# The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/730399>\
**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:** 9

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**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\
**Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/730399/161 "2015-09-16T23:22:07Z")

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> [@madsircool](#):
>
> [Why Biden's plagiarims shouldn't be forgotten.](http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/history_lesson/2008/08/the_write_stuff.html) 😛

Oh, I know all about the Kinnock plagiarization. Doesn’t change Biden’s approach.

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**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\
**Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/730399/162 "2015-09-16T23:47:42Z")

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> [@Dr.Righteous](#):
>
> No, they just did the one song. You could tell a few people in the audience were real fans of theirs but I think most people didn’t know them.

My Mom thinks that one of the problems with the new show is that he has on all of these musicians that she’s never heard of. I didn’t even bother pointing out to her that she’s 79 years old, and maybe not quite up on the current music scene. OTOH, she is going to see Jon Stewart perform live next month, so she’s not completely out of touch.

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**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\
**Post date:** [September 17, 2015, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/730399/163 "2015-09-17T03:42:40Z")

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> [@SpoilerVirgin](#):
>
> My Mom thinks that one of the problems with the new show is that he has on all of these musicians that she’s never heard of. I didn’t even bother pointing out to her that she’s 79 years old, and maybe not quite up on the current music scene.

I did enjoy the Paul Simon tribute band that was on the show last week.

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**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 17, 2015, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/730399/164 "2015-09-17T17:19:40Z")

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> [@bienville](#):
>
> I did enjoy the Paul Simon tribute band that was on the show last week.

Too bad Paul Simon was too much of a jerk to show up himself! 😉

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**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\
**Post date:** [September 17, 2015, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/730399/165 "2015-09-17T17:40:32Z")

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Even though I was totally waiting for it, I laughed at Stephan’s ear pulling.

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**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\
**Post date:** [September 23, 2015, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/730399/166 "2015-09-23T13:54:39Z")

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Thought he did a good job with the Trump interview.  
“Over the years I’ve said some pretty bad stuff about you”  
“And you’ve said some nice stuff”  
“Not really”

The Hunger for Power Games bit was pretty good too.

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**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\
**Post date:** [September 23, 2015, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/730399/167 "2015-09-23T15:44:21Z")

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I didn’t see the Trump interview yet but I did watch the Cruz interview from Monday last night. Cruz said something awful (er, Repupblican-y) and the audience started booing and Stephen was all “Now you may not agree with what he says but he is my guest so let’s not boo him” (paraphrase) and he was dead serious.

Never seen that before.

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**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:** [September 23, 2015, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/730399/168 "2015-09-23T17:19:25Z")

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> [@ZipperJJ](#):
>
> I didn’t see the Trump interview yet but I did watch the Cruz interview from Monday last night. Cruz said something awful (er, Repupblican-y) and the audience started booing and Stephen was all “Now you may not agree with what he says but he is my guest so let’s not boo him” (paraphrase) and he was dead serious.
> 
> Never seen that before.

I’ve only seen a few shows so far (I think the last three or four), but I’ve been really enjoying him far more than I thought I would. He’s great in this role.

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**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\
**Post date:** [September 23, 2015, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/730399/169 "2015-09-23T18:16:13Z")

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> [@ZipperJJ](#):
>
> I didn’t see the Trump interview yet but I did watch the Cruz interview from Monday last night. Cruz said something awful (er, Repupblican-y) and the audience started booing and Stephen was all “Now you may not agree with what he says but he is my guest so let’s not boo him” (paraphrase) and he was dead serious.
> 
> Never seen that before.

Jon Stewart did that, which I respected. I assume Colbert observed that it ultimately makes for better interviews. And higher probability of booking big political guests.

The show’s been more political than I thought it would.

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**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:** [September 23, 2015, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/730399/170 "2015-09-23T18:19:14Z")

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To be fair, we’re in an election season. So perhaps the frequency of political guests is to be expected.

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**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\
**Post date:** [September 23, 2015, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/730399/171 "2015-09-23T18:21:44Z")

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What was he supposed to be in that bit before Trump? With the curly straw and the eyebrows.

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**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\
**Post date:** [September 23, 2015, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/730399/172 "2015-09-23T18:25:45Z")

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> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#):
>
> What was he supposed to be in that bit before Trump? With the curly straw and the eyebrows.

You haven’t seen the _Hunger Games_ movies. He’s a foppish tv host ([Caesar Flickerman](http://thehungergames.wikia.com/wiki/Caesar_Flickerman)) who is sort of the Jim McKay of the titular Hunger Games.

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**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 23, 2015, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/730399/173 "2015-09-23T19:20:41Z")

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> [@Dewey\_Finn](#):
>
> To be fair, we’re in an election season. So perhaps the frequency of political guests is to be expected.

Of course Colbert is dying to get each one of those clowns in there (And will give them plenty of rope) It’s his first chance to stand out, make a splash and shoot fish too. I’d be shocked if he hasn’t already planned it out, in which case he doesn’t want to make his show a hostile environment for them.

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**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\
**Post date:** [September 23, 2015, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/730399/174 "2015-09-23T22:00:14Z")

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> [@ZipperJJ](#):
>
> I didn’t see the Trump interview yet but I did watch the Cruz interview from Monday last night. Cruz said something awful (er, Repupblican-y) and the audience started booing and Stephen was all “Now you may not agree with what he says but he is my guest so let’s not boo him” (paraphrase) and he was dead serious.
> 
> Never seen that before.

Agreed. He admonished the audience. It worked.

His interview with Trump was great TV.

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**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/730399/175 "2015-09-24T20:23:21Z")

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> [@bup](#):
>
> Jon Stewart did that, which I respected. I assume Colbert observed that it ultimately makes for better interviews. And higher probability of booking big political guests.

When it happened on TCR Colbert turned it around to make the booing be against something totally different.

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**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/730399/176 "2015-09-24T20:28:44Z")

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> [@WordMan](#):
>
> Agreed. He admonished the audience. It worked.
> 
> His interview with Trump was great TV.

Just okay. The quotation game had a good premise, but Trump remembers what he said so it didn’t really work. And Colbert let him get away with the non-answer about Obama’s citizenship. He could easily have a snappy answer ready.

I’m not sure the writers are into writing good talk show jokes as opposed to character jokes yet. And I sense that Colbert is talking with one eye on the demographics. Very few watchers of TCR were going to be offended by telling digs at Trump or Fox News. Do it on a network show and you can lose some of your audience. He joked about it on the first show, but it is happening, and it is getting to not be worth watching the show any more.

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**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2015, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/730399/177 "2015-09-24T20:56:04Z")

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> [@Voyager](#):
>
> Just okay. The quotation game had a good premise, but Trump remembers what he said so it didn’t really work.

Interestingly he also seemed to either remember or understand Colbert enough to say accurately what Colbert himself had said. (As shown by his reaction to the final, trick question.)

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**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\
**Post date:** [September 25, 2015, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/730399/178 "2015-09-25T09:52:51Z")

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> [@Dewey\_Finn](#):
>
> To be fair, we’re in an election season. So perhaps the frequency of political guests is to be expected.

Are we, though? For the election that happens in… a year and two months from now?

> [@Voyager](#):
>
> Very few watchers of TCR were going to be offended by telling digs at Trump or Fox News. Do it on a network show and you can lose some of your audience. He joked about it on the first show, but it is happening, and it is getting to not be worth watching the show any more.

Which is exactly why I said he had more freedom there than he has here. Why he would give up his own original show to do this crap makes no sense, unless it’s really just all about the money. But it’s hard for me to conceptualize how someone who already makes millions and can have anything they want in life decides they need to make even more millions, and in so doing sacrifices something as awesome as TCR.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [September 25, 2015, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/730399/179 "2015-09-25T12:01:57Z")

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> [@Rigamarole](#):
>
> > [@Dewey\_Finn](#):
> >
> > To be fair, we’re in an election season. So perhaps the frequency of political guests is to be expected.
> 
> Are we, though? For the election that happens in… a year and two months from now?

Perhaps you missed it; have you not been watching or reading the news? Remember that the Republicans have already had a couple of debates and the first Democratic debate is soon. The Iowa caucuses are about four months away.

Other countries might think we’re nuts for having such a long election cycle, but that’s the system that has developed here over the years.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**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 25, 2015, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/730399/180 "2015-09-25T19:25:20Z")

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The shows have been hit or miss for me. The Trump show was pretty solid, but the skits with his band leader were pretty awful. I’m not ready to take the show off my DVR but this is far from appointment TV like the Daily Show was.

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