James Corden puts Carpool Karaoke on hiatus

The Late Late Show’s popular Carpool Karaoke segment is taking a break

It has been a year of difficult decisions and tough calls in late-night television. James Corden recently shared one of those decisions as it relates to The Late Late Show‘s popular “Carpool Karaoke” segment.

The novel coronavirus pandemic has changed the look of late-night television shows across the board. Filming has moved from studios into houses, garages, empty theaters, and even the woods.

Only recently have things started to get back to normal–or at least some semblance of normal. Shows like The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert have returned to their studios.

The Late Late Show with James Corden also ended its extended summer break and moved from Corden’s garage back to its CBS studio in Los Angeles. But while the show may look like its back to normal, don’t expect everything to return. In an interview with Variety‘s “The Big Ticket” podcast, Corden explained why “Carpool Karaoke” is staying on the shelf for now:

"I love that segment. I’m incredibly proud of everything it’s done for our show, but it would just feel like an odd thing to do it now. It’s got such joyful abandon that it would feel strange in a way to do it right now. And there’s the level of safety precautions we have to take every day and things like that."

It’s a smart decision by Corden and The Late Late Show even if it wasn’t an easy one to make. With guest interviews conducted remotely and no studio audience, it’s tricky to bring variety to a late-night show right now. Falling back to a fan-favorite segment like “Carpool Karaoke” is no doubt tempting.

You can’t exactly social distance in a car. And wearing a mask would inhibit a singer’s ability to perform. So even with negative tests, The Late Late Show wouldn’t be demonstrating the message it’s been trying to put out about public safety since the pandemic began.

And we know that it’s safety first on the set of “Carpool Karaoke.” Fans may recall the “controversy” Corden found himself in when it was discovered he doesn’t always drive the car during the singalongs.

Fans can relive the best Carpool Karaoke moments while waiting for its return

“Carpool Karaoke” is one of the most rewatchable segments across all of late-night television. Each segment is like revisiting a favorite live performance with the added bonus of a comedy bit and interview thrown in the mix.

So while The Late Late Show fans wait for things to get back to normal and for “Carpool Karaoke” to return, they have options. The series is still on Apple TV+ and the Late Late Show‘s YouTube channel is home to all the best segments.

Just in case you needed a refresher, here are some of the artists that have been featured on “Carpool Karaoke” over the years. In addition to Adele, as seen above with her 223 million views, James Corden has cruised around with Justin Bieber, Sia, Bruno Mars, Selena Gomez, Lady Gaga, Arianna Grande, Harry Styles, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Paul McCartney, and of course, BTS.

That means that there is something for everyone no matter what kind of music you listen to while driving. Thankfully for fans, James Corden has the longterm future of “Carpool Karaoke” in mind and is willing to hold off until things are safer.

Which edition of “Carpool Karaoke” is your favorite? Which one have you watched the most? Let us know in the comment section below.