April 11, 2014

"How does Comedy Central replace Colbert?"

"It could easily draw from its considerable in-house bench... Amy Schumer... Daniel Tosh...."
What’s not clear is whether Comedy Central will want to stick with the fake-news format Colbert borrowed from Stewart, or aim for something else. Doing something experimental would be consistent with its DNA as an alternative comedy channel....
"The Colbert Show" isn't just fake news. It's a liberal acting the role of a foolish right-winger. Colbert did it extremely well, but it was questionable how long he could keep doing the same thing, so why would they bring in somebody else — a year from now — to continue it. They could refresh it, perhaps, by having a female liberal play the foolish right-winger role. And then there's the bold (obvious) idea of getting a conservative comedian to play a foolish left-winger, but somehow that seems impossible.

26 comments:

richlb said...

Colbert did do his schtick quite well. I don't think it was too offensive - the only bug I ever had was that they never wanted to go the opposite way mocking the left much. It was as ripe for satire as us conservatives.

I think it would be a mistake to try and replicate his act. It's been done now, move on. And to be honest, many times Cobert was covering the exact some stuff as Stewart anyway. It was a little redundant.

I think the best option, going with a satire of news presentation angle, would be a replacement show that featured several women lampooning shows like "The View". Pull a couple of women (and maybe one gay man) that play off each other and go that route. It would be fresher than a rehash of what Stewart is already doing.

Mark said...

Colbert was doing a character that is not easy to do, if Comedy Central tried to put someone else in that character it is a huge mistake.

They have lost John Oliver over the summer to HBO, have lost other talent to film. They should do as before, give someone a chance at the spot. Likely a staffer from Daily Show.

wendybar said...

"And then there's the bold (obvious) idea of getting a conservative comedian to play a foolish left-winger, but somehow that seems impossible."

NO...Left Wingers are foolish enough without some comedian playing one.

Jim said...

Comedy Central's audience mainly consists of foolish left-wingers who only have a "sense of humor" when the barbs are pointed at "the other."

When they are pointed at them instead, then it's a "culture of hate" which needs to be purged. Hate only works one way, you see.

William said...

I occasionally watch Red Eye with Greg Gutfeld. He's the closest thing there is to a right wing Colbert. His show has its moments.......Every year Harvard graduates a bunch of smart ass kids who want nothing more to do with their lives than make fun of Republicans. It's hard for a conservative comedian to get good material.

JRoberts said...

I would think they could do well with "Harry Reid's Greatest Hits".

kcom said...

"but somehow that seems impossible"

Truer words were never spoken.

Unknown said...

How about a spoof of "Face the Nation" with a liberal leaning host and a panel that spans the spectrum

Mitch H. said...

Who was the guy that was behind "David Kehane"? Michael Walsh. But he's a writer, not a performer. I dunno, I'm not the Comedy Central audience.

tim in vermont said...

Portlandia is a pretty funny sendup of earnest liberals. So was Wanderlust. Look at the bad reviews that Wanderlust got, even though I thought it was pretty funny:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marshall-fine/wanderlust-review_b_1298920.html

Liberals are like feminists, they often just can't see the humor.

RecChief said...

Samantha Bee

RecChief said...

Getting a conservative comedian to play a caricature of a liberal would n't work.

What business succeeds by mocking its consumers?

Dave D said...

I know lots of 20-somethings who actually get their news and (indirectly) "instructions" on how to think primarily from Colbert and Stewart. Scary.....

campy said...

Invite the top conservative newsmaker of the day to stand on a stage while a monkey hurls feces at him.

Titus said...

"Invite the top conservative newsmaker of the day to stand on a stage while a monkey hurls feces at him."

That would be a ratings bonanza.

I think they should give it to Samantha Bee-she's fucking funny.

Unknown said...

i always thought colbert was/is funnier than stewart, but i got tired of his show because it was kind of the same thing over and over. but whenever it came on, i had to admit, he was good. the daily show is not what it used to be, but for some reason i still watch it semi regularly.

colbert should do fine on late-night. he has a great range as demonstrated on his work on 'strangers with candy' and his various vo roles.

also don't understand the comments about colbert performing politically balanced comedy. should rodney dangerfield spend half his act mocking himself from his wife's pov?

SteveR said...

Just in time for the media worship fest over Hillary. That will be comedy gold,I'm telling you.

cubanbob said...

If CBS were actually interested in earning the maximum possible out the show they would have hired Jay Leno. Colbert maybe funny (maybe its just me but I find him to be an arrogant bore) but at best his audience size will never be what Leno just finished off with. The reason is simple: Leno wasn't openly partisan on the show even though he is a liberal. Colbert won't be mocking both sides so CBS just traded third place for third place with perhaps the saving grace of having to Colbert less than what they pay Letterman.

Ipso Fatso said...

I admit I never watched Colbert but is there an "is" there? He played a role and was good at it. Fine, but how will he come off as himself? Has he ever played himself in anything substantial, for any length of time? How will he wear? Will people be able to separate Colbert- the new talk show host- from Colbert- the character he played over the last ten years or so? I don't much care but it will be interesting to find out.

richard mcenroe said...

Test pattern should do it.

Unknown said...

@Ipso Fatso

i see your point. colbert is largely known for this one character, but he has played many over the years. i don't see why it will be a problem. there's also an assumption that letterman and other talk show hosts are 'real' or playing themselves, which i don't think is true. they are performing just like anyone else in show business.

Karen said...

They could get Evan Sayet to play the "foolish left winger". He used to be one, and he's a comedian and a writer, and he would be brilliant.

Birches said...

I think the best option, going with a satire of news presentation angle, would be a replacement show that featured several women lampooning shows like "The View". Pull a couple of women (and maybe one gay man) that play off each other and go that route. It would be fresher than a rehash of what Stewart is already doing.

I'd watch that.

Rusty said...

""How does Comedy Central replace Colbert?""

Hopefully with someone funny. It would be a nice change.

The Godfather said...

@althouse, whatever is decided about who/what replaces Coal Bear, please post that information on your blog. Otherwise, many of us will never know.

luagha said...

My favorite part about the Colbert show is when he's interviewing a liberal politican, and in the slowest, easiest way possible, he tosses them the most basic question a conservative would like to ask.

And they fumble and get confused.