To be clear, Stephen Colbert is my favorite entertainer of all time. His work on The Daily Show and then The Colbert Report was nothing short of hilarious brilliance.
I was sad to see him move on to interviewing starlets promoting their CBS shows and movies, with a tidbit of comedy.
I guess the lure of big dollars was too much. He must have been set for life after the Report, but as usual for millionaires, too much is not enough.
We watch him waste time at the top, after the cheers subside, announcing his name to another big cheer. (Fallon is even worse, he tries to milk an extra cheer by saying the name of the show "The Tonight Show" after applause dies down, then again with his name.
Johnny Carson is long gone, so the name of the show The Tonight Show is meaningless. It's either "Colbert," or "Kimmel" or "Fallon" etc.
Kimmel is the best at this, he introduces himself during the initial cheer, the audience doesn't even hear it, he just gets down to business, band interaction is rare. (Guilermo doesn't add much, no matter what Kimmel says to him, he defaults to the clapping seal.)
I watched the Colbert monologues and bits for a while, but stopped.
I started back up this year, now that his claws are back out for the final landing.
Here's what I can't stand: Stephen doesn't seem to know what to do if there's a laugh or applause break during his monologue.
Instead he does the decades-old shtick of looking to his left at the bandleader, who adds nothing, Cato just points back at Stephen, or some other worthless gesture.
Or Colbert looks to his right for a quick discussion with his producer or his head writer about how the audience reaction to a joke met their expectations or not.
Hello! We're the audience over here. No private discussions, pls.
This schtick is ancient. He's just imitating what he saw as a child.
I look forward to Colbert's next projects. After the Lord of the Rings thing.
While I'm on a rant, the video editors are lazy as hell, they cover edits with a quick shot of Cato, obviously from a different moment in time. I recently saw one of these edits, the drummer was staring blankly into space. Do better!
(I'm a retired video producer.)
With the off-brand Arsenio.
(Props to his mogul achievements, though.)
1
TheArmChairFan6 days ago
+1
Not as edgy as Kinmel or colbert?
1
drbhrb6 days ago
+11
I appreciate that Colbert does the show for the room and we just get to see it. He values an audience and clearly feeds on it.
11
CToTheSecond6 days ago
+2
I get him wanting to move on from The Colbert Report. He did that schtick for a good long time, and while it was a great schtick, he probably hit a point where it was just the same thing, day in day out. Maybe hit a wall with it and didn't see anywhere else to take it beyond where he already had. Like, where *could* he progress that character? It was a consistent satire, and the thing he satirized had no progression. In fact, shortly after he ended the show, it just got worse.
So when the *prestige* that went with a *proper* late night show came calling, I get it. At the time, taking over for Letterman was no small thing. Not like when Leno wrongfully replaced Carson, but still. It was a platform that would elevate Colbert's status. But that's really all it ever ended up being. A platform. I've never gotten the sense that it was something that challenged him, or allowed him to really spread his wings. Traditional late night doesn't really give those guys that opportunity because they have to stick to the same old schtick. They can be poignant and maybe a little scathing in their opening monologues, but then they have to settle into the usual formula, because the show must go on. Well, until it doesn't, in Colbert's case. Yeah, I'm definitely curious to see what he'll do.
2
tooshpright5 days ago
+2
The show is almost finished, why complain now?
2
Complete_Entry6 days ago
+2
You essentially said you hate the format of the late shows, most of the features that annoy you are literally baked in and can't be discarded.
The late shows tend to be advertisement for movies, music, politicians, that sort of thing. Each host kind of got stuck with it.
Kimmel broke a lot of the rules by just not giving a shit, but he still does the mandatory interviews and plugs. Last time he had Marky Mark on Marky Mark looked PISSED.
Also, members of the band staring into space is actually a bit.
To clarify, Stephen's band staring into space is a bit.
2
KTOWNTHROWAWAY90015 days ago
+2
I think they're probably just annoyed that it never lived up to the potential. Instead of being innovative like his other show was, it became a generic late night talk show.
2
mediaman545 days ago
+1
Ridiculous assertion. It was a sloppy, lazy 1-second wallpapering of an edit.
1
Complete_Entry5 days ago
+1
I am not shitting you man. It's an ongoing joke they have been doing for years, and exactly the type of nonsense Colbert has had on lock since he interviewed a horse.
It's not a "Sloppy cut" They're literally doing the "Did I leave the oven on?" face. ON PURPOSE.
The fact it's a joke that offended your professional sensibilities makes it honestly, more fun for me.
1
mediaman544 days ago
+1
You are clueless
1
Complete_Entry4 days ago
+1
I find it ironic that it is you saying that.
I explained the bit to you, and... you don't like it? Cool.
1
mediaman543 days ago
It's not "a bit." I've produced polished comedy TV over decades. Have you? I recognize bits. This isn't one.
These are sloppy, quickie edits to cover jump cuts before deadline. Do you know what a jump cut is without Googling? Happens all the time in news editing. They usually use B-roll. I've done that too. Do you know what B-roll is without Googling?
I mentioned one edit where Cato was delivering generic chuckle-face, while the drummer was idly staring off into space. Definitely not a moment in time related to the jump cut it was covering. Sometimes it is, this one wasn't.
Not a bit. Not something meta. Nothing funny about it, not even as a private joke. Just quick & dirty cleanup. Other shows use a WS from the rear of the crowd.
Do you know what a WS is? No Googling. Maybe you can guess.
You enjoy being a Know-Nothing Classic Contrarian.
0
chronald696 days ago
+2
In his recent interview with Oprah, Stephen talked about how he needs an audience for every interaction. He said even when he calls his agent, he wants his assistant to be in the room with him listening to the call. This is why he looks to the producers and the band.
2
gotpeace996 days ago
+1
I mean, that’s Late Night hosts for you. No matter if it’s Carson, Fallon, etc.
1
kirby20005 days ago
+1
I watched every episodes of The Colbert Report, but I don't watch The Late Show.
I love Stephen Colbert, but I also wish he was working on something better
1
razorsedge946 days ago
Never found him funny. My favorite was always Conan.
0
Ransom__Stoddard6 days ago
+1
Is OP aware of Jack Paar?
1
mediaman545 days ago
+1
Yes
1
Kimosabae6 days ago
+1
While I'm upset for the reason The Late Show w/ Colbert is ending -- I'd be a liar if I said I wasn't somewhat happy that he's not longer going to be wasting his talents on this show.
He's one of the best comedy writers of all time and having this take up so much of his time as a Colbert fan has been frustrating.
This is Cameron on Avatar levels of wasted potential.
Bring back Harvey Birdman!
1
yourpaljim6 days ago
-3
I… agree with all of this.
-3
nightspell6 days ago
-7
Late night TV died when Leno and Letterman left the airwaves.
-7
jgab1456 days ago
+2
Leno was an unfunny hack
2
TheArmChairFan6 days ago
+1
How was he a hack? No puppets?
1
jgab1456 days ago
+1
He relied on an unoriginal and formulaic style of comedy. His jokes were about the most obvious, easy, and thoughtless observations. His material was lazy and boring. Anyone could have come up with the material he relied upon. No talent.
1
TheArmChairFan6 days ago
So every other comedian including letterman who called him a complete original and an innovator were wrong?
But you probably think John Oliver is peak comedy.
0
jgab1456 days ago
+1
Nobody has ever described him in those terms. The only compliment Letterman ever gave Leno was about being a hard worker and his longevity. He purposely avoided calling him funny or talented. If you can show me a direct quote from anyone describing Leno as a “complete original” I’ll give you a dollar.
1
TheArmChairFan6 days ago
You're obviously just going off listnook hivemind. Do your research.
Letterman is a pervert.
0
jgab1456 days ago
+1
I’ve spent the last 45 minutes researching the internet for anyone describing Leno the way you did and it just confirmed that you made up your description of him. He may have been a little more edgy as a young stand up but in the context of this post he was widely regarded as opposite of original and innovative. I’m not defending Letterman’s character either. You even going there is just more proof that you made up your description of Leno because you can’t provide any proof that anyone else felt the way you do. You’re really bad at arguing your position.
1
TheArmChairFan6 days ago
No you didn't or you'd see it
0
jgab1456 days ago
+1
I can’t find it. Can you help me please?
1
Pairdice6 days ago
-11
I feel the same way.
I shouted at Trump on Epstein Island, "No, No! Larry Ellison is just TOO BIG!"
He just smiled, and said, "It's ok, you're beautiful, you got to relax more! You're the most relaxed girl... you can be even more relaxed, but you're gorgeous!"
The he told Larry Ellison to work his magic...
Still waiting for my day before a Trump controlled Congress.
33 Comments