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When the jokes stop and real life takes center stage... Join us as we count down the most vulnerable, emotional moments when our favorite late night hosts shared their personal struggles and triumphs. From heartbreaking losses to triumphant returns, these raw moments revealed the humans behind the humor.
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00:00The world was heartbroken yesterday by a helicopter accident in Los Angeles that
00:03claimed the lives of nine people, including that of Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter,
00:08Gianna. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the times that
00:13late-night hosts opened themselves up for the world to see. Mostly, I want to thank
00:19Colito's parents, Colito and Sylvia, for making him.
00:23Number 20, Seth Meyers on the unusual circumstances of his son's birth. Late night with Seth Meyers.
00:33Two years ago, I sat at this desk and I told a story about how my first son, Ash, was born,
00:39and how it was very dramatic in that my wife, her contractions started coming very quickly,
00:44very suddenly, and we were really worried that she was going to give birth in the Uber,
00:49and we just made it, just made it to the hospital with basically 20 minutes to spare.
00:55We'll move over that story.
00:57The former SNL Weekend Update anchor's calm and composed demeanor on late night often belies a
01:03chaotic home life, a reality brought hilariously to the forefront when he recounts the birth of
01:08his second son, Axel. Meyers vividly detailed calling 911, the rapid progression of the birth,
01:14and the surreal experience of his son arriving on the lobby floor, surrounded by their doula,
01:20neighbors, and eventually the New York City Fire Department and Police Department,
01:24who helped cut the umbilical cord.
01:26I went from someone, like, calling in about emergency to just sharing good news with a stranger.
01:32He's like, yeah, it's a boy. Yeah, it's great.
01:35You probably got stuff to do.
01:37The raw, unfiltered account of this deeply personal, unexpected, and joyous event was not
01:43only side-splittingly funny, but also a testament to the unpredictable beauty of life,
01:48connecting with every parent who's faced the wild ride of childbirth.
01:52But, you know, obviously, I just want to thank my beautiful wife, Alexi, who is twice now an
01:59incredible rock star with these incredible deliveries and stories.
02:02Number 19, Stephen Colbert opens up about his father and brother's deaths.
02:07Anderson Cooper 360.
02:09There's another Steve. There's a Steve Colbert. There's that kid before my father and my brothers
02:14died. And it's actually kind of difficult. I have fairly vivid memories from right after they died
02:21to the present. Like, it's continuous and contiguous, you know, like, it's all connected.
02:27There's this big break in the cable of my memory.
02:30Stephen Colbert is renowned for his sharp wit and satirical genius.
02:35But beneath the comedic exterior lies a profound personal tragedy that he's rarely discussed
02:40publicly. In a series of candid interviews with Anderson Cooper, the veteran late-night host opened
02:45up about the devastating loss of his father and two older brothers in a plane crash on September 11,
02:501974, when he was just 10 years old.
02:53Ordinary concerns of childhood suddenly kind of disappeared.
02:58I became, I won't say mature, because that actually was kind of delayed by the death of my father,
03:07by sort of kind of restarting at 10. But I had certainly a different point of view than the
03:11children around me.
03:12Colbert bravely articulated the pain of someone huge in your life disappearing,
03:17and the agony of not knowing exactly what happened. He shared how this tragedy instilled in him a unique
03:23perspective on suffering and gratitude, learning to love the bomb and appreciate existence even with
03:29its inherent pain.
03:30It's a gift to exist. It's a gift to exist. And with existence comes suffering. There's no escaping that.
03:38And I guess I'm either a Catholic or a Buddhist when I say those things, because I've heard those from both traditions.
03:45Number 18, Jay Leno says goodbye to The Tonight Show, for good this time. The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
03:52I am the luckiest guy in the world. I got to meet presidents, astronauts, movie stars. It's just been incredible.
04:03I got to work with lighting people who made me look better than I really am.
04:07Jay Leno's tenure as host of Late Night's Most Revered Transmission spanned two distinct periods,
04:13from 1992 to 2009, and again from 2010 to 2014, making his final departure from the iconic desk a
04:22profoundly significant moment in television history. His farewell monologue was a thoughtful reflection on
04:28his long career, filled with a mix of gratitude, characteristic self-deprecating humor, and genuine emotion.
04:34And what people say to me, hey, why didn't you go to ABC? Why didn't you go to Fox? Why didn't you go?
04:40I didn't know anybody over there. These are the only people I've ever known.
04:45Unlike the dramatic circumstances of Conan O'Brien's departure, Leno's final show was a celebratory,
04:51if slightly melancholic, send-off, acknowledging the passage of time and the natural evolution of late-night television.
04:58But it really is time to go, hand it off to the next guy. It really is. And in closing,
05:04I want to quote Johnny Carson, who was the greatest guy to ever do this job. And he said,
05:10I bid you all a heartfelt goodbye. Now, now that I've brought the room down.
05:18Number 17, Jimmy Kimmel remembers his Uncle Frank. Jimmy Kimmel Live.
05:23I'm going to try to do this without crying, but I'm probably going to fail. But just turn away or
05:27something because it's embarrassing. It really is. As you may have heard, my Uncle Frank, who already
05:32has been a fixture on our show since our first night on the air in January of 2003,
05:39passed away over our vacation. Jimmy Kimmel has often shared stories about his colorful family,
05:46and none were quite as beloved by his audience as his Uncle Frank Potenza. Uncle Frank, a former
05:51police officer and Kimmel's actual uncle, became a regular on Jimmy Kimmel Live, known for his deadpan
05:57humor, curmudgeonly charm, and genuine affection for his nephew.
06:01He hated vacation because he loved to come to work. He would get here 10, 11, 12 hours before the
06:11show started. The show started at the beginning at 9pm. He'd be here by 8am. When Uncle Frank passed
06:19away in 2011 at the age of 77, Kimmel delivered a heartfelt and humorous tribute that perfectly
06:25encapsulated their relationship. Instead of a somber eulogy, Kimmel recounted hilarious anecdotes
06:31and shared clips of Uncle Frank's funniest moments on the show, celebrating his life with laughter and
06:36love. And thanks to all of you who came to the show and who watched for indulging me and letting me put
06:42my crazy uncle on television. Number 16, Conan O'Brien's last Tonight Show, The Tonight Show with
06:52Conan O'Brien. Tonight, I really am allowed to say whatever I want. And what I want to say is this.
06:58Between my time at Saturday Night Live, The Late Night Show, and my brief run here on The Tonight Show,
07:04I've worked with NBC for over 20 years. Yes, we have our differences right now. Yes, we're going our
07:11separate ways. But this company has been my home for most of my adult life.
07:16The circumstances surrounding Conan O'Brien's departure from The Tonight Show were tumultuous,
07:22marked by a highly publicized dispute with NBC over the show's time slot. When its final episode aired
07:28on January 22, 2010, ahead of its return to the format later that year with TBS's Conan,
07:34the atmosphere was one of palpable tension mixed with conflicted loyalty. After a fraught period,
07:40O'Brien delivered a farewell monologue devoid of bitterness, instead focusing on gratitude and
07:46optimism. A lot of people have been asking me about my state of mind. And I'll be honest with you,
07:50walking away from The Tonight Show is the hardest thing I have ever had to do. Making this choice
07:56has been enormously difficult. This is the best job in the world. I absolutely love doing it.
08:03And I have the best staff and crew in the history of the media. I will fight anybody who says I don't.
08:09A highlight was his earnest advice to his younger audience, urging viewers to steer clear of cynicism.
08:15It was a powerful statement of integrity and hope in the face of professional heartbreak,
08:19showing a personal vulnerability and a commitment to the principles that had endeared him to millions.
08:25Please do not be cynical. I hate cynicism. For the record, it's my least favorite quality.
08:30It doesn't lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get.
08:37But if you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen.
08:42Number 15, David Letterman shines a light on Warren Zevon. Late Show with David Letterman.
08:47Our first guest tonight is a brilliant songwriter and a musician who's been a friend of ours for 20 years.
08:53And believe me, it's a thrill to have him here with us. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Warren Zevon. Warren.
08:58In an unexpectedly moving hour of television, David Letterman dedicated an entire episode of The Late Show to his friend,
09:06singer-songwriter Warren Zevon, on October 30th, 2002.
09:10Zevon had been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer just months prior.
09:14And this appearance would be his last public interview and performance before his death the following September.
09:19I guess a couple of months ago, we all learned that your life has changed radically, hasn't it?
09:23You mean you heard about the flu?
09:26Yeah, kind of about the flu.
09:27Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, it's true.
09:32Zevon, characteristically composed and witty despite his grim prognosis, shared profound insights.
09:38Most famously, that his most treasured life lesson had been learning, quote,
09:42how much you're supposed to enjoy every sandwich.
09:45It was a phrase that became an enduring motto for living life to the fullest, even in its most mundane moments.
09:51I'm working harder and, you know, you put more value on every minute.
09:56You do live.
09:58I mean, I always thought I kind of did that.
10:00I really always enjoyed myself.
10:01Yeah.
10:02But it's more valuable now.
10:04You're reminded to enjoy every sandwich and every minute of playing with the guys and being with the kids and everything.
10:11Number 14, David Letterman's monologue after the September 11th attacks.
10:16Late show with David Letterman.
10:18The world watched in horror as the events of September 11th, 2001 unfolded.
10:23For many, the return of television programming felt jarring, almost disrespectful.
10:28Yet when Letterman returned just six days after the attacks, he delivered a monologue that perfectly captured the nation's collective confusion, sorrow, and desperate need for some semblance of normalcy.
10:40And not just a rally for New York City, but a rally to raise money, to raise money for New York City.
10:45And if that doesn't tell you everything you need to know about the spirit of the United States, then I can't help you.
10:53I'm sorry.
10:54Thank God Regis is here, so we have something to make fun of.
11:24Number 13, Jimmy Kimmel returns following controversial suspension.
11:29Jimmy Kimmel Live.
11:30I'm not sure who had a weirder 48 hours, me or the CEO of Tylenol.
11:36It's been overwhelming.
11:38I've heard from a lot of people over the last six days.
11:41I've heard from all the people in the world over the last six days.
11:45Everyone I have ever met has reached out 10 or 11 times.
11:48In September 2025, the late-night television landscape was rocked when Jimmy Kimmel was suspended from ABC, following comments he made about the then-recent assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.
12:01I've been hearing a lot about what I need to say and do tonight, and the truth is, I don't think what I have to say is going to make much of a difference.
12:08If you like me, you like me.
12:09If you don't, you don't.
12:10I have no illusions about changing anyone's mind.
12:13But I do want to make something clear because it's important to me as a human, and that is, you understand that it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man.
12:23Kimmel's remarks garnered intense backlash from political conservatives, leading to public pressure from the presidential administration of Donald Trump.
12:31FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, who had been appointed to the position by President Trump, even threatened regulatory action against ABC and its affiliates if Kimmel wasn't sufficiently punished for his words.
12:42Upon his triumphant return, Kimmel acknowledged Erica Kirk, Charlie Kirk's widow, and expressed gratitude for the widespread support he received, including from unexpected figures across the political spectrum.
12:54Maybe most of all, I want to thank the people who don't support my show and what I believe, but support my right to share those beliefs anyway.
13:04People who I never would have imagined, like Ben Shapiro, Clay Travis, Candace Owens, Mitch McConnell, Rand Paul, even my old pal Ted Cruz.
13:18Number 12.
13:19Jimmy Fallon shares a touching story about Kobe Bryant, The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon.
13:25Kobe was such a life force, so strong and creative and inspired that in my head I thought that he was going to live forever.
13:31I met Kobe when he was 17 and I was 21.
13:35He was a rookie on the Lakers, and I was just starting out in the comedy scene in L.A.
13:39We were at a party, and we didn't know anyone at the party, so we just started talking.
13:42And I said, like, hey, what are you doing?
13:44He goes, I play basketball.
13:46The sudden, tragic death of the L.A. Lakers legend in 2020 sent shockwaves across the globe.
13:52And the late-night world was no exception.
13:54Visibly emotional and fighting back tears, the Tonight Show host revealed a personal connection many viewers might not have known about.
14:00He shared a poignant and surprisingly humorous anecdote about meeting a young Kobe at a party in Los Angeles,
14:06ultimately going on an impromptu beer run together that solidified their bond.
14:10The weight of losing not only Kobe, but also his 13-year-old daughter Gianna in the helicopter crash that took their lives
14:17was palpable in Fallon's voice as he emphasized the importance of cherishing family and living life with passion,
14:23echoing Bryant's famous Mamba mentality.
14:25To Vanessa and all those affected by this tragedy, we love you and will always be there for all of you.
14:31Kobe, when we meet again, we're going on a beer run.
14:35Number 11.
14:37Jimmy Kimmel mourns Cleto Escobedo III.
14:40Jimmy Kimmel Live.
14:41We've been on the air for almost 23 years, and I've had to do some hard monologues along the way,
14:48but this one's the hardest because late last night, early this morning, we lost someone very special
14:55who was much too young to go, and I'd like to tell you about him if you don't mind.
15:01There are moments on late-night television when the jokes don't feel right,
15:06and a host's genuine grief cuts through the usual banter.
15:09Such was the case when Jimmy Kimmel paid a heartbreaking tribute to his childhood best friend
15:14and his show's beloved bandleader, Cleto Escobedo III.
15:17I mean, everyone loves Cleto.
15:19He's, uh, everyone here at the show, we are devastated by this.
15:22It's not, it's just not fair.
15:25He was the nicest, most humble, kind, and always funny person.
15:32Cleto, an accomplished saxophonist in his own right, wasn't just a colleague,
15:36but a fixture in Kimmel's life since childhood,
15:39a bond that viewers often saw glimpses of through their easy camaraderie on screen.
15:43With abundant humor and heart, the host eloquently expressed the void left by Cleto's absence,
15:49not just for the show's vibrant backbeat, but for him personally, as a confidant and a brother.
15:54Cherish your friends.
15:56We're not here forever.
16:00Thank you for indulging me.
16:02I am going to be, we're going to take the next couple of nights off,
16:05um, but I want to be here tonight to tell you about my friend,
16:08and also Cleto loved Eddie Murphy, um, a lot.
16:13And I don't think he would have wanted us to miss this, so, uh, we will be right back with Eddie Murphy.
16:19Number 10. Craig Ferguson discusses his sobriety.
16:23The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.
16:25Craig never failed to bring the laughs, but he didn't shy away from tackling serious issues either.
16:30During a monologue, he began talking about a then-troubled Britney Spears.
16:34No Britney Spears jokes, and here's why.
16:36The audience is expecting some low-grade hanging fruit, but Ferguson takes a turn.
16:41It reminds me of where I was 15 years ago, when I was living like that.
16:45After talking about Britney Spears entering rehab and her apparent substance use disorder,
16:50he tells his own story about alcohol dependency and his subsequent 15 years of sobriety up to that point.
16:56Ferguson manages to be frank, but he throws in some self-deprecating humor too,
17:00while also giving the audience a glimpse into the mental process and actions
17:04of someone with a serious addiction.
17:07The only way I could deal with it is find other people who had similar experiences
17:12and talk to them.
17:14It doesn't cost anything.
17:16Number 9. John Oliver and Vaccinating His Son.
17:20Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.
17:22John Oliver is known for his humorous yet informative deep dives into important topics,
17:27and Oliver isn't shy about using his own experiences to help make his point.
17:31A great example is his piece about vaccinations.
17:34At the end of the almost 30-minute segment about the issue of getting vaccinated,
17:38and more importantly, vaccinating your children,
17:41Oliver showed a picture of him and his 19-month-old son.
17:44He is 19 months old.
17:46He was born prematurely following a very difficult pregnancy,
17:49and I've worried about his health, and I still worry about his health a lot.
17:53After giving details about his son's premature birth,
17:55Oliver stated that he was going to go ahead with his scheduled vaccinations,
17:59despite being a worried parent like everyone else.
18:02He then encouraged others to do the same.
18:04I can overcome the temptation to listen to the irrational shouting of my terrified lizard brain,
18:12than I believe that everyone can.
18:14Number 8. Jimmy Fallon Cries Following His Mother's Passing.
18:18The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
18:20Jimmy Fallon's show is known for being fun, upbeat, and lighthearted.
18:24Whether it be a rap battle with Justin Timberlake or celebrities trying the latest trend,
18:28Fallon manages to give audiences something different and entertaining.
18:32That's what makes it all the more noticeable when Fallon takes a more serious tone,
18:36like he did when his mother passed away.
18:38She was the best audience.
18:39She was the one I was always trying to make laugh,
18:41and she was such a fan of the show and everything I did.
18:44Fallon is usually bright and animated,
18:46but as he details a special memory of his mother,
18:48he is on the brink of tears.
18:50Mom, I'll never stop trying to make you laugh.
18:52I love you.
18:53Despite being choked up and crying during multiple moments,
18:56Fallon manages to still tell the audience that he hopes to bring them laughter.
19:00Number 7. Trevor Noah on Philando Castile.
19:04The Daily Show.
19:05Trevor Noah is no stranger to serious topics,
19:08but as host of The Daily Show, he still made us laugh about them.
19:11I was flipped in a Tesla.
19:13Like a Tesla, people.
19:15Like, I don't know what silent crime you think I'm on my way to commit.
19:18He even did that between his planned monologues as well.
19:21During one of his off-the-cuff conversations with the studio audience,
19:25Noah candidly discussed the death of Philando Castile,
19:28who was killed by police during a traffic stop,
19:31and the acquittal of the officer who killed him.
19:33When you flip it in these situations, you realize,
19:35you're like, there's no way, there's almost no way to not get shot.
19:38Trevor used his own personal experiences with the U.S. police
19:41to empathize with his points about racism, profiling, and police reform,
19:46which managed to be funny, yet extremely alarming.
19:49He was running away.
19:50He's backwards turned to the officer, he's running away.
19:52Where's the threat?
19:53No one's threatening from behind.
19:56Do you know what I mean?
19:57Maybe a Kardashian, but no one else.
20:00Number six, David Letterman apologizing to his wife on air.
20:04Late Show with David Letterman.
20:06In the midst of a quashed blackmail campaign,
20:08David Letterman used his show to address the matter directly.
20:11No, I'm not having sex with these women.
20:15Those episodes are in the past.
20:17Addressing his past and allegations of sexual relationships with multiple staff members.
20:22Letterman not only took time to apologize to his crew for putting them through such a stressful time,
20:27but to his wife as well.
20:30In an extremely personal moment,
20:32Letterman told the audience he had hurt his wife immensely due to his actions,
20:35and that he had a lot of work to do to make things right.
20:39Let me tell you folks, I got my work cut out for me.
20:42Letterman isn't a stranger to sincere personal moments,
20:45and his tribute to the late Robin Williams alone is proof of that.
20:48I'm sorry, like everybody else,
20:50I had no idea that the man was in pain,
20:53that the man was suffering.
20:55But what a guy, Robin Williams.
20:58Number five, Johnny Carson's final monologue.
21:01The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson.
21:03One of the most revered late-night hosts doesn't just go out with a whimper.
21:07During his final monologue after nearly 30 years of his late-night show,
21:11Johnny Carson was met with a standing ovation that lasted for around two minutes.
21:16With the ever-modest Carson almost begging the audience to stop.
21:19Thank you for my pleasure.
21:22I want you to know I really appreciate it.
21:24Glassy-eyed and noticeably flustered after the long applause,
21:28he still managed to carry himself
21:30and make the audience laugh one last time during his monologue.
21:33I'm going to have to be very honest with you.
21:36I don't know if I can take another night of this.
21:37The only time the audience ever stopped laughing
21:39was when Carson talked about his departure.
21:42Then he was met with a very loud awe from the crowd.
21:45All we have is tonight and tomorrow and I'm gone.
21:49God, I haven't used that line since World War II.
22:00After the first of multiple terror attacks in London in 2017,
22:06James Corden addressed the audience about the incident that took place in his hometown.
22:10During his response, he expressed his sorrow,
22:12but more importantly, his homesickness.
22:15When something like that happens in your hometown,
22:18you don't have a feeling of being glad that you're so far away.
22:22What you feel is that you wish you could be there.
22:24While choking up, Corden mentioned how it would be natural to assume
22:28that he felt better being so far away across the Atlantic.
22:31Instead, he wished he could have been there to help Londoners recover.
22:35If this act of terrorism was supposed to divide the people of London,
22:39I know for a fact that all something like this does is bring them closer together.
22:44Only a few months later, Corden had to address a second terror attack in London.
22:48However, he got to do it his way from London, helping it recover by celebrating it.
22:53I'm proud to show off its beauty, its diversity,
22:58and its stoic British determination to let nothing or anybody stand in our way.
23:03Number three, Conan O'Brien on the Las Vegas shooting, Conan.
23:07Sadly, Conan O'Brien isn't a stranger to addressing mass shootings in the U.S.
23:12Far from it, actually, since multiple and some of the deadliest have occurred in 2017 alone.
23:18When did that become normal?
23:21When did this become a ritual?
23:24Despite this, little to no legislative action has happened,
23:28which is key to understanding Conan's behavior.
23:31Using his monologue to address the Las Vegas massacre,
23:34Conan expressed not only his sympathy, but also his anguish.
23:38I don't think it should be so easy for one demented person to kill so many people so quickly.
23:46He even remarks how mass shootings occur so frequently,
23:49a file exists of his previous responses to them.
23:52What's so significant about this moment is Conan's palpable sense of defeat and exhaustion.
23:58Something needs to change. It really does.
24:02Number two, Jon Stewart's monologue after 9-11, The Daily Show.
24:06After the 9-11 attack in New York City, Jon Stewart,
24:10known for his declaration of the war on bullshit,
24:13opened his next show with a very emotional monologue about the disaster.
24:17I just, I wanted to tell you why I grieve.
24:22But why I don't despair.
24:25Choking up and visibly crying,
24:27Stewart mainly focused on the heroic first responders
24:30that put their lives on the line to help those affected immediately after the attack.
24:35That's extraordinary.
24:37And, and, and that's why we've already won.
24:40It really gets us when Jon, who was born and raised in New York City,
24:44also mentions how the view from his home has drastically changed,
24:48with the World Trade Center no longer visible from his window.
24:51The view from the south of Manhattan is now the Statue of Liberty.
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25:09Number one, Jimmy Kimmel and his son's medical problem.
25:15Jimmy Kimmel Live.
25:16The death of Cecil the Lion famously left Kimmel a bit choked up and bewildered.
25:20A-hole dentist who wants a lion's head over the fireplace in his man cave
25:25so his douchebag buddies can gather around it and drink scotch and tell him how awesome he is.
25:29That's just vomitous.
25:31But family is different.
25:33While the debate to repeal Obamacare was steaming ahead,
25:35Jimmy Kimmel told a tear-jerking story about his son's health complications
25:39when he was born a few days previously.
25:42It's a terrifying thing.
25:44I'm, uh, you know, my wife is back in the recovery room.
25:48She has no idea what's going on.
25:50Kimmel emphasized that had he not had health coverage,
25:53his son would not have been able to receive the care he needed to save his life
25:57due to his having a pre-existing condition.
25:59No parent should ever have to decide if they can afford to save their child's life.
26:06He later brought his son on the show to help fund the Children's Health Insurance Program.
26:11And we all teared up all over again.
26:13Daddy cries on TV, but Billy doesn't.
26:15It's unbelievable.
26:17Which talk show moment moved you the most?
26:20Are there any we missed?
26:21Be sure to let us know in the comments below.
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