You guys ready for Tonight Show with Stephen Colbert premiere tonight?

[Imp]

I missed yesterday's episode. Someone said that he doesn't have a band (maybe he didn't have one yesterday). But he had one today. Were there some issues with yesterday's show (I tuned in just as he was finishing up his opening monologue)?

And Musk just looked uncomfortable.

Twas me. I thought I saw the band leader before doing his own thing, and it looked like he was just a visiting, one night band to me. Nope, he's the band.

They're trying too hard on the second guest so far... One actor/actress, then one "important" or "serious" guy. There's a reason they're "serious" people.

 

[Imp]

What the fuq? It's like they cut his nuts off and told him to shut up, play nice.

He/Jon Stewart/Letterman have all had Obummer on their shows, they were all willing to ask questions, interrupt, and talk back. This was Joe Biden and Colbert barely said anything.

Then Uber guy came on... Looked like all he did was read off the pre-approved questions list and then make pointless comments to look fun. He asked "hard" questions like taking away full-time jobs, surge pricing, and automated cars, but didn't really follow-up on any of them. Come on.

Colbert is playing way too nice so far. Most disappointing is I know he has done better.

 

[ImpulsE69]

Yep..Boring as fuq.

 

[Skel]

What the fuq? It's like they cut his nuts off and told him to shut up, play nice.

He/Jon Stewart/Letterman have all had Obummer on their shows, they were all willing to ask questions, interrupt, and talk back. This was Joe Biden and Colbert barely said anything.

Then Uber guy came on... Looked like all he did was read off the pre-approved questions list and then make pointless comments to look fun. He asked "hard" questions like taking away full-time jobs, surge pricing, and automated cars, but didn't really follow-up on any of them. Come on.

Colbert is playing way too nice so far. Most disappointing is I know he has done better.

Aren't all late night talk shows just puff places for people to promote their stuff? I honestly can't remember Carson or Letterman really mixing it up too much with anyone.

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

Colbert isn't going to lose half his audience with political parody the first week on air. Remember how bad Fallon was when he first started? He's become fairly likable over the years. It takes a while to find your groove.

 

[Charmonium]

Aren't all late night talk shows just puff places for people to promote their stuff? I honestly can't remember Carson or Letterman really mixing it up too much with anyone.

Exactly. You can't expect to go from a small niche network like Comedy Central which predominantly has a stoner audience to something like CBS, which is the network of grammas and grampas everywhere and think you'll be able to have the same attitude or approach.

This isn't Face The Nation folks. This is predominantly a feel-good show. Also remember that the interviews done on CR were in the persona of Bill O'Reilly. So there was a certain assholishness that was inherent to the character.

You can argue that because he's having politicians on he should be asking more tough questions and personally, I think that eventually he will. Colbert took this job, I believe anyway, not just for the money but because it provides a much broader forum for him. If he uses it correctly, he can have an impact on the political process and people's attitudes. But he can't do that unless he gets his new audience to like him first.

 

[tortillasoup]

Remember how bad Fallon was when he first started? He's become fairly likable over the years. It takes a while to find your groove.

There was a time when Jimmy Fallon was even less funny and useful? Hard to imagine as watching The Tonight Show is absolutely awful because of him.

 

[Imp]

Aren't all late night talk shows just puff places for people to promote their stuff? I honestly can't remember Carson or Letterman really mixing it up too much with anyone.

They are. But the more creative hosts work around it just enough to make it interesting.

Letterman was mostly about pre-arranged questions. However, he had more edge, didn't blatantly kiss as much ass (he definitely did, just differently), and was somewhat willing to talk back. I remember Trump going on Letterman months ago talking bullshit, I changed the channel but not before I saw Letterman called him out on it.

I'm not asking for Jon Stewart type railing non-stop on a liar, but Colbert feels too passive right now. Also, the guest line-up seems to include a lot of CEOs/politicans or government officials. His current kid-hands approach doesn't jive with that sort of clientele.

You can argue that because he's having politicians on he should be asking more tough questions and personally, I think that eventually he will. Colbert took this job, I believe anyway, not just for the money but because it provides a much broader forum for him. If he uses it correctly, he can have an impact on the political process and people's attitudes. But he can't do that unless he gets his new audience to like him first.

Rumor is that he's making less at CBS. Not by much, but less.

 

[ioni]

Also remember that the interviews done on CR were in the persona of Bill O'Reilly.

He was only in character for some interviews. In most of them he was just his self. He actually grilled Jeb pretty hard too with that question from the audience part. I was surprised.

 

[Imp]

He was only in character for some interviews. In most of them he was just his self. He actually grilled Jeb pretty hard too with that question from the audience part. I was surprised.

The Jeb interview was okay. His Biden was reasonably good, but I felt he was too uninvolved, could have jumped in more -- not to argue, just to add more dialogue.

I think the big issue is all the politicians/CEOs. The message appears to be, "I'm more serious, I'm not just about actors, stars and celebrities." I like the blatant product placement jokes, but being talked at by people with major agendas without someone talking back much isn't so cool.

Otherwise, it's mostly just getting used to his new show at this point. Spent years watching Colbert, so there were certain expectations. James Corden won me over in his first week, but there was a blank slate since I only knew him as an actor beforehand.

 

[Charmonium]

Rumor is that he's making less at CBS. Not by much, but less.

I wonder if that's really true though. My guess is that Colbert is getting some other form of compensation based on ratings. I don't think he has a producer credit for this show but Jon Stewart does and I wouldn't be surprised if Colbert eventually gets one if the show does well.

If it is true, then maybe my speculation about his motivation is accurate. Stephen always struck me as something of an idealist who wanted to bring some truth back into the political process.

 

[Ns1]

Let's face it, late night TV is dying/dead.

unless your first name is Jimmy, in which case it's all good.

 

[Imp]

I wonder if that's really true though. My guess is that Colbert is getting some other form of compensation based on ratings. I don't think he has a producer credit for this show but Jon Stewart does and I wouldn't be surprised if Colbert eventually gets one if the show does well.

If it is true, then maybe my speculation about his motivation is accurate. Stephen always struck me as something of an idealist who wanted to bring some truth back into the political process.

Googling "Colbert salary pay cut" brought up an article saying he's paid $4.6 million versus $6 million he made at Comedy Central.

If they don't do to him what they did to Conan, he'll probably get a huge raise next time contract negotiations come around. Even Craig Ferguson was clearing more than $10M in his later years according to Google. Colbert was probably near topping out on Comedy so his earning potential just skyrocketed with the move.

 

[cronos]

unless your first name is Jimmy, in which case it's all good.

Ha!

 

[Printer Bandit]

i miss old Conan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKljcH1Qboc

 

[tortillasoup]

unless your first name is Jimmy, in which case it's all good.

Jimmy Kimmel is ok but Fallon is terrible.

 

[Ns1]

Jimmy Kimmel is ok but Fallon is terrible.

you may have that opinion but by any metric used to judge late night shows you are wrong

 

[tortillasoup]

you may have that opinion but by any metric used to judge late night shows you are wrong

But Nielsen ratings are taking into account that most "viewers" aren't actually viewers. Those shows are running in the background while the "viewers" are passed out in front of the TV.

 

[HeXen]

I never even heard of this guy. Wasn't the tonight show hosted by Jay...I forget his last name.
*edit: Oh, Leno, that's who I was thinking of...did he finally retire?

 

[Ns1]

But Nielsen ratings are taking into account that most "viewers" aren't actually viewers. Those shows are running in the background while the "viewers" are passed out in front of the TV.

He also has a billion youtube hits.


Anyway you cut it, these are standard metrics and you are wrong. You may dislike him, but he obviously is not terrible.

 

[Charmonium]

I never even heard of this guy. Wasn't the tonight show hosted by Jay...I forget his last name.
*edit: Oh, Leno, that's who I was thinking of...did he finally retire?

I'm guessing that you must be traveling at close to the speed of light since you seem to be a few years behind. :whiste:

 

[olds]

Watched it on the DVR. Glad I did. Now I know not to waste my time watching it again.

 

[denis280]

1000x this

Same here

 

[Imp]

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better show during the second week.

Jeb Bush, Elon Musk, and Uber CEO were not good ideas for guests during the first week for a brand new show. Should have stuck to entertainers. However, Tim Cook and the Supreme Court judge were actually pretty good this week.

 

[Aharami]

i miss old Conan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKljcH1Qboc

one of the best bits ever on tv. I still wonder if that was scripted or not