All 4 late night hosts, ranked from worst to best

The big four of late night television have been at it for a while. Jimmy Kimmel leads the back, with a whopping two plus decades behind the desk, while Stephen Colbert, Seth Meyers and Jimmy Fallon all hover around the decade mark.

This is more than enough time to assess what their flaws and strengths are, and which of them has proven to be the most skilled host. Now, to be clear, this is not a ranking of the shows, but specifically the hosts. For a show ranking, click here.

We are looking at the men who anchor the shows, and which of them has proven the most versatile. Here's how we see the big four, ranked from worst to best.

4. Jimmy Kimmel

Sorry, Kimmel. Despite having the most experience, the veteran comedian brings up the rear in our ranking. He's not bad at what he does, but he does suffer from a blandness that his peers avoid. He doesn't bring a lot of personality to the table. Or desk, rather.

Kimmel has definitely had his standout moments, like his heartfelt detailing of his son's health struggles on the air, but more often than not his monologues and interviews feel rote. Kimmel's actually much better in an interactive, game show setting, which is why his current stint on Who Wants to be a Millionaire? has us more excited.

Read More: Is Jimmy Kimmel retiring from late night in 2025? (Contract details)

3. Jimmy Fallon

Jimmy Fallon is probably the most famous late night host of the big four. He has the biggest show, The Tonight Show, and has generated the most viral success thanks to segments like lip sync battle. He has a good eye for what'll play in a YouTube setting, and his energetic presence fits these games to a T.

The reason Jimmy Fallon isn't higher, though, is his presence behind the desk. It's long been debated whether he fakes his laughter to bolster his interviews with celebrities, and there have been several instances of him cutting off his guests or hijacking their stories. Fallon is a bad interviewer, which is not great in a "talk show" medium.

Read More: Jimmy Fallon's SNL reunion on The Tonight Show didn't go over well

2. Stephen Colbert

Stephen Colbert had the toughest transition to make. Not only was he taking over The Late Show from legend David Letterman, but he was being forced to shed the fictional persona he'd built on The Colbert Report for something more sincere. It was a little awkward at first, but Colbert eventually got the hang of it.

A decade in, and Colbert is one of the best late night presences on any channel or network. He has a measured approach with his guests, and his interviews often go viral for giving celebrities a chance to wax poetic on topics they wouldn't have otherwise. Overall, he's made a tough transition look easy.

Read More: Stephen Colbert deals with Late Show protests during Nancy Pelosi interview

1. Seth Meyers

Unpopular opinion, perhaps, but Seth Meyers is the best interviewer of the big four. He has a quick, sharp approach when it comes to asking questions, and he has an innate ability to build a rapport with his guests. Others, like Kimmel or even Colbert, can sometimes feel at odds with their guests. Maybe even a little awkward. Meyers never runs into that problem.

Seth Meyers also has the most SNL connections, which makes his show feel more aligned with the grand NBC tradition, and segments like Day Drinking manage to go viral while still offering substantial material in terms of getting guests to open up. Late Night with Seth Meyers isn't toping the ratings, but thanks to its titular host, it's sneakily the coolest of the big four shows.