Year in review: The most memorable late-night TV moments of 2021

The devastation of the Jan. 6 insurrection on the United States Capitol naturally reverberated through the late-night talk show world. Notably, Late Night with Stephen Colbert going live for its host to rant. Less than two weeks later, they all went full-throat in saying goodbye to the TFG on Joe Biden's presidential inauguration day. Then shortly after, when discussing the going-nowhere case of Donald Trump's second impeachment.

Sticking with politics for a moment. The world has become a strange place, and conspiracy theorists and misinformation have been a big reason for the madness. They've also, and, rightfully, opened the door to be mocked. Two of the best in the business when it comes to hilariously bringing attention to the lunacy of the misinformed and political/COVID conspiracists are The Daily Show's Jordan Klepper and Allana Harkin from Full Frontal with Samantha Bee. Both did exceptional work in 2021 when it came to bringing out the worst in people.

Among the consistent highlights of  The Late Late Show with James Corden are those out-of-studio moments. In 2021, one of the best among all late-night talk show hosts came when Corden and his new neighbor Prince Harry decided to check out the sights of Los Angeles. Aside from the fact that the roving February interview was hilarious, it also showed just how comfortable and at ease that Harry seems to be with his new life in America. 

Musical performances are a big reason audiences pay attention to late-night talk shows. Perhaps the best performance of the year came courtesy of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. On March 2, when Jon Batiste, who appears regularly with the show's house band Stay Human, delivered a superbly rousing version of his song “I Need You," from his 2021 release We Are. It is always a treat for Colbert fans when Batiste is featured.

Trevor Noah's late-night humor is unique in itself. And, he has not shied away from bringing social justice issues into his commentary. Like it or not, he has the platform to do so and was particularly vocal in March when he discussed any racist ideology behind the shootings in an Atlanta spa that left eight people dead, including six women of Asian descent. While Noah's humor, when it comes to getting a serious message across, can rub many the wrong way, he's arguably the most opinionated late-night host in the game and gained a solid following for that approach.

Though the coronavirus pandemic lingers, live audiences found their way back into late-night talk show studios in 2021 -- albeit the COVID-19 protocols in place. The Tonight Show Starring  Jimmy Fallon  welcomed an audience back first in March, and Colbert made an even bigger splash when doing so not long after. Jimmy Kimmel Live!  followed, and it seemed like that new normal we always keep hearing about was finally upon late-night talk show fans.

One of the more intriguing and head-scratching moments from late-night 2021 was Jimmy Kimmel's April decision to interview whack-job, pillow salesman Mike Lindell, who continues his crusade to re-install Donald Trump as president. While many chided Kimmel for giving Lindell this type of mainstream platform to spew his garbage. However, Kimmel's brand of humor and ability to subtly mock and humor Lindell was entertaining enough to prove just how out there his guest seems.

Los Angeles-based punk band The Linda Lindas, comprised of middle-high-schoolers Bela Salazar, Eloise Wong, and sisters Lucia and Mila de la Garza, enjoyed quite the 2021. Thanks, to the song "Racist, Sexist Boy," which became a viral sensation, and an answer to an insecure and insensitive classmate of one of the band members. The band's stardom reached new heights on June 21, when it appeared and performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.

Conan O'Brien is no stranger to late-night goodbyes, but on June 24, TBS's Conan bid farewell for good. With Homer Simpson, who is especially close to O'Brien, there to help shuffle the show off into the sunset, he wrapped up this installment (which premiered on Nov. 8, 2010) of his late-night career. However, this won't be the last time we hear from Conan himself. He's set to host his own weekly variety show for HBO Max.

Boy, it's hard to pick one lasting late-night musical moment from 2021. But, it's tough to beat Bruce Springsteen's acoustic version of his 1980 classic The River on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert from Oct. 25. The Boss also sat down with Colbert for a lengthy chat, touching on everything from rock and roll to politics to the future of America's youth. This includes his late-20s daughters Jessica and Sam with wife and bandmate Patti Scialfa.

In November, one of the strangest, yet most notable, stories of the year was that lovable Sesame Street icon Big Bird got vaccinated. Jimmy Fallon had done a nice job when he brought that up in his monologue and linked it to the Green Bay Packers' predicament with Aaron Rodgers' misleading the public about his own situation when it came to the jab. Of all the late-night hosts, Fallon's subtly effective mash-up of both stories worked best.

More from Jimmy Fallon. This time, with a little help from pop superstar and late-night favorite Ariana Grande, plus popular hip-hopper Megan Thee Stallion. Their  "It Was A…(Masked Christmas)" video aired on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in early December and became a viral smash (garner more than 5.8 million views on YouTube). Since none of them want to go through another mask-filled holiday, they're shouting their intentions to get a COVID-19 booster shot -- in that pop-tinged kind of way that will hopefully resonate with the masses.

In the male-dominated world of late-night television talk shows, Samantha Bee has more than held her own since Full Frontal with Samantha Bee debuted in February 2016. And, on Dec. 8, Bee celebrated her 200th episode of the popular and Emmy Award-winning show. Though probably not the way she had wanted to do so, still talking about the touchy subject of abortion rights -- and the recent potential threat to overturning Roe v. Wade. Also, Bee apparently got a tattoo in honor of the television milestone.

Spider-Man: No Way Home was one of the most anticipated films of 2021. So naturally, it was a big deal when cast members Tom Holland, Zendaya, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Jacob Batalon stopped by Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Dec. 13, While Kimmel pressed the cast regarding which villains would be making an appearance -- or reappearance, Holland was quite stressed when it came to possibly allowing any spoiler information to slip out.

Joe Biden made his late-night debut as President of the United States by joining The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Dec. 17. Via remote, Biden had his moments but provided a moment of calm -- regardless of what the country thinks of his politics in this extreme polarized time in American history. He promoted vaccine acceptance, bipartisanship, and his "Build Back Better" plan. In all, Biden's appearance was not must-see television, but an example of governmental normalcy -- on some level, at least.