UPDATE: Stephen Colbert to host The Late Show. Five year contract.

[Hugh Jass]

The man likes to pretend to be a true conservative, but it's obvious to anyone with half a brain that he's just a liberal troll.

Thanks for cracking the code...you're a goddamn genius.

What would we ever do without you?

 

[Imp]

I actually think Jon Stewart is more of the guy that you would want as a late night host. He was a stand up comedian and he rarely digs into the guests he has on the show. He is political, but is more anti-stupid people than anything.

I thought John Stewart would actually work. He doesn't play anyone and is very serious. However, he's very political and I'm not sure he can hold that shit back -- even though I like to see it on the Daily Show -- for a "regular" late night show.

 

[JEDIYoda]

The man likes to pretend to be a true conservative, but it's obvious to anyone with half a brain that he's just a liberal troll.

SAY WHO?? You??
Now that is funnyeee!!!

 

[Atomic Playboy]

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Y'all realize that Sonikku posts sarcastically and is essentially the Colbert of these forums, right? Because it kind of seems like you're all falling for his shtick here, which is only mildly ironic given the subject at hand.

 

[MongGrel]

Not really, but thanks for pointing it out.

Divebombing in and posting something obtuse seems a pretty low level of sarcasm.

I'll keep that in mind, though it's not that creative.

Almost feels like dealing with my second wife who had a Psych Masters lurking about posting obscure shit.

*shrug*

 

[Skyclad1uhm1]

Replacing Letterman shouldn't be that hard. He wasn't very funny and wasn't a great interviewer either.

The problem is that the show has always been somewhat politically neutral, so you can't have someone like Colbert without either scaring away all the right-wing guests or forcing him to act like someone he isn't.

 

[MongGrel]

Yah most late nite shows have been pablum for ages now, I probably haven't reall watched one on a regular basis since Carson went off the air, and that was long ago.

 

[DigDog]

do not want.

colbert' format is better than letterman's, one just can't be as funny in that show. i'd rather have colbert at the colbert report and someone else at letterman, possibly somebody bad so i can ignore a bad actor and bad show both at the same time.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

Replacing Letterman shouldn't be that hard. He wasn't very funny and wasn't a great interviewer either.

The problem is that the show has always been somewhat politically neutral, so you can't have someone like Colbert without either scaring away all the right-wing guests or forcing him to act like someone he isn't.

in other words, they should hire jay leno to replace letterman

 

[sportage]

They should have a weekly lottery, like the power ball.
New host every week.
Anyone can apply.
Just takes a little luck.

"Tonights host is Rick from Minneapolis Minnesota."
Oh, they get to pick their own guests too.

Taking reality TV to a new level.

 

[bryanl]

The man likes to pretend to be a true conservative, but it's obvious to anyone with half a brain that he's just a liberal troll.

Anyone with a full brain realizes Colbert actually doesn't pretend to be a true conservative but an idiot conservative.

 

[bryanl]

I thought John Stewart would actually work. He doesn't play anyone and is very serious. However, he's very political and I'm not sure he can hold that shit back -- even though I like to see it on the Daily Show -- for a "regular" late night show.

Stewart wasn't political on the short-lived syndicated talk show he hosted 20 years ago. Letterman was a fan of his even back then and once appeared as a guest.

 

[boomerang]

It's way past time for some diversity in late night television. A transgendered Muslim should fill the bill.

 

[z1ggy]

I heard that NPH is being considered, too. Might be funny although I've never actually seen him being a serious person. Seems all his roles are outlandish and go for that kind of "shock factor" comedy.

 

[Exterous]

I heard that NPH is being considered, too. Might be funny although I've never actually seen him being a serious person. Seems all his roles are outlandish and go for that kind of "shock factor" comedy.

Really? That might be interesting.

I agree with others that I think Colbert would be a bad fit.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

I actually think Jon Stewart is more of the guy that you would want as a late night host. He was a stand up comedian and he rarely digs into the guests he has on the show. He is political, but is more anti-stupid people than anything.

Colbert would be fine I'm sure, but he's a very different type of comedian. He's more of an improv/sketch performer and everything is heavy satire. On his show, he's more than happy to skewer someone with a smile on his face and without the guest even knowing what hit him. He's not the guy you're going to send your star actors to because he's too much of a wild card. If Colbert wanted to be "The Late Show" host, I think he is smart enough to find a way to make it work but it wouldn't be playing to his strengths.

+1

The only way Colbert works for late night is to nuke the current Leno/Letterman/conan products and start from scratch.

 

[SSSnail]

It's way past time for some diversity in late night television. A transgendered Muslim should fill the bill.

I know there's a ”cutting his 'head' off” joke somewhere in there...

 

[KeithTalent]

I'd like Chelsea Handler to take over.

Good lord no. D: Her show is painfully unfunny.

Colbert would be fine if they re-worked the show into something different than what it is now. Would love to see them give Tina Fey a shot.

KT

 

[Hugh Jass]

Stewart wasn't political on the short-lived syndicated talk show he hosted 20 years ago. Letterman was a fan of his even back then and once appeared as a guest.

This.

 

[Newell Steamer]

If Colbert can break away from the conserva-tard act, sure.

 

[techs]

The man likes to pretend to be a true conservative, but it's obvious to anyone with half a brain that he's just a liberal troll.

Thanks for cracking the code...you're a goddamn genius.

What would we ever do without you?

Wait a minute. Colbert is not a conservative???

 

[techs]

I know there's a ”cutting his 'head' off” joke somewhere in there...

There's always a "cutting his 'head" off joke.

 

[smackababy]

The only problem with Colbert that I see is the abysmally low ratings it would get after the first episode. All of his fans, the majority of which don't understand it is satire (even if it is poorly hidden) will hate him being serious and not acting like a jerk.

I think NPH would be a good fit. He seems intelligent enough to have actual interviews. He is popular enough to draw in the viewers. And, he is gay, so the liberals will be happy.

 

[SMOGZINN]

Why would Colbert leave his show for something that hardly anyone watches like The Late Show. I doubt most of The Late Show's viewership would even know who Colbert is, since most of them don't need that fangled internet thingy.

Edit: Really, they should just replace him with a poster board with 'Ten Things' written on it each night. Then some celebrity could come on and read the 10 things, and the audience could continue to sleep though it.

 

[SunnyD]

The Late Show needs to be buried with Letterman. If he goes, the show should go with him.

I'm not saying the show is bad by any means, but honestly don't go through the same boondoggle that the Tonight Show went through after Carson->Leno->Conan. The Late Show has ALWAYS been Letterman. It should always remain Letterman. Replace the whole thing with something else, even if it's another late night talk show, but don't try to shoehorn someone like Colbert into Letterman's schtick. It needs to be a whole new show.