About the Too Late Show

For more than 1,500 years, The Too Late Show has delighted fans, both living and dead, around the world.

It is now the longest-running late night talk show hosted by a supernatural being. However, the show's first days were remarkably humble, not much more than a small gathering of friends and visitors in Grim Reaper's basement. The show consisted of interviews, musical numbers, and occasional stunts from Grim's pet, Cerberus, the three-headed wonder dog.

Early guests from that period included some of history’s most despised tyrants, cruelest conquerors and deadly despots. What a shame videotape wasn’t invented sooner, as there are no living witnesses to the infamous episode from 438 A.D. in which Grim launched a coconut cream pie into Attila the Hun’s face. And forever lost to history is the classic show in which Genghis Khan sang “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” joined by a high-kicking army of mongol warriors in full battle regalia.

With the invention of television, Grim found a new home with the Death Broadcasting Company, and he has been a fixture on the DBC’s lineup ever since. The show is currently taped before a dead studio audience at the famous Moribund Theater of Rosefield Memorial Gardens. For your sake, let’s hope you won’t be ordering tickets anytime soon.

 

Grim Reaper's Bio

You wouldn't expect somebody known as "the harbinger of death" to have much of a sense of humor. But then Grim Reaper is a being who defies conventional wisdom. 

While attending Reaper University ("for the longest 800 years of my life," he says), Grim honed his comedy skills with the venerated Pushing Daisies improv group. After graduation, Grim toured the country doing stand-up. "Let's just say it wasn't the highlight of my career. Because of my robe and the scythe, everyone thought that I was wearing a costume. Like that was my schtick or something. People hate comedians who wear costumes."

Eventually, Grim turned to his true calling, shepherding souls into the afterlife. "That's what I was trained to do. And honestly, I love it. You get to meet so many great people."

Grim never would have given show business a second thought, if not for a chance encounter with a DBC executive. "He choked on a chicken bone, and then we had a nice chat about the business. But, long story short, it was a near-death thing. They heimliched him. And next thing you know, they're talking to me about hosting the Too Late Show. Life is funny that way."   

The rest is, as they say, history. As host of the Too Late Show, Grim has won three consecutive "Morticians Choice" awards for best late night talk show host. The Show has also earned 27 Deady Awards. Grim takes it all in stride with his characteristic humility.

"Listen, I know as well as anybody that talking about death makes people really uncomfortable. But if we can have a few laughs about it and maybe, just maybe, I can make people think twice about doing stupid things that could kill them? Well, then it's all been worth it."

 

Vince Sheffield's Bio

As musical director for the World’s Most Dangerous Band, Vince Sheffield has learned to expect the unexpected.

“I’ll never forget the day I auditioned for Grim,” Vince recalls. “I had worked up this arrangement of Chopin’s funeral march that I thought was going to blow him away. But Grim wanted something more upbeat. So I launched into this jazzy version of Grieg’s funeral march and he went crazy. He absolutely loved it.”

Vince has been performing professionally since the age of seven, which also happens to be the same year he tried his first cigarette. “It was the most awful thing I had ever put in my mouth,” Vince says. “It made my heart race. I got sick to my stomach. I threw up inside my dad’s car. But things went pretty smoothly after that until after my first lung biopsy.”

In addition to his many musical accomplishments, Vince has been treated for various medical conditions at hospitals in all 50 U.S. states. “When I go to a hospital, everybody knows my name. It’s nice to get that kind of recognition.”

Vince has cut back to smoking a pack a day following a recent health scare. “Apparently, one of my tumors had grown a tumor. I had a tumor on the tumor. That’s some freaky stuff.”

Being in the public spotlight, Vince is quick to caution fans of the show not to emulate his unhealthy lifestyle. “Most people could never get away with living like I do. They’d be dead. But keep in mind that I’m on the Grim Reaper’s payroll. It’s good to have friends like that.”