Stephen Colbert was wide-eyed and energetic during his first opening monologue on the Late Show. The ceiling, which he referred to as a “digital projection”, was brightly colored with different shapes that read “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” going around in a circle. Unlike Jimmy Fallon who seems to be more modest as an interviewer, Colbert is known to have built his entire career out of mocking politicians on his show. “Let’s say it’s some sort of action thriller”. Apparently there were major technical difficulties on the CBS computers – not ideal in any situation, but especially bad considering how much the network had hyped his debut. Clooney jokingly noted, “The whole world is on the brink of destruction, and my character is the only one who can stop it”. “You know, first show you want to do a lot”.
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According to Nielsen, the former Comedy Central star averaged 6.6 million as he stepped onto the Ed Sullivan Theater stage to succeed David Letterman on the late-night program.
Earlier this year, as previously reported, Colbert ushered Keith into the Songwriters Hall of Fame with a hilarious speech and a surprisingly good rendition of the Norman resident’s country hit “Not As Good As I Once Was”. It was obvious they’ve been working months on this premiere, and perhaps packed in gags where substance would have worked better.
McCall, author of Viewer Discretion Advised: Taking Control of Mass Media Influences, adds, “If he tried to do a Carson or Leno type show, Colbert’s devotees would abandon him as a sellout”.
Fellow GOP hopefuls Donald Trump and Ted Cruz will appear the same week as Warren, as well as Nobel Prize Laureate Malala Yousafzai and Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz. For that matter, it’s also worlds away from the intent of the Colbert Report as well. His quick wit, wide range of expressions and penchant for topical humor is exactly what the “Late Show” needed after the Letterman regime.
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“I’m so excited to be here right now”, he began. I’m also so excited to be at home six hours from now watching this on TV. Doesn’t that signify they must be personal friends?
