Seth Meyers to lose ‘Late Night’ band in budget cuts

NBC cuts the 8G Band from 'Late Night with Seth Meyers' in budget reduction.

NBC is implementing budget cuts for "Late Night with Seth Meyers," which will result in the removal of the show's 8G Band starting this fall. 

The band, a fixture since the show's debut in 2014, will no longer appear, according to a report by Vulture.

Eli Janney, the band's keyboardist, disclosed the news on Tuesday, stating that the band was informed recently about the decision. “NBC was adamant about where they wanted the budget to go,” Janney told Vulture. “It’s not just the band; there’s a whole crew that works with the band, so there’s a lot of people employed. I think this was an easy way for them to cut the budget. Easy is not the right word.”

The 8G Band, recruited by former “Saturday Night Live” cast member Fred Armisen, includes Janney, guitarist Seth Jabour, and bassist Syd Butler, with a rotating drummer and occasional appearances by Armisen.

Live bands have been a key element of late-night shows for decades, with notable figures like Paul Shaffer, Max Weinberg, Kevin Eubanks, and The Roots becoming synonymous with their respective shows. “Saturday Night Live” has featured a live band since its inception in 1975.

In recent years, several late-night hosts, including James Corden, Conan O’Brien, Trevor Noah, and Samantha Bee, have exited their shows. Networks have adapted with lower-cost models, such as CBS replacing "The Late Late Show" with the game show “@fter Midnight.”