When news stories fall through the cracks, we here at Colbert News Hub find them for a post we call, In The Press.
Hi y’all! I hope you’ve all enjoyed these past few weeks as much as I have, because I am absolutely loving the new show!
Fun fact: There’s been over one month of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, but at the end I’m still expecting to hear “That’s it for the Report” every single time.
Not-so-fun fact: There are no new shows next week… But fear not! You needn’t go nine full days without Stephen Colbert in your life! You can just take your time and read all these articles. There are fantastic background stories, there are adorable kids singing the Preamble of the Constitution, there’s hummus controversy, and much more!
Stephen Colbert
Andrew Alexander started with Second City in 1985 and eventually bought it with a partner. Alexander says Colbert was the right fit from the very beginning.
“He was a real ensemble player. He was one of those people that really supported his fellow actor so it wasn’t like he sort of stood out beyond anybody else. He brought his intelligence and quirkiness to everything he did. I think that the thing I remember about him the most is that he is a true ensemble player,” Alexander said.
- How Chicago shaped Stephen Colbert – Chicago Reader
This is a remarkably well-written and well-researched article about Stephen’s years in Chicago. There’s a lot of info I didn’t know, and it’s quite simply one of the best pieces I’ve read this year.
Although Colbert had lightened up considerably, he took his “stupid seriously” and was mature beyond his years. “He did seem like the adult when we were all children,” Colbert’s GreenCo castmate Tracy Thorpe says, “but never in a ruin-the-fun way.” Several people recall his stepping in when an older Jewish woman strongly objected to the cast’s performance of a classic short “blackout” during which the audience was encouraged to hum in unison before splitting into sections for a humming competition. The kicker: “And you wonder how Hitler took power.” There was nothing funny about Hitler, the woman insisted. “I apologized, and talked with her for like 15 minutes,” Colbert said. “She was very upset.” The rest of the cast had been hiding in a nearby bathroom, waiting for him to quell the unrest. When she left the room, Colbert turned around and announced, “All right, you can come out now.” “He was so composed with this woman, who was kind of crying and screaming at him,” former castmate Rose Abdoo says. “And he was just very, very polite. You could not get mad at him because he was so polite.”
- Before ‘Late Show,’ Stephen Colbert Taught Sunday School – New York Post
You probably all know that Stephen has taught Sunday School in the past (“I teach Sunday School motherf***er” is one of his most famous lines after all!). Here, one of his former students recalls what his classes were like. Basically: fun and ice-cream!
Colbert taught CCD for two years, preparing kids for the sacraments of communion and reconciliation while two of his three children attended religious instruction at St. Cassian.
“He made CCD fun. He taught us through games,” recalled former student Zachary Lepak. “He would lead a ‘Jeopardy’ tournament with facts about the chapter we were studying.”
He could have introduced a new category called Sundae Mass — he even delivered cartons of ice cream to his students.
“On the last day of CCD, Mr. Colbert brought in AmeriCone Dream ice cream for everyone,” Zachary said — referring to the Ben & Jerry’s flavor inspired by Colbert, which he calls the perfect way to celebrate any federal holiday.
Colbert staunchly defends his beliefs. As a young actor in Chicago, he refused to do a scene where a Ritz cracker was referred to as “the body of Christ.”
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
- How YouTube Is Redefining The Late Night TV Wars – Business 2 Community Ahhh… ratings, ratings, ratings. Isn’t “business” your favorite part of “show business”?
YouTube has given late night shows a life beyond TV, but it also means that they now also have to worry about “virality.” Jimmy 1, Jimmy 2, Conan and Corden have done particularly well in that respect; some of their videos have tens of millions of views. So far The Late Show’s most viewed video on YouTube (since Sept. 8) is a portion of the Donald Trump interview, with 3.7 million views. Which isn’t much compared to the Jimmys’ 50-60 million-views videos. Does it count that it’s a much better show though?
TV ratings now have a complex relationship with how well a show can also attract viewers through all of the available social media platforms that are not TV. Once upon a time, the show was the show, an hour per weeknight that you stayed up for or missed. Now, the phrase “late night” itself is a relic of the past.
Thanks to YouTube, “late night” is 24-hour social media cycle that is global and no longer tethered by a determined broadcast hour. Competition is multi-platform and fever-pitched.
“Late-night is very profitable,” Moonves added of the segment in general — so it’s a good thing that CBS actually owns the new “Late Show.” This past sales season, the ad sales marketplace rose 15 percent, thanks in large part to anticipation of Colbert’s broadcast network arrival. With his plug-heavy premiere performance — just ask Sabra hummus and Oreo cookies — and strong Nielsen numbers, Moonves commented: “Colbert booked a ton of money last night … [the show] could become a significant profit center.”
While most of Mr. Colbert’s viewers were quite likely unaware of any political implications of the tongue-in-cheek endorsement, fans who support a Palestinian-led campaign to pressure Israel through boycotts, divestment and sanctions, or B.D.S., were dismayed by the gag. The hummus, which is produced in the United States, has been subject to calls for a boycott because it is made in a joint venture between PepsiCo and the Strauss Group, an Israeli food company that has provided financial support to the Israel Defense Forces’ elite Golani Brigade.
- Why Republican Politicians Suddenly Love Stephen Colbert – The Week
Three Republican presidential candidates have appeared on the show so far: Jeb Bush, Ted Cruz, and Donald Trump. Considering the kind of reputation Stephen has earned from his Colbert Report years (White House Correspondents Dinner, anyone?), I was surprised that Jeb Bush was willing to appear on the first show, and that two other Republicans soon followed. But apparently they have more to gain than to lose from these appearances.
“These candidates are trying to communicate an authentic and personal message about themselves [on shows like Ellen or Colbert] so they connect with them as a person, not just a politician,” Slabaugh explained. “That authentic advertising of their campaign, we’re seeing across the board, when they go out and show their human side, we see a five to 10, if not bigger, point swing in positive sentiment.”
Based on these examples, it’s possible to throw up your hands and conclude that great interviewing is impossible on a variety show. Maybe you need a format like Charlie Rose, where it’s all interview, all the time. But as I turned the idea over in my head on that car trip, I realized there was one person who might be able to pull it off, and that person happens to be taking over David Letterman’s spot on CBS’ Late Show in less than a week: Stephen Colbert.
… And while he won’t have the framework of that character on CBS, I would argue that successfully interviewing guests through several layers of satire means he has a great chance at success when his only directive is sincerity.
“I don’t like saying ‘the old show.’ That show’s not over for me,” he declares, noting that his whole creative team remains with him. “I will not do this show through the mouth of someone who is always afraid and angry and wants you to join him in those feelings — that’s all that will be different.”
- How Stephen Colbert Pulled Off That National Anthem Scene in Washington – The Washington Post
Brandon Straub (“the associate conductor and pianist of the Choral Arts Society of Washington”) was lucky enough to sing the National Anthem with Stephen in D.C. and appear in the opening segment of The Late Show’s first episode. Here’s a bit of info about how it all happened!
Straub remembered it “being eerily quiet” on the Mall that day. “We need more chaos!” he recalled Colbert saying. The crew wanted the whole thing to feel “real,” so the comedian eventually enlisted a family touring nearby to “interrupt” the singing with a selfie, said Straub, who felt slightly bad revealing how the cinematic sausage is made.
The trio (Colbert, Straub and Kaitlyn Reilly, a member of the Cantate Chamber Singers based in Maryland) sang the song in its entirety three times. One of the show’s producers whipped out a smartphone and played the pitch. Colbert took the bass line, and the professionals sang the melody. So how does Straub rate Colbert’s vocals?
“He’s had a lot of training,” said Straub. “He’s a legit singer.”
- Stephen Colbert Gets Last Laugh With Tech Execs – The Wall Street Journal
One remarkable aspect of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, and one thing that I think we’ve all appreciated is how eclectic the guest lineup is every week. The Wall Street Journal was particularly interested in the numerous tech bookings and in the motivation behind that.
“We love having our Hollywood people, we love having our authors on, we love our politicians,” says “The Late Show” co-executive producer Emily Lazar. “But these innovators are as powerful right now as any other person who you would have on a late-night talk show. We’re just going where the heat is.”
- Theater District Businesses Hoping for a Colbert Bump – The New York Post
If you go to a Late Show taping, grab a pizza at Angelo’s, get some drinks at The Three Monkeys, don’t forget to use the bathroom before getting back in line; you’re all set and ready to chant Stephen’s name!
(Also bring three layers of sweaters, thick socks, and a personal electric heater. Don’t do that last part ’cause they won’t let you, but you’ll wish they had.)
“When [Letterman] left, it was tough,” said Alexis Kondilis, manager of Angelo’s Pizza next door. “He shut down, and there was construction outside, so business was slow.”
Kondilis already has at least one new customer — Colbert himself.
“Steve likes our pizzas. We delivered a bunch to a party they had on the roof two weeks ago. They’ve been ordering pizzas ever since,” Kondilis said.
Around the corner on West 54th Street, Three Monkeys bar manager Mike Kelleher anticipates crowds for pre-“Late Show” drinks.
“They send them here to get them in a good mood,” he said. “They don’t have a laugh track, you know.”
Late Night Television
The Viacom-owned cable network has renewed The Nightly Show With Larry Wilmore for a second season, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. The pickup will ensure that Wilmore’s late-night series will remain on the air through the end of 2016.
“Well, yeah it’s interesting I mean he’s just as you know one of the nicest guys out there. So I think the more the merrier. I think it just brings more attention to late night. It gets more people watching TV in general. So I think we all win. I mean there’s room for everybody, ” Fallon said.
In the Press – September 2015
Hi y’all! I hope you’ve all enjoyed these past few weeks as much as I have, because I am absolutely loving the new show!
Fun fact: There’s been over one month of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, but at the end I’m still expecting to hear “That’s it for the Report” every single time.
Not-so-fun fact: There are no new shows next week… But fear not! You needn’t go nine full days without Stephen Colbert in your life! You can just take your time and read all these articles. There are fantastic background stories, there are adorable kids singing the Preamble of the Constitution, there’s hummus controversy, and much more!
Stephen Colbert
Andrew Alexander started with Second City in 1985 and eventually bought it with a partner. Alexander says Colbert was the right fit from the very beginning.
“He was a real ensemble player. He was one of those people that really supported his fellow actor so it wasn’t like he sort of stood out beyond anybody else. He brought his intelligence and quirkiness to everything he did. I think that the thing I remember about him the most is that he is a true ensemble player,” Alexander said.
This is a remarkably well-written and well-researched article about Stephen’s years in Chicago. There’s a lot of info I didn’t know, and it’s quite simply one of the best pieces I’ve read this year.
Although Colbert had lightened up considerably, he took his “stupid seriously” and was mature beyond his years. “He did seem like the adult when we were all children,” Colbert’s GreenCo castmate Tracy Thorpe says, “but never in a ruin-the-fun way.” Several people recall his stepping in when an older Jewish woman strongly objected to the cast’s performance of a classic short “blackout” during which the audience was encouraged to hum in unison before splitting into sections for a humming competition. The kicker: “And you wonder how Hitler took power.” There was nothing funny about Hitler, the woman insisted. “I apologized, and talked with her for like 15 minutes,” Colbert said. “She was very upset.” The rest of the cast had been hiding in a nearby bathroom, waiting for him to quell the unrest. When she left the room, Colbert turned around and announced, “All right, you can come out now.” “He was so composed with this woman, who was kind of crying and screaming at him,” former castmate Rose Abdoo says. “And he was just very, very polite. You could not get mad at him because he was so polite.”
You probably all know that Stephen has taught Sunday School in the past (“I teach Sunday School motherf***er” is one of his most famous lines after all!). Here, one of his former students recalls what his classes were like. Basically: fun and ice-cream!
Colbert taught CCD for two years, preparing kids for the sacraments of communion and reconciliation while two of his three children attended religious instruction at St. Cassian.
“He made CCD fun. He taught us through games,” recalled former student Zachary Lepak. “He would lead a ‘Jeopardy’ tournament with facts about the chapter we were studying.”
He could have introduced a new category called Sundae Mass — he even delivered cartons of ice cream to his students.
“On the last day of CCD, Mr. Colbert brought in AmeriCone Dream ice cream for everyone,” Zachary said — referring to the Ben & Jerry’s flavor inspired by Colbert, which he calls the perfect way to celebrate any federal holiday.
Colbert staunchly defends his beliefs. As a young actor in Chicago, he refused to do a scene where a Ritz cracker was referred to as “the body of Christ.”
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
YouTube has given late night shows a life beyond TV, but it also means that they now also have to worry about “virality.” Jimmy 1, Jimmy 2, Conan and Corden have done particularly well in that respect; some of their videos have tens of millions of views. So far The Late Show’s most viewed video on YouTube (since Sept. 8) is a portion of the Donald Trump interview, with 3.7 million views. Which isn’t much compared to the Jimmys’ 50-60 million-views videos. Does it count that it’s a much better show though?
TV ratings now have a complex relationship with how well a show can also attract viewers through all of the available social media platforms that are not TV. Once upon a time, the show was the show, an hour per weeknight that you stayed up for or missed. Now, the phrase “late night” itself is a relic of the past.
Thanks to YouTube, “late night” is 24-hour social media cycle that is global and no longer tethered by a determined broadcast hour. Competition is multi-platform and fever-pitched.
“Late-night is very profitable,” Moonves added of the segment in general — so it’s a good thing that CBS actually owns the new “Late Show.” This past sales season, the ad sales marketplace rose 15 percent, thanks in large part to anticipation of Colbert’s broadcast network arrival. With his plug-heavy premiere performance — just ask Sabra hummus and Oreo cookies — and strong Nielsen numbers, Moonves commented: “Colbert booked a ton of money last night … [the show] could become a significant profit center.”
While most of Mr. Colbert’s viewers were quite likely unaware of any political implications of the tongue-in-cheek endorsement, fans who support a Palestinian-led campaign to pressure Israel through boycotts, divestment and sanctions, or B.D.S., were dismayed by the gag. The hummus, which is produced in the United States, has been subject to calls for a boycott because it is made in a joint venture between PepsiCo and the Strauss Group, an Israeli food company that has provided financial support to the Israel Defense Forces’ elite Golani Brigade.
Three Republican presidential candidates have appeared on the show so far: Jeb Bush, Ted Cruz, and Donald Trump. Considering the kind of reputation Stephen has earned from his Colbert Report years (White House Correspondents Dinner, anyone?), I was surprised that Jeb Bush was willing to appear on the first show, and that two other Republicans soon followed. But apparently they have more to gain than to lose from these appearances.
“These candidates are trying to communicate an authentic and personal message about themselves [on shows like Ellen or Colbert] so they connect with them as a person, not just a politician,” Slabaugh explained. “That authentic advertising of their campaign, we’re seeing across the board, when they go out and show their human side, we see a five to 10, if not bigger, point swing in positive sentiment.”
Based on these examples, it’s possible to throw up your hands and conclude that great interviewing is impossible on a variety show. Maybe you need a format like Charlie Rose, where it’s all interview, all the time. But as I turned the idea over in my head on that car trip, I realized there was one person who might be able to pull it off, and that person happens to be taking over David Letterman’s spot on CBS’ Late Show in less than a week: Stephen Colbert.
… And while he won’t have the framework of that character on CBS, I would argue that successfully interviewing guests through several layers of satire means he has a great chance at success when his only directive is sincerity.
“I don’t like saying ‘the old show.’ That show’s not over for me,” he declares, noting that his whole creative team remains with him. “I will not do this show through the mouth of someone who is always afraid and angry and wants you to join him in those feelings — that’s all that will be different.”
Brandon Straub (“the associate conductor and pianist of the Choral Arts Society of Washington”) was lucky enough to sing the National Anthem with Stephen in D.C. and appear in the opening segment of The Late Show’s first episode. Here’s a bit of info about how it all happened!
Straub remembered it “being eerily quiet” on the Mall that day. “We need more chaos!” he recalled Colbert saying. The crew wanted the whole thing to feel “real,” so the comedian eventually enlisted a family touring nearby to “interrupt” the singing with a selfie, said Straub, who felt slightly bad revealing how the cinematic sausage is made.
The trio (Colbert, Straub and Kaitlyn Reilly, a member of the Cantate Chamber Singers based in Maryland) sang the song in its entirety three times. One of the show’s producers whipped out a smartphone and played the pitch. Colbert took the bass line, and the professionals sang the melody. So how does Straub rate Colbert’s vocals?
“He’s had a lot of training,” said Straub. “He’s a legit singer.”
One remarkable aspect of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, and one thing that I think we’ve all appreciated is how eclectic the guest lineup is every week. The Wall Street Journal was particularly interested in the numerous tech bookings and in the motivation behind that.
“We love having our Hollywood people, we love having our authors on, we love our politicians,” says “The Late Show” co-executive producer Emily Lazar. “But these innovators are as powerful right now as any other person who you would have on a late-night talk show. We’re just going where the heat is.”
If you go to a Late Show taping, grab a pizza at Angelo’s, get some drinks at The Three Monkeys, don’t forget to use the bathroom before getting back in line; you’re all set and ready to chant Stephen’s name!
(Also bring three layers of sweaters, thick socks, and a personal electric heater. Don’t do that last part ’cause they won’t let you, but you’ll wish they had.)
“When [Letterman] left, it was tough,” said Alexis Kondilis, manager of Angelo’s Pizza next door. “He shut down, and there was construction outside, so business was slow.”
Kondilis already has at least one new customer — Colbert himself.
“Steve likes our pizzas. We delivered a bunch to a party they had on the roof two weeks ago. They’ve been ordering pizzas ever since,” Kondilis said.
Around the corner on West 54th Street, Three Monkeys bar manager Mike Kelleher anticipates crowds for pre-“Late Show” drinks.
“They send them here to get them in a good mood,” he said. “They don’t have a laugh track, you know.”
Late Night Television
The Viacom-owned cable network has renewed The Nightly Show With Larry Wilmore for a second season, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. The pickup will ensure that Wilmore’s late-night series will remain on the air through the end of 2016.
“Well, yeah it’s interesting I mean he’s just as you know one of the nicest guys out there. So I think the more the merrier. I think it just brings more attention to late night. It gets more people watching TV in general. So I think we all win. I mean there’s room for everybody, ” Fallon said.