Thursday, April 10, 2014

Stephen Colbert Is Replacing David Letterman

So much for my hope that Craig Ferguson would replace David Letterman. It isn't going to happen. Stephen Colbert has signed a five year agreement to replace Letterman beginning after Letterman's retirement next year. I'm not a fan of this hiring. Colbert is funny enough, but he plays a character on television. Yes, it is talk show-ish, but it is not a talk show in the traditional sense. I'm ok with breaking tradition or changing format, but is he going to come in and be a traditional talk show host or is he going to be the same character he is on Comedy Central?

When Piers Morgan got axed I thought Colbert would be good for that position. Lots of political talk. Lots of having to cover current affairs and his humor would really help the ratings. Maybe I'm wrong and he will be great, but I think there were a lot better choices out there, including his former boss, Jon Stewart. I could get behind that decision and think Jon would have slid right into that seat and stayed a good decade and would have had sketches and just been perfect. Stewart has always been the straight man to set up the jokes or characters and I think that is what a talk show needs.

55 comments:

Lady Heisenberg said...

Yayyyyyyyyyy!!!!!! Obsessed with Colbert!!!!

sandybrook said...

I wonder if Stewart was offered it and if he turned it down. Both he and Colbert have no worries at Comedy Central but CBS is bigger and probably more demanding of results and ratings.

rajahcat said...

wonder what Jon Stewart will think about this....

Seven of Eleven said...

No way would Jon Stewart have worked. He's far too acerbic for network TV. Colbert can actually pull an Onion and make people believe he's serious.

If that skag Lilo gets a seat next to him, though, I predict stabbiness ensuing in my heart.

katiekat said...

I love Colbert but I'm scared for him. Not sure his character will fly on a major network. I hope he's massively sucessful.

MISCH said...

Excellent…

Susan said...

So who do you think is going to win the ratings war: Fallon or Colbert?

Susan said...

I'm dying to know how Stewart feels about this. I find him to be so much on the bitter bus as he ages, much like Letterman, actually.

Bacon Ranch said...

I don't think he will last.
Why can't they just think out of the box and hire some unknown weatherman from smalltown USA?

That never works, I guess.

Oh wait

Unknown said...

They should have picked Ferguson. Colbert plays a character and will have a hard time as a tv-host. My guess, CBS will buy-out Craig and he will take his show to cable like Conan. It's a shame, because he's the only late-night host who shows signs of life on network tv.

CoBe said...

I think Colbert's decidedly liberal bent might hurt him.

Jon is more of an Independent. I think Colbert ticks off Conservative a bit more.

I don't know. Doesn't seem like a great idea to put in someone with a political bias either way. But what do I know?

rajahcat said...

like that comment about Stewart becoming more like Letterman--and agree-I see that also

Colbert-eh-I don't know

I would have went with Ferguson or a woman...just to be different from the others. But that would never happen right?

Jason Blue Eyes said...

So is Stephen actually taking over Dave's show which Dave owns and is broadcast under Dave's production company, or will CBS be creating a whole new show for Colbert?

Dallas Alice said...

I love Colbert, but don't have a good feeling about this. I really hope I'm wrong!!

Tara said...

I would have liked Amy Sedaris who is rumored to be Dave's choice
but it seems that it is a boys club

Topper Madison said...

I think he'll be great! It's time to dance!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs6r6Ud0GGU

Jason Blue Eyes said...

Sounds like it was more Les Moonves's decision rather than Dave's. Just be glad he didn't give it to Chenbot.

ForSure said...

I'm sure Colbert has let Jon know what's happening from the get go, he probably took this job with his blessing. I don't think Stewart wanted it, he seems to want the freedom to do other projects as they arise. Stewart is King at Comedy Central, no reason to leave and become just another show at CBS, with network pressure.

As for Colbert, he is playing a character and I'm pretty sure he won't take that character to a talk show. I've seen his interviews on 60 minutes and other places, and he seems to be a genuinely friendly, somewhat easy going guy. I think he will be pretty good doing interviews without the burden of staying in character, probably closer to Carson than anyone else has been able to get. His network talk show will be more like the Daft Punk dance number he did last summer, Colbert is not afraid to make himself look completely silly.

I would love to see Tina Fey get the post Daily Show slot. That would be golden.

auntliddy said...

Im pretty sure steven can leave character behind to do show. He will be fine. I think stewart loves exactly what he's doing and doesnt want to change. Dont forget, he was already burned by late night networks. I dislike Ferguson for one of same reasons i disliked letterman; way too many inside inside jokes that no one except a few know what the hell he's talking about. Now give Billy Connely a show, that wld be hilarious.

ForSure said...

Topper! Great minds think alike! You posted that as I was writing mine (while on hold forever with customer service). :)

Jason Blue Eyes said...

Pretty sure this deal was set when Dave announced his retirement last week. CBS knew it was Colbert who would be getting Dave's slot. Everybody had to keep it quiet for a week. My guess as to who will get Colbert's slot will be some other Daily Show alum. Samantha Bee and Jason Jones, maybe? Ah, to be a fly on the wall in the offices of Comedy Central today.

cricket61 said...

I like Colbert, but would have loved to have this go to Craig Ferguson. I've seen his show taped a few times in LA, he is very charming. Not sure if this will work for Colbert, time will tell.

Anonymous said...

SMH

Beetlejuice said...

Colbert will do awesome. And he won't be in character which is even better.

Maggie said...

I bet Chelsea gets a job w com central.

Jason Blue Eyes said...

Word is Craig Ferguson didn't want it. He's happy where he is doing the show the way he wants.

Kelly said...

Colbert will be great! Love him.

D Brown said...

Leno understood the Tonight Show's big tent approach and, while that was blander, it did keep him ratings leader for years. Colbert, with a distinct political focus, will appeal to trendies on both coasts but unlikely to win middle America.

mooshki said...

When Colbert is really interested in a conversation with a guest, he goes out of character and he does great. I think he will be wonderful.

Meanie Rhysie said...

A dear friend has just announced she is in deep mourning and is flying her undies at half-mast...or mid-thigh. :D

Tara said...

Oh jeez there's another Tara!? I'm gonna initial my posts with - TG now so you all don't get confused

- TG

Unknown said...

It's entirely possible that Stephen Colbert will do a brilliant job as Dave's successor. It's just a shame that the incredible show and genius beyond words character he's doing now will have to end.

Professional blowhard Bill O'Reilly must be thrilled. No more Stephen making Billo look like the fool he is every night.

yvettie said...

I can't stand Colbert

Florin said...

Colbert and Fallon have a good friendly rivalry. I'd like to see them continue. It would probably bring more viewers to both shows.

And Colbert is perfectly capable of being hilarious without his Colbert Show character. See the Strangers With Candy movie for an example.

Jon said...

Colbert is so NOT funny. Chelsea would have been a far better choice.

AndyCane said...

It should have been Louis CK

Sherry said...

I like Colbert but do not find him a very good interviewer. As someone mentioned above maybe it's just because of his character. I sincerely hope so. Dubious as to how long he will last.

OKay said...

If it can't be CraigyFerg, then I am surprised but thrilled that it will be Stephen Colbert. He is awesome whether he's playing his character or not.

anon said...

The way I understand it, he will be taking over Letterman's spot as himself, not the "Steven Colbert character" he plays on his Comedy Central show. Don't think John Stewart was in anyway interested in having this and Craig Ferguson had first right of refusal for it. I think he's (Ferg) going to get paid to the tune of $8 or $9mil.

Groggy said...

Ugh. At least there's still time for CBS to change its mind and find somebody good.

evie2345 said...

She would have been fantastic!

evie2345 said...

I to imagine he would've talk to Jon about it. I think he will be really good but I will miss the pairing of their shows on Comedy Central. I wonder who they will replace Stephen with.
I was always under the impression that Craig did not want that job

RowdyRodimus said...

@Tara I love Amy. What I like most about her is that when you see her doing those Bounce commercials, that's her. She's not being a character, that's her from morning to night. She was definitely born in the wrong era and the sad thing is I've heard people try to bash her for enjoying the June Cleaver type life.

Unknown said...

He'll be great. Watch the above you tube link for his daft punk homage

Unknown said...

Jon Stewart was offered Dave's show and every other late night spot over the past several years. He used to want Leno's job or nothing but by the time they wanted to give it to him he'd changed his mind.

No way Colbert took this job without talking to Jon first. They're thick as thieves, those two.

B626 said...

Thumbs WAY down

Unknown said...

Ferguson, for one, just got a raise and extension for his 12:30 show. He'll pretty much get paid as much as the 11:30 guys but without the pressure or competition. CBS didn't want another 93/09 type black-eye so sewed everything up quickly. He also reportedly didn't want it as the 11:30 shows are more guest-driven than about comedy.

It will be interesting in the next couple of years to find out who turned down, or declared an interest and weren't taken up on it by CBS. Also I wager in three years one of Colbert/Fallon/Kimmel/Conan will not be on the air anymore.

MadLyb said...

The problem with this is I'm going to miss the, "Colbert Report", because I'm pretty sure he's going to do his new gig straight.

Erik said...

Colbert won't do the show in character.

SugarTitz said...

Maybe not. .there's still hope.

SugarTitz said...

I would have loved Tina Fey.

michelelala said...

@ tara. Maybe Amy could be his sidekick. A Strangers With Candy reunion!

Sunny said...

@Tara
You don't want to sign off as TG around here :)

Sunny said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
di butler said...

Ugh. His voice is beyond annoying to me. I don't find his show funny in character, or find him interesting when out of character. Can't see Middle America warming to him and that position requires them to tune in for ratings.

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