Late Night Writers Workshop

Overview

The NBC Late Night Writers Workshop is a multi-day intensive program that selects 5 to 8 comedy writers per year from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds and prepares them for staff writer positions on late-night and sketch comedy shows. Founded in 2013, it is the longest-running program from an entertainment company dedicated to discovering and developing late-night and sketch comedy writers of diverse backgrounds.

The program is part of NBC TIPS (NBC Talent Infusion Programs), the umbrella brand for NBCUniversal's inclusion efforts across its entertainment TV portfolio. It is not a grant or a fellowship with a cash stipend. It is a workshop program that provides mentorship, exposure to late-night writers' rooms, feedback from professional writers and producers, and post-program staffing advocacy.

Each cycle receives approximately 900 to 1,000+ applications. The program selects 5 to 8 writers from that pool, making it one of the most competitive comedy writing programs in the industry. For context, the acceptance rate of roughly 0.5 to 0.9% is lower than the admission rate of most Ivy League universities.

The submission period typically opens for two weeks in December or January. Finalist interviews take place in February, and the workshop runs in March. Check NBCUniTIPS.com for the current cycle's dates.

What the Program Provides

Selected participants receive:

• Intensive workshop experience: A multi-day program (typically 5 to 6 days) that mirrors the late-night comedy writing experience through writing instruction, collaborative assignments, and guest speakers
• Exposure to late-night writers' rooms: Participants gain an in-depth look at writing for late-night and sketch comedy shows, including how rooms operate, how material is developed daily, and how writers interact with hosts and producers
• Feedback from industry professionals: Participants receive feedback on their material from writers and producers across NBCUniversal's late-night and alternative programming lineup
• New material development: Writers end the program with new sketch material and monologue jokes that can be used as writing samples
• Post-program staffing advocacy: NBC continues to advocate for each writer after the program by putting them up for open staffing positions on the network's late-night shows and helping them secure representation
• Alumni community: Access to a network of program alumni who have gone on to staff positions across late-night television

The program does not provide a cash stipend, housing, or transportation. Participants must provide their own housing and transportation to New York City for the duration of the program. You do not need to be based in New York City to be considered, but you must be able to relocate temporarily for the workshop period.

Application Requirements

The application is rigorous and requires a complete submission packet. All materials must be submitted as a single PDF file, along with the online application form.

Required Submission Materials

1. Monologue jokes (1 to 2 pages): Topical news jokes and pop culture jokes should make up the bulk of the material. Applicants may indicate which host's voice they have in mind (does not have to be an NBC host).

1. Desk bit ideas (1 to 2 pages): Original ideas for refillable late-night "desk bits" - elements like Jimmy Fallon's "Thank You Notes", pre-taped correspondent bits, or multimedia bits. These should be descriptions of the bits, not scripts.

1. Two SNL-style sketches (maximum 5 pages each): One sketch should introduce an original character, and one should be topical (something newsworthy or pop culture-based).

1. Online application: Includes bio, resume, and essay questions.

1. Release form: Must be signed and uploaded in the online application.

1. Letter of recommendation (optional): One letter from a colleague or mentor familiar with the applicant's comedy writing. Maximum two pages. The program explicitly notes that letters from fictional characters or family members are not acceptable.

Application Tips

• The entire packet must be a single properly formatted PDF
• The online submission form is only available during the open submission period
• Applicants should study the specific formatting rules on the NBC TIPS website before preparing their packet
• The NBC TIPS FAQ section provides guidance on format, bio, and the types of jokes to include

Eligibility

The program is designed for writers from underrepresented backgrounds. NBC specifically encourages applications from:

• Writers of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds
• Women
• Writers from backgrounds underrepresented in late-night television

There is no strict requirement for prior television credits. The program looks for writers who are "almost there" - talented comedic voices that need final preparation and exposure to key industry players to break into late-night staffing.

Applicants must be able to provide their own housing and transportation to New York City for the duration of the program. The workshop has been conducted virtually in some years (notably 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19), but the standard format is in-person in New York.

Late-Night Writing as a Career Path

Late-night television is one of the fastest-moving and most demanding writing environments in the industry. Writers produce material daily, work under extreme time pressure, and must respond to current events and cultural moments in real time. A monologue written at 2 PM is performed at 5 PM and broadcast at 11:30 PM. The shelf life of a joke is measured in hours.

The skills developed in a late-night room transfer across comedy formats:

• Speed: Writing under same-day deadlines
• Specificity: Crafting jokes that land precisely rather than broadly
• Collaborative writing discipline: Contributing to a room where material is built collectively
• Adaptability: Pivoting when news breaks or a bit does not work in rehearsal

Writers who start in late-night often move to scripted comedy, sketch shows, and streaming series. The Late Night Writers Workshop is designed to be an entry point into that career trajectory.

Alumni Track Record

Program alumni have gone on to staff positions on major late-night and comedy shows, including:

• Jenny Hagel: Writer and onscreen performer on Late Night with Seth Meyers (appears in the "Jokes Seth Can't Tell" segment)
• Greg Iwinski: Writer on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
• Chloe Radcliffe: Writer on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
• Alison Tafel: Writer on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
• Jonathan Giles: Writer on A Little Late with Lilly Singh
• Mona Mira: Writer on A Little Late with Lilly Singh
• Amber Ruffin: Writer on Late Night with Seth Meyers (program speaker and alumnus)

NBC reports that writers from each class have been staffed on shows soon after completing the program. While staffing is not guaranteed, the program's advocacy component - NBC putting writers up for open positions and helping them secure representation - has produced a consistent track record of placement.

The NBC TIPS Ecosystem

The Late Night Writers Workshop is one of several programs under NBC TIPS (NBC Talent Infusion Programs), which also includes:

• NBC TV Writers Program: An 8-month program for emerging episodic TV writers, focused on scripted series rather than late-night. Writers develop an original pilot under the guidance of NBCUniversal programming executives. The 2025-2027 class was selected from 2,100 applicants.
• Other NBC TIPS initiatives: Various programs targeting different segments of the entertainment industry talent pipeline

Filmmakers considering the Late Night Writers Workshop should also evaluate whether the NBC TV Writers Program is a better fit. The key distinction: the Late Night Writers Workshop is for late-night and sketch comedy writers; the TV Writers Program is for scripted episodic writers. The application materials and career paths are different.

Who Should Apply

Emerging comedy writers from underrepresented backgrounds who have a strong comedic voice, the ability to write in late-night formats (monologue jokes, desk bits, sketches), and an interest in a television writing career. The program is designed for writers who are "almost there" - talented but lacking the professional connections and exposure typically required to enter late-night rooms through informal channels.

Applicants should be prepared to produce a complete, polished submission packet. The quality of the writing sample is the primary factor in selection. Prior television credits are not required, but the writing must demonstrate an understanding of late-night comedy conventions and the ability to generate material at a professional level.

Writers who are interested in scripted comedy rather than late-night should consider the NBC TV Writers Program instead. Writers who want to work in feature comedy should look at other development programs, as the Late Night Writers Workshop is specifically oriented toward the daily-output format of late-night television.

See Also

For planning a screenwriting development timeline around the workshop's December-to-March cycle, use the Production Schedule Calculator. For understanding how late-night writing skills transfer to other comedy formats, see How to Write a Director's Statement.