One of my new favorite things in the world is the anger conservatives feel regarding Stephen Colbert taking over The Late Show from David Letterman. Colbert is “in character” as a blowhard conservative anchor/commentator on The Colbert Report, like a pitch-perfect satire of Hannity, O’Reilly and many of those Fox News people. The conservatives are super-pissed that Colbert satirizes them four nights a week, to the point where Rush Limbaugh threw a tantrum about it and one conservative writer claimed Colbert was doing “political blackface.”
Anyway, Colbert stopped by The Late Show last night, his first trip to the show since being named as Letterman’s replacement. And Colbert dropped the “character.” And it was charming.
Colbert told stories about trying to be an intern, Colbert offered a Top Ten list and they took a selfie (which Colbert posted). It’s a nice interview and it feels like Letterman is fine with Colbert as a person and as a successor. I think Letterman likes the fact that Colbert is a nice family man and that he seems like a stable person. I have faith in Colbert, but I do think this might be a bumpy transition.
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet, Colbert’s Twitter.
He did an interview with Charlie Rose years ago (I think it’s probably available on Charlie’s website), in which he was just himself, and he came across as a very compassionate, interesting, and intelligent man.
He did one with Oprah too. His wife joined him for part of that one. I don’t think he feels like he has to be in character all the time at all.
I have never been much of an Oprah watcher, but it sounds like I missed out.
@Lisa, I think clips are on Oprah’s website as well as on YouTube and Buzzfeed. It’s really sweet, actually. He’s just so modest and almost bashful. And it’s genuine. And his wife is so great, too.
Marigold – I loved him and his wife in that Oprah interview. One of my favorite things was hearing that his wife won’t let his chatacter into the house.
Lisa – if you get a chance, watch it. It was filmed a couple of years back at his home in S.Carolina… but has been airing again lately on OWN
You can see clips here http://www.oprah.com/own-oprahs-next-chapter/Oprahs-Next-Chapter-Stephen-Colbert
Snippets of the Oprah interview are on youtube. so good. i was smittened more than usual.
I love Colbert so much. I wish they went with someone else. He’s so good at satire and political comedy, just doing celebrity interviews seems beneath him.
I know what you mean but at the same time I can’t imagine him sustaining “Colbert” indefinitely. It had to be exhausting — he could be exhausting for me even to watch, his energy at times bordered on manic. This will probably be relaxing in comparison and I’m sure he’ll put an intelligent spin on whatever he does.
I agree. It’s hard to imagine him doing the Colbert report and maintaining that character- it’s interest and humor is derived from our political climate and if that were to deviate it would loose its edge. And where do you take that character? With out the platform of the show it wouldn’t work, or at least be as clever, and I doubt they would let it turn mediocre.
That said, I’m not sure how the evolution will work. He’s so funny and intelligent it feels wasted with the prospect of asking kardashians if they like ice cream for the next two decades.
Fingers crossed his team can make this work and fit in away that highlights what a great entertainer he is.
I saw this last night. I was simultaneously giggling and getting a little teary eyed at the same time.
Same!
Colbert and his writers are going to do an awesome job! There might be a bumpy transition period, but ive been a fan of Colbert since he was on The Daily Show, so I will stick it out and be sure to watch him 🙂
Colbert is a pro. He was the perfect combination of charming and witty, while all the while being genuinely revering to Letterman.
His impromptu turn on Letterman’s “a boob like me” comment is why I love him. “Every boob is like a snowflake Dave…” He’s so quick witted!
I Love love love them both so fucking much! This was adorable
Maybe if the conservatives didn’t hand so much fodder over to Colbert on a silver platter they’d wouldn’t be so PO’d. Maybe instead of raking him over the coals they should take another look at themselves in the mirror. Sigh.
my guess would be that they first need to remove the sticks from their butt
I am so so thrilled for him, but I am going to miss “Stephen Colbert” so much 🙁
Me too!
I suspect, that Letterman had a lot of input, into whom got this job.
When it was announced that he was retiring…. and within the week who would be the new Late Night guy. It was clear to me, that the retiring/naming the new successor (Colbert) had been worked out, way in advance with CBS.
And with the fact that Letterman is still in business with CBS. With his Worldwide Pants production company. Means to me that CBS had this in motion for some time. And had manage to keep it from leaking.
I keep wondering what Comedy Central is going to do with that half hour. Are they going to do another attempt with the political comedy format. I really do enjoy John Stewart and the Colbert Report, hour block. I really like to have that theme continued.
Jon Oliver just left the daily show, maybe he’ll get a show? I love my hour block of Stewart/Colbert and I’m definitely going to miss Colbert’s show. I hope they give that 30 min slot to a former Daily Show person again
Oliver has his own show coming to HBO on Sundays.
How about they give it to Samantha Bee? She’s awesome.
Plus it might even make sense in the context of Colbert’s blow-hard character being pushed out by an attractive woman – just like what’s been happening on Fox News (Megyn Kelly getting Hannity’s time slot).
Bummer, I don’t get HBO. I try to support my Daily Show people! 🙂
I like Samantha Bee and I think she could definitely play the female conservative roll. I just don’t think Jon Stewart is going to back a show that’s so similar to the Colbert Report. If the daily show people do anything in that time slot, I would think they’d want to do something original. But no matter what, I’ll tune in.
No way – he’s going to do great right out of the gate! Colbert is a showman. They’ve said it about a lot of people, but he will end up being “the next Johnny Carson”. I can’t wait.
He’s bringing his writers with him too, so they will already be comfortable with each other.
I’m totally with you on this. He will BLOW it out of the water, first show. I CANNOT wait!!!
I think Stephen will do fine. I’m going to miss Dave.
I remember watching an interview that Colbert did with Jack White, it was really funny both grew up in a ver Catholic upbringing , Colbertt is still very devout. But it was funny how they were jocking and having a contest/quiz about catholic things like names of saints, Mass ,etc., trying to prove who had more knowlgment it was quite funny. I think Colbert is a nice guy, has a very stable family. Also I just read that when he was 10 his father and two brothers died in a plane crash, how sad. But that made him stronger and more spiritual.
I’m looking forward to the transition. Also, given the chance, I would destroy Colbert. God he’s cute.
yeah. this. 🙂
Y.E.S.
Oh dear jeebus yes.
And twice on Sundays
i think he’ll do well. I know the point of Colbert the character was to be annoying, but it wasn’t something I could watch regularly. I’ll be interested in how he runs the show as himself.
I think he’ll be great. Dave has become stale and it was a bit past time for him to retire. I’m hoping he’s a bit edgier than Jimmy Fallon. He’s Leno Light with a guitar.
I adore Stephen Colbert. I’ve been a fan since “Strangers with Candy,” one of the weirdest, funniest shows. It was so different from “The Colbert Report,” which I also love, and it shows that Stephen can do something besides the political blowhard he’s so good at.
I suspect Dave had a big hand in picking Stephen. Dave LOVES Amy Sedaris, who created “Strangers with Candy” with Colbert and Paul Dinello. Dave even funded the SWC movie (which wasn’t really great, the TV show was better).
If you guys have a weird sense of humor, check out “Strangers with Candy.” It’s about a 46 year-old high school freshman former junkie whore who goes back to high school to start over. They take classic “After School Special” ideas and warp them.