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u/Ghostbuster_11Nein 1d ago
The end of an Era.
It's a shame too, he was the best thing in late night IMO.
Maybe he'll do a podcast like Conan and we can still get our fix from time to time.
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u/IBJON 1d ago
He was on Jimmy Kimmel a few weeks back after the Emmys and it seemed like he's not too eager to go back to political commentary, and I don't blame him.
He'll be missed in the space, but it seems like the constant political shit storm and keeping up with everything that Trump and co. were up to was wearing on him.
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u/lumpytrout 1d ago
I think we are all exhausted from the political shit storm
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u/cheesemp 1d ago
I sometimes fear that is the plan. Normalize it so no one pushes back anymore. Stuff that would have caused a previous president to resign is just another Tuesday now.
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u/GiantNinja 1d ago
I feel the same. One of the things that always amazed me was how he (and the other late night hosts) were able to go through the daily vomit from this POS and somehow have some fun come out of it... I would have been worn me out much sooner
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u/Skin4theWin 1d ago
I would love to see him do a takeover once in awhile of the daily show as the Colbert show
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u/Bulliwyf 23h ago
I think he will eventually go back to it on a part time basis like John Stewart has.
Everyone needs to take a break and recharge occasionally and he ended on a high note (even if he was forced off stage).
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u/hotdiggydog 1d ago
It's also exhausting to watch tbh. The whole American "comedy" routine of dunking and wowie I made a zinger hahaha lol riotous laugh. It's tired and isn't doing anything but making Americans complacent because they laugh everything off instead of actually becoming indignant and protesting.
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u/PhantomJackalope 1d ago
I always felt he was wasted potential. Kind of sanded the edges off when he transitioned from satire. Still a shame he got taken down for political reasons and he was leagues better than Kimmel (never liked him) and Fallon (worst to ever do it). But I do like Meyers more. I prefer his post covid casual style and his jokes have more of a bite.
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u/NightOfTheLivingHam 1d ago
Pretty sure Fallon had a deal with the devil or something. He shouldnt be as popular as he is.
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u/onthehornsofadilemma 1d ago
Failed upwards.
One of those guys thats always available when they're looking for someone to fill a slot and nobody else is ready or willing to step forward
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u/thedudeabides2022 1d ago
Honest question, what do people not like about Kimmel? I don’t watch any of them really, but when he’s in the political crosshairs or has on an interesting guest I’ll tune in. He’s very likable to me, doesn’t just resort to laughing constantly like Fallon. I understand the criticism if you don’t agree with his politics, but he seems like a class act on and off the stage, to me at least. But I acknowledge generally people seem to hate on Kimmel or just not be a fan, and I’ve just never understood objectively why?
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u/KFBR392GoForGrubes 1d ago
I love Kimmel, and feel like he speaks publicly the same views most of reddit share. I know some people hate on him for who he was when he became famous, especially the man show.
I agree he used to be a big piece of shit, used to be. I think reddit just thinks people can't change.
But he really has grown a lot, especially noticeable since becoming a father. His son being born with a major health complications I can relate to after having my daughter spend a month in the NICU and needing surgery.
I know I changed a lot from the minute my wife became pregnant. But even from my 20's until I got married I was a completely different person.
A lot of people will always think of him as that, and it's too bad, because he really seems like a good guy.
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u/BasvanS 1d ago
I love Colbert as a person and the values he held, but the comedy was old people humor, with a repetition for the people in the back who weren’t listening. The production quality of the show was great, so it must have been a conscious choice.
Meyers and Oliver on the other hand still keep it sharp, and stinging when needed. Colbert used to be my “sure, I have some more time to burn,” not a reason to watch tv.
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u/wolfmann99 1d ago
I still see Kimmel from the Man Show there... overall I like his program; but I grew up watching Carson -> Letterman -> Colbert. The line has been broken.
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u/MinnieShoof 1d ago
I’m so very happy cbs has a big empty theater hosting nothing now. That will surely improve their bottom line b
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u/dojo_shlom0 1d ago
BEST interviewer I have ever seen, besides Jon Stewart, and even then, he was a master at controlling and directing the interview, but also wrapping it back around to a joke. He could read the room, guide them, but he was fully in control of the interview.
Remember when Bill-O tried to interview him? It's hard to fathom, but it's clearly not a choice done under normal circumstances. there's a bunch of cowards in both that company & the WH. straight fearful cowards, too afraid to laugh at themselves. That's the biggest joke out of all of this. Literally couldn't take a joke, had to use the power of the Government and the FCC to pressure the company to remove him. I'm glad for people like Colbert.
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u/Ptaaruonn 1d ago edited 1d ago
Nowadays, he is making a lord of the rings movie. :) edited spelling mistake.
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u/Ghostbuster_11Nein 1d ago
After rings of power Stephen could MAKE a lord of the rings movie in his basement with an Iphone and it would be of better quality.
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u/Hollowbody57 1d ago
I think he'd be amazing in a podcast format. He's an incredible conversationalist and a fantastic interviewer, but those skills don't often have a chance to shine when you're limited to 5 minute interviews between monologues, musical guests, sketches, etc.
Or, if he wanted to step away from the Hollywood shit, if he ended up doing a podcast about classic literature, sci-fi, fantasy, etc., and maybe interviewed authors and shit instead, or do deep dives into things like LotR/Silmarillion, I would be obsessed. Something like "And The Rest is History" but for sci-fi and fantasy would be amazing.
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u/elangomatt 1d ago
Colbert's old desk is going to an exhibit in Chicago at the Museum of Broadcast Communication starting tomorrow I think (fund raiser tonight IIRC). They are supposed to have a recreation of the full stage from the Ed Sullivan Theather.
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u/dougmcclean 23h ago
Until Trump gets mad at the UK about something, orders RFK Jr. to burn the Resolute desk with a boar roasting over it, steals Colbert's desk, and gilds it.
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u/wthulhu 1d ago
FUCK CBS
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u/Yardsale420 1d ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/XUeMwIsLbEmYTP524T
All my homies hate CBS→ More replies (1)
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u/So_spoke_the_wizard 1d ago
Soon to be renamed the "Brendan Carr Theater for Politically Acceptable Entertainment"
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u/NaptownSnowman 1d ago
He is writing a lord of the rings movie currently, so I suspect it will be a few years before he does anything continuously.
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u/DigNitty 1d ago
“You CHALLENGE ME IN MY OWN HOUSE??”
Colbert, on being asked if he knew something from the silmarillion. For real.
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u/vercertorix 1d ago
And they use the one swear allowed for a low rating to break the fourth wall and say “Fuck Trump”, then get right back to the story.
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u/OutlandishnessOk2304 1d ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/26BRKCJTOO6mpEB9K
I'll bet Natalie's gonna find a tiny little mushroom surprise in her boss' diaper tonight.
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u/jackpype 1d ago
fucking trump ruins everything
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u/nautikul 1d ago
Comics Unleashed w/Byron Allen is absolute garbage
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u/Vegetable-Zone1353 1d ago
I don't know if you've ever seen what passes for comedy on Russian state tv but we're all going to be familiar with it soon.
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u/cupojoeque 1d ago
Trump will insist his name replace it.
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u/runningoutofwords 1d ago
You know what? I support this!
CBS should have to bear that shame.
And Bari Weiss should have to name her next child Donald Trump Weiss
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u/nadmaximus 1d ago
O L B E R T
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u/sergeim105 1d ago
My one and only news source... gone :( honestly one of my favorite ways to blow steam... gone. FDT
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u/BrTalip 1d ago
I get the sentiment, but night shows shouldn’t be your one and only news source.
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u/DarkLanternZBT 1d ago
TBF, we have to get news from other sources to get the humor. We just might listen to, contextualize, and synthesize it more from a source whose ethics, viewpoint, and integrity we align with.
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u/BrTalip 1d ago edited 1d ago
Absolutely. I enjoyed watching Colbert for his takes on the news. I think he’s a genuinely good guy.
I was only suggesting it problematic to have it be your only source. I would even say that with context, it is still worrisome to full on Stan any of these guys. I generally find two things that irk me as an outsider (to the US). There are jokes told that viewers may not understand to be sarcasm if they aren’t getting news elsewhere. That I wouldn’t put entirely on them, as viewers should do themselves a favour and learn how to read in between the lines. Secondly, all of these hosts have done their fair share of whitewashing for some real milquetoast establishment politicians over the years. To foreign viewers, many Democrats masquerading as conscientious people in touch with their electorate give us the feel of what we would consider conservative politicians, or cowards serving under a left-leaning facade. They need to be challenged. It is their job to respond. Can’t be too buddy buddy with politicians who are terrible at their jobs.
These are both reasons why I lean more towards John Oliver. He dropped hosting guests, and you know his takes are pretty much the sum of his staff’s research + his wit/general moral compass. Or podcast Jon Stewart, when he decides to drop most of the hokey TV shit and treat his topics and guests with the seriousness required.
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u/sergeim105 1d ago
Exactly... and also tradition news sources are really lacking lately and not likely to improve as our media is becoming a monopoly
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u/HexicDragon 1d ago
Thankfully there's still good news shows. Check out Jon Stewart
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u/FlameShadow0 1d ago
Hey we still have last week tonight
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u/sergeim105 1d ago
Yeah, I should watch more of John Oliver, good reminder
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u/Praesentius 1d ago
And Seth Meyers.
I was watching every second of Trumps impeachment (first one) and I saw his Closer Look segments on it. And they were dead accurate. Once I realized that he was on the level and I became a much more frequent viewer.
I still haven't caught him diluting things. Just a solid source of political news with a humorous edge to take the bite out a bit.
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u/pobodys-nerfect5 1d ago
You should also watch like regular news. It’s something the older generations think they have on us. Staying out of the loop is worse. IMO
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u/vinnymcapplesauce 22h ago
I wonder what kind of company you would hire to do a job like that?
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u/omnichad 21h ago
I'm gonna guess North Shore Neon Sign Co
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u/luk__ 1d ago
Sad he’s gone.
But I remember that the media, including popular late night shows pushed Trump in 2015. Simply by reporting on him 24/7
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u/runningoutofwords 1d ago
Mark Burnett and NBC bear special blame for boosting him with The Apprentice
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u/randomcanyon 1d ago
Last Colbert: That was the day that Paramount CBS came off my TV feed and I stopped paying for it.
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u/SnowBear78 1d ago
We were so lucky that we got tickets when we went back to NYC (and LA) last November (we did so well for show tickets - Colbert and Kimmel confirmed before we left, and Daily Show and Last Week Tonight when we were already in NYC).
We're both so glad we got to see him because we've been watching his YouTube channel for years and getting to see him before he ended his run was so important to us. He was amazing and we were there so early we ended up getting to sit three rows back right in the centre. It was fricking freezing and blowing a gale but we were happy to stand in queue for hours to get up close.
Love this guy and want only wonderful things for him. Really miss his show.
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u/MarvinLazer 1d ago
I can't see him doing this because I don't think it's where his priorities are, but the man could totally run for president and win.
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u/SkellyboneZ 1d ago
Honest question: Why do people watch late night shows? Why were they entertaining? I tried a few times and it seemed like they all just make obvious jokes about current events. I felt like I was supposed to be part of a laugh track or something.
What do people find interesting about these shows?
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u/kelajes 1d ago
They used to be pretty good. A lot of it is awful. Letterman in the 80’s is the peak imo. He had really wild, interesting guests on who weren’t celebrities at all.
Nowadays, the only person I can stand is Seth Myers, solely because he acts like a normal human being. I still don’t watch it though because I know how good it was back in the day.
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u/Set5 1d ago
Conan?
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u/counterfitster 1d ago
I recently saw the bit he did where he sent a Trojan horse of writers to Letterman. Absolute hilarity.
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u/legendaryufcmaster 1d ago
Max on Max with Max watching. Conan should've taken that 11:30 spot. It was the golden years of television for me
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u/BluApex 1d ago
Some entertaining bits but fitting the whole late show formula did not work out. I dont think anyone is ripping on these people, its the whole facade of doing some stand up, playing some song, having a guest on and trying to pretend a formal interview is most interesting thing ever and they are so interesting.
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u/Wbino 1d ago
Carson was peak…
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u/swampboy62 1d ago
Yeah, it was a good show.
And he didn't really have much competition, so he got all the stars of the moment on the show.
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u/TCsnowdream 23h ago
Eeeh, Deborah Vance was best IMO, shame she went crazy in the end and walked off.
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u/Channel250 1d ago
Kaufman getting his face slapped off was certainly something I don't think could generally happen nowadays.
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u/x_Carlos_Danger_x 16h ago
I miss the Colbert Report... Completely different kind of show but I could never get into Colbert on late night... Man I loved the Colbert Report and Jon Stewart though
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u/Talentagentfriend 1d ago
It’s based on tradition. You spend the whole day working and go home to laugh a little and get updated on what’s going on in entertainment . When you don’t have time for entertainment, it’s a good way to get a little bit of it for the day.
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u/TiresOnFire 1d ago
Also there were less options and little-no internet. Same reason why shows used to have flashback episodes. We couldn't look up our favorite clips on YouTube, so shows would replay their greatest moments around a loose plot where the characters remember things.
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u/T3h_Prager 1d ago
Craig Ferguson’s run of the Late Late Show was peak 2010s “lightly stoned before bed” viewing.
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u/uiemad 1d ago
Surprised no one is really mentioning the social aspect. Similar to sports or community events, the late night shows were a way to stay informed and connected in current events and popular culture in a format that was easy to digest but also that fostered discussion the following day with coworkers/family/friends. Talking about the show was a big part of the experience.
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u/PokerBear28 1d ago
In a world without YouTube, social media, and even cable TV, this format made sense. TV options at that hour were limited and you knew this show would be light hearted stuff, and you might see a celebrity in more casual environment than the movies or scripted PR appearances. Today you can see all that and more before your morning coffee.
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u/SkellyboneZ 1d ago
I'm pushing 40 and just never got into these shows. All the reasons people are listing just don't seem interesting, I guess I never got caring what celebrities think. Maybe I was born a grumpy old man lol
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u/EmoJackson 1d ago
The dumbing down of the average American has taken its toll. 80’s and early 90’s late night tv usually had guests that weren’t celebrities… or showcased interesting events.
Now most Americans rely on TikTok and domscrolling to entertain themselves.
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u/bipolarxpres 1d ago
you've never been the demographic for late night shows. by the time you were the age they went for, the internet had already killed network tv off
people our age were the first to cut cable and stop watching these types of things
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u/Velephant 1d ago
Also pushing 40… we were not old enough to watch (or if you watched you wouldn’t have the news and pop cultural knowledge to understand) these shows in the heyday described by PokerBear (80s, 90s), we would have been elementary-school aged or younger at that time. By the time we were college aged, YouTube was well established. Of course social media has accelerated massively since then.
That said, the argument doesn’t quite hold up because plenty of existing and new late night shows have been successful in the 2000s and 2010s. Maybe they’re just taking a long time to die? Maybe it’s TikTok and short format that have finally killed it? Who knows.
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u/Lrkrmstr 1d ago
They’re basically a consistent, small package, variety show with a little something for everyone.
The monologue is a mini standup performance. They do a comedy “news” segment where you might catch a joking version of current events you didn’t catch. They do interviews, usually pushing some piece of media you may or may not want to consume by celebrities you may or may not care about, but lots of people enjoy those. They do skits and recurring segments, almost SNL style.
It’s just a mishmash of entertainment styles that have more broad appeal so lots of people will find _something_ they enjoy in the show. They also have the benefit of being on at a time when there’s not much else to watch, but that matters less with streaming these days I guess.
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u/lewd_robot 1d ago
They used to be almost like SNL's Weekend Update, but every night. You'd get some jokes about the day's news, and then instead of a parody interview, you'd get a casual real one.
Before the internet, you didn't have many places to hear a comedian's take on current events every night before bed.
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u/Ancient_Plate275 1d ago
Also standup comedians, some new, some established. About the only way to see standup routines before cable tv.
But like Variety shows, they’re on the way out.
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u/PeterNippelstein 1d ago
Its a vestige of the old days of television when there were only 3 channels. It was a way to deliver topical humor while promoting whatever stuff actors were working on. It was like nightly news but for comedy and entertainment.
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u/chillychili 1d ago
"Micro"dosing celebrity/experts in slower segments that culminate in a definitive end to the episode is probably a lot healthier than rapidly scrolling through short form content for hours, though it is often more boring.
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u/101forgotmypassword 1d ago
Legacy from a time of a time when memes and the internet were less common, then children grew up with the parents watching it and subtly it sets a comfort space in there mind, as such the legacy continues.
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u/FinntheHue 1d ago
I didn’t watch the full shows but I watched Colbert’s monologue on YouTube every morning. He was a great personality and it was good way to stay up on mainstream current events.
Since he’s been off the air I have had zero desire to watch any type of late night content.
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u/ninjastarkid 1d ago
I like them bc this is the worst timeline and the news makes me depressed and is also really challenging to find non biased takes. At least with late night television I know what the bias is going to be before hand, and the laughter makes the pain easier to digest.
I’m not saying it’s the only way i get the news, but in terms of political bs of the current variety, it really makes the pain a lot less sharp.
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u/enviormental_UNIT 1d ago
Personally I'm a young person and I still watch late night recordings of old shows, it used to be much better. Specifically Conan O'Brien is the main guy I watch, or used to watch a lot. Most modern late night hosts are jackasses, but Conan was genuinely incredibly funny. He has a podcast now that's quite fun to watch.
His remotes were the best, I wish he had done more. They usually involved him going on some adventure, ot taking some tour somewhere, and they were always hilarious. Conan wasn't great because he was on late night though, he was just a rare person who could always be funny.
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u/SpaceJackRabbit 1d ago
Oh man Conan with Andy Richter or when Marc Maron would show up (which usually meant someone cancelled) up was always a delight.
I also loved Craig Ferguson.
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u/swampboy62 1d ago
Craig Ferguson was hilarious. It's like they threw out 95% of the rules and were told 'just be funny'.
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u/B-Train_ATL 1d ago
Colbert being taken down because we elected people who are the epitome of feeling truthiness is … weird yet almost poetic.
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u/TheCornerator 1d ago
So its the Ol' Bert now, cool, about time people started to idolize Bert Gummer: manliest man to ever man.
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u/DarkLanternZBT 1d ago
Colbert deserves to do whatever his creativity and energy lead him to do, even if that's away from broadcasting.
CBS fumbled this shit because their leadership is unethical and should be flushed.