pretty well, which is kind of atypical for the history of late night."^[6] Sarah Kobos, photo research coordinator for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, expressed her gratitude for the podcast going towards helping fellow staff members.^[2] Greg Gutfeld, who hosted Gutfeld!, a late-night show unaffected by labor disputes, called the podcast "pathetic" and additionally criticized the comedy styles of the hosts' shows.^[39]

Strike Force Five debuted at number one on the podcast and news podcast charts of both Apple and Spotify in the United States.^[25][40] The podcast was featured on Time and HuffPost's list of the top 10 podcasts of 2023.^[41][42]

References

1. Porter, Rick (May 2, 2023). "Late Night Shows Shut Down With WGA Strike". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on May 2, 2023. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
2. Rancilio, Alicia (August 31, 2023). "Late-night hosts team up for 'Strike Force Five' podcast to benefit their out-of-work staff". Associated Press News. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
3. Porter, Rick (February 26, 2024). "Seth Meyers Discusses "Constantly Shifting Sands" Over 10 Years of 'Late Night'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 28, 2024. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
4. Busis, Hillary (October 10, 2023). "Farewell to 'Strike Force Five,' Late Night's Winning Podcast Experiment". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on October 11, 2023. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
5. Spangler, Todd (August 29, 2023). "Late-Night Hosts Hook Up for Spotify Podcast With Proceeds to Benefit Unemployed Staffers During Writers Strike". Variety. Archived from the original on August 30, 2023. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
6. Limbong, Andrew (August 31, 2023). "Late night TV hosts team up for a new podcast amid the writers' strike". NPR. Archived from the original on September 9, 2023. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
7. Horton, Adrian (August 30, 2023). "Strike Force Five: what happens when late-night TV hosts make a podcast?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on August 31, 2023. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
8. Rose, Lacey (September 13, 2023). "Late Night Hosts Set One-Off 'Strike Force' Live Show in Las Vegas". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on September 14, 2023. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
9. Schneider, Michael (September 13, 2023). "Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon to Host Live Podcast Event Next Weekend in Las Vegas". Variety. Archived from the original on September 14, 2023. Retrieved September 14, 2023.
10. White, Peter (September 13, 2023). "Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon & Jimmy Kimmel Set Live Las Vegas Show As Part Of 'Strike Force' Team Up". Deadline. Archived from the original on September 13, 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
11. Seitz, Loree (September 20, 2023). "Late-Night Hosts Cancel Live 'Strike Force Five' Show". TheWrap. Archived from the original on September 24, 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
12. Weprin, Alex (September 20, 2023). "Live 'Strike Force' Recording and Steve Martin, Martin Short's Las Vegas Shows Canceled Due to COVID". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on September 22, 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
13. Yandoli, Krystie Lee (September 7, 2023). "Chaos, Comedy, and 'Crying Rooms': Inside Jimmy Fallon's 'Tonight Show'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on September 12, 2023. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
14. Holmes, Linda; Deggans, Eric; Katzif, Mike; Reedy, Jessica (September 11, 2023). "We unpack Jimmy Fallon and the 'Strike Force Five' podcast". Pop Culture Happy Hour (Podcast). NPR. Archived from the original on September 12, 2023. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
15. Metz, Nina (September 7, 2023). "Column: Jimmy Fallon allegations and Strike Force Five". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on September 12, 2023. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
16. Hibberd, James (September 12, 2023). "Why 'Strike Force Five' Podcast's New Episode Doesn't Mention the Jimmy Fallon Controversy". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on September 12, 2023. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
17. McCarthy, Sean L. (October 11, 2023). "How Strike Force Five Made Jimmy Fallon the Punchline". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on October 11, 2023. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
18. Stern, Marlow (September 22, 2023). "Jon Stewart Crashes 'Strike Force Five' Podcast to Roast John Oliver". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on September 23, 2023. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
19. Lewis, Hilary (September 22, 2023). "Jon Stewart Stops by 'Strike Force Five' Podcast, Reveals How He Fills Void Left by 'Daily Show'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on September 23, 2023. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
20. Cobb, Kayla (September 29, 2023). "David Letterman 'Certain' He Never Told Les Moonves to Look for a 'Late Show' Replacement". TheWrap. Archived from the original on September 30, 2023. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
21. Hudgins, Ryan (October 10, 2023). "Ryan Reynolds Reveals He Got So 'Bonelessly Drunk' on John McEnroe's Show His Appearance Never Aired". Yahoo!. Archived from the original on October 26, 2023. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
22. Guy, Zoe (September 27, 2023). "The Strike Force Five Return to Their Day Jobs". Vulture. Archived from the original on September 27, 2023. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
23. Ushe, Naledi (September 27, 2023). "Late-night TV is back: Jimmy Fallon, Stephen Colbert, more to return after writers strike". USA Today. Archived from the original on September 28, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
24. Koblin, John; Nerkar, Santul (September 27, 2023). "With Strike Over, Late Night Shows Will Return Next Week". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on September 28, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
25. Haring, Bruce (September 1, 2023). "'Strike Force Five' Premiere Tops Podcast Charts, Keeps Talk Show Hosts Busy During Labor Strife". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 14, 2023. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
26. Seitz, Loree (September 1, 2023). "'Strike Force Five' Podcast Climbs to Top Spotify Charts". TheWrap. Archived from the original on September 8, 2023. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
27. "Strike Force Five | Ep 3: Stories We Missed, Vasectomies and Moby Dick". Strike Force Five. September 7, 2023. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
28. Sturges, Fiona (September 4, 2023). "John Oliver and Jimmy Fallon try their hands at a podcast with Strike Force Five — review". Financial Times. Archived from the original on September 6, 2023. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
29. Malin, Sean (September 21, 2023). "Strike Force Five Heralds Podcasting's First True Supergroup". Vulture. Archived from the original on September 23, 2023. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
30. Chitwood, Adam (October 20, 2023). "Seth Meyers on His Return to 'Late Night,' the Evolution of 'Strike Force Five' and a 'Warmer' Talk Show Host Era". TheWrap. Archived from the original on October 23, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
31. "Strike Force Five | Ep 11: The Return of Strike Force Wives". Strike Force Five. October 6, 2023. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
32. Richardson, Hollie; Duggins, Alexi; Verdier, Hannah; O'Neill, Lauren (September 7, 2023). "Best podcasts of the week: A lighthearted look back at the disastrous Liz Truss reign". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on September 15, 2023. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
33. Larson, Sarah (September 29, 2023). "So Long, "Strike Force Five"". The New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X. Archived from the original on September 30, 2023. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
34. Poniewozik, James (September 18, 2023). "The Talk Shows Have Labor Pains". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on September 23, 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
35. Sawyer, Miranda (September 9, 2023). "The week in audio: Strike Force Five; British Scandal; Intrigue: The Immortals – reviews". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on September 9, 2023. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
36. Wellen, Brianna (August 31, 2023). "Strike Force Five Is Like an Unofficial Battle of the Late Night Hosts". Primetimer. Archived from the original on February 8, 2024. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
37. McEnroe, Colin; Quah, Nicholas (September 8, 2023). "A look at 'Strike Force Five' and the value of physical media, plus endorsements". The Colin McEnroe Show (Podcast). Connecticut Public Radio. Archived from the original on September 19, 2023. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
38. McCann, Fiona (September 16, 2023). "Strike Force Five: Top TV hosts shoot the breeze for a good cause". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on September 19, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
39. Dickey, Josh (September 22, 2023). "Greg Gutfeld Drags 'Pathetic' Late-Night Hosts Podcast 'Strike Force Five': 'Like a Staff Meeting During COVID' (Video)". TheWrap. Archived from the original on September 23, 2023. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
40. Lowry, Brian (September 5, 2023). "Topping podcast charts, 'Strike Force Five' gives a public face to the writers' strike". CNN. Archived from the original on September 7, 2023. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
41. Dockterman, Eliana (November 22, 2023). "The 10 Best Podcasts of 2023". Time. Archived from the original on December 12, 2023. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
42. Capewell, Jillian; Evans, Erin E.; Torres, Monica; Grams, Lizzie; Moorhouse, Drusilla; Wanshel, Elyse (December 15, 2023). "The 10 Best Podcasts We Listened To This Year". HuffPost. Retrieved August 13, 2024.