James Corden was amongst the late night US talk show hosts paying tribute to the Queen following news of her death on Thursday (September 8) aged 96. A number of presenters of late night television programmes over the pond featured segments dedicated to the monarch, including James Corden, Jimmy Kimmel and Trevor Noah.
The Late Late Show host, James Corden, described Queen Elizabeth II as a “guiding light” that was “universally adored”. He expressed how he was "thankful and grateful" to the monarch for the “incredible service and leadership that she has shown during all of our lifetimes”.
The British actor and comedian, who announced earlier this year he would be stepping down as The Late Late Show's host, started his show with a sombre three-minute monologue. “She is the only queen most of us have ever known.... We viewed her as immortal and an essential part of the fabric of our world," he said to his audience.
“She represented good in this world, living a life of honour, a life dedicated to service, dedicated to bettering the lives of others. And it’s always felt as if she was there for all of us, for 70 years she never wavered. She was never political.
The Gavin and Stacey star continued: "It was never for her about her own PR, and maybe that’s why she was as beloved and respected by a president as she was by the guy who lives down the street, and she would treat both of them equally too. It didn’t matter who you were, she was there for you.”
He added that “in a world of uncertainty” and "instability" that the Queen was "was always gracious, always dignified, always a shining example of leadership". The 44-year-old continued to explain: "She represented stability in a world where so often it feels like the floor is shaking. Queen Elizabeth was unique. A life’s work never to be repeated.”
Jimmy Kimmel also mentioned the Queen in his opening monologue on Jimmy Kimmel Live!. He referred to how her 70-year reign had been “a pretty good run”.
The 54-year-old played on descriptions of the monarch being England’s “rock”, saying: “We don’t have a rock. The closest thing we have to a rock in America is The Rock (actor Dwayne Johnson).” He reflected on the “remarkable” number of people the Queen had met during her reign including Lady Gaga, Bill Clinton, JFK, Jennifer Lopez, the Beatles and the Spice Girls.
Meanwhile, over on The Daily Show, 38-year-old host Trevor Noah also adopted a less serious tone comparing the “full spectrum of emotions” following the news. The comedian said it was “insane” how long the Queen had been on the throne referencing to her 70-year reign.
“That means she’s seen Adam West as Batman, Michael Keaton as Batman, Christian Bale as Batman, Ben Affleck as Batman, survived that… and then saw Robert Pattinson as Batman,” he joked: "And look, I’m sure there’s a better way to measure time than in Batmen, but you get it. She’s been in the game for a minute.”
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