Todd Sucherman recently took to social media to announce a significant yet bittersweet moment in the history of late-night television: the final bow of the 8G Band on “Late Night with Seth Meyers.” The past week, through August 12th through the 15th, Sucherman served as the last guest drummer for the show, marking the end of an era as NBC plans to retire live music from the program due to budget constraints.
Todd Sucherman expressed his excitement and honor to be part of this historic moment, writing, “I’m thrilled to announce that I’ll be sitting in with the 8G Band on Late Night with Seth Meyers from August 12th through the 15th. It’s a significant moment as I will be the last guest drummer before NBC brings the band’s tenure to a close.”
Fred Armisen, the musical director who has been an integral part of the 8G Band since its inception, will also return for the final week. Armisen reflected on the band’s journey and the decision to cut live music, noting the sadness but also the great memories the group has created over the past decade.
Since its debut, the 8G Band has been a key fixture on the show, initially featuring Fred Armisen, guitarist Seth Jabour, bassist Syd Butler, keyboardist Eli Janney, and drummer Kimberly Thompson. Over the years, while Armisen’s appearances became less frequent due to his other commitments, Jabour, Butler, and Janney remained constants alongside Meyers, contributing to the show’s unique musical identity.
Come September, “Late Night with Seth Meyers” will begin its 12th season without the signature live band. The show’s associate musical director, Eli Janney, shared in an interview that the program will undergo a “revamp” to adjust to the budget cuts, with prerecorded music replacing live performances. Armisen mentioned that NBC was adamant about reallocating the budget, and although it was a tough decision, it was necessary given the broader financial constraints affecting the network.
Despite the end of this era, Sucherman and the rest of the 8G Band are determined to make the final performances memorable. As Armisen concluded, “It’s been ten of the best years of my life. I have nothing bad to say about anyone here. It’s been an amazing opportunity.”
This farewell to the 8G Band marks the conclusion of a dynamic chapter in late-night television, one that will be remembered fondly by both fans and the musicians who brought it to life every night.