Comedians Amber Ruffin and Jenny Hagel performed a live comedy segment titled “Late Night Trashcan” during the SXSW festival in March 2024 [1].
The showcase provides a rare glimpse into the editing process of late-night television by presenting material that fails to meet network broadcast standards. By moving these jokes from the script to a live stage, the performers highlight the boundary between cable-friendly humor and uncensored comedy.
The event took place in Austin, Texas, as part of the South by Southwest festival [1]. The segment specifically focuses on material that cannot be aired on the television broadcast of Late Night with Seth Meyers [1, 2].
"We’re doing a show about jokes that Seth can’t tell on TV," Hagel said [1].
Throughout the performance, Ruffin and Hagel presented what they described as "garbage" jokes—material deemed too edgy or inappropriate for a general audience. "Are you ready to hear some garbage?" Ruffin said [1].
While the primary focus of the segment was the "trash-can" nature of the jokes, some reports indicated the performance also touched upon Hagel's habit of giving unsolicited advice [2]. Hagel said, "I’m sure it’s everybody’s least favorite thing …" [2].
The collaboration allows the writers and performers to maintain a creative outlet for humor that would otherwise be discarded during the production of the nightly show. This live format bypasses the strict regulations of broadcast television, allowing for a more candid interaction with the festival audience [1].
“"We’re doing a show about jokes that Seth can’t tell on TV."”
The creation of 'Late Night Trashcan' illustrates the tension between creative expression and the rigid requirements of FCC-regulated broadcast television. By leveraging the live, festival environment of SXSW, the production team can test edgier material and engage a niche audience without risking the network's standing or violating broadcast standards.
