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Future of Colbert's Late Show?
- Thread starter tall_guy1
- Start date
It's not good. The main problem is that Stephen is not a good interviewer. It was the weakest segment of the Colbert Report, and it has gotten worse on CBS.
Back then you had Stephen conduct 4 interviews a week for no more than 5 minutes. On the "Late Show" he has to do 2 or 3 interviews a night, some of them up in the 10 minute range.
Back then you had more control from Stephen or his staff on who they booked, often selecting guests who were a little offbeat, like Bjork. Now you see Colbert trying to interview George Clooney or David Duchovney on the Hollywood press junkets, and ... it's not good.
I think Stephen needs an Ed McMahon, who stays on the stage for the whole show after the monologue. I would nominate Joe Scarborough.
Back then you had Stephen conduct 4 interviews a week for no more than 5 minutes. On the "Late Show" he has to do 2 or 3 interviews a night, some of them up in the 10 minute range.
Back then you had more control from Stephen or his staff on who they booked, often selecting guests who were a little offbeat, like Bjork. Now you see Colbert trying to interview George Clooney or David Duchovney on the Hollywood press junkets, and ... it's not good.
I think Stephen needs an Ed McMahon, who stays on the stage for the whole show after the monologue. I would nominate Joe Scarborough.
I can't speak for anyone other than myself, but I don't watch anything other than Fallon these days, maybe a little of Fallon, because my local ABC airs it at 11:05 after a sickly 5 minute newscast. (Eastern Washington smaller market, sigh).
When it was Leno/Letterman I found myself going back and forth. Not so much today. I do like Conan, but I can catch him "on-demand".
When it was Leno/Letterman I found myself going back and forth. Not so much today. I do like Conan, but I can catch him "on-demand".
Corden's Carpool Karaoke is a hit. Colbert really hasn't come up with a regular bit yet. Corden really shook the concept up, interviewing two guests at once. I can't say that Colbert has lived up to his potential, as my 5th grade teacher once said. He's at his best doing political stuff. They already brought in a new executive producer. If they try to fix it, it'll look to obvious, and then the fix will become a story. The problem I see with Kimmel is his bits run too long.
EDIT: "I don't watch anything other than Fallon these days, maybe a little of Kimmel"
Colbert simply isn't very good outside of the persona he crafted on Comedy Central.
He may well be replaced. I don't know how long his contract was for, but I'm not sure that's a consideration for CBS if they think they can improve the ratings with Corden. Colbert would obviously be paid for the balance of his contract, but has nowhere to really go from there. Returning to Comedy Central would be a big step back and he'd be unlikely to land a show anywhere else.
He may well be replaced. I don't know how long his contract was for, but I'm not sure that's a consideration for CBS if they think they can improve the ratings with Corden. Colbert would obviously be paid for the balance of his contract, but has nowhere to really go from there. Returning to Comedy Central would be a big step back and he'd be unlikely to land a show anywhere else.
BBD: Bring Back Dave!
The other issue would be replacing Corden. And what to do with the very expensive theater in NYC.
NBC has created a strong booking system for top guests by giving them both Today and Tonight. The offer isn't as strong for CBS, so Colbert doesn't get the same caliber guest as Fallon, even though he's in the same city.
My view is that there's not enough potential money to make by blowing up Colbert and Corden, and moving Corden earlier. However, it's interesting that Corden is on a publicity blitz now, even doing his competition on NBC last night. Not unprecedented, as Craig Ferguson did the same thing.
Another alternative not mentioned: Conan. NBC never gave him a chance.
Damaged goods. Corden has proven that you CAN develop something new from scratch and have success.
Of course, the person who really needs replacing - first and foremost - is Moonves.
Why wouldn't he return to Comedy Central? Keith Olbermann has returned to his sports roots a couple of times now after his outsized outrage got to be too much for his bosses at an entertainment division to handle, right? I always wondered why Craig Kilborn -- whom I found really funny at ESPN -- didn't return to ESPN or pop up at another sports operation after his venture into late night entertainment flopped.
I wouldn't be so quick to think up Colbert replacements. He may have fallen a bit behind Kimmel, but not by that much. Someone has to be #1, #2 and #3. So for now, CBS is a close #3. CBS wouldn't throw Colbert out before they try some adjustments. CBS Chief Leslie Moonves chose Colbert and top execs don't like to admit they were wrong without a fight.
One of my friends has noticed a new "no dancing rule" on Late Night. Colbert no longer comes out dancing with his bandleader. And the animation in the beginning that showed him dancing and spinning on the roof of a NYC building next to a piano has been clipped from the opening. It was so brief I'm sure most people reading this won't even remember it. But it's not there anymore and I believe even when they show reruns from a few months ago, CBS clips that one or two seconds from the opening animation.
These shows are a license to print money. They don't cost that much. Even if Colbert, Kimmel and Fallon are making millions of dollars with a staff of dozens and a dedicated theater, those costs are spread over five shows a week, 40 weeks a year. I heard that at one time, when Johnny Carson was doing Tonight, NBC got a quarter of its revenues from his show. OK, his show was 90 minutes long (originally it was 105 minutes long: 11:15 pm - 1 am E.T.) and he had no network competition at the time. But I'm sure these shows still produce a lot of revenue. ABC didn't complain when Jimmy Kimmel was #3.
Also I have a hard time believing the British-accented Cordon would be moved up to 11:35. Craig Ferguson was never considered as Letterman's replacement, even though he had been following Letterman on CBS for many years. I sometimes think that's why Letterman, who controlled 12:35, first chose Tom Snyder, at the end of his career, and later Scottish-accented Ferguson for the slot, knowing they would not be considered rivals and potential replacements if his ratings dipped.
One more note: On NYC buses, we see ads with Jimmy Kimmel, bought by ABC. They have a flag across the ad, making it look like political advertising. It says "Jimmy Kimmel for Vice-President. A great Number Two!" A clever way during this political season to tell the advertising community on Madison Avenue that Kimmel, not Colbert, is #2 in late night television.
One of my friends has noticed a new "no dancing rule" on Late Night. Colbert no longer comes out dancing with his bandleader. And the animation in the beginning that showed him dancing and spinning on the roof of a NYC building next to a piano has been clipped from the opening. It was so brief I'm sure most people reading this won't even remember it. But it's not there anymore and I believe even when they show reruns from a few months ago, CBS clips that one or two seconds from the opening animation.
These shows are a license to print money. They don't cost that much. Even if Colbert, Kimmel and Fallon are making millions of dollars with a staff of dozens and a dedicated theater, those costs are spread over five shows a week, 40 weeks a year. I heard that at one time, when Johnny Carson was doing Tonight, NBC got a quarter of its revenues from his show. OK, his show was 90 minutes long (originally it was 105 minutes long: 11:15 pm - 1 am E.T.) and he had no network competition at the time. But I'm sure these shows still produce a lot of revenue. ABC didn't complain when Jimmy Kimmel was #3.
Also I have a hard time believing the British-accented Cordon would be moved up to 11:35. Craig Ferguson was never considered as Letterman's replacement, even though he had been following Letterman on CBS for many years. I sometimes think that's why Letterman, who controlled 12:35, first chose Tom Snyder, at the end of his career, and later Scottish-accented Ferguson for the slot, knowing they would not be considered rivals and potential replacements if his ratings dipped.
One more note: On NYC buses, we see ads with Jimmy Kimmel, bought by ABC. They have a flag across the ad, making it look like political advertising. It says "Jimmy Kimmel for Vice-President. A great Number Two!" A clever way during this political season to tell the advertising community on Madison Avenue that Kimmel, not Colbert, is #2 in late night television.
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The main problems with Colbert is that there is a bunch of things going on at the same time.
1. His type of comedy is too political and worked better with the "Colbert" character then the real Stephen Colbert and he is missing something but it might be the Character or "Cobert Report" exclusive bits that might be intellectual property of Comedy Central/Viacom.
2. It's rated TV-PG, which is not edgy enough for a late night show, while the rest of the shows are TV-14.
3. Oversaturation of the late night TV, one too many late nights shows on at th same time, Colbert is up against The Tonight Show on NBC, Jimmy Kimmel Live on ABC, The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore on Comedy Central, and the second half of Conan O'Brien on TBS as well as other competition from west coast Sports events, reruns and syndication shows like Dish Nation and TMZ, ESPN SportsCenter, and of course, Adult Swim reruns of Family Guy.
4. The cord cutters who watch anything on-demand via internet, and it's possible Colbert is getting more views online then on the CBS at the 11:35 PM ET airing.
5. There are other political based late nights shows, some with Former Jon Stewart era Daily Show regulars hosting then. Last Week Tonight seems to be the best in this concept of late night show right now, cause John Oliver was truly the heir the Daily Show throne, but he left before Jon Stewart's retirement from the Daily Show and Trevor Noah became Stewart successor instead. Trevor has done ok, but he's no Jon Stewart or John Oliver.
And this the main problems with Colbert's run as the host of "The Late Show".
1. His type of comedy is too political and worked better with the "Colbert" character then the real Stephen Colbert and he is missing something but it might be the Character or "Cobert Report" exclusive bits that might be intellectual property of Comedy Central/Viacom.
2. It's rated TV-PG, which is not edgy enough for a late night show, while the rest of the shows are TV-14.
3. Oversaturation of the late night TV, one too many late nights shows on at th same time, Colbert is up against The Tonight Show on NBC, Jimmy Kimmel Live on ABC, The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore on Comedy Central, and the second half of Conan O'Brien on TBS as well as other competition from west coast Sports events, reruns and syndication shows like Dish Nation and TMZ, ESPN SportsCenter, and of course, Adult Swim reruns of Family Guy.
4. The cord cutters who watch anything on-demand via internet, and it's possible Colbert is getting more views online then on the CBS at the 11:35 PM ET airing.
5. There are other political based late nights shows, some with Former Jon Stewart era Daily Show regulars hosting then. Last Week Tonight seems to be the best in this concept of late night show right now, cause John Oliver was truly the heir the Daily Show throne, but he left before Jon Stewart's retirement from the Daily Show and Trevor Noah became Stewart successor instead. Trevor has done ok, but he's no Jon Stewart or John Oliver.
And this the main problems with Colbert's run as the host of "The Late Show".
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Colbert would not be likely to return to Comedy Central because he's stated - quite explicitly and repeatedly - that he was tired of doing The Colbert Report and would have ended the show whether or not the CBS gig opened up. I guess he could agree to some semi-regular comedy specials on CC, but otherwise - no.
The problem, IIRC - is that there are just too many GOOD late night shows. Kimmel is funny, Fallon is a big improvement over Leno, Conan got his mojo back and has a great show on TBS. There are just too many good choices, and not enough time to watch them all. Since I'm in bed before 11:00, I DVR both Colbert and Conan (my personal favorites) - but there is just not enough time to watch them. I usually just end up deleting them to make room on my DVR.
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CBS knows exactly how many views "The Late Show" or any show gets online, and even how many delayed views it gets on Tivo or other DVR's.
People who watch on-demand are hardly cord-cutters. The Internet goes to people's houses on "the cord," and from a cable company. To watch on-demand, you either have to subscribe or be a cable/satellite customer.
People who watch on-demand are hardly cord-cutters. The Internet goes to people's houses on "the cord," and from a cable company. To watch on-demand, you either have to subscribe or be a cable/satellite customer.
Also Colbert on CBS has to play within the playbook that Letterman has left off?
Maybe that's the perception, and if so, that could be why it's not working.
On the other hand Fallon didn't play within the playbook of Leno, and no one misses the old show. Or no one under 65.
Parents, guidemakers and only a small portion of TV nitpickers (the kind that make 20 minute YouTube videos annoyed the logos ruin the openings of shows) really care about parental ratings. CBS might be strict about them, certainly more than most networks, but I doubt they're rejecting skits outright because 'they're TV-14' and just allow the envelope to push that small smidge. TV-14 is pretty much PG-13, the catch-all for TV to get everyone but the Dora fans in; CBS is just among a few networks that are too traditional to admit as such.
I will say over-saturation is a problem, though. I watch shows based on their guest list, and if it's 'two boring actors for MOR treachle and a payola-funded lame rock band/dog-woman-truck song country act', I'm not apt to watch as much (I don't miss Leno where that seemed to be the only choice he ever made). I do disagree though about syndicated shows; with Netflix the days of someone sitting down like 'I'm going to watch Dish Nation because it's the only thing on' are over, especially when there are networks and networks of repeat sitcoms and sports news to watch or somthing online.
The differential between Fallon and Colbert was never more evident than tonight. Fallon had a very entertaining show that featured President Obama for about 85% of the airtime. Then to follow, it was Madonna.
This may not be a description of Fallon's talent, but it is a description of Fallon's power. (or NBC's power, same thing)...
This may not be a description of Fallon's talent, but it is a description of Fallon's power. (or NBC's power, same thing)...
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