When Chris Licht was announced as the shiny new addition and executive producer to The Late Show, there was excitement, anticipation, and puzzlement as to what the veteran show runner might bring to LSSC. Several months into the job, and after the successful DNC and RNC live conventions shows, Licht conducted a series of interviews to discuss the convention shows and his impressions of working at the Late Show in general. The articles also shed light on how Stephen and team handled the pressure of successive live broadcasts. (Spoiler alert: it was challenging.)
Behind the Scenes: Jon Stewart’s takeover of ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’
Dressed in rumpled khakis and nursing a massive Starbucks coffee, [Colbert] runs lines ahead of what will be his fourth live broadcast this week. The jokes play up the vibe of loopy exhaustion in the room: “Hey, remember Monday?” he asks, setting up a clip package. “I don’t.”
“The Late Show” team is also leaning heavily on star power. Monday’s episode included an appearance by Colbert’s blowhard character from “The Colbert Report,” something that had previously been “verboten,” Licht notes. The decision to bring back “Stephen Colbert” is a reflection of Colbert’s growing comfort in his new role. “He’s really getting into his groove lately. It’s another tool in his toolbox he realized he could use in a limited way.”
Stewart’s appearance, moments later, is met with ecstatic applause. His takedown, though edited slightly, is an even bigger hit in the room at the Ed Sullivan Theater. Like many of “The Daily Show’s” greatest hits, it uses conservatives’ own words against them, in this case arguing that criticisms leveled at President Obama — for his supposed elitism and lack of experience, among other alleged shortcomings — apply even more directly to candidate Trump.
Full Article: L.A. Times
‘Late Show’ showrunner on going live, Jon Stewart, and reviving Colbert’s persona
Licht: As organic and fly by the seat of the pants Jon Stewart was, the opposite was true of bringing the old character back. That was something that Stephen really gave a lot of thought to. He ultimately thought it was good for the audience, good for the show.
Stephen is now really feeling his way, and getting in a groove, and knew he could control the character and its place in the show as opposed to the other way around. So, in a lot of ways, it was a sign of confidence that he was ready to bring it back in a very limited way.
Full Article: CNN Money
‘The Late Show’ Producer on Stephen Colbert’s Post-Convention Momentum
“The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” executive producer Chris Licht admits he’s “about to collapse” – but that’s a good thing.
Licht says he’s “energized and exhausted at the same time” as “The Late Show” concludes two weeks of live broadcasts timed to the Republican and Democratic conventions. By all accounts, it’s been a success: Critics, some of whom had expressed disappointment with Colbert’s transition from Comedy Central to CBS, are raving about the shows.
Stephen seemed to get a surprisingly positive reaction from Trump fans outside the arena in Cleveland, even as he made some fun of their candidate. Is that the power of the camera and his celebrity?
I was blown away by the reception he got there. We didn’t really make fun of them; it was not mean-spirited at all. They were loving him! He really fed off of that, and we ended up spending hours there. And there’s a whole bunch of stuff that we shot but we only used about 30 seconds of. But he went to the closing concert with Three Dog Night and there were fireworks, and they were putting him up on the Jumbotron and people were cheering, and he’s got a beer in his hand. He was having a blast, and he must have taken 500 selfies. Sure, there’s the power of the camera and the power of celebrity, but I’ve been in those crowds with celebrities and that group is not shy about telling you they don’t like you. It was really nice.
Full Article: Indiewire
How The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’s New Producer Is Reshaping The Show
Since starting in April, Licht has begun retooling how the show operates and has made some tweaks to the format (such as a tighter opening sequence). “My approach is the same whether it’s this show or CBS This Morning or Morning Joe,” he says. “My sole job is to look at where there are roadblocks to people succeeding and do everything I can to remove them so people flourish, are creative, and have the power to take risks and chances. That ultimately helps the product on television.” It’s too soon to know how the changes might affect the ratings (The Late Show and Jimmy Kimmel Live both trail time-slot leader The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon), but Licht is eager to have an impact. “I’m very competitive,” he says. “I’m trying to beat the other guys—not only in the ratings, but to just be better.”
Full Article: Fast Company
Chris Licht Interviews: Post-Conventions Round-Up
© Laurel Golio
When Chris Licht was announced as the shiny new addition and executive producer to The Late Show, there was excitement, anticipation, and puzzlement as to what the veteran show runner might bring to LSSC. Several months into the job, and after the successful DNC and RNC live conventions shows, Licht conducted a series of interviews to discuss the convention shows and his impressions of working at the Late Show in general. The articles also shed light on how Stephen and team handled the pressure of successive live broadcasts. (Spoiler alert: it was challenging.)