# Stephen Colbert will replace David Letterman **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 10, 2014, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colbert-will-replace-david-letterman/685804 "2014-04-10T16:10:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2014, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colbert-will-replace-david-letterman/685804/81 "2014-04-10T21:01:22Z")
I think the political angle to all this makes this particularly interesting. Is this a huge blow to liberal/progressive politics? Will Comedy Central feel obligated to replace Colbert with a similarly-oriented program? If not, is THAT the huge blow at least one previous post thought it was? ---
**Author:** ![Esox\_Lucius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@Esox\_Lucius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esox_Lucius)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2014, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colbert-will-replace-david-letterman/685804/82 "2014-04-10T21:12:26Z")
Seeing the headline was a head-slapping moment for me. “Of course! What a brilliant move.” He’ll be great. NBC should be getting worried as of a few hours ago. I’ve already grown tired of Jimmy Fallon’s undiscerning exuberance (everybody’s absolutely the best, we love him). He even had the unmitigated naivete to fall for Joel Osteen’s schtick. Colbert runs circles around him for wit and intelligence. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2014, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colbert-will-replace-david-letterman/685804/83 "2014-04-10T21:14:48Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Today, there isn’t even anyone who could get CBS the ratings of the ebbing Leno and Letterman. It’s still early, but Jimmy Fallon is doing better than either. I’m making no bets about what will happen in a year even before Colbert debuts, but it’s obviously possible for somebody to get those ratings. Or are you saying that there’s something specific about CBS to prevent that? ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2014, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colbert-will-replace-david-letterman/685804/84 "2014-04-10T21:21:56Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > I think the political angle to all this makes this particularly interesting. Is this a huge blow to liberal/progressive politics? Will Comedy Central feel obligated to replace Colbert with a similarly-oriented program? If not, is THAT the huge blow at least one previous post thought it was? This is the crux of why I’m unhappy with the situation. Liberalness aside, he was also gave focus to the farce of today’s media and gave exposure to an enormous amount of otherwise esoteric and overlooked material. I’m hoping he will have–and retain–the creative control to choose his guests without regards to preexisting popularity or ratings draw, and that he won’t just do funny look at the headline bits but continue to be part of the adult conversation of the country. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2014, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colbert-will-replace-david-letterman/685804/85 "2014-04-10T21:30:44Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > I dislike Colbert intensely, so feel free to dismiss my opinion as politically biased. > > To me, this is just the latest proof that ALL programming is niche programming now. Colbert has absolutely no hope of attracting a mass audience. He can only bring his hardcore niche audience with him to CBS, and MAYBE pick up a few viewers here and there. I would be a bit surprised if this is the case. In my circles, he’s pretty well-liked by both moderate right and left. I don’t feel like he’s that polarizing that he would only attract a “hardcore niche audience.” I think he’ll do fine in his new role. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2014, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colbert-will-replace-david-letterman/685804/86 "2014-04-10T21:31:24Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > I’m hoping he will have–and retain–the creative control to choose his guests without regards to preexisting popularity or ratings draw, and that he won’t just do funny look at the headline bits but continue to be part of the adult conversation of the country. Are you saying you think he gets to pick his guests without regard to their popularity or potential effect on his ratings (or the projects they’re promoting)? I doubt that’s the case. I’m sure he has plenty of input, but he does work for a gigantic media conglomerate. I agree wholeheartedly about the “adult conversation” part, though. > [@Leaper](#): > > I think the political angle to all this makes this particularly interesting. Is this a huge blow to liberal/progressive politics? Nah. Maybe during the Bush years it would have felt like one, but it isn’t. > [@](#): > > Will Comedy Central feel obligated to replace Colbert with a similarly-oriented program? Jon Stewart’s company produces The Colbert Report, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they had some other ideas they could pitch to the network. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2014, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colbert-will-replace-david-letterman/685804/87 "2014-04-10T21:33:21Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > There are some rumors out there that maybe CBS will give The Late Late Show to Chelsea Handler. Why? Is his show dying? I admit I got a little tired of it myself, but I thought it was still doing well. I never hear anyone talk about Seth Meyers and his show, or anything. If they bring her over, they’d pretty much have to bring over her show. She has that round table for a reason: she can’t sustain an entire monologue with her style of humor. At least, not on a nightly basis. She needs the ability to riff off of people. ---
**Author:** ![randwill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@randwill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randwill)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2014, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colbert-will-replace-david-letterman/685804/88 "2014-04-10T21:40:45Z")
I’m not sure how much creative control he’ll have as far as guests are concerned. As a long time Letterman watcher, I notice that the week before a film opens we might see as many as three actors from that film on the show during the week. I seriously doubt that this is Letterman’s decision. More likely it is money exchanged between CBS and the film studios doing the ‘creative control’. On the other hand, occasionally a guest who has written a book or is otherwise championing a cause for which Dave has obvious enthusiasm will turn up which tells me that after 20 years with the network he does have some control of the bookings. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2014, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colbert-will-replace-david-letterman/685804/89 "2014-04-10T21:46:21Z")
Ferguson was never a possibility. CBS isn’t happy with him at 12:35. Forget moving him up to the majors. Both shows are Wordwide Pants productions. CBS wants to control both slots itself ($), so Ferguson’s days are numbered. (Dave will have to live off those _Everybody Loves Raymond_ rerun fees.) If I was Colber **t** , I’d do the show in LA, no question about it. But if he is like Letterman and wants to keep his staff, that’s going to be a problem. (One of the key reasons Letterman stayed in NYC.) He’s told his staff they can go with him, but where? I hope that Colber **t** does a “shift in character” during the last month or so of _TCR_. Easing the transition to _LN_. There is an overlap in viewership, the **FtG** household for example. We’ll give him a try, for sure. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2014, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colbert-will-replace-david-letterman/685804/90 "2014-04-10T21:54:11Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > If they bring her over, they’d pretty much have to bring over her show. She has that round table for a reason: she can’t sustain an entire monologue with her style of humor. At least, not on a nightly basis. She needs the ability to riff off of people. She’s already ending her current E! show. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2014, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colbert-will-replace-david-letterman/685804/91 "2014-04-10T22:07:51Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > You’re about as good at criticizing network television hirings as you are at creating memes. It’s okay to disagree with another person’s opinions, but don’t use that disagreement as an opportunity to take potshots at that person. **twickster** , Cafe Society moderator ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2014, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colbert-will-replace-david-letterman/685804/92 "2014-04-10T22:14:16Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Why? Is his show dying? I admit I got a little tired of it myself, but I thought it was still doing well. I have no idea. I do see that his contract is up in a couple of months. Maybe they just want something new and they think she would bring something new to the table. The ownership thing could be an issue, too. Presumably CBS makes more money if it produces these shows instead of paying Worldwide Pants to do so. > [@ftg](#): > > If I was Colber **t** , I’d do the show in LA, no question about it. But if he is like Letterman and wants to keep his staff, that’s going to be a problem. (One of the key reasons Letterman stayed in NYC.) He’s told his staff they can go with him, but where? He’s married and has three youngish kids. He and his wife might not want to take them out of school and the area they’ve lived all their lives. You mentioned his staff, and the Ed Sullivan Theater is going to be available, after all. Why pass that up? ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2014, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colbert-will-replace-david-letterman/685804/93 "2014-04-10T22:35:20Z")
> [@DoctorJ](#): > > I’d like to see Samantha Bee get a shot at 11:30, but I don’t know that she can carry 30 minutes a night the way Colbert does. Oh please, NO! If she disappeared from the Daily Show lineup, I wouldn’t even miss her, and if she gets her own show, I wouldn’t waste my time with it. I can’t think if a single thing she’s done that entertained me. Too bad John Oliver is headed to HBO… ---
**Author:** ![Andiethewestie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba9def/32.png) [@Andiethewestie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andiethewestie)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2014, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colbert-will-replace-david-letterman/685804/94 "2014-04-10T22:38:08Z")
Colbert will be great. This is an amazing Get. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2014, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colbert-will-replace-david-letterman/685804/95 "2014-04-10T23:25:34Z")
This choice is making less and less sense the more I think about it. Stephen has never done a traditional talk show. AFAIK he’s never guest hosted. I’d like to suggest CBS does something different. Why trot out another Steve Allen format late night show? How about crafting a very funny one hour comedy show? Focus on what Stephen does best, Political satire. It’s not written in stone that time slot has to be another cookie cutter talk show. That’s especially true when there are already two young comics with new shows. Arsenio has a new show too and Conan. ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2014, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colbert-will-replace-david-letterman/685804/96 "2014-04-10T23:48:41Z")
I’m reacting to this as I do to all changes to things I like: anger and confusion! > [@Leaper](#): > > I think the political angle to all this makes this particularly interesting. Is this a huge blow to liberal/progressive politics? You know your movement is in trouble when one of its pillars is a television show. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colbert-will-replace-david-letterman/685804/97 "2014-04-11T00:00:04Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Are you saying you think he gets to pick his guests without regard to their popularity or potential effect on his ratings (or the projects they’re promoting)? I doubt that’s the case. I’m sure he has plenty of input, but he does work for a gigantic media conglomerate. I agree wholeheartedly about the “adult conversation” part, though. Three quarters supposition, two quarters experience and one quarter of bad math. We were in the audience his first week and he talked a bit about the show and where it was going. Some of the things he said then, and the subjective experience of watching the parade of guests, strongly suggests that he does indeed have people foisted on him (for lack of a better word), but many of his political, scientific and literary are found/picked by his excellent staff—guests who do not normally make the rounds of such a high-profile show. Even if you think it’s all the producers and money-men making the decisions (though Stewart and Colbert are at that table too), the choices take into account the audience demographics and preferences. So as hip and cool as Dave is/was (I last watched his show regularly in the 80s), I think (believe) that a large segment of that audience–the audience Stephen will be asked to keep–will tend to turn off the more esoteric guests and stick around for the fluffier model/musician/actor guests. Quite the opposite of his current audience. It’s not that liner, but that’s at the root of my comment in agreement with Leaper. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colbert-will-replace-david-letterman/685804/98 "2014-04-11T00:05:38Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > This choice is making less and less sense the more I think about it. Stephen has never done a traditional talk show. AFAIK he’s never guest hosted. Did Jay Leno do a traditional talk show before he guest-hosted The Tonight Show? What about Jimmy Fallon? Conan O’Brien? Stephen Colbert has a lot of experience, even if much of it was in character. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colbert-will-replace-david-letterman/685804/99 "2014-04-11T00:19:32Z")
I was just suggesting an alternative to an overly saturated market. If you add in Conan and Arsenio thats a lot of talk shows. But I fully expect Steven to fit himself into the same tired format. I hope he can find ways to shake it up and make it more interesting. Get a great band together since Shaffer is leaving too. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2014, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colbert-will-replace-david-letterman/685804/100 "2014-04-11T00:30:14Z")
> [@ctnguy](#): > > Comedy Central should get John Oliver back from HBO and give him the slot vacated by Colbert. [Or maybe Samantha Bee.](http://www.salon.com/2014/04/10/after_colbert_comedy_central_should_give_samantha_bee_her_own_show/) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colbert-will-replace-david-letterman/685804.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colbert-will-replace-david-letterman/685804.md?page=6)