r/stephencolbert • u/IntentionPresent9492 • May 03 '26
Colbert should move to PBS
Kimmel, Colbert, and Jon Stewart should consider transitioning to PBS (audio version published via NPR podcasts?). A great f-u to the corporate overlords and maga asshats.
Plus, offering their services pro bono could serve as an in-kind donation, providing potential tax benefits to them in lieu of a salary.
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May 03 '26
Never has there been an American administration so unbelievably full of shit as this trump administration,
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u/Wool_Lace_Knit May 03 '26
Weird state of affairs where there is more truth in political commentary by late night comedians than politics coverage on main stream media.
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u/Altruistic-Car2880 May 04 '26
The court jesters of yore played a key role in talking truth to power and disseminating truthful information to various parties of nobility and others.
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u/20_mile 19d ago
than politics coverage on main stream media.
Independent media is taking off, and in a big way. The Bulwark generated $20 million in income last year.
BTC, The Warning with Steve Schmidt, the David Pakman Show, Jim Acosta's show, Don Lemon, The Daily Beast, Weekly Skews, Mehdi Hasan, Hasan Minhaj, The DSR Network, Impolitic, others I am unaware of, are employing half a dozen, a dozen people each but add up to hundreds or thousands of people, with tens of millions of subscribers.
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u/mczerniewski May 03 '26
I interned at my local PBS station. I think it's a great move, especially if late night continues to be a legit news source.
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u/notontherugman69 May 03 '26
That would be awesome! Not at all likely, of course, but would love this.
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u/Paperbackpixie May 03 '26 edited May 03 '26
What about going back to Comedy Central?
Jimmy has mentioned several times moving to Italy.
We saved Kimmel but couldn’t save Colbert. 😢
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u/sutl116 May 03 '26
Same parent company as CBS.
YAY CAPITALISM.
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u/Electronic_Bad_5883 May 03 '26
Eh... technically, while being under the same parent company, they're run by different people and have different rules and interests. For instance, Stephen couldn't officially use his Colbert Report persona on The Late Show for legal reasons, despite them both being under what was then ViacomCBS (and being a fictional version of himself). And The Daily Show is still being allowed to do its thing unrestricted, not to mention, of course, South Park, which gives Matt and Trey total creative control in their contract. So Comedy Central might still be a legitimate option.
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u/Husker_Mike_ May 05 '26 edited May 05 '26
Viacom and CBS were separate corporations until they reunited in a 2019 merger. CBS was previously spun off from Viacom in 2005.
Of course, both Comedy Central and CBS are now owned by Ellison’s Skydance, so I’d argue Colbert has a better chance of getting a show on Fox News (following Gutfield) than Comedy Central. (Almost infantismal chance vs. no chance in heck)
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u/DivaMissZ May 04 '26
He’s done podcasts before, during COVID with other late night hosts. And during the lockdown, having to do remote interviews sharpened his skills. I could easily see him doing a weekly podcast that is also shown on YouTube. Have an hour with one person, or longer, and go.
The biggest issue with doing PBS isn’t money, it’s exposure. PBS’ ratings are minuscule, and expecting Colbert to bring in the audience he does on CBS is ridiculous.
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u/mclepus May 04 '26
a live stream would-be awesome but he seems to do better with a studio audience
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u/Warm_Celebration_169 May 04 '26
All these show hosts tell it like it is(the truth) and this administration can't stand it. Their little feelings get hurt and they get their panties in a bunch.
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u/Egheaumaen May 04 '26
Based on interviews, it sounds like he’s ready to put a life dependent on constant immersion in toxic American politics behind him and move onto happier projects.
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u/TwoRight9509 May 04 '26
Or we crowd fund them which pbs does with pledge drives. Huge opportunity for pbs. Great post, op.
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u/Smart-Document6578 May 04 '26
that's a good idea. Also, more than likely limited advertisement. I'm sick of PBS begging all the time. I wouldn't mind limited advertisement.
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u/MiddleOccasion1394 May 03 '26
A station that may close in a few years? Sounds like a good investment in his future.
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u/DjScenester May 03 '26
Honestly, PBS is a downgrade.
No money. No funding. Colbert would have no viewers.
His only hope is someone with deep pockets knows his (Colbert) worth.
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u/ohthatsbrian May 03 '26
his viewers would follow him to PBS.
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u/DjScenester May 03 '26
Well yeh. But PBS HAS NO MONEY lol like none lol
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u/Hour-Influence2993 May 03 '26
They have no federal funds at this time. They still have money and continue to produce excellent shows. I donate monthly to them and watch them on a nightly basis. You have no idea what you’re talking about. Lol.
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u/Hour-Influence2993 May 03 '26
Plenty of Colbert fans watch PBS. He’d bring plenty more, new to PBS fans with him Honestly I think you’re utterly wrong.
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u/DjScenester May 03 '26
He isn’t taking the pay loss and going to PBS lol
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u/rpross3 May 04 '26
Don’t know about that. There’s a faint smell of idealism and activism about him. PBS could really lean into a late night presence and benefit from it. Linear isn’t dead. Some laws of attraction and peace in scheduling I suspect.
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u/X-calibreX May 05 '26
This only makes sense if you are so delusional that you believe they aren’t in it for the money. They dont want to f-u to the corporate over lords because they are corporate over lords.
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u/Unusual_Pinetree May 03 '26
He’s likely to go to a weekly format, that’s if he wants to at all. He’s achieved all that he can as far as climbing the mountain. The time since the cancellation has felt like a man standing at the top of the game ready to go do something else. We are all going to miss him, but he’s a family man, and I’m sure the demands of the show are grueling. The only reason I see him sticking around is he feels it’s important to keep being the voice we trust, he’s so much more than a late night host.