Two of late-night television's most popular franchises are branching out. In the latest attempt to expand and reinvent the genre, the shows are getting into the short-form video content with hopes of attracting an even bigger audience.
For the unfamiliar, a microdrama refers to a short-form web or television series that originated in China. Episodes are typically short, allowing for hundreds of episodes to be produced and released. Microdramas are specifically designed to be watched vertically on smartphones, with plot characteristics similar to soap operas.
It's the type of content that can be ripe for parody if done well. Now, two late-night television shows have plans to do just that.
First up, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon launched Who Billionaire? Me Billionaire on July 27. The series features Fallon, John Stamos, and social media star Delaney Rowe. In an interview with USA Today, Fallon said it was filmed in a day during a Tonight Show day off. The first episode already has over 900,000 views on TikTok.
The Daily Show also has plans to jump into the microdrama space. Fans should expect to soon see the debut of The Daily Show Presents: Two Billionaires Fight to Dominate the Country… And My Heart! on YouTube and social media.
The Comedy Central late-night show hopes to mock both politics and the microdrama format itself with the series. Based on the description provided to The Hollywood Reporter, it's not hard to see where the inspiration comes from:
"When the president’s beautiful daughter Alonka announces that her aging father wants to spend more of his Oval Office time sleeping, two filthy rich tech gods — Egon Husk and Jiff Davos — must compete to build a new AI President to help him run the country. But their lust for power, and Alonka, leads to dangerously hot complications,” the description states."
It marks a new chapter for late-night TV as the genre continues to look for new ways to adapt. YouTube already plays a massive role in the late-night ecosystem, but networks haven't exactly unlocked the best way to monetize the platform.
It's no shock to see The Tonight Show at the forefront of the microdrama push. During Jimmy Fallon's tenure, the show has always tried to find ways to attract mobile audiences and capitalize on social media. Fallon admitted to USA Today that he doesn't know if Who Billionaire? Me Billionaire is even funny. But he deserves credit for trying something new and expanding the definition of late-night TV.
The same goes for The Daily Show. Over the past 30 years, no program has done satire better. Recent years have also demonstrated the show's ability to create short, punchy content that spreads quickly. A microdrama that mocks both the president and the billionaire class should have a similar effect.
The first two episodes of Who Billionaire? Me Billionaire are available on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. Comedy Central has not set a premiere date forThe Daily Show Presents: Two Billionaires Fight to Dominate the Country… And My Heart!
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