James Acaster remains largely unknown in the U.S., though he has a strong following in Britain. There, he is recognized for his punk-style comedy and a refusal to follow written directions. Currently, he is on a press tour for his new HBO special, Hecklers Welcome. This brought him to Seth Meyers’ show, Late Night, for a recent interview.
Acaster’s punk attitude and lower profile in the U.S. give him the freedom to be genuinely funny in a slightly confrontational way. This style is reminiscent of the best guests on David Letterman’s show. While many late-night interviews feature movie stars who stick to rehearsed, polite answers, Acaster’s approach feels fresh and unpredictable. Those more scripted moments belong on shows like Jimmy Fallon’s.
Instead of offering the usual praise about his special or expressing gratitude for his career, Acaster chose to bring classic British banter to the stage. He launched a playful attack on Meyers, making up embarrassing lies and then insisting on them. Since both men are competing for a stand-up Emmy, Acaster seized the chance to spread some humorous rumors about where Meyers gets his material.
Meyers started with a friendly question about their specials, but Acaster quickly turned it into a joke at Meyers’ expense. He told a made-up story about Meyers comforting him by admitting he didn’t write any of his own jokes. According to Acaster, Meyers confessed, “I stole it from newer comics.” As Meyers reacted with mock frustration, Acaster added that Meyers not only stole jokes but also stole the laughter from original comics after bombing with their bits, then used those laughs in his special.
To be clear, I recently heard some of Meyers’ own stand-up, and it was very good. Acaster’s charm allows him to stir up this kind of playful trouble without it feeling mean-spirited. Meyers’ good humor makes it easy for him to take the jokes in stride.
Honestly, this kind of lively back-and-forth is exactly what late-night shows have been missing lately.
