The Late Shift

You don't need another list of "underrated comedies" — The Late Shift in Australia on Foxtel Now and HBO Max, and in the US on HBO Max Amazon Channel and YouTube TV earns the label on its own. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. 65 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. John Michael Higgins sets the tone, and the rest of the cast matches it scene for scene. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Foxtel Now.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, The Late Shift is worth clearing space for. The Late Shift gets the fundamentals right first, then finds room to get weird with it. David Letterman vies with Jay Leno and his manager to succeed Johnny Carson, retiring from "The Tonight Show." John Michael Higgins and Daniel Roebuck lead a cast with the timing to make it work. It hit screens in 1996. What keeps The Late Shift from feeling disposable is a cast that clearly understands the material better than the format usually demands. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

If you need a comedy that actually makes you laugh, The Late Shift is a strong candidate. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. John Michael Higgins anchors an ensemble with real chemistry. Genuinely funny, consistently, across the whole run.

The Late Shift was released in 1996, directed by Betty Thomas. The full 95-minute film is available to watch now. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.