After the mention of him in this thread I watched one episode on CBS’ site. It looks like they also directly lifted the idea of the “Reggie asks the guest one (silly) question” bit from CBB. Fantastic!
Why is there even a band? Just as a foil? That’s so contrived. I guess I’m not a fan of the format, but I like Colbert, so I keep trying to like his show. The yelling, dancing, high energy hipness is not what I’m looking for at 11 pm. I guess I’m old.
Did anyone else see the Helen Mirren interview from last night (3/8)? Wow. (in case you missed it)
Based on how he reacted, I really don’t think he was expecting that.
Reggie Watts had experience coming in. So did Paul Shaffer (SNL). Doc was just a band member for 5 years before becoming bandleader. So, you can’t really hold it against John for being so bad at this new format he’s never been a part of.
Heck, being a musician in NOLA he probably was never home during any late night show airing! The concept might be completely new to him!
I think the bit with the messed up wheel was hilarious. It was very reminiscent of when Conan was really in his stride in the late 90s.
I find it so strange and disillusioning to read this thread and realize I’m the only one here who loves the show, and especially loves the band. Musically they’re incredible to listen to (it kills me when they come back from commercial and I hear the last few seconds of some amazing jam that I’ll never get to hear in full), but I somehow love the whole over the top hipster vibe they give off.
Agreed though on the fluffy hat bit. And the confessional one too. Those need to go.
I mean I like it, it’s just not as good as TCR was. And I’ve said I like the band too. Just not Batiste.
Oh I agree with that. But I never expected it to be as good as TCR. I’m actually amazed how much political satire he’s still doing.
I guess that’s fine if you 100% agree with the host’s POV and biases. I’d rather not be preached at, nor have some political guests fawned over, while being rude to others. I realize politics is Colbert’s interest, but his liberal bias is annoying. If he’s doing a political show, that’s fine, but not when you are doing a broad-base nightly talk show.
I love that and yes, it seemed very clearly unexpected.
For those who didn’t see, when she came out and he greeted her, she slowed things down, reached up and cradled his neck, leaned in and offered her lips up for a real kiss.
Brief, but sexy as all hell - that’s Helen Mirren there!!! Colbert was flummoxed, and not in a “play this for comedic effect” way until a couple of minutes into the interview.
I love the show, I still watch it every night!
I even like those bits 
I guess I can appreciate that people like the band. I assume the network has its reasons for everything it does. Personally, I don’t need music (especially, as you note, brief interludes only) in my late night ***talk ***show. If you want a show that appeals to me, just tell jokes and interview interesting people, cut out the fluff. However, I am fully aware that I’m no one’s target demographic.
I care about the music and love the band; I just wish we were a bit more “introduced” to them. Over time, perhaps.
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During the opening credits, towards the end, there is usually a few bars where Batiste does a freestyle break on piano. Usually some fun, Thelonius Monk/New Orleans leads - I love that.
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I pay attention to the guy playing guitar - great player. Wish he stuck with his blue Tele or that gorgeous sunburst Gibson ES-330 with a Bigsby.
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Most of the players are multi-instrumentalists. The guitar play covers at least one horn (trombone?) and some drums and other percussion. Fun to see the arrangements for the various songs.
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The tuba player is an absolute badass. If you can’t find some love for his work, then yeah, you really don’t need music in your late night show.
Agree-that lady is still hella sexy.
Well this is really why I had no expectations of finding this show as good as TCR, which I loved deeply for its political satire. I never found it necessary to “100% agree with the host” to enjoy the comedy that came from his perspective, but I’m sure if I disagreed more than I agreed I probably wouldn’t have loved it so much.
I’m not denying that it’s quite possible the show may fail by straying from your idea of “a broad-base nightly talk show”, but I hope it doesn’t.
I never did either to be honest. But man this band blows me away. I’ve never been so captivated by a late night talk show band. I give Colbert kudos for taking the risk of having a band that goes into these far out places of modern jazz as opposed to playing it safe with the old pop-tune cover band.
Again, as with my previous post, I fear that my enjoyment likely equates to the reason the show will fail. But Stephen Colbert has my continued respect and appreciation as a performer who takes such risks.
Stephen Colbert from TCR was a character who could be silly. That worked for me.
Stephen Colbert on TLS is a comedian who does silly things. For some reason, this doesn’t work for me.
I can see this. I see LSSC (those are the initial they use in their logo, might as well go with it) as more of watching Colbert do Improv and to be sincerely himself. The kiss with Helen Mirren and the following conversation, the touching interview with Biden or the weird one with Casey Affleck - I feel like Colbert is figuring out how to work his Improv craft in this new context and with added sincerity.
That is part of the reason I get frustrated with Batiste - he’s a charming music nutcake, but has no improv give-and-take skills. He is learning on the job, and it is taking time.
A big part of the reason that any talk show would have a band is to keep the studio audience happy during the breaks in filming (which can be lengthy). You want those people to be alert and energized and clapping when the guests are plugging their projects.
If the home viewers enjoy the band, too, that’s a plus. But the main concern is to keep that studio audience laughing and applauding.
I only went to a late night show taping once (it was The Tonight Show with Leno), and it was years ago so I don’t remember everything. But I don’t remember the breaks being all that long. Since they’re pre-taped, of course they don’t need to have any sync with commercials, but they still of course take some time to move sets around, do wardrobe changes etc. So yeah, there’s still that benefit of the band.
I do remember the very long wait outside the studio though, waiting to get the tickets and then get screened and shuffled in. That part’s an all-day affair. After putting up with that crap, by the time you actually get seated in the studio the audience is just delighted to be there. I was in sunny LA, but for NYC audiences especially in winter I bet that moment is 100x better.
You’d think so, but given human nature I bet the delight turns to grumbling fairly quickly for a lot of folks, if there’s no entertainment on hand. Some may be content even in the absence of a band (or pantomime horse), but no doubt those in charge are interested in keeping the big-name guests happy, which can mean (among other things) keeping the studio audience happy.
Anyway: I miss late-night talk shows; my schedule has changed and it’s not practical to mess with recording shows and whatnot. I wish them all well and look forward to some future in which I’ll be a regular viewer, again.