The Pilgrims of Late Night: A Visit to the Fox News Basement to See Greg Gutfeld
On a humid afternoon in Midtown Manhattan, the fluorescent lights flickered above a growing crowd of eager TV showgoers, each of them ready to make their pilgrimage to see the newest star in late-night television. For David and Trevor, two men from opposite corners of the country, it wasn’t just about catching a show — it was about paying homage to Greg Gutfeld, the “King of Late Night,” as the media had so boldly named him.
David, wearing slacks and a purple polo shirt, and Trevor, in jeans and a purple button-down, were two conservative men in their sixties, both of whom had crossed thousands of miles to witness Gutfeld’s unique brand of late-night humor. One hailed from the heartland, situated between Omaha and Sioux Falls; the other from Georgia. Their conversations, though peppered with talk of hearing aids, cattle ranching, and insurance, inevitably turned to a shared admiration for Gutfeld’s rise to the top of late-night television.
The scene inside Fox News headquarters on Sixth Avenue could hardly have been more different from the polished veneer of the TV screen. It was a sweaty, cramped basement space, humid from the rain outside and devoid of any creature comforts. There was no air conditioning to mitigate the heat, no chairs for the hundreds of audience members crammed into a small, barely air-conditioned room. The men stood under the harsh, flickering fluorescent lights, clutching their audience passes and trying to cool off as best they could in the suffocating humidity. The crowd, predominantly conservative, exchanged knowing glances. Many were familiar with one another, having followed Gutfeld’s rise from the conservative punditry to the host of his own late-night show. It wasn’t their first time attending a live show taping, but there was something special about seeing Gutfeld.
For David and Trevor, it had been a long journey, both physically and emotionally. They had come not just for a comedy show but to pay their respects to a man they viewed as a beacon of conservative thought and humor, someone who wasn’t afraid to poke fun at political correctness, mainstream media, or even late-night television itself.
Before the taping began, the air was thick with anticipation. The audience passes had been handed out at 4:45 p.m., but a note on the tickets had warned: “More tickets are issued than the studio can hold to ensure each show has a full audience.” David and Trevor, never ones to take any chances, arrived long before 4 p.m., and as the clock ticked past the hour, they found themselves in the middle of a line stretching down the hallway. A dozen others had arrived even earlier, each trying to secure their spot as close to the front as possible.
The Fox News studio, located in the heart of the media mecca of Manhattan, buzzed with the energy of the crowd. Fans chatted about everything from the latest Gutfeld monologue to their own lives back home. For many of the audience members, the show represented a moment of escape, a reprieve from the conventional, often predictable nature of late-night TV.
As the minutes dragged on, the heat became unbearable. The men tugged at their shirt collars and wiped the sweat from their brows. There was no ventilation, and the humidity was becoming oppressive. Eventually, a Fox News handler appeared in the crowd, passing out small pieces of card stock to each person. At first glance, it seemed like it might be a fan, something to help cool off the sweltering crowd. But, of course, it was not. It was simply a coupon offering 20 percent off the Gutfeld! collection from the Fox News shop. While it might have provided some lighthearted amusement, it did little to alleviate the physical discomfort of the crowd.
The wait seemed endless. There were no chairs, no reprieve from the heat. As the start of the show drew near, the crowd grew restless. Yet, there was an undeniable sense of excitement. After all, they had come to witness something special — a piece of history in the making.
Greg Gutfeld’s meteoric rise to the top of late-night television was nothing short of extraordinary. In a landscape dominated by hosts like Jimmy Fallon, Stephen Colbert, and Jimmy Kimmel, Gutfeld’s approach stood out. As a former editor of Maxim magazine and an outspoken conservative voice, Gutfeld’s brand of humor was sharp, irreverent, and unapologetically political. His show, Gutfeld!, was designed to poke fun at both sides of the political spectrum, making it a refreshing alternative to the traditional late-night format that often leans heavily left.
As the show began, the audience roared with applause. The lights dimmed, and Gutfeld took the stage to thunderous applause, his witty and often scathing commentary a welcome relief to those who had been eagerly awaiting his return. For David and Trevor, it wasn’t just about the jokes. It was about being part of something bigger, a moment of cultural significance where conservative voices were given a platform to speak, laugh, and engage with the world.
The humor of Gutfeld! was undoubtedly a reflection of the audience in that room. For David, Trevor, and the others, the show represented something they believed had been missing from late-night TV: a voice that spoke directly to their values, their struggles, and their frustrations with the mainstream media. Gutfeld, in their eyes, was not just a comedian; he was a champion of free speech and a defender of conservative ideals, offering them a space to laugh, think, and, most importantly, feel heard.
As the show concluded and the audience filed out of the basement, drenched in sweat and smiling with satisfaction, it was clear that their trip had been worth it. The heat, the humidity, the discomfort — all were forgotten in the face of the opportunity to witness something special. For David, Trevor, and the other members of the Fox News audience, the evening had been more than just a show. It had been a moment of solidarity, a moment to share in the joy of conservative comedy and to cheer on the rising star that was Greg Gutfeld.
