Late Night (film)

Acclaimed British comedienne and long-time US late-night talk show host Katherine Newbury show's ratings have been steadily declining. She must revamp the show or be replaced. Short of female staff, Katherine insists producer Brad remedy this. Molly Patel, a huge fan and chemical plant worker, is hired for being an Indian-American woman on a 13-week trial basis. She is quickly briefed before meeting the other writers. They treat Molly like a gopher, until Brad corrects them. She officially starts the next day. Katherine surprises everyone at the writers' meeting the next morning, not knowing most of them. They try to introduce themselves. Overwhelmed, Katherine assigns them numbers. Molly unknowingly enters late, as the meeting started early, so is uncomfortable. Another late writer gets fired immediately. Katherine explains the urgency for improving their ratings and then asks for Molly's view, who agrees they have become stale. The others later confirm she is a diversity hire. Molly shares an office with their most seasoned writer, Burditt. As she has zero professional comedy experience, she initially struggles. However, Molly proves her worth through helpful feedback, albeit initially not embraced until she offers concrete solutions. Eventually, she gives Katherine good material and ideas to expand their demographics. Specifically a menopause joke for the monologue is cut at the last minute, when Brad reminds her that once the topic is brought up, no one will forget. Interviewing a YouTube influencer backfires on Katherine. Feeling mocked, the young woman calls her a bitter, out-of-touch old lady and insists Katherine needs her and not visa-versa to increase followers. The writer Charlie invites Molly to watch his standup. When she complains about her joke being cut, he gives her don'ts for the job. Molly mentions her upcoming emceeing for a lung cancer comedy benefit, in tribute to her father, and Charlie volunteers his act. She rejects his advances, but he assumes it is inevitable. After the YouTube star blowup is leaked, a publicist steps in to improve Katherine's image. She has Katherine throw a party in her apartment, inviting the staff, press, and many others. Charlie tries to speak with Katherine privately, which she rebuffs, saying to the oversexed writer that “it” had been a mistake. Ignored by everyone, Molly wanders, inadvertently meeting Katherine's husband Walter and recognizing the NYU professor emeritus. He is hiding so his Parkinson's shaking does not make others uncomfortable. Walter suggests Molly become indispensable to Katherine. When a reporter accuses Katherine both of exclusively hiring WASPs with elite backgrounds and calling them by number and not name, Molly introduces herself, assuring them she is not elite and skillfully deflecting the other concern with a joke. When Katherine learns that young, popular comedian Daniel Tennant is to replace her, she insists her team needs more time. She points out he is vulgar and misogynistic. The writers have to stay late for weeks. When Molly starts to go to her lung cancer emceeing event, Katherine threatens to fire her. Molly leaves anyway. Surprisingly, Katherine appears at the event, doing an impromptu routine. She speaks from the heart, then does well by ridiculing herself. Back at work, Katherine implores everyone to push less safe, more specific political material. She has Molly work with Tom on the monologues. Katherine's writers help her become relevant again and more engaged. Katherine interacts with people directly on the street. A young, vampire series actress comes on, and this time Katherine admires her work and actually gets a hug. Overall, the public responds well. Although their ratings are steadily improving, management still insists Katherine concede to Tennant. Both Brad and Tom assure her it is ok, but Molly insists she defy the network's demands and declare so publicly. Charlie's e-mail is hacked, so his affair with Katherine after Walter's initial Parkinson's diagnosis is uncovered. Molly finds her sitting in the dark, pitying herself. She criticizes Katherine for giving up and so gets fired. Katherine eventually apologizes to Walter, the writers, and the audience. Her sincerity and passion for the show secure her job. Katherine apologizes to Molly in Brooklyn, hiring her back. The show stays on air. One year later, the show's team has diversified. Molly is co-monologue writer with Tom, with whom she has a relationship. Katherine's show is more successful than ever. ==Cast==