On December 18th, The Colbert Report had it’s beautiful swan song. It was a hit among critics and fans alike. (I’m still humming “We’ll Meet Again.”) This epic episode will never be forgotten. The Colbert Report will go down in television history. Here is what the press had to say about the finale and the end of The Report era. Please express your opinions in the comment section. We love to hear from you!
Rolling Stone
Remembering Stephen Colbert, 1997-2014
“Feared by many, hated by some, watched by all, Colbert leaves an uncertain legacy for the media he revolutionized and the culture he altered. Without him on TV four nights a week, there is a truth-shaped hole in our national political discourse.”
New York Times
Stephen Colbert by the Numbers
“A great man once said that he was no fan of reference books because they were ‘elitist, constantly telling us what is or isn’t true, or what did or didn’t happen.’ On Thursday night, more than nine years and 1,440-plus episodes later, that comedic pundit, Stephen Colbert, and The Colbert Report on Comedy Central, will depart, along with Mr. Colbert’s dislike of facts and reality’s ‘well-known liberal bias.’”
Vulture
‘Stephen Colbert’ Has Always Been Immortal. We Only Just Realized It Last Night
“Stephen Colbert is a finite thing; he’s leaving to host The Late Show. ‘Stephen Colbert’ isn’t going anywhere, because he is his fan’s version of an eternal idea of the cosmic joke, their prism through which to see the world as an ultimately good, or at least absurd, place. He knew that and that’s why he repeatedly thanked Colbert Nation last night…”
Chicago Tribune
Stephen Colbert Departs, and His Nation Mourns
“But far beyond any feat of stamina or virtuosity, he leaves having shepherded one of the great series in television history, a satirical talk show that danced along the line between the portrayal of a fictional talk show in The Larry Sanders Show and the real thing, Johnny Carson’s The Tonight Show — and is in the same, premier league as both.”
Farewell, Stephen Colbert. (And Hello, Stephen Colbert.)
“It’s rare for a show and a performer to become so enmeshed with the zeitgeist that ratings become a moot point. Only the most loyal citizens of the so-called Colbert Nation truly needed their nightly dose of the layered political satire that Colbert mastered in the guise of ‘Stephen Colbert,’ a narcissistic, conservative blowhard spouting his fact-averse commentary on the day’s news.”
Los Angeles Times
A.V. Club
The Colbert Report: Series Finale
“But last night’s finale was special. It started out fairly normal and became something extraordinary, exceeding any established expectations.”
America: The National Catholic Review
The Guardian
The Colbert Report Final Episode: The Perfect Way to say Goodbye
“What has always made Colbert stand out from other political comedians is that he is a master at blending irony and sincerity. He never champions a point of view or a system of belief. He never claims that anyone is right or wrong (except his character, of course, who is hilariously infallible), instead presenting a case and letting the audience peek at the truth.”
Time
The Media Reacts to the 'Colbert Report' Final
Rolling Stone
Remembering Stephen Colbert, 1997-2014
“Feared by many, hated by some, watched by all, Colbert leaves an uncertain legacy for the media he revolutionized and the culture he altered. Without him on TV four nights a week, there is a truth-shaped hole in our national political discourse.”
New York Times
Stephen Colbert by the Numbers
“A great man once said that he was no fan of reference books because they were ‘elitist, constantly telling us what is or isn’t true, or what did or didn’t happen.’ On Thursday night, more than nine years and 1,440-plus episodes later, that comedic pundit, Stephen Colbert, and The Colbert Report on Comedy Central, will depart, along with Mr. Colbert’s dislike of facts and reality’s ‘well-known liberal bias.’”
Vulture
‘Stephen Colbert’ Has Always Been Immortal. We Only Just Realized It Last Night
“Stephen Colbert is a finite thing; he’s leaving to host The Late Show. ‘Stephen Colbert’ isn’t going anywhere, because he is his fan’s version of an eternal idea of the cosmic joke, their prism through which to see the world as an ultimately good, or at least absurd, place. He knew that and that’s why he repeatedly thanked Colbert Nation last night…”
Chicago Tribune
Stephen Colbert Departs, and His Nation Mourns
“But far beyond any feat of stamina or virtuosity, he leaves having shepherded one of the great series in television history, a satirical talk show that danced along the line between the portrayal of a fictional talk show in The Larry Sanders Show and the real thing, Johnny Carson’s The Tonight Show — and is in the same, premier league as both.”
Farewell, Stephen Colbert. (And Hello, Stephen Colbert.)
“It’s rare for a show and a performer to become so enmeshed with the zeitgeist that ratings become a moot point. Only the most loyal citizens of the so-called Colbert Nation truly needed their nightly dose of the layered political satire that Colbert mastered in the guise of ‘Stephen Colbert,’ a narcissistic, conservative blowhard spouting his fact-averse commentary on the day’s news.”
Los Angeles Times
A.V. Club
The Colbert Report: Series Finale
“But last night’s finale was special. It started out fairly normal and became something extraordinary, exceeding any established expectations.”
America: The National Catholic Review
The Guardian
The Colbert Report Final Episode: The Perfect Way to say Goodbye
“What has always made Colbert stand out from other political comedians is that he is a master at blending irony and sincerity. He never champions a point of view or a system of belief. He never claims that anyone is right or wrong (except his character, of course, who is hilariously infallible), instead presenting a case and letting the audience peek at the truth.”
Time