Stephen Colbert Use to Be Funny
He turns me off, like a radio... but the sound keeps coming
I've never taken to this guy, there's a built in phoniness that glares at me every time he's on the TV. I don't like his political posturing as it is terribly one-sided, a comedian should be able to take shots at all politicians with humour and not hatred. He comes across as a supercilious and nasty person under that veneer of affability and the suit, tie and hair only add to the menace. Add to that the stupid pronunciation of his name in an America that doesn't understand any language other than English and you have an avatar of everything I don't like in an entertainer. Get David Copperfield to make him disappear.
Update Dec 6th 2018
This guy just doesn't give up! His monologue on the GHW Bush funeral was so disrespectful and hateful that he should be ashamed of himself.
Gentle humor, like that displayed by Dubya and Mulroney ( even though he's a phony too!) is what should have been displayed here, but Colbert can't do that.
He has no idea what a difficult job being the President is and never tempers his comments to accommodate that difficulty, or the sensitivity of an occasion. In my opinion, Colbert's just an opportunistic jerk.
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Kind of like a one trick pony
Warning: Spoilers
Kind of like a one trick pony. Stephen Colbert's yells, get over excited stick is similar to Howard Godfreed act. Funny at first, but gets very annoying fast. The comedian can hold his own, but the act gets condescending, and nasty. Showing you care and self righteous at the same time is arrogant and turns off the viewer. In the age of Trump half the comedians humor gets predictable, and boring. This over the top, push the envelope Howard Stern humor one comedian trying too out shock the other just sound like noise. Like the annoying co work who thinks he's funny or the bar drunk who finally gets punched out. 2 stars John Stewart was the better of the two.
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Okay, but incredibly disappointing after The Colbert Report
Okay, but incredibly disappointing after The Colbert Report.
I was skeptical when Stephen Colbert got offered the role of hosting The Late Show. The Colbert Report was one of the funniest, if not THE funniest, shows on TV. It was clever, edgy and didn't mind taking pot shots at politicians, esp right-wing ones and Fox News. Surely moving to a mainsteam show would mean Colbert would have to dumb it down and appeal to a wider audience?
Well, I gave it a fair chance but I fear I was right. The edginess has gone ("Oh, no, kids might be watching!") and his shtick has been dumbed down quite a lot.
Even worse, and something I did not see coming as I figured its is well beneath him, he is having to play all those stupid clickbait games that Jimmy Fallon does (and which makes Fallon's show such a waste of time). You know, get some major star in and instead of asking them intelligent questions, get them to do something stupid. Just so that there'll be dozens of clickbait posts the next day with "See Stephen Colbert get Victoria's Secret models to eat buffalo wings!", say.
There are occasional glimpses of the old Colbert. Some clever skits, biting satire and the pokes at right-wing politicians, but they are few and far between.
Best thing to do: watch the clever stuff, fast forward through the rest.
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One of the most annoying idiots on television.
Warning: Spoilers
Just looking at this guy, I already find myself annoyed. I have never found him that funny, even when he did the Colbert Report on cable. I would watch a couple mins. of the show and then find myself bored with his sarcastic, contrived act. He had an occasional glimmer of comedy and talent, but having him take over for Letterman was just ridiculous. He is an even worse fit for this program. Why is Colbert even popular? Basically, TV just gives some guy a bunch of air time and promotion, and suddenly he is an epic hero that has everyone drooling. I just don't see the appeal. I guess his mindless complaining about Trump to an audience of ass-kissers is supposed to be original. I mean it isn't like SNL, John Oliver, Trevor Noah, Seth Meyers, and every other show operate on the same exact premise. No, Colbert complaining about Trump ad nauseam and looking like a geek is just so enlightening. Colbert looks like the type of guy that says something stupid and condescending at a party, and then gets rocked into next year. He comes across as a wimpy nerd with nothing new to say. Just a cardboard copy of every other clown on late night. He should be selling insurance or something.
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Sad
I loved the Colbert Report where Stephen played his "character", a stupid Republican with a tv show, like someone (anyone) on FoxNews. Unfortunately after he left Comedy Central for CBS, he was no longer allowed to be that character. Evidently he doesn't own it. So now he just tells jokes, which are for some reason all about attacking Donald Trump.
I'm no Trump fan, but doesn't Stephen realize that Trump is only one politician in Washington, and that he's a symptom and not the disease? Colbert seems to have lost his grasp of the big picture. His show is like CNN now, which is basically the Trump Channel except without jokes. It's anti-Trump, but the point is, he's all they talk about. It's like a fetish.
Anyway, I can no longer recommend watching Stephen Colbert in his most recent incarnation. But if you can find clips of the Colbert Report or even before that when appeared on The Daily Show with his "God Machine" and such - watch those!
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Sorry Stephen...
I used to be a fan of Colbert when I was younger, he was hilarious on Comedy Central and even if you didn't necessarily agree with him he had plenty of diverse material to work from and his delivery was usually spot on. Here though on CBS we get the diet coke version of him where he plays it very safe and tells "dad jokes" constantly, and if you've been watching in the past four years talks smack about Donald Trump mostly and those on his staff and even his supporters. We get it, Stephen, we get it CBS, you lean left and you didn't want the guy in office and you don't agree with how he's doing things - that's fine and all, but do you have to go about it every single night? It gets boring, real quick. Heck, I have family and friends who lean left and have never liked Donald Trump even back when he was hosting The Apprentice and they're even tired of the late night slamming sessions and almost always trying to paint every democrat as a saint from the heavens. The strategy of 'orange man bad, left side always right' is not as effective as you'd like it to be, if anything its given the President more attention and making it harder for the average viewer to find something calming before bed.
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Thank you
day25 23 November 2021
Thank you Mr. Colbert for getting me through the last 6 yrs. Best late night host on tv. Your charm and sense of humor have made late night so enjoyable. Thank you, thank you!!!
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Finding its feet... and still a fine showcase
It ain't perfect--but I remember that even The Colbert Report took a week or two to refine its look/feel. I'm sure Stephen will graciously take thoughtful feedback from the producers and make the few modest tweaks needed to make it work a little better. I'm basically referring to the fact that Stephen still acts a little like it's just _his_ show (like it was with the Report). He'll figure out how to really hand the show over to his guests a little more effectively, and it'll be well nigh perfect.
But enough with the remonstrance. Colbert brings one element of his old show, in tow, which is refreshing and wonderful to see in this environment: Superb writing, lovingly delivered.
The thing Colbert does better than Letterman is the writing. As of the first week, the thing Letterman did better than Colbert is the interviews. I have absolutely no doubt that Colbert will warm up in that latter regard and learn to make those interviews more like forces of nature, the way Letterman did.
One more observation: Colbert has a special way of wedding trenchant observation with good-heartedness. Not to say that Letterman didn't do this, just that I think it's a necessary, "must have" element to these kinds of proceedings, and here's hoping Colbert will continue dishing it up in his own personal style.
Addendum, 2015/9/22 --------------
As I continue watching, I have to add a note about Jon Batiste. I'm reminded of Federico Fellini's encomium to Nino Rota: Yea, verily; Mr. Batiste is an "angel of music". Congrats on getting him, Stephen.
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Used to be a decent program....but not anymore!
Warning: Spoilers
In less than a year's time, this show has gone from decent to bad to just plain awful! At this point, Colbert and CBS should just rename this show to "The Donald Trump Show with Stephen Colbert" because that's all who he talks about (in a butthurt and negative manner, I might add) with the same stale jokes every night. Moreover, the fact that even James Corden is now giving Colbert a run for his money should be a complete embarrassment to CBS knowing that their secondary late night program is actually outperforming their primary show.
I guess CBS is taking notice of Colbert's problems, though, considering the fact that they already attempted to bring back some elements of "The Colbert Report" onto "The Late Show." In that case, however, I'd say that it's too little, too late. How about also offering just a little respect toward our leaders as well? Out of all the rest of the current late night programs, this show is definitely the most hateful toward President Trump and his administration...which is something that I'm sure the anti-Trump crowd might like, but that's about it.
In summary, Colbert needs to go ASAP!! Perhaps James Corden would do better on this show...
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Tough Meaningful Interviews and sharp humor are back best of the best
Warning: Spoilers
Update - The latest ratings indicate that this is starting to blow the doors off Jimmy Fallon. There can be no doubt why as Colbert and producer Jon Stewart are not perfect, but at least the format here is fresh, though too negative.
Fallon' s Tonight is very retro, as the format he is using goes back to Carson and Steve Allen, except Fallon does not hold a candle to them in the talent department. There can be no doubt Colbert is a much better interviewer than Fallon. Fallon talks about and too himself rather than interview his guests. Colbert actually asks good questions and his interviews with Bernie Sanders proved the Democratic Party had the wrong person as nominee long before the election Clinton lost.
Colbert is often a bit childish but that plays well especially on CBS where the news division often exhibits that attitude now that their baby boom generation of reporters with the exception of Charlie Rose are gone. Rose has been an excellent guest on Colbert.
It appears that Donald Trump is wrecking this show. There is way too much hate in the political comments and Colbert needs to go to confession before he wrecks his program. Many years and another planet far away, the late night TV featured the most talented and hardest informative interviews ever and the opinion of it measured this country. Thanks to the retirement of David Letterman and CBS setting up shop with Stephen Colbert and more, those day days might be back.This show is already the best late night show because it has united the 2 best talents on TV. Colbert's producer is one Jon Stewart, the guy he followed on Comedy Central. Together these powers will rule the ratings very soon if not already. CBS and Stewart have quietly teamed up to bring these guys together and the results already show. They did this without advertising so that they will blow the doors off NBC who ignored hiring these guys at their own peril. The best of late night is here to stay.
This is the largest coup of late night TV since Carson.
Get ready to rumble but now Jimmy Fallon not only became a rapt-or snack this summer but this will make him a late night TV dinner Even the retooled Late night gets rolling. The tradition of Tonight on NBC will soon be gone, or mortally wounded.
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A spin and satire on politics.
I'm from the old late night school liking Carson and Leno and even putting up with Letterman and now my favorite is Fallon however from time to time I tune to "CBS" if Colbert has a good guest. And true he is a pretty good interviewer and talker and can be funny, his show is to much of a spin and political satire. His jokes and skits are often crude and rude somewhat of a mock style as his take and spin on the world is a very negative view of Trump. Still he has guts and courage and isn't scared to speak his mind as it's a clear view Stephen is a die hard liberal. So if your up give it a watch for the latest spin on political news and if you want a good laugh watch "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" it will entertain, educate, and inform you!
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Network TV is awful
Well, after 3 shows that were quite disappointing, it's clear that (i) Colbert is a fantastic host but (ii) being on CBS basically kills his potential.
This new show is passable, barely saved by Colbert's talent but offers pretty much no fun and no depth. In a nutshell, it's just another bland network TV show without much interest.
The inability to bring the best of the best TV host in the US on CBS demonstrates why it is way overdue that network TV shall disappear and cable shall take over. HBO has done it for TV and movies, Comedy central demonstrated it in reverse by letting Stephen Colbert go and lose most of his potential.
Stephen, please come back to cable and do what you do best instead of losing your soul and wasting your potential on CBS.
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What happened?
Colbert report was great. Truly great. Original and fresh until the end. His reporting on citizens united was the highlight of his time there. Now he moves to the late show and he's a unfunny mouth piece for bad jokes and very very repetitive political commentary with a major bias.. He has hillary clinton on recently in segment pieces... The corporatist robot person that lost the dems the election in what shouldve been the easiest victory ever and schemed against bernie sanders with the DNC to have him lose... On a election that was so very important, with supreme court nominations on the line. He's not the comedian i thought he was. And has no taste in choosing writers. And ignoring all this, i just want a late show that isnt political.. Like letterman. And like Conan, who is still and in my opinion will always be, the King of late night talk show format. Watch this crap if you're a un-informed moron that like's awkward interviews/pandering - with brainless celebrities and regressive left repetitive 'joke' segments/opening monologues. *Face palm
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An outstandingly pleasant surprise!
I've mourned the demise of late night talk shows on broadcast TV as venerable, intelligent, funny hosts were replaced by annoying mediocrity. By early 2013, the last two great hosts, Craig Ferguson and David Letterman had resigned. Ferguson's replacement was uninspiring, and I was never a big fan of the Colbert Report.
But I gave Colbert a chance in Letterman's place. The premier episode was a bit flat and off-the-mark. But by the third show he had found his groove and was every bit as good as Leno or Letterman or Ferguson on their best day (sorry, nobody can touch Carson). His upbeat energy manages to be brutally funny and cynical without being nasty or mean.
He established himself quickly with two solid weeks of top-their politicians and celebrities, and now that he's down the average guest roster, he's continuing right along that groove.
I must say, as a graphic artist, the opening sequence (a technically sophisticated composite of miniatures, CGI, sort-motion animation and live time lapse, is nothing short of brilliant. Someone deserves an Emmy for that.
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We get it!!!
Even here in Australia we loved our Late Show from the USA but really??? Don't you have anything else to entertain us apart from your Trump hate speeches. I now only occasionally turn your show on to see if there are any changes to the format but alas, nothing has changed. Just to lay my cards on the table, I'm not a Trump fan either, but if I want constant political views, I'll watch an appropriate channel.
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Brilliant Monologue
Back in the times of the Daily Show I didn't care for Stephen. Now I believe him, and his writers to be the best Comedy team on TV. I was so surprised that he didn't win an Emmy (for #69). His monologue beats John Oliver's in both timing and quality of humor every time. Honestly, based on this, I hereby refuse to take the Emmy Award Ceremony seriously anymore.
Colbert and his writing staff are sharp. They are all excellent! He is not as partisan as people think. He has had a good word for many Republicans both Bush and Nixon (comparing him favorably to Trump). I don't think most Americans realize how close they are to getting a pseudo Democracy if they continue along this path.
I see the low ratings some give him and understand how rabid devotees Trump's zealots can be. This is the problem with collective pride without individual merit. Even the unworthy are capable of great hubris. The evidence is clear and available.
Colbert has the timing and the moves of even the very best stand up comedians. I could watch his monologue from last year and still laugh out loud.
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The remedy for a long, stressful day.
There's a reason why late-night talk shows are still popular. There's nothing like finally kicking back after a long day and watching something that makes you laugh. Especially when you can laugh about all of the things going on in the world that sometimes make you want to just sit in a corner and cry.
Stephen Colbert and his team have forged a strong replacement for the long-running, and well-loved Late Show with David Letterman. It's a good mix of edgy humor, irreverence, goofiness, and some very serious topics. colbert does a good interview - he never comes across as jaded, and always interested in what his guest have to say.
It's definitely a good antidote for a long day.
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Simply The Best
If you remove the righty trolls, this show would be rated a 10. Mr. Colbert is witty, funny and on point. Do not deny his greatness simply because your a snowflake righty..... cmon now
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The late show just ain't funny anymore
Colbert is just trying to hard to be funny, and it isn't working, the show is lame, and the music just doesn't fit. After years of David Letterman and Paul Shaffer, I just can relate to this new show ... I'm totally disappointed. I've tried to watch the show, but I tune in to be entertained, and I'm not, the last skit with Jon Steward fell flat. Colbert is just not the guy to be doing the late show! So let's end the agony that everyone is feeling and can call it a day, I had wished that the show would have been awesome, but it's not, and nothing that CBS does is going to change this fact. Late night TV should be a place to help me forget my cares and give me a place where I can relax and forget about all the problems of my day. This show is just to painful to watch let alone to enjoy. Pull the plug and lets move on.
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Good snippets on YouTube.
I watch the 5-10 mins of monologues that get posted to YouTube regularly and love many of them. Always looking forward to the next one. Stephen is brill. I don't engage with the rest of the show - the music and interviews. Good stuff
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Brilliant show
Colbert and his writers are spot on and hilarious. The show just gets funnier and funnier. It is sad that people come here to flame the show with one star reviews when it is quite clear that they don't watch it and simply disagree with its point of view. It is a welcome and winning combination of humor, humanity, and satire. The "Meanwhile" segments are great, as are Jon Batiste's music and side commentary.
Love this show. It's killing in the ratings. Its critics sure complain a lot for people who are "winning" so much!
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there's bound to be more material yet to come
Formerly a correspondent on "The Daily Show", Stephen Colbert got his own show in 2005: "The Colbert Report", a parody of right-wing talking heads. He hosted it for nine years - even getting to host the White House Correspondents' Dinner and using the occasion to tear down the Bush administration (while making it sound like praise) - before getting chosen to replace David Letterman as host of CBS's talk show that airs at 11:35 pm.
So now it's "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert". Colbert probably didn't predict that Donald Trump would become president, but he's gone after Trump every night, reading the tweets in a mockery of Trump's accent. That's the best part of the show, although you also gotta love the big furry hat. The interviews are good, although they can get tiring after a while.
Anyway, this show as well as "The Daily Show", "Full Frontal", "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver" and the one hosted by Seth Meyers are the ones that will get us through the Trump nightmare. I recommend it.
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A Grinning, Prancing Shell of the Relevant Stephen.
Colbert's Late Show is a major disappointment. The review written by DVD says it all for me. He's a grinning, prancing shell now. Was he bought out of his hilarious, cutting-edge, truth-seeking "Report?" Is he paid now to deliver vapid lines that don't expose political lies and hypocrisy? I miss you, too, bold,relevant Stephen. I counted on you to shine a light on important truths. I couldn't wait to laugh so hard I cried when you exposed fools with self-serving policies. How often I thanked God, and yes, I am a Christian, that you and Jon Stewart were delivering important news with humor that connected with our brains. I can no longer watch the "real" you, sitting beneath your massive ego dome, proud and smiling. About what?
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Stephen!
This guy is truly a gem of comedy. He keeps us sane for the last 4 years, and this is why i like to follow him more than before. Who are the snowflakes now?! :)
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Major BORE! CBS, you just don't "GET" late night do you?!
I'll make this short. I find this show incredibly boring. And apparently the target demographic of 18-49 has decided there is better on TV too as the week of November 9th, 2015, Kimmel has moved ahead to put Colbert in third. Even SETH MYERS has moved within a half percentage point of The Late Show. Couple that with the Dumbed Down Irritating BRIT who follows on "TLLS", CBS has shown it just doesn't GET us Night Owls...You are NOT worth watching!
Like someone else said something about Narcissistic People, Colbert IS a MAJOR BORE!. (and yea, his band IS awful!)CBS, just air reruns of some of your better shows from the past, OR better yet, LET your affiliates air local programming from 11:35p to 7am the next morning instead!
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