Stephen Colbert fans are a sad, shiftless lot these days. With our fearless host away and gearing up for his new show, there is not much to do but eat Americone Dream and watch old TCR clips – if you can stand the heartache of it all. While suffering through this awkward in-between-networks phase, a fan becomes reflective. Changing shows is a big deal. How can those uniquely special aspects we loved about Stephen’s work on The Colbert Report transition to the new show? Is that even possible? Maybe. After the jump you’ll find my top five suggestions for a very “Colbert” style new Late Show.
Maintain a political profile. Folks in general are fed up with politicians in Washington D.C., and politics are usually only lightly referenced in the traditional late night fare. After covering political stories for 17 years, it’s hard to imagine Stephen completely disengaging from such commentary. The days of covering SuperPACS are admittedly over, but the practice of exploring political themes should be upheld. Perhaps a Word-style essay here and there, for example. Stephen has a unique ability to make often boring civic issues interesting to the average viewer. It would mean a lot to the fan base that his former character’s light of justice was still shining on political topics in the zeitgeist, and no one in the late night round up could do as good of a job as Stephen.
Get the best band, and embrace music. One can’t think of Jimmy Fallon without The Roots, although Fallon’s decision to hire the band back in 2009 raised some eyebrows. His gamble paid off, and The Roots are now a major staple of The Tonight Show.
Stephen is also a keen music fan, having adapted The Colbert Report to highlight many musical acts, when it was not an intuitive fit for his satirical program. Having a great house band with a versatile leader will pay off in spades. Ideally someone who is able to participate in sketches, and improvise, improvise, improvise. Today’s late night bands don’t just play anymore, they are partners in the comedy.
Fans loved seeing Stephen dance and sing on the show, so it would be great if he kept that up and amped that up in the new show.
Keep an eye out for “Alpha Dogs.” Who was better at “celebrating” ridiculous people – and the folly of human nature – better than Stephen? If there is a triple amputee stealing a car and leading a high-speed chase in Florida, I want to know about it. It was great to know that utter human fails would have their turn on the show, and there is something inherently funny about having a fine, upstanding, and intellectual guy share with you guffaw-worthy human behavior as a regular segment.
Don’t forget authors! And thinkers! And activists! One poignant and memorable moment on The Colbert Report’s finale episode was the large assemblage of former guests singing “We’ll Meet Again” with Stephen. Despite TCR’s rather short interview format, guest interviews led to many insightful conversations, often spanning a medley of topics including science, innovation, historical topics, and so on. We know that The Late Show will feature many celebrity interviews with your Amanda Seyfrieds, etc., and that is great, but sneaking in authors with great books to promote, or activists with a compelling social idea not only makes for great television, but keeps the very “Colbert spirit” of trying to make the world a better and more informed place alive.
Remember what Dave’s legacy is all about: sarcastic on the outside, but a cultural observer with common decency on the inside. Stephen has big shoes to fill. Dave Letterman has been a television juggernaut for decades. Even though Letterman’s humor derives from deep sarcasm that often manifests itself in silly moments, such as throwing watermelons off of buildings, he communicates with a common sense, everyman style that is very reassuring and compelling for viewers. With regards to political views and personal beliefs, Letterman expresses his contention that everyone deserves to be treated fairly, certainly a view Stephen also espouses. Dave isn’t afraid to ask direct, honest questions of politicians (Obama and “lipstick on a pig,” anyone?), celebrities, and media figures. (Remember when he told Papa Bear he was a “goon”?) When big political or pop culture moments happen, Dave’s take has been frequently shared – for example, his speech after 9/11 was admired for its simple profundity. In the media, he has frequently been likened to comedy’s “elder statesman.”
Stephen has a real opportunity to endear himself to viewers by taking up Dave’s mantle and being comedy statesman-like; it should come easily to him, as his own unique, sincerely expressed, and well-informed perspective (underneath the mask of the character, of course) was so revered and sought after by his fans on The Report. In other words, being funny is the main objective of the job, of course, but keeping the little guy in mind and taking the occasional guest to task will go a long way in cementing Colbert’s own legacy, and honoring Dave’s as well.
What do you Hubsters think? What ideas would you put in the new Late Show’s “suggestion” box if you could? This is brainstorming time. Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
5 Suggestions for the New Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Stephen Colbert fans are a sad, shiftless lot these days. With our fearless host away and gearing up for his new show, there is not much to do but eat Americone Dream and watch old TCR clips – if you can stand the heartache of it all. While suffering through this awkward in-between-networks phase, a fan becomes reflective. Changing shows is a big deal. How can those uniquely special aspects we loved about Stephen’s work on The Colbert Report transition to the new show? Is that even possible? Maybe. After the jump you’ll find my top five suggestions for a very “Colbert” style new Late Show.
Maintain a political profile. Folks in general are fed up with politicians in Washington D.C., and politics are usually only lightly referenced in the traditional late night fare. After covering political stories for 17 years, it’s hard to imagine Stephen completely disengaging from such commentary. The days of covering SuperPACS are admittedly over, but the practice of exploring political themes should be upheld. Perhaps a Word-style essay here and there, for example. Stephen has a unique ability to make often boring civic issues interesting to the average viewer. It would mean a lot to the fan base that his former character’s light of justice was still shining on political topics in the zeitgeist, and no one in the late night round up could do as good of a job as Stephen.
Get the best band, and embrace music. One can’t think of Jimmy Fallon without The Roots, although Fallon’s decision to hire the band back in 2009 raised some eyebrows. His gamble paid off, and The Roots are now a major staple of The Tonight Show.
Stephen is also a keen music fan, having adapted The Colbert Report to highlight many musical acts, when it was not an intuitive fit for his satirical program. Having a great house band with a versatile leader will pay off in spades. Ideally someone who is able to participate in sketches, and improvise, improvise, improvise. Today’s late night bands don’t just play anymore, they are partners in the comedy.
Fans loved seeing Stephen dance and sing on the show, so it would be great if he kept that up and amped that up in the new show.
Keep an eye out for “Alpha Dogs.” Who was better at “celebrating” ridiculous people – and the folly of human nature – better than Stephen? If there is a triple amputee stealing a car and leading a high-speed chase in Florida, I want to know about it. It was great to know that utter human fails would have their turn on the show, and there is something inherently funny about having a fine, upstanding, and intellectual guy share with you guffaw-worthy human behavior as a regular segment.
Don’t forget authors! And thinkers! And activists! One poignant and memorable moment on The Colbert Report’s finale episode was the large assemblage of former guests singing “We’ll Meet Again” with Stephen. Despite TCR’s rather short interview format, guest interviews led to many insightful conversations, often spanning a medley of topics including science, innovation, historical topics, and so on. We know that The Late Show will feature many celebrity interviews with your Amanda Seyfrieds, etc., and that is great, but sneaking in authors with great books to promote, or activists with a compelling social idea not only makes for great television, but keeps the very “Colbert spirit” of trying to make the world a better and more informed place alive.
Remember what Dave’s legacy is all about: sarcastic on the outside, but a cultural observer with common decency on the inside. Stephen has big shoes to fill. Dave Letterman has been a television juggernaut for decades. Even though Letterman’s humor derives from deep sarcasm that often manifests itself in silly moments, such as throwing watermelons off of buildings, he communicates with a common sense, everyman style that is very reassuring and compelling for viewers. With regards to political views and personal beliefs, Letterman expresses his contention that everyone deserves to be treated fairly, certainly a view Stephen also espouses. Dave isn’t afraid to ask direct, honest questions of politicians (Obama and “lipstick on a pig,” anyone?), celebrities, and media figures. (Remember when he told Papa Bear he was a “goon”?) When big political or pop culture moments happen, Dave’s take has been frequently shared – for example, his speech after 9/11 was admired for its simple profundity. In the media, he has frequently been likened to comedy’s “elder statesman.”
Stephen has a real opportunity to endear himself to viewers by taking up Dave’s mantle and being comedy statesman-like; it should come easily to him, as his own unique, sincerely expressed, and well-informed perspective (underneath the mask of the character, of course) was so revered and sought after by his fans on The Report. In other words, being funny is the main objective of the job, of course, but keeping the little guy in mind and taking the occasional guest to task will go a long way in cementing Colbert’s own legacy, and honoring Dave’s as well.
What do you Hubsters think? What ideas would you put in the new Late Show’s “suggestion” box if you could? This is brainstorming time. Let us know your thoughts in the comments.