It was several notches above Beverly Hillbillies on the absurdity scale, even more absurd than Petticoat Junction, which featured some of the same characters. In short, Green Acres was to The Beverly Hillbillies what The Gong Show was to Ted Mack's Amateur Hour -- a basic concept taken to an absurd extreme. I loved both Green Acres and The Gong Show, and of course Monty Python, too.
-
Get involved.
We want your input!
Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.
After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.
After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/
Thanks in advance and have fun!
RadioDiscussions Administrators
Late Show ending May 2026
- Thread starter Don CT
- Start date
- Status
At that time, there were two CBS offices on W57th street. 60 Minutes and West57th were across the street in a much nicer building.
Boutique hotel with meeting space?
Cold Coffee
Banned
I'm sure you old dogs remember The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and how they were cancelled and replaced by Glen Campbell for being too political. I suspect Colbert is smart enough that he saw this coming.
Glen was the Smothers Brothers' summer replacement. His show was already slated and in production when CBS blew up Tom and Dick in April of '69. The fall season replacement for the brothers was...Hee Haw.
Of course, and not just because of politics. If your $100 million show is losing $40 million even with $30 million in tax credits, you know you're on thin ice.
CBS renewed his contract in 2023 to go through the 2025-2026 season. In May, CBS' George Cheeks told advertisers and press at the upfront that they were negotiating with Stephen, but there were hazard lights flashing in what he said.
That doesn't sound like "we're thrilled and we're sure we'll be able to reward him commensurately. What it sounds like is "we think we can grind him", and now, with word that the show was losing $40 million a year, that makes a whole lotta sense.
CBS Execs Unveil New Plans, Talk Grammys Exit and Colbert Negotiations
When asked about 60 Minutes' ongoing legal battle with the president, CEO George Cheeks kindly replied, "I appreciate the try, but I’ve had no tequila today."
www.hollywoodreporter.com
I've suspected that Jon Batiste's departure from the show three years ago (at the beginning of this contract cycle) was an economy move, and it's very possible that the "hand" CBS thought it had---politics aside---might have asked Stephen to give up more than he would have been willing to.
Until Bill Carter writes the book, we may not know.
I don't see any mention of the Kennedy Center Honors. CBS still has broadcast rights to that, whatever it may be. Lucky them.
Cold Coffee
Banned
You old guys keep pointing out the declining audience for broadcast TV. Only a minority of you use it now. It's not good business to piss off half of what's left. I'd bet CBS would like to be out of his contract ASAP. They are giving him time to hang himself. And I'm betting he will be defiant.
And...again...that overlooks the fact that Colbert isn't a lone wolf but is responsible for the employment and benefits of more than a hundred (today's reporting indicates 200) people, who he paid out of his own pocket during the writer's strike.
As I put it yesterday:
Last edited:
I've never seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show all the way through. It has it's own culture, with dressing up and throwing rice at the screen.
I did like Seinfeld but it was an acquired taste. I am anything but a New Yorker, never even been there, but a group of 4 totally selfish people getting into all kinds of trouble is relateable enough to me.
I had never seen The Big Bang Theory until I met my wife. I thought, "'Friends' but they're nerds. I wasn't the least bit impressed, but after my wife watching the network run and the reruns for years, I get it and and not its biggest fan. but I enjoy it now. I do like "Young Sheldon", often with stories that Sheldon told about his family, but softened up a bit. The child actors, now teenagers, will go far if they want to. The newest spinoff I'm not that impressed with.
Cold Coffee
Banned
The Americans on the right are not watching his show and they aren't coming back. Colbert's fans will think he caved in if he tones down the politics.
Maybe he will go out with a big bang. We'll see.
Jason Aldean with the New York Philharmonic!
Nobody says he has to tone down the politics. I'm sure CBS didn't like being accused of paying a bribe, but Stephen's already made that point.
I expect him to do the show that he's been doing and not go off on his CBS bosses beyond what's considered the usual fair game. Same with the politics.
IF the administration squawks, CBS can say "he's on his way out". They've done it, and Trump has made his pleasure known:
Meantime, CBS has at least eight figures worth of advertising booked for a full new season of Late Night with Stephen Colbert. They don't want to give that money back. And cutting the season short means slashing the tax credit. Factor in severances, lawsuits, union contracts and the like, and CBS is better off honoring the commitment for the season and losing the expected $40 million.
Cold Coffee
Banned
The emperor wants him gone now!!!!!
I had to jog quite a few brain cells before it clicked that was Jane Wallace in those pictures.😊
The emperor has said no such thing.
Unless...that's you.
Is that you, Don?
In which case the screen name should be "Cold Covfefe".
Last edited:
I was quite happy to stay home on Monday nights and let Jane inform the living daylights out of me.
Meredith, too.
(top photo is Jane. bottom photo is Meredith.)
Last edited:
It's hard work to do callback punchlines on someone who essentially disappeared from TV 30 years ago. In the course of that, this descriptor for an article behind a paywall popped up in Google:
If that was profound indifference, imagine if she'd applied herself.
- Status