Many are shocked that Gutfeld is, currently (2023), the highest rated late night talk show, beating all of the competition handily. His show really isn't a late night talk show in the traditional sense. It's really just a reboot of his Red Eye show with a panel of guests discussing topics of the day. He doesn't even have on celeb guests (or rarely does). So why is he #1? Several reasons, but the main one is simple...he's trying to entertain us and make us laugh. He's not lecturing us. He's not overly political, though he mocks politicians. He doesn't talk down to his audience. He doesn't lecture his audience, either. The other 3 late night guys are so humorless and political now that people are searching for an alternative. They got one in Gutfeld. Gutfeld doesn't even have the potential audience the networks guy have (he's on cable), yet he still wins the ratings due to the simple fact he's just trying to make us laugh.
Is he brilliantly funny? Nope. Does every joke hit? Nope. Ironically (or not), when his jokes bomb, he's often funny in his reactions. Johnny Carson had a similar reaction to his bad jokes.
So is the show genius? Nah, but it is often funny and entertaining, and that's more than the other late night dudes are doing these days.
Is he brilliantly funny? Nope. Does every joke hit? Nope. Ironically (or not), when his jokes bomb, he's often funny in his reactions. Johnny Carson had a similar reaction to his bad jokes.
So is the show genius? Nah, but it is often funny and entertaining, and that's more than the other late night dudes are doing these days.