Late-night hosts announce new podcast to benefit staffers affected by writers strike

Hosts from across the late-night TV landscape — including Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, John Oliver and Seth Meyers — are joining forces on a new podcast with the aim of giving a financial boost to their staffers who are on strike.

The late-night competitors are teaming up for “Strike Force Five,” Spotify announced Tuesday. The limited series podcast, which debuts Wednesday, will feature the “unique insights, opinions, and humor” of the group of late-night laugh-makers “as they navigate the Hollywood strikes and beyond.”

SAG-AFTRA, which counts more than 160,000 performers and artists, including some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, among its membership, joined the Writers Guild of America on strike in May. The two unions are seeking better wage increases and working conditions for their members.

“All proceeds received by the hosts from ‘Strike Force Five’ will go to out-of-work staff from the hosts’ respective shows, including ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,’ ‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,’ ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live,’ ‘Late Night with Seth Meyers,’ and ‘Last Week Tonight with John Oliver,’” Spotify said in an announcement.

Each host will rotate serving as moderator for the strike-focused conversations.

The quintet of TV hosts has come together every week since May to “discuss the complexities behind the ongoing Hollywood strikes,” according to Spotify.

“What ensued was a series of hilarious and compelling conversations,” Spotify said, teasing that the podcast will give fans the opportunity to “listen in on these once-private chats.”