Colbert will replace Letterman

[Jazz Spazz]

I didn't realize a man with a robot sidekick who dances around with a sixth-grade play level two-man horse on a regular basis wasn't wacky enough for you.



Well Triangle Man, this is the difference between Carson, Letterman and everybody else as far as these late night shows have gone. If you want to watch celebrities play Pictionary and Name that Tune, then Fallon will be your guy. In fairness, I like watching those things sometimes too.

I barely remember Carson but the big change between Carson and Leno (and I'm saying this looking back on a change that happened a long time ago when I was very young and from an impression I've pieced together in reading books and watching old clips) is that guests came on the show with the express goal of impressing Carson. When you hear those in the comedy industry lionize the guy, I think in some sense this is the achievement they're all dancing around. Carson did a comedy show in which he was entirely non-reliant on the booked talent to bring viewers in. Carson was actually the show and guests came on because they respected him and wanted his approval.

Letterman is the closest we've had to that kind of figure in the last 20 years. Obama going on Letterman was an event. Obama taping a bit for Leno's final show barely registered. That's not about Obama, that's about how we perceive Letterman and what kind of interview you'll get with him vs. what you would get with Jay.

Obama has also been on Fallon, in a famous "Slow Jam the News" bit. That's Fallon distilled to his essence. The guest gets to feature in a bit that plays to their strengths and Fallon and the Roots will make them look good. Fallon will never have a moment like Letterman's interview with Crispin Glover, or Letterman with Joaquin Phoenix, or Letterman with Madonna. It's just not in his DNA.

In that sense, Colbert is a fitting choice.The man has always asked penetrating interview questions and, more importantly, seems completely unafraid to mock his own guests.

I don't remember Carson really, and Leno was fine at first but got tired for me after a while. Letterman was fine sometimes but for every one of those few interviews you talked about there were 100 that were dull and often awkward. Most of the top 10's had one or two funny lines, but the rest were lame. I think the Letterman band sidekick was too lame or cheesy, even more so than the rest.

I think Fallon while safe with the guests at least tries to do something fresh so it doesn't seem like it's the same night over and over and over just with a different guest.

I guess I'm the other way around. That late at night I just want to be entertained, and sometimes I don't mind seeing something awkward and strange but I'm not going to look for it every night.

Could be why they have different shows on, people want different things.

 

[8]

They all suck because they all have to sell out and lose their edginess when going to TV on a major network.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

Fallon is only good because of The Roots.

Also he has good musical skits.

The whole talking and stuff part though he is pretty bland.

Also Fallon is more creative and takes more risk w/ musical guest.

 

[8]

Fallon is only good because of The Roots.

Also he has good musical skits.

The whole talking and stuff part though he is pretty bland.

Also Fallon is more creative and takes more risk w/ musical guest.

The studio bands are my favorite part, although the Roots is probably my least favorite. I like Conan's band the best because I'm gay like that.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

The studio bands are my favorite part, although the Roots is probably my least favorite. I like Conan's band the best because I'm gay like that.

bft

bolded for truth

 

[Tony]

I personally feel like Jon Stewart should have gotten the job. He's much more cut out for a late night hosting gig than what he's doing now. I've tried and tried to watch his Comedy Central show but I just can't do it. More than half of every damn episode is him pretending to laugh at the things he's saying which he knows isn't even funny... And every time I flip to that station and he's on there, he's pretending to laugh into his arm. EVERY. ****ING. TIME.

**** Jon Stewart.
**** The Daily Show.

 

[MoTappin]

I used to like Letterman a lot, thought I didn't often stay up that late to watch. We have caught the first few minutes of Fallon here and there, and he's pretty darn likable. But Colber? No thanks. When we DO see some of the late night shows it'll be Fallon. I thought Ellen or Jerry Seinfeld would have been good.

 

[TroutBum]

I personally feel like Jon Stewart should have gotten the job. He's much more cut out for a late night hosting gig than what he's doing now. I've tried and tried to watch his Comedy Central show but I just can't do it. More than half of every damn episode is him pretending to laugh at the things he's saying which he knows isn't even funny... And every time I flip to that station and he's on there, he's pretending to laugh into his arm. EVERY. ****ING. TIME.

**** Jon Stewart.
**** The Daily Show.

Letterman does the same thing; laughs at his own stupid jokes, looks at Paul, who says something even less funny, and then they both keep bringing it up throughout the show. Lather, rinse, repeat. I would rather watch linoleum curl than Letterman.

 

[VINYLONE]

I don't even remember the last time I watched one of those late night shows...

 

[colton]

Fallon's animating sensibility is joy and that penetrates virtually every facet of his show and the way he interacts with guests. What you're seeing in that clip is a particularly evocative example of that principle.

What Fallon will not ever do is challenge his audience or challenge his guests. It gets in the way of joy and would screw with the vibe of his show. As a result, Fallon is poised to be the king of the "Hangout Late Show" for the next couple decades. I like to check in on his stuff that goes viral every once in awhile but I have no real interest in regularly tuning into the late night equivalent of Cotton Candy.

Ironically you praise Carson elsewhere in the thread, and to my memory* Carson's main traits are precisely those you are slamming Fallon on: Carson had a certain joy that penetrated all facets of his show including the way he interacted with guests. He poked fun very very gently at politics/human stupidity/etc. He didn't EVER challenge his guests to my memory, and only challenged his audience in the mildest of ways. But he was a gentleman, and had a terrific sense of humor. And was a joy to watch. To my mind, still the undisputed king of late night.


* I was 21 when Leno took over. I probably watched 100+ episodes of Carson's Tonight Show live, albeit usually not to the end because of how late the shows started.

 

[gregbroncs]

I have to admit Fallon is pretty good.

I'm not much of a fan of any late night show. Hated Leno, Letterman was barely tolerable. But Fallon has been great so far. Best late night show in a long while. I'll actually sit down and watch him. The rest I turned the station after only a few minutes.

 

[gregbroncs]

Ironically you praise Carson elsewhere in the thread, and to my memory* Carson's main traits are precisely those you are slamming Fallon on: Carson had a certain joy that penetrated all facets of his show including the way he interacted with guests. He poked fun very very gently at politics/human stupidity/etc. He didn't EVER challenge his guests to my memory, and only challenged his audience in the mildest of ways. But he was a gentleman, and had a terrific sense of humor. And was a joy to watch. To my mind, still the undisputed king of late night.


* I was 21 when Leno took over. I probably watched 100+ episodes of Carson's Tonight Show live, albeit usually not to the end because of how late the shows started.

Carson seemed like he was in it to have fun and hopefully entertain in the process. The few shows I was old enough to stay up and watch were always really funny. This is the way I think Fallon is. My dad got me to watch Fallon, he claimed that if anybody could compare to Carson it was Fallon. He pretty much quite watching late night after Carson quit. None of the others were entertaining to him.

After watching Fallon a few times I agree with him. He's entertaining, he's funny, and he does not take himself so god damn seriously like most of the rest seem to.