General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMy prediction? The CBS Colbert experiment WILL NOT WORK.
Steven Colbert is KILLER as a Comedy Central PERSONA.
As a late night talk host stripped of what made him famous? ZZZZZZ
Chelsea Whateverhernameis would have been a MUCH BETTER choice.
ChisolmTrailDem
(9,463 posts)Agschmid
(28,749 posts)I was talking about this tonight with someone and we decided she would have to "tone it down" to be on CBS so we are VERY HAPPY she will not be on CBS... Rock on Chelsea!
6000eliot
(5,643 posts)Agschmid
(28,749 posts)Logical
(22,457 posts)Agschmid
(28,749 posts)And I don't know many comedians who keep it "classy".
Generic Brad
(14,270 posts)I love bold, outspoken women like Chelsea!
RandiFan1290
(6,206 posts)I think he'll do fine.
Cali_Democrat
(30,439 posts)They don't like Colbert and they're angry about it.
Colbert will be great, much to the chagrin of the GOPers.
JI7
(89,177 posts)it's because people want some jay leno type .
global1
(25,168 posts)if Repubs don't like him and don't watch because of politics - he won't get the ratings that CBS needs and he won't last long as a host. That is what I think was the error in CBS's thinking by giving him this job.
Fallon was a known entity from SNL. Talented. A big following particularly by the young demographic. And he is not a political lightening rod.
Colbert is a funny man. He's not as mainstream as Fallon was - because he is on a cable channel versus NBC like Fallon. Plus he is a political lightening rod. Yes he might have a liberal following - but those other people won't give him a chance.
My pick was Craig Ferguson. Ferguson is really very smart, quick-witted, genuinely funny and very talented in his own right. He's starred in movies, he sings, he's written books. He's Scottish by birth and became a U.S. citizen. He's an equal opportunity cut-up as far a politics is concerned. I admit he is an acquired taste - he's irreverent and unconventional and his Late Late Show doesn't quite fit the mold of the other late night talk shows.
His show is quirky to say the least with the skeleton robot and the horse - but after becoming one of his fans and watching him - it is clear the guests on his show really enjoy their experience because of his style. When he gets a serious guest on the show - he really does a good interview with them as well.
Last time I was in L.A. I attended a taping of his show. His guest for the show was Jane Fonda. I don't think she ever watched Ferguson's show and at first she was a little taken aback by his style. Then I think it was clear to her that he was different and you visibly saw the change in her as she opened up to the experience. It turned out she really enjoyed being on his show - she even let out a few expletives as she became comfortable with Ferguson.
I think that Ferguson is probably quite comfortable in his later time slot. Perhaps he would have had to change his style more to the established format of the traditional talk show and my guess is that he probably didn't want to do that.
Although as I recall - Letterman's Late Late Show before he move to the earlier time slot was very unconventional as well.
I hope Colbert succeeds but I think he has some steep obstacles to overcome - the biggest is his political bent.
sendero
(28,552 posts)...bagged on Republicans pretty regularly. You think HE had a large conservative audience? I doubt it.
I get what the OP is saying but where I differ is that I've seen Colbert in many contexts and he always makes it work. He is not a one trick pony. He will do fine.
eShirl
(18,466 posts)A good number will probably watch Colbert by mistake. The dumber ones.
davidpdx
(22,000 posts)I REALLY wanted to see Letterman before he retires. Being outside the US and the fact that he has a limited number of shows left (which I'm sure will make tickets even more difficult to come by) will pretty much kill that idea.
Did Ferguson come out and shake hands with people?
dylan33
(92 posts)but I have my doubts about him with the restrictions he will have to deal with.
senseandsensibility
(16,713 posts)Got it. The fact is, Colbert is talented in a way that Repugs could never get.
enigmatic
(15,021 posts)He started out as an improv performer at Second City and was a brilliantly funny and talented guy before The Colbert Report. He's not a one-trick pony by any stretch of the imagination.
Go find some clips on youtube of his varied career and you'll see what I mean. He'll be fine.
sendero
(28,552 posts)... I said almost the exact same thing a few posts up before reading yours. I swear I didn't rip you off!
enigmatic
(15,021 posts)xmas74
(29,658 posts)She kills me every single time.
xmas74
(29,658 posts)That's how it should be: Jerri Blank introduces him on the very first show.
Matariki
(18,775 posts)Gore1FL
(21,031 posts)He is more than his Colbert Report character.
goldent
(1,582 posts)but why not give him a try? And I'm really glad they didn't pick Craig Ferguson.
JVS
(61,935 posts)How hard do you think that is?
Paladin
(28,204 posts)Best of luck to Colbert in his new gig. I can't honestly predict how he's going to do, but I take heart from the fact that Limbaugh is already expressing outrage over it.
MADem
(135,425 posts)I think he's got more than a few tricks up his sleeve.
We will have to wait and see where he goes with this thing. Will it be the shopworn paradigm, or something else? Time will tell as it always does.
eShirl
(18,466 posts)Electric Monk
(13,869 posts)seabeyond
(110,159 posts)vanlassie
(5,637 posts)He is crazy talented and genius IQ.
TreasonousBastard
(43,049 posts)so much for predictions.
OKNancy
(41,832 posts)The depth of his knowledge is mind-blowing. You can tell when he has the book authors on. He has not only read their books, and understands them, but he also has a lot of knowledge to bring in as he pretend/jokes.
I think as his own personality, he will bring a lot of biting wit and great fun to boot.
mattclearing
(10,091 posts)He's the sharpest guy in almost any room.
PassingFair
(22,434 posts)eShirl
(18,466 posts)Motown_Johnny
(22,308 posts)with the very best of the best of comedy central being able to move with him to CBS, it is my opinion that Colbert is going to be killing it.
The guy is smart and funny. Just watch his interviews. He extremely quick to respond to almost any comment made.
I would rather he took over Meet The Press, but late night on CBS will work for now.
davidpdx
(22,000 posts)That would be a killing spree if he hosted MTP. Besides that nobody would come on because they'd all be too chicken.
caraher
(6,276 posts)But the trouble is losing the Colbert persona. Even his "succeeding" is a net loss to me.
PassingFair
(22,434 posts)I am happy that he will explore other sides of himself, and I think he
will be a great host.
caraher
(6,276 posts)I'm just going to miss the old "Colbert"
davidpdx
(22,000 posts)I like Colbert's show too. I'm sure he knows it's going to be difficult.
I finally did look her up on Youtube and wasn't very impressed with her. I would have liked to seen a women get the job, but wouldn't have watched her if she did.
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)I hope he does and I hope CBS will give him plenty of freedom. The fact he's selected is a good sign.
Heck, I'm even concerned he offends too many right wingers before he officially takes over. Otherwise, I think he'll do fine.
djean111
(14,255 posts)about Republicans.
Craig Ferguson - liked him until he gave that long smarmy speech and said he was not going to go the innuendo route - and then he got right back on board the innuendo route. Watched him for about five minutes the other night, just flipping through, have not watched him for years and years and had never seen the skeleton, even.
He was bursting with wanting to say something about Clay Aiken running for Congress and being gay. Bursting with it. He settled with repeating himself about 5 or 6 times, even after the monologue. Ugh.
Ferguson gets pretty smarmy at times, which does not entertain me.
mattclearing
(10,091 posts)He doesn't need the character to be funny or successful. He'll still be the funniest person at 11:30 by miles and miles.
pipoman
(16,038 posts)Of Late Night. Late night hosts have leaned left for a long time. As with any business, I'm not sure why they would choose to alienate 1/2 the population by being overly political.
WhaTHellsgoingonhere
(5,252 posts)I stopped watching Letterman and only watch Stewart and Colbert. If Stewart decides to retain the Colbert Report format in that slot then I won't follow Colbert to CBS.
That being said, he will succeed.
GreenPartyVoter
(72,377 posts)teens have learned so much from watching TDS and TCR, including thinking skills.
avebury
(10,946 posts)Comedy Central is the way he uses a faux conservative persona to make fun of the far right (who are too stupid to realize that). My fear is that Corporate CBS will squelch Colbert and turn him into just another talk show host. If Colbert is not allowed to be Colbert then I don't think it will work. I think that he will likely lose the freedom he experienced on Comedy Central.
sofa king
(10,857 posts)If the charade were continued and the show took on a format that remained able to sustain the Colbert persona, I think it could be awesome. Gary Shandling did something vaguely similar with great effect, for example.
The real Stephen Colbert is surely also immensely talented, though I've only seen the briefest flashes of that person.
But one thing we can guess almost for certain is that the real Stephen Colbert is creatively prolific as both a writer, actor, and show creator, able to fill multiple roles in the creation and running of a long-term television series, and perhaps most important, able to tap into those stunning talents at will, day in and day out, for years on end.
So I don't know if it will work for him or not... but I wouldn't bet against him.
lonestarnot
(77,097 posts)Glassunion
(10,201 posts)Wait and see.
Lex
(34,108 posts)you're probably wrong.
otohara
(24,135 posts)it's like the Top Ten - in broadcasting the artists takes what worked for them to their new shows. Happens all the time in radio and Letterman kept his goofy stuff when he went to Late Night.
Colbert is a genius and a good person.
He'll rock and give Jimmy Fallon a run for his money which is why CBS picked Colbert in the first place.
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)I have heard plenty of complaining about Letterman so his replacements needs the ability to make fun of Republicans and Colbert has the talent. I hate to see Letterman leave but understand his desire to retire. Looking forward to seeing Colbert in that spot.
wheniwasincongress
(1,307 posts)they didn't choose Jon Stewart. Colbert is clearly the better performer and thinker. Colbert has jokes, Stewart yells "WHAT THE FUCK?!"
MohRokTah
(15,429 posts)He interacts with the guests brilliantly when he's himself.
He'll do well.
U4ikLefty
(4,012 posts)as usual