In the ever-changing landscape of late-night television, the past six months have brought enough drama to fill an entire era. That turbulence is only set to intensify with the return of four of the genre’s most prominent figures—Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, and Seth Meyers—who all take their places back behind their desks on Tuesday night. For Colbert, the night marks something more momentous: the beginning of his final season as the signature late-night host for CBS. After a surprise announcement from the network that it will shutter The Late Show at the end of this season, Colbert begins what will be a nine-month farewell, a “long goodbye” that both fans and critics will be following closely.

The synchronicity of the returns gives late night the feel of a television event. Kimmel reemerges on ABC after a summerlong break, during which his public feud with the White House escalated. Fallon and Meyers, both of NBC, return after shorter breaks, and both have had their own brushes with Trump’s barbs. Colbert, however, is the one everyone is watching most intently, as his career arc with CBS nears its end. The network’s decision, citing financial challenges and shrinking profits, has rattled the late-night industry and cast doubt on its long-term future.

The hallmark of late night since the days of Johnny Carson has been the immediacy of a host’s take on politics, culture, or breaking news. With four major hosts having been silent for weeks, there is a backlog of material waiting to be addressed. The headlines of recent months—from presidential controversies to social upheavals—are fodder that late-night writers could mine endlessly. But the genre has shifted in recent years, becoming not just about comedy but also about pointed commentary, outrage, and expressions of personal conviction. Audiences tuning in will be looking for more than laughs; they will expect candor and catharsis.

Kimmel, in particular, is likely to devote time to Colbert’s situation. He has already criticized CBS’s decision in interviews, suggesting that the network exaggerated financial losses to justify cutting its flagship late-night program. Kimmel has also urged Emmy voters to support Colbert, making his solidarity clear. At the same time, Kimmel remains committed to his long-running feud with Donald Trump, who has been a favorite target for years. Viewers can expect him to swing hard in his return monologue, directing haymakers at both Trump and the broader political establishment.

Meyers, meanwhile, will probably seize the chance to respond to Trump’s latest attacks. While Meyers has long been a critic of the former president, Trump had not focused much attention on him personally until recently. While Meyers was off the air, Trump lashed out at NBC for renewing his contract, calling it a “sick rumor” and accusing Meyers of lacking talent and intelligence. The insult, while characteristic of Trump’s feuds with entertainers, seemed particularly misplaced given that the renewal had actually been finalized over a year earlier. Still, Trump’s comments provide Meyers with a direct opening to turn the insults into material, and his trademark “Closer Look” segment is likely to deliver a sharp rebuttal.

Fallon has also not escaped Trump’s ire. The former president has often called him talentless and predicted his downfall, even though Fallon’s contract was also extended by NBC just over a year ago. Like Meyers, Fallon may use Trump’s misplaced hostility as comedic fuel, though his style leans more toward playful mockery than pointed critique. Nevertheless, with all three NBC and ABC hosts back in action at once, Trump will likely find himself once again at the center of the late-night crossfire.

The broader cultural and political moment offers no shortage of ammunition. Issues like armed troops in American cities, controversial deportations, attacks on scientific experts, public health controversies, and endless speculation about Trump’s own well-being are all ripe for commentary. Writers on each show are reportedly inundated with material, with new scandals and stories emerging daily. This abundance ensures that the opening nights of the fall season will be both busy and blistering.

Traditionally, the post–Labor Day period has marked the beginning of a new television season. In today’s fragmented streaming era, such designations have little practical meaning, but they still carry symbolic weight. For Colbert and Kimmel, this Tuesday marks the official launch of their new seasons, while Fallon and Meyers will follow with their season debuts in a few weeks. The question looming over all of it, however, is whether this could be the last time multiple broadcast networks simultaneously launch new late-night seasons.

CBS has already charted a different course for its future. When Colbert exits next year, the network plans to replace The Late Show with Comics Unleashed, a syndicated roundtable comedy program created and owned by Byron Allen. The show has long aired in syndication, and its apolitical, evergreen style makes it a departure from the topical and political satire that has dominated late night for decades. Its arrival signals not just the end of Colbert’s tenure but perhaps the end of CBS’s presence in the genre as it has traditionally been defined.

As speculation continues over the long-term viability of late-night television, the four returning hosts are preparing for what may be the most consequential season in years. Kimmel has hinted at the possibility of winding down his own show, though no final decision has been announced. Fallon and Meyers remain secure under contract extensions, but with shifting audiences and corporate belt-tightening, nothing feels guaranteed. For now, though, each of the four will return to their stages, ready to resume the nightly ritual of delivering both laughs and commentary.

In the coming months, attrition and reinvention will likely define the genre. For Colbert, the season ahead is both an ending and an opportunity. With nine months to deliver a farewell worthy of his tenure, he will almost certainly go out swinging, using his platform not just for comedy but for cultural and political impact. Late-night television has always thrived on immediacy, but rarely has the genre faced a moment this precarious. With Colbert’s farewell underway and the other hosts under pressure to prove their relevance, the next season promises to be as dramatic as the stories they cover.