Jimmy Fallon and four other late-night hosts reunited on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Monday night, May 12 [1].

The gathering marks a rare public appearance by the group known as Strike Force Five. This reunion serves as a send-off for Colbert as he enters the final weeks of his tenure as host of the program [2].

Fallon appeared on the New York City-based show to discuss the group's reunion and the recording of a secret podcast episode [2]. The group consists of five hosts [1]: Fallon, Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers, and John Oliver. Some reports indicate that David Letterman also appeared with the hosts, though other accounts state only the five primary members were present [3, 1].

During the broadcast, the hosts discussed the current state of late-night television. The conversation focused on the evolving landscape of the medium and the legacy of the format as Colbert prepares to leave his role [2, 4].

The reunion follows previous collaborations between the hosts, who originally formed the collective to address industry challenges. The secret podcast episode mentioned by Fallon is intended to document this specific moment in the transition of late-night leadership [2].

Colbert's upcoming departure represents a significant shift in the late-night circuit. The appearance of the Strike Force Five members highlights the professional camaraderie between the hosts despite their competition for viewership [1, 2].

“Five late-night hosts reunited on The Late Show.”

The reunion of Strike Force Five underscores the precarious state of traditional late-night television as it faces declining linear viewership. By gathering to honor Colbert's departure, the hosts are acknowledging the end of a specific era of the 'late-night war,' shifting instead toward collaborative content like podcasts to maintain their cultural relevance.