NBC is shaking up late-night TV, giving Carson Daly’s slot to a woman of colour who’s a star on YouTube.
The network said Thursday that a new show, titled “A Little Late with Lilly Singh,” will air at 1:35 a.m. EDT beginning in September.
Singh will be the only woman to host a daily late-night show on a major broadcast network.
It’s official. Ya girl is getting her own @nbc late night show… A Little Late with Lilly Singh. Thank you so much for being here. I am truly so grateful. ❤️
Thank you @jimmyfallon @sethmeyers pic.twitter.com/h44HoPRtel
— Lilly Singh (@IISuperwomanII) March 15, 2019
NBC says her half-hour program will include in-studio interviews and pre-taped comedy sketches.
Singh calls the prospect of being an Indian-Canadian woman with her own late-night show “a dream come true.”
Her acting credits include HBO’s movie “Fahrenheit?451” and “Bad Moms.”
Daly said last month that he’s decided to end his “Last Call” show to focus on new and continuing projects, including as host and producer of NBC’s “The Voice.
YouTube sensation Lilly Singh, who goes by the stage name Superwoman and has her roots in Punjab, has landed a rare chance to host a late night talk show on a major broadcast network — a feat for a woman of colour.
Canadian-born Singh will replace Carson Daly as the host of NBC’s late night talk show. The show will be re-titled “A Little Late with Lilly Singh” and will launch in September, making her the only woman to currently host a late night talk show on one of the big networks, reported variety.com.
“A Little Late” will feature Singh, who first became famous as a YouTube star, conducting in-studio interviews, as well as feature pre-taped comedy sketches and other “signature elements.”
“Lilly is truly a star and we’re thrilled to welcome her to our NBC family,” said Doug Vaughan, executive vice president, special programmes and late night, NBC Entertainment.
Vaughan added: “She is a multi-talented performer who will surely have a great rapport with not only all her guests but also with our devoted late night audience. We can’t wait to get started.”
Lilly was set to appear on Thursday night’s “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” in order to make the announcement.
“An Indian-Canadian woman with her own late night show? Now that is a dream come true. I’m thrilled to bring it to life on NBC, and I hope my parents consider this to be as exciting as a grandchild,” she said.
Singh will serve as executive producer on “A Little Late”, while Polly Auritt, who heads Singh’s Unicorn Island Productions, will serve as co-executive producer.
Superwoman, as she is popular, has been famous with video series like Battle of Sexes, The Parents Lols, My Parents React, #GirlLove or Awkward Message Thoughts.
On her latest role as a late night talk show host, actor Dwayne Johnson tweeted to Singh, saying: “She’s come a long way! Proud of you sis.”
Singh was overwhelmed with all the messages that came her way.
She wrote: “My heart is so incredibly full. Thank you so much for all the love and positive energy. I’m speechless. I’m overwhelmed…
Oh… and India I can’t wait to celebrate with you. Mamas timing ain’t no mistake.”