The panel of MSNBC's "Morning Joe" criticized the increased politicization of late-night television on Wednesday, with host Joe Scarborough fretting a "progressive bubble" has been created where liberals are constantly told they're right about everything.
Asked about what she planned to address in her upcoming columns, Peggy Noonan said she would discuss the increasing left-wing politicization of late-night comics who have an attitude of dismissiveness toward right-leaning viewers.
To her point, Jimmy Kimmel, whose screeds on gun control and universal health care this year made him progressives' latest darling, told CBS on Sunday that he "probably wouldn't want to have a conversation" with Republicans who dislike his opinions.
However, he's also responded to criticism by saying he's "nobody's moral arbiter." Likewise, liberal "Daily Show" host Jon Stewart used to poke fun at the idea that he was a serious source of news.
Scarborough called those excuses a "phony cop-out," pointing out comics like Kimmel initially avoiding discussing the Harvey Weinstein sex abuse scandal while still preaching about hot-button political issues.
"It's the Jon Stewart dodge," Noonan said.
Noonan said old-school comics like Jay Leno and Johnny Carson used to make a point of teasing both parties, whereas today's late-night hosts don't trouble to hide their open preference for the Democratic Party.
Scarborough relayed Carson said the secret of success was winning the "central time zone."
"You have late-night comics, and it's personal for them, and I understand, and it's their show ... But every night they go out, they're undercutting their support in the central time zone, and maybe they don't care," Scarborough said. "Maybe the networks don't care."
The bigger problem, Scarborough said, was there's a "progressive bubble" where liberals get told every night "you were right" and "they are wrong."
"You have an entire generation of kids growing up, and culturally, they are more disconnected from the rest of America than ever before," he said. "In movies, TV, late-night comics. You name it."
Co-host Willie Geist noted comics like Stephen Colbert have reaped the benefits, as he has surged to No. 1 in the late-night ratings. Trevor Noah, Samantha Bee and Seth Meyers are also entirely known for their anti-GOP routines.
Scarborough announced on Colbert's program earlier this year that he was leaving the Republican Party and becoming an independent.
"The Tonight Show" host Jimmy Fallon, meanwhile, has taken criticism from the left for not being more openly critical of the Trump administration, even though he jokes about it often. He insisted to Geist last week he doesn't care much about politics and it would seem phony to take on that mantle because it was the flavor of the week.
"In his mind, he's playing the long game, which is that this is a bit of a sugar high for some people going after Trump every night, and in the long run people want to come back to a place where they can have fun at night, and he's going to be true to himself, and I give him credit for it," Geist said of Fallon.
Fallon's show certainly couldn't be described as right-leaning, however. During a recent appearance by Hillary Clinton, Fallon's female writers came out and wrote "thank-you" cards to her. Miley Cyrus came out, as well, and cried.