Published Feb 18, 2026, 6:03 AM EST
Amanda M. Castro is a Network TV writer at Collider and a New York–based journalist whose work has appeared in Newsweek, where she contributes as a Live Blog Editor, and The U.S. Sun, where she previously served as a Senior Consumer Reporter.
She specializes in network television coverage, delivering sharp, thoughtful analysis of long-running procedural hits and ambitious new dramas across broadcast TV. At Collider, Amanda explores character arcs, storytelling trends, and the cultural impact of network series that keep audiences tuning in week after week.
Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Amanda is bilingual and holds a degree in Communication, Film, and Media Studies from the University of New Haven.
For decades, late night has been defined by desks, studios, and a familiar rhythm of monologues, interviews, and musical guests. But as traditional networks pull back from the genre, YouTube is making a calculated move in the opposite direction — one that suggests late night isn’t dying so much as migrating.
The platform’s newly announced live weekly series Outside Tonight may not look like a conventional talk show, but that’s exactly the point. Built from the ground up for online audiences, the series represents YouTube’s most direct attempt yet to claim late night as a native digital format rather than a recycled TV export.
A Late-Night Show Without the Studio
Image via YoutubeOutside Tonight with Julian Shapiro-Barnum will be produced without a traditional studio, with the show taking place in public parks, plazas, and street corners, according to YouTube. The format allows greater freedom from an artificial backdrop, maximizing the potential for spontaneity and interruption through real-world unpredictability.
That setup aligns closely with Shapiro-Barnum’s existing body of work. He’s best known as the creator of Recess Therapy, which blends earnest conversations with off-the-cuff humor, as well as Celebrity Substitute, where famous guests pose as middle school substitute teachers. Both shows thrive on unscripted reactions and genuine surprise — qualities traditional late-night shows have increasingly struggled to manufacture.
Each live episode of Outside Tonight will feature celebrity interviews, live music, audience-driven games, and what YouTube is promising as “nonstop comedy.” Crucially, the series is designed to embrace real-time interaction, allowing the environment — and the audience — to shape the show as it happens.
Why YouTube Is Betting on Late Night Now
Image via ShutterstockThe timing of YouTube’s move is notable. As linear networks scale back on late-night programming for financial reasons, YouTube has quietly been positioning itself as the genre’s most reliable afterlife. Clips from legacy shows routinely rack up millions of views on the platform, often rivaling — or surpassing — their original broadcasts.
Rather than continuing to serve solely as a distribution hub, YouTube now appears interested in owning the format outright. Outside Tonight was revealed as part of the company's inaugural Creator Premieres event in New York City. The goal was to convey to advertisers and industry insiders that this would not be a trial run but rather a step toward establishing the company as a leader in premium television programming.
Related
Additionally, similar product enhancements by YouTube have contributed to this effort over the last 12 months. For example, YouTube recently upgraded its TV product to enable creators to structure their content into genuine seasons and episodes, rather than relying solely on traditional playlists. Consequently, viewing Outside Tonight through this medium provides audiences with an experience increasingly similar to streaming on a standard large-format television.
Outside Tonight is just one piece of a larger slate unveiled at Creator Premieres, which also includes projects from figures such as Trevor Noah, Brittany Broski, Ms. Rachel, Cleo Abram, and Mark Vins.
What ties these projects together isn’t genre but origin. They’re all being built by creators who already understand how audiences engage on YouTube — how clips travel, how communities form, and how authenticity often matters more than polish. In that sense, Outside Tonight is rewriting the rules of late-night.
Can a Digital-First Late Night Show Actually Work?
Image via ShutterstockLate-night has always been risky, and it has been successful only after many failed attempts. However, instead of relying on viewers to watch the show at a specific time of day, YouTube has given Outside Tonight the opportunity to live in much of the same environment as current late-night clips.
Still, announcing a late-night show is easier than sustaining one. The real test will be whether audiences tune in live — or whether Outside Tonight ultimately functions more as a clip engine than a weekly destination. Either way, YouTube’s move is bigger than a single series. As legacy television steps back, the platform is stepping forward, betting that late night’s future doesn’t belong to networks or studios, but to creators who know how to meet audiences where they already are.
![20 Years Later, One of the Best Sitcoms of the 21st Century Returns With Hilarious First Look [Exclusive]](https://static0.colliderimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/malcolm-in-the-middle-life-s-still-unfair-feature.jpg?w=1600&h=900&fit=crop)
English (US) ·