Seth Meyers brought an unexpected burst of family energy, chaos, and irresistible charm to the Thanksgiving episode of Late Night with Seth Meyers when he welcomed three special guests to the stage—his and wife Alexi Ashe’s children: Ashe, 9, Axel, 7, and Adelaide, 4. Each of the kids enjoyed their moment under the lights, but it was the youngest, Adelaide—affectionately called Addie—who instantly captured the audience’s hearts. Her spontaneous comments, dramatic expressions, and uninhibited enthusiasm turned a simple family appearance into one of the most memorable late-night moments of the season.
The segment began with Seth sitting alongside his three children, a sight that immediately sparked delight in the studio. In photos shared later, Seth beamed with pride as all three kids sat beside him, embodying the playful, unpredictable magic that only young children can bring to live television. Meyers wasted no time diving into questions guaranteed to generate adorable responses. He asked what costumes they had worn for their family’s Thanksgiving and Christmas cards, expecting cute answers, but Addie took it to a completely different level. Without hesitation, she shouted “Turkey!” before following it with “Elf-aba.” Seth, momentarily thrown off, misheard it as “Alphabet,” prompting Alexi to call out from offstage to clarify the pronunciation: “She said Elphaba,” referring to the iconic Wicked witch character. The correction sent the audience laughing while Seth nodded in appreciation of his daughter’s unexpectedly theatrical inspiration.
The costume story continued when Axel chimed in to explain that the family had actually dressed as characters from the 2003 holiday film Elf. Addie then offered another detail—that their cousin Agnes had dressed as a tomato. This initially baffled viewers until Seth later revealed the origin of the misunderstanding. But in the moment, the randomness of Addie’s announcement only made her more endearing. She wasn’t done yet, either. When Seth asked the trio what their subway ride to the studio had been like, Addie responded with complete seriousness: “The subway smelled like diarrhea.” Her blunt honesty immediately sent her brothers into uncontrollable laughter and left the audience howling.
Seth, leaning into the natural sibling antics unfolding onstage, shifted the topic to ask whether Addie thought her brothers were silly. She confirmed they were, emphasizing her point by giving each of them a gentle smack before erupting into giggles. The spontaneity of the moment gave Seth an opening to playfully probe further, asking which brother was the sweetest. Addie tenderly wrapped her arms around her older brother Ashe, choosing him without hesitation. But when he asked which brother was the “roughest,” she pointed straight at Axel. Then, with the unfiltered honesty only a four-year-old can summon, she added, “I love this one, but not that one,” hugging Ashe tightly while Axel watched in half-confusion, half-big-brother amusement.
Seth took the opportunity to share a sweet bit of family history, explaining that Addie’s bond with Ashe had formed long before she was born. Ashe had wished for a baby sister, and when Addie finally arrived, he embraced the role wholeheartedly. Axel, meanwhile, refused to be overshadowed by his younger siblings. At one point, he unexpectedly got up and broke into an impromptu dance routine that instantly won over the audience. Seth chuckled knowingly and remarked, “Sometimes you can just tell when Axel wants to dance, can’t you?” It was a perfect snapshot of Axel’s spirited personality—eager, energetic, and always ready to steal a moment of attention.
As the segment drew to a close, Seth attempted to wrap up the interview, but Addie was nowhere near ready to leave the spotlight. Leaning toward her microphone, she protested with a repeated, emphatic, “No, no, no, no,” which made the entire audience roar with laughter. Her unwillingness to give up the stage captured exactly why she had become the star of the night. Even her brothers joined in the laughter, watching their sister savor her television moment with full dramatic flair.
Offstage, Seth and Alexi’s family dynamic continued to charm fans. Photos resurfaced of the couple attending the 2024 Met Gala together, radiating elegance and warmth on the red carpet. Their public appearances have always suggested a deeply grounded, supportive partnership, and seeing their children shine on Seth’s show only deepened that image.
After the episode aired, Seth took to Instagram on November 28 to offer additional context for some of Addie’s seemingly puzzling comments that had left viewers scratching their heads. He wrote, “Lest anyone think Addie was talking nonsense, some of her most confusing answers made a ton of sense,” accompanying the caption with photographic evidence. One image showed their cousin Agnes dressed in a bright red elf costume, which instantly explained why Addie had confidently insisted that Agnes was a tomato. The misunderstanding was quintessential Addie—earnest, adorable, and unintentionally hilarious.
Seth also extended gratitude to actress and guest Cynthia Erivo for inspiring Addie’s creative “Elf-aba” remark. Erivo, who has famously portrayed Elphaba in Wicked, had spent a few minutes talking to Addie backstage before her interview on the show. Seth acknowledged the moment with a “special shout-out” to Erivo for taking the time to connect with his daughter. That brief interaction had clearly made an impression on Addie, who had translated the meeting into her own imaginative holiday costume identity.
The entire appearance showcased not only the comedic unpredictability of live television but also the warmth of a family that embraces humor, honesty, and spontaneity. Meyers, who has long been known for his sharp wit and thoughtful comedic style, demonstrated his talent for improvisation as he guided his children through their moment in the spotlight. The segment offered viewers a rare behind-the-scenes look at Seth not just as a comedian or talk show host, but as a dad—one who navigates the joyful chaos of parenthood with patience, love, and a sense of humor.
Addie’s unfiltered quips, Ashe’s big-brother affection, and Axel’s spontaneous dancing created a moment that instantly resonated with audiences. It reminded viewers that, behind the polished production of a late-night show, there are genuine, relatable moments that bring out pure joy. Seth’s Thanksgiving episode quickly became a fan favorite—not for celebrity guests or scripted jokes, but for the authentic, candid spirit his children brought to the stage.
The family’s late-night appearance will likely go down as one of Seth Meyers’ most beloved holiday moments, not only because of the laughter it brought but because it offered a glimpse into the heart of a comedian whose life off-camera is filled with just as much humor, unpredictability, and warmth as the jokes delivered behind his desk.
