# The Late Show with Stephen Colbert **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 9, 2015, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/730399 "2015-09-09T00:00:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**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:** [September 10, 2015, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/730399/61 "2015-09-10T14:59:12Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > The set does looks great. The set is great. And the opening credits are brilliant and obviously cost ten times as much as any other show’s. It’s like watching actual money be animated. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2015, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/730399/62 "2015-09-10T15:34:51Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > It’s like watching actual money be animated. I get the same impression sitting through the 20 minutes of slick commercials they need to bring in that money. I turn off the sound but the vibes of “BUY THIS! BUY IT NOW!!” are so powerful that I can feel the plaster flaking even when the sound is off. Really can’t stand commercial television. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2015, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/730399/63 "2015-09-10T16:23:36Z")
On the second show he explained how they barely got the edited version of the first how to the broadcast center on time. I wonder if that had anything to do with the long commercial break in the middle of the show. George Clooney and Scarlett Johansson? Is he going for “pretty” people who don’t have much to say? Doesn’t seem to be his style. Also I’m not a big fan of his musical guests - they seem very “coastal” to me without lots of broad appeal. I didn’t care for them on the _Colbert Report_ either; that’s when I would turn it off and go to bed. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2015, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/730399/64 "2015-09-10T16:45:14Z")
> [@JohnGalt](#): > > On the second show he explained how they barely got the edited version of the first how to the broadcast center on time. I wonder if that had anything to do with the long commercial break in the middle of the show. That long commercial break in the middle is a late night talk show thing. It’s two commercial breaks in a row, with a 10-second title screen in between. ---
**Author:** ![Garula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ea666f/32.png) [@Garula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garula)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2015, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/730399/65 "2015-09-10T16:52:25Z")
By the time late night talk shows first came on my radar, Letterman was already an institution. I became sort of vaguely aware that ‘people with taste’ hugely preferred him over Leno, but honestly they both seemed to be minor variations on the same shtick. Letterman had more of an absurdist bent, but it was pretty tame compared to Conan or just about anything Adult Swim was putting on the air. Later, I would hear refrains along the lines of “Okay, sure, Letterman is comfortable now, but you should have seen him back in the day! He was wild!” I feel like I’m now becoming that demographic. Colbert built up a huge amount of goodwill with me on the Colbert Report. I’m sure he’ll produce a fair amount of quality material on the Late Show, but eventually settle into a comfortable routine. Ten years from now, am I going to haranguing kids on how much better Colbert is than Fallon because I still carry that goodwill with me rather than any meaningful difference between the shows? I guess what I’m saying is the first couple shows are fine, and I expect will continue to be fine and probably have a fair number of quality bits. But… with that lingering sense of he could be doing more. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2015, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/730399/66 "2015-09-10T16:52:47Z")
I half liked the demon thing, because I thought it was an attempt to go back to old-school talk show product placement and recommendations. I thought it would be an alternative to commercial breaks, and maybe that’s where he’s hoping to go with it eventually. The Oreo thing could also fall in that category. If they can make it feel organic and not interrupt the entertainment stream, I’m all for it. Likewise, if they MUST do commercials, I’m all for getting it over with in one fell swoop. Time to put together a nice snack, or to get the dishwasher unloaded. Or, in this case,what I did, which was fall asleep. LOL! The stained glass projection was a huge disappointment too. The GQ article made me think it was real. It really wasn’t clear to me what about that set took so long to set up. After thinking it through though, what I most want to see is a real smile. That campy mouth-stretcher was straight from the wax museum. Blech! ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2015, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/730399/67 "2015-09-10T16:57:56Z")
Underwhelmed again. Scarlett Johansen is kind of pretty, but has a perfect voice for a mime troupe. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2015, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/730399/68 "2015-09-10T17:12:07Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > The stained glass projection was a huge disappointment too. The GQ article made me think it was real. I didn’t read the GQ article, but Colbert did a few podcasts in the months before the premiere of the show, and he said they did find a lot of stained glass windows in storage in the theater, but that they weren’t going to put them up because of the cost. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2015, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/730399/69 "2015-09-10T17:15:31Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Underwhelmed again. Scarlett Johansen is kind of pretty, but has a perfect voice for a mime troupe. I like her voice. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2015, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/730399/70 "2015-09-10T17:43:17Z")
> [@JohnGalt](#): > > Also I’m not a big fan of his musical guests - they seem very “coastal” to me without lots of broad appeal. Eh? Kendrick Lamar is quite a well known rapper with fairly broad mainstream appeal (Grammy nominations, etc). He’s having Toby Keith as his musical guest on tonight. I’m sure he’ll get a rocker or two in there. Heck, Letterman was the king of getting lesser known interesting musical acts on his show (it was one of the best parts). ---
**Author:** ![randwill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@randwill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randwill)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2015, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/730399/71 "2015-09-10T19:27:09Z")
Colbert seems like an interesting guy. As he gets more comfortable with the show, I hope he’ll do a little less reading scripted bits off the teleprompter and more talking to the audience as himself. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2015, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/730399/72 "2015-09-10T23:45:23Z")
It’s alright. Colbert’s a funny and likable guy, but I don’t think even he can make celebrity interviews interesting, so I doubt I’ll end up watching regularly. I’m also kinda curious why and how these particular set of celebrities were convinced to appear though. Neither Musk, Cloony nor Johansson need the extra exposure, weren’t pushing any products and I don’t think they’re particular friends with Colbert. I guess maybe they owed someone at CBS a favour, but at least in Musk’s case, its kinda hard to see how that would be true. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/730399/73 "2015-09-11T01:34:13Z")
The Celeb interviews are the weak part of all these shows. But I did like the Musk interview despite the awkwardness of it on Musk’s part. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/730399/74 "2015-09-11T01:45:35Z")
I thought some of the sillyness worked better when he was playing an over the top satirical character. Overall, it’s off to a good enough start, and I haven’t fallen in love with The Nightly Show yet, so I’ll keep watching for a bit. I don’t need the show to be great…just not annoying from 11:30 until @midnight. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/730399/75 "2015-09-11T01:52:38Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > It’s alright. Colbert’s a funny and likable guy, but I don’t think even he can make celebrity interviews interesting, so I doubt I’ll end up watching regularly. > > I’m also kinda curious why and how these particular set of celebrities were convinced to appear though. Neither Musk, Cloony nor Johansson need the extra exposure, weren’t pushing any products and I don’t think they’re particular friends with Colbert. I guess maybe they owed someone at CBS a favour, but at least in Musk’s case, its kinda hard to see how that would be true. They could be Colbert fans. it happens. ---
**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:** [September 11, 2015, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/730399/76 "2015-09-11T02:24:26Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > NBC still has the GOP Tonight Show. Letterman was the alternative for the rest of us… So, what does Peerless Earless turn The Late Show into? > > [DroolingLikeMrBurns]Here’s our guest Jeb Bush… but you all know _wink_ _wink_ we all REALLY like … Donald Trump. [/DroolingLikeMrBurns] > > …Scumbag Back-Stabbing Mother-Fucker… > > If there was a Clown Cannon Big Enough, I’d risk War with Canada by launching your one-party-ass right on back there. Just spin the wheel so we can see which Province [del]gets stuck with your fertilizer[/del] you get to land in… Joe Biden is tonight’s guest. Could we have a new rant, please? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/730399/77 "2015-09-11T02:26:43Z")
Anyone else notice that Colbert doesn’t talk into the camera, rather he shouts. I don’t find him to be a conversationalist. His show seems over produced with lots of gimmicks. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/730399/78 "2015-09-11T04:19:41Z")
The Biden interview just finished. In my view it was a rare moment in talk shows. Colbert seems to be really doing something new here. There was no superficial banter, just heartfelt sincerity, and he got Biden to do the same, to the credit of both. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/730399/79 "2015-09-11T05:04:02Z")
I don’t get it. I wasn’t following any news about him that closely and I just assumed that his retiring from the _Colbert Report_ meant he was retiring from show business. Why would he give up his own original, awesome, hilarious, popular show where he could pretty much do whatever he wanted to host a boring “traditional” late night show? I mean I assume he’s probably getting paid more (maybe a lot more) by CBS than Comedy Central, but at this point he’s already gangster-rich either way. So really, WTF Colbert? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/730399/80 "2015-09-11T05:08:42Z")
^ Aye. And the problem is, it’s too late to go back now. I don’t give a rat’s fart about his new show, nor do I care about watching him as he helps sell crap. He’s no longer a force for good (comedy good, social good, etc.), he’s just another huckster IMO. There, I said it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/730399.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/730399.md?page=5)