Welcome to Best of Late Night, a rundown that lets you sleep — and lets us get paid to watch comedy. What do you think of it? What else are you interested in? Let us know: thearts@nytimes.com.
When the Scariest Thing Is Also the Funniest
Trevor Noah on Monday looked back at a trying 2017 in an hourlong year-end edition of “The Daily Show.” He said that to him, President Trump presented “a paradox.”
“Every day I wake up terrified at the notion that he’s president of the most powerful nation in the world, but I must admit, every day I also wake up knowing he’s going to make me laugh,” Mr. Noah said.
“It’s the most terrifying thing, and it’s the funniest thing at the same time. You know what it’s like? It feels like there’s a giant asteroid headed towards the Earth, but it’s shaped like a penis. Like I think I’m gonna die, but I know I’m gonna laugh.” — TREVOR NOAH
Mr. Noah discussed Mr. Trump’s decision in May to fire James Comey, the former director of the F.B.I. Mr. Noah said that although the move was extraordinary, he agreed with it.
Continue reading the main story“If you can fire somebody who’s investigating you, you should fire them. What people should be angry at is the fact that you can fire someone who is investigating you. That’s the crazy [expletive] out there. All right? But if you can fire them, fire them. If I could fire a policeman that was coming after me — are you kidding me? — I’d be at a D.U.I. checkpoint, and the cop would come up to my window like, ‘Sir, do you know why I pulled you over?’ I’d be like, ‘To getchyour ass fffired.’” — TREVOR NOAH
‘Everybody’ Hates the F.B.I.
President Trump offered a broad condemnation of the F.B.I. when speaking to reporters on Friday. “When you look at what’s gone on with the F.B.I. and with the Justice Department, people are very, very angry — everybody, not me, but everybody.”
On “Late Night,” Seth Meyers was not impressed with Mr. Trump’s argument.
“I love how Trump drags ‘everybody’ into his opinions. ‘Everybody’s talking about how bad the F.B.I. is’: He’s like a teenager trying to bully someone. ‘Everybody’s talking about how much they hate you, we were all just talking about it.’” — SETH MEYERS
The Punchiest Punchlines (Pentagon Edition)
“It was revealed that the Pentagon had a top-secret program to investigate U.F.O.s and aliens — which is why Trump announced plans to build a dome over the Earth and make E.T. pay for it.” — JIMMY FALLON
“There was an 11-hour power outage at the airport in Atlanta yesterday, and people were stranded on the tarmac for six hours. Don’t worry, though, flight attendants came through every hour with a thimble-sized cup of room-temperature water.” — JIMMY FALLON
“Donald Trump Jr. shared a picture on Instagram this weekend of him and Senator Ted Cruz holding a cookie with President Obama’s face on it. Still not as disturbing as a body with Ted Cruz’s face on it.” — SETH MEYERS
The Bits Worth Watching
Desus and Mero talked about Diddy’s pitch to become owner of the Carolina Panthers.
Randy Newman collaborated with the Roots on a performance of his classic satire anthem, “Short People.”
What We’re Excited About on Tuesday Night
“Late Night” will feature another Seth on Tuesday: Seth MacFarlane, the comedian and creator of “Family Guy,” who doubles as a singer. He’ll talk to Mr. Meyers and then give a musical performance.
Also, Check This Out
The new Mississippi Civil Rights Museum will leave you feeling frustrated — which is a good thing, our art critic writes.
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