Homebound talk show hosts give us laughs — and a glimpse of how they live

They’re like Reverse Rupert Pupkins.

In Martin Scorsese’s creepy classic “The King of Comedy,” Robert De Niro’s delusional talk-show groupie/stalker Rupert Pupkin acted out his fantasies of becoming a comedic guest on a late-night talk show in his mother’s basement. In these quarantined times, bona fide talk-show hosts and comics are hosting real programs from their basements, their living rooms, their home offices.

Jim Gaffigan and his wife, Jeannie, and their 75 children are starring in “DINNER WITH THE GAFFIGANS” from their home in Manhattan. (Gaffigan to two of his sons: “Would you rather have Shake Shack or my bean salad?” The boys, in unison: “Shake Shack!” Gaffigan: “OK, so it’s kind of a toss-up.”) Jimmy Kimmel’s daughter drew the opening graphics for Kimmel’s ad hoc show from his Los Angeles-area home. Conan O’Brien hosted a hand-washing tutorial in the kitchen of his house, belting out an over-the-top version of “Danny Boy” as a gloved hand poured Guinness, then Jameson Irish Whiskey, then Lucky Charms over his hands before stopping and saying, “You know what? This is too stupid.” Trevor Noah is letting his hair and beard grow as he spins his rapier wit from his New York home. Samantha Bee delivers monologues from the woods behind her backyard.

Ellen DeGeneres joined the social-distancing talk-show party Monday from HER home, which appears to be on grounds the size of a small forest. “Thanks for not being here,” DeGeneres said in her trademark low-key fashion, after which she thanked the director/camera operator, her wife, Portia De Rossi, and said they’ve learned so much about each other during the last three weeks of quarantine: “Did you know she’s Australian?” DeGeneres told us.

Warner Bros.

“I want to spread light where there’s shade,” DeGeneres said. “I want to bring a glow where it’s gloomy. I want to stick a candle where the sun don’t shine.”

HA! Funny is funny, even where there’s no studio audience primed to laugh it up.

Whether it’s a talk-show host or a news anchor or a sports personality on ESPN, let’s be honest, there’s a certain vicarious, looky-loo kick in catching glimpses of celebrities in their native habitat. What’s up with that fern? Who’s in that picture on the wall? Are we supposed to believe they’ve read all those books on those shelves? And how come none of us heard of Zoom until three weeks ago?!?!

Jimmy Fallon’s wife, Nancy Juvonen, handles the camerawork for “The Tonight Show Home Edition,” with their very energetic and impossibly adorable daughters, Winnie and Franny, and Gary the family dog often joining as co-hosts. Fallon’s rustic home in the Hamptons is the stuff of a kid’s dreams, from the musical instruments to the movie-theater popcorn machine to the giant video screens to an actual orange metal sliding chute connecting the living room to the downstairs nook where Fallon performs his monologue.

On Monday, Fallon was joined via remote video by Lady Gaga, who in glasses, turtleneck and tweed jacket looked like she was in wardrobe to play a young Hillary Clinton. Gaga was on to promote her role as curator for a virtual concert April 18, with performances from Paul McCartney, Elton John, Billie Eilish and others. At one point, Gaga FaceTimed Apple CEO Tim Cook at HIS home. The slightly awkward but fun multi-screen conversation looked like one of those Super Bowl ads where the whole family is trying to figure out this newfangled technology. Fallon also had segments with Andy Cohen (who’s doing his own homebound talk show), who showed off the glittering gold disco ball in his house, and Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong, who performed a kick-ass rendition of the Tommy James & the Shondells classic “I Think We’re Alone Now.” Jam-packed show!

CBS

Down the dial, Stephen Colbert was conducting his own video interview with Gaga, who held up a Post-It note with the names of Fallon, Kimmel and Colbert scribbled on it, as she was making the rounds to promote the benefit concert. Later, Colbert was joined by Chance the Rapper, who said he had given up French fries for Lent but had broken down during these stressful times: “I have Post-Mate [delivered] fries downstairs right now.” As for Kimmel, in advance of hosting ABC’s prime-time reboot of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” on Wednesday, he presented a home version with daughter Jane and son Billy, who are tied with Fallon’s kids and all the other kids in the world for being impossibly adorable.

“For 64,000 pennies,” asked Kimmel, “what is Spider-Man’s real name? A. Peter Parker; B. Party Pooper; C. Pablo Picasso; D. Magic Johnson.” Spoiler alert: Jane nailed it.

Later, Seth Meyers was joined by the 8G Band with Fred Armisen, with the musicians doing a stellar job of staying in sync from their various locales. Meyers video-chatted with a gloves- and mask-wearing and typically hilarious Tracy Morgan, who earlier that day had been on Howard Stern’s home-based radio show (which also features a video component). One of the highlights of Stern’s quarantined show was an interview with Alec Baldwin, who revealed he was literally sitting on a toilet because that particular bathroom in his East Hampton House had the best lighting.

It goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway: The real heroes are all those on the front lines, risking their safety in the name of saving others. But it’s nice to see these modern-day court jesters doing their small part to keep us entertained, to give us a diversion, to remind us it’s OK to laugh even in the saddest of times.