Late night talk show hosts Trevor Noah, Jimmy Kimmel and James Corden have stepped up and opted to pay the salaries of their furloughed crew members while in-studio shooting has been halted during the pandemic. 

These funny guys are not only putting a smile on our faces by means of their comedy these days, but also through their kind gestures that are making us smile with appreciation for their selflessness.

Trevor Noah, who was the first late night talk show host to adapt his programming for remote filming, has extended his daily show from 30 minutes to 45 minutes, aptly nicknaming this pandemic version “The Daily Social Distancing Show with Trevor Noah.”

Filmed within his Manhattan apartment [and within his correspondents’ and guests’ homes], the show has landed interviews with Dr. Anthony Fauci and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. According to Comedy Central, the program  has seen a 24% uptick in viewers between the ages of 18 and 34 this year. 

For those who are unable to contribute to the remote version of the show, Noah has decided to pay them out of pocket–this is approximately 25 staffers.

“These are the people who have been on the show with Trevor from day one and help him put on the show… Trevor is personally covering their salaries until the production business opens again. He respects his crew tremendously and feels it’s only right that they get thru this together.”

James Corden, host of “The Late Late Show,” has also vowed to keep the pay checks coming for his 60 furloughed staff members–a gesture that is estimated to cost him in the mid-five figure range each week. Currently, he’s been filming his show within his garage. 

Last month, it was reported that Jimmy Kimmel has been paying his stagehands since the coronavirus shut down production of Jimmy Kimmel Live! 

Kimmel has been filming “quarantine minilogues” since the shutdown, while also making a donation to a worthwhile cause every day–something he encourages his audience members to join him in doing if they are able.

Late night talk shows have long been entertainment’s way of commenting on the daily happenings around the world, whether political or societal, in a comedic, lighthearted way. Through humour and satire, hosts of these shows have brought forward substantial, thought-provoking dialogue in an easily digestible manner–through use of monologues, interviews, sketches, and performances. Helping their audiences adapt and make sense of crisis by blending serious content with comedy, these shows allow their viewers to understand different dynamics, learn different perspectives, and–perhaps most importantly–cope with the craziness through laughter.

Now, not only are these late night funny men putting a smile on our faces with their comedy, but their serious dedication to their crews is the good news I think we all needed.