LSSC: Season One All Episodes Talk

[ZoqFotPik]

 

So, Trump, Go-Pro guy, Tesla guy - who are the other three billionaires that have visited the Late Show?

Travis Kalanick (Uber), Evan Spiegel (Snapchat), and Brian Chesky (Airbnb).

[SpiritSong]

FAR AND AWAY THE BEST SHOW SO FAR !!!!!

The Democratic debate piece killed ("I'd hate to have to split the check with Bernie Sanders"), Jack Black wasn't too manic, Go-Pro guy was fun with the little cameras all over the place and the tap dance segment was terrific (Perfect music accompaniment).

Just a great show...

Yes, less than one month in Stephen has really hit his stride. He's in control and seems to be having the time of his life. I love that his guest list is light on vapid celebrities. Instead we get politicians, inventors, scientists and a fantastic array of musical guests. He's head and shoulders above the other late night talk shows.

Personally, I think he should let his inner Tolkien geek out now and then. It's endearing.

[bmoore4026]

THEY GOT THE VOICE OF CECIL TO APPEAR!  YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!

 

But why did the Night Vale guys come on last?  And I need to remember to ask for that Night Vale novel for Christmas.

 

It's usually fascinating when Oprah shows up.  She plugs what she's doing while at the same time engaging the host with smart talk.  I like that.

[ABay]

Jon! Looking pretty good.

[Kromm]

Yes, less than one month in Stephen has really hit his stride. He's in control and seems to be having the time of his life. I love that his guest list is light on vapid celebrities. Instead we get politicians, inventors, scientists and a fantastic array of musical guests. He's head and shoulders above the other late night talk shows.

It's true.  Sadly at the same time the horrible least common denominator audience has gone back to watching Fallon.  It's sickening Fallon's back to dominating the ratings.  You know... with his stupid vapid celebrities (and his REALLY bad interviews with them), where he kisses their asses left and right, plays stupid little games and otherwise pumps out the most vanilla Leno-esque show possible.

[A Boston Gal]

It's repeats next week. I'm sure they've been killing themselves putting this together and I'm not begrudging anyone a break, but is having a vacation week less than two months into a premiering late night show usual?

[peeayebee]

I really enjoyed Oprah's interview. I'm not a religious person myself, but I like when Stephen and his guests talk about faith. It's refreshing.

 

Unfortunately, I don't get the OWN network, so I'll have to see if I can watch Belief online. It's looks very interesting.

 

I've never heard of Welcome to Night Vale. It sounds like an off-kilter Prairie Home Companion.

 

I've gotten a little tired of Stephen mentioning that he has a Tesla, but it was pretty interesting hearing about the s/w updates they get. 

 

Loved his James Bond theme, if I can call it that. The whole bit cracked me up.

[nowandlater]

It's repeats next week. I'm sure they've been killing themselves putting this together and I'm not begrudging anyone a break, but is having a vacation week less than two months into a premiering late night show usual?

 

Yes, I recall Corden and Seth Meyers doing a lot of vacations early on.

 

Remember: Unlike a lot of talk show hosts, Colbert does 5 shows a week. And then he's doing stuff like hosting a concert in Central Park on one Saturday.

 

It's quite a grind.

 

Fallon has next week off, too.

 

Colbert also has to rest up for November sweeps.

 

(I believe this vacation has been set months ago, since Kimmel will be using both shows'vacation to do a week (5 shows, instead of 4) from Fallon and Colbert's backyard in Brooklyn next week. That's why Kimmel will be on Colbert tonight promoting next week. Kimmel's visit was talked about when Colbert was interviewed by Howard Stern a few months ago.)

Edited October 16, 2015 by nowandlater

[possibilities]

RE Stephen talking about having a Tesla: I have some ambivalence about it, too. He talks a lot about how rich he is, and I always feel like it's a mixed bag. On the one hand, he is rich, and everyone knows it, so pretending otherwise is kind of ridiculous and very fake. On the other hand, I don't think it's as funny to other people as it is to him. It can come off like he's rubbing everyone's noses in it, rather than that he is mocking the absurdity.

 

I think with Tesla, he probably gets product placement compensation for mentioning it.

 

Nevertheless, I was interested in the self-driving car. I have heard about them, but never seen any in action. I can't drive due to motor co-ordination and reflex slowness, and if it was really possible for me to have a car without needing to drive it, my life would change! But I also realize it's not likely to work that way (nor that I'd be able to afford it), and the idea of a machine with no human guidance being in charge on the road makes me nervous, too. ANyway, it's an issue that I find interesting.

 

I don't get OWN either, but I want to see the Belief series. It sounds really interesting.

 

Batiste seemed very uncomfortable and unsure of himself when Colbert was asking if he'd met Oprah. I usually think their banter is scripted but maybe not in this case. Either way, it's that same "I'm better and more famou and luckier and generally more privileged than you" competitive schtick that worked on TCR and I find so annoying when he's supposedly out of character, once again rearing its head.

Edited October 16, 2015 by possibilities

[kib]

I suspect there's very little in the way of umbrella drinks and white beaches in store for the cast & crew during the break.  If we take the exchange of the staffer coming on during the show trying to hold a quicky meeting (Looks like they finally got the thing with the live chicken shot and aired) at face value, the company is going to stay plenty busy playing catch up as well as loading up for sweeps.

 

The beast of television has a voracious appetite.

[Milburn Stone]

Stephen and the staff should be proud of themselves for this one, I never watched TCR but am enjoying his new blend of political/pop culture satire and variety show.

 

Great description! It is more like a variety show than any other talk show I know of. Leave it to Stephen to break the mold.

[bmoore4026]

Stephen's comment to Tom Hiddleston about, what was it?  His "English countryside"?  That was fantastic :D

 

Mia Whatsherface was rocking the young Mia Farrow look.  And here I thought Jessica Chastain was English.

 

Stephen's Mandy Patankin impression was great, too.  And I'd love to see more cooking on his show.

[Padma]

Great description! It is more like a variety show than any other talk show I know of. Leave it to Stephen to break the mold.

 

I so agree. He's really doing something different and breaking the mold of vapid late night primetime television. Even the celebrity interviews are better than the other two and I'm enjoying the "variety" show aspect (esp. when Stephen joins in the singing and dancing, then also lets the "Pros" have the stage).

 

Oprah's a natural as a guest, but I thought she hit one little unfortunate note at the very end. I thought Stephen really was responding with some unusual openness about his own explanation for being a Catholic and passing it on to his own children. For her to respond "Wow, you're really deep!"--with an evaluative response rather than something more feeling-related--just hit me wrong, as kind of flippant and dismissive. (Especially weird from someone known for all that touchy-feely stuff. And sorry they briefly pimped "The Secret". The way Oprah explained her show -- and the clip-- made it seem better than that. I didn't think I'd be interested--still hate her "wow, this is amazing!" interviews with Joel Osteen and Tony Robbins--but it sounded really good the way they described it. ). 

 

I'm glad Fallon's also off next week as I'm worried about Stephen's ratings. (Maybe it's just reading some Yahoo comments about how he has "a weird obsession with politics" from someone who couldn't wait to get back to Fallon.   I don't know how they produce so much content every night.   Even though I miss the edgier wit of TCR, this is such an impressively full show, and an hour 5 nights a week. I just hope they don't burn out!..          

Edited October 17, 2015 by Padma

[amsel]

I realized early that the entire interview with Kimmel was scripted. And when they kept mentioning their agent, I knew he would appear later in the show. The whole interview felt weird and forced because of it. And of course the guy needs cologne to cover up his cigarette smell. 

 

Earlier in the show, I thought most of his lines about Homeland fell flat. Maybe the audience isn't as familiar with the show as they assumed. 

[kib]

I realized early that the entire interview with Kimmel was scripted. And when they kept mentioning their agent, I knew he would appear later in the show. The whole interview felt weird and forced because of it. And of course the guy needs cologne to cover up his cigarette smell.

 

I'd agree.  While there are some interesting stories that pop up if you Google "Babydoll Dixon", (One in particular about the nature of charisma) the whole endeavor seemed a little self-indulgent for all parties involved.

 

YMMV

[peeayebee]

I've only seen clips of Kimmel's show, but I liked him here as a guest. In fact, once again I got annoyed with Stephen for interrupting and for diverting the conversation away from what Jimmy had just said. Oh well. Scripted or not (probably yes), Kimmel came off as more natural to me.

 

I thought it was funny when Jimmy spit the food out, and then when Stephen tried to flip the meatball away. I was surprised at how aggressively Jimmy wrestled with Babydoll. I assume they've done that kind of horseplay before.

 

Four guests at once is too many. I wanted to hear much more from Hiddleston. I had forgotten Mia was also in Only Lovers Left Alive.

[Arcey]

I always had leftover bad feelings about Jimmy Kimmel ever since the days of The Man Show with Adam Corolla. I never watched it, but just the thought of it left a very bad taste for me. I'm not one to forget things like that, unfortunately. :) Then 2 or 3 years ago, he was a guest on Fresh Air with Terry Gross, and I liked him so much after that interview. He's quite a sweetheart, with a big extended family that he mines for rich material, and real life funny stuff. If you're not too familiar with his human side, it's worth a listen.

 

I agree that Friday's show was a little meh and several things fell a little flat.

[walnutqueen]

I'd agree.  While there are some interesting stories that pop up if you Google "Babydoll Dixon", (One in particular about the nature of charisma) the whole endeavor seemed a little self-indulgent for all parties involved.

 

YMMV

 

While I loves me some Colbert, I find his new show and persona to be a little too self indulgent.  The very self-involved trait that made him hilarious and relatable on TCR just doesn't translate well to this new format.  I do not care to watch him delving even further into his whole "who am ME" schtick.  He is clever and witty without all that.

[kib]

While I loves me some Colbert, I find his new show and persona to be a little too self indulgent. The very self-involved trait that made him hilarious and relatable on TCR just doesn't translate well to this new format. I do not care to watch him delving even further into his whole "who am ME" schtick. He is clever and witty without all that.

I guess the only point I was attempting to make was, with the notable exception of Shep Gordon who truly is a fascinating character, the number of people who have any real interest in the television appearance of a talent agent can be counted on the fingers of one hand. Three of those fingers were onstage during that segment and the fourth is the show's Executive Producer. Edited October 19, 2015 by kib

[Kromm]

While I loves me some Colbert, I find his new show and persona to be a little too self indulgent.  The very self-involved trait that made him hilarious and relatable on TCR just doesn't translate well to this new format.  I do not care to watch him delving even further into his whole "who am ME" schtick.  He is clever and witty without all that.

It sounds like you think the motive for those skits is self-aggrandizement. I disagree. I think it's self-mockery.

[bluepiano]

While I loves me some Colbert, I find his new show and persona to be a little too self indulgent.  The very self-involved trait that made him hilarious and relatable on TCR just doesn't translate well to this new format.

 

I'm starting to wonder if the ego and preening self-involvement he displayed as the Stephen "character" on TCR doesn't have more elements of his true personality than his fans would like to believe.

 

As someone mentioned in an earlier post, the continued references to his being rich seem pretty weird. On TCR that was his standard reply to liberal politicians who would talk about income inequality or programs to help the poor or middle class. When he would say, "why should I care, I'm rich," it was funny because we know that's how many Republicans really feel. Including Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly, among the wealthiest media figures in the country, who always claim that they're sticking up for the average Joe.

 

But now that Stephen is supposed to be Stephen, I don't get it.

Edited October 20, 2015 by bluepiano

[kib]

I'm starting to wonder if the ego and preening self-involvement he displayed as the Stephen "character" on TCR doesn't have more elements of his true personality than his fans would like to believe.

 

As someone mentioned in an earlier post, the continued references to his being rich seem pretty weird. On TCR that was his standard reply to liberal politicians who would talk about income inequality or programs to help the poor or middle class. When he would say, "why, should I care, I'm rich," it was funny because we know that's how many Republicans really feel. Including Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly, among the wealthiest media figures in the country, who always claim that they're sticking up for the average Joe.

 

But now that Stephen is supposed to be Stephen, I don't get it.

I don't know.  Isn't being something of an enigma a prerequisite for hosting a late night program?

[Kromm]

I'm starting to wonder if the ego and preening self-involvement he displayed as the Stephen "character" on TCR doesn't have more elements of his true personality than his fans would like to believe.

 

As someone mentioned in an earlier post, the continued references to his being rich seem pretty weird. On TCR that was his standard reply to liberal politicians who would talk about income inequality or programs to help the poor or middle class. When he would say, "why should I care, I'm rich," it was funny because we know that's how many Republicans really feel. Including Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly, among the wealthiest media figures in the country, who always claim that they're sticking up for the average Joe.

 

But now that Stephen is supposed to be Stephen, I don't get it.

Is his talking about having a Tesla REALLY the same thing as boasting about how rich he is? I know you have to BE rich to have a Tesla, but acknowledging that isn't really the same thing as boasting about it.

That said, anyone who hosts a talk show pretty much by definition probably has to have a real ego. Even as a (Meyers-Briggs) confirmed Introvert, it's a career that requires a ridiculous level of self-confidence. How much of a negative we make of that really depends on how unrealistically we want to set our expectations of these people. I mean how many years did it take for people to REALLY believe that Jay Leno, "The Nicest Guy In Hollywood", wasn't really? It was always kind of a dumb thing to believe.

[alias1]

I'm starting to wonder if the ego and preening self-involvement he displayed as the Stephen "character" on TCR doesn't have more elements of his true personality than his fans would like to believe.

 

I've wondered the same thing.  Ego is one thing, but I think he overdoes it sometimes. 

Edited October 20, 2015 by SierraMist

[ABay]

It's not bothering me at all since I haven't noticed whatever it is you're seeing. IMO, anyone on camera is projecting a persona and playing a role. I don't expect, or want, to see the "real" anybody, I want to be entertained and have a little joy before work.

Edited October 20, 2015 by ABay

[Padma]

Is his talking about having a Tesla REALLY the same thing as boasting about how rich he is? I know you have to BE rich to have a Tesla, but acknowledging that isn't really the same thing as boasting about it.

I think so. Also, it's just generally kind of tacky to brag about all your luxury goods, income, vacations etc. when you know so well that you're in the top .1% of the population (not 1%), income-wise. Even if its supposed to be kind of cocky-funny (as if in yet another "Stephen" character) it's kind of not.  Then again, I don't even like all the pimping out products to get free stuff ("Look at my new Apple watch!" etc.)  Especially when you have all the money to pay for things, you -really- don't have to sell out for a freebie. (And Apple et al really doesn't need the free advertising either.) 

 

Anyway, I still think the real Stephen must be down-to-earth guy who's trying to "keep it real" with the huge success. (If you know otherwise, please don't tell!)

[formerlyfreedom]

Let's go ahead and take further conversation about Stephen the man/the host over to the "Stephen Colbert" vs Stephen Colbert topic, and continue episode discussion in here. Thanks!

[Padma]

Haven't been watching the re-runs, but really looking forward to some of next week's guests, inc. Hillary C, Anthony Bourdain and Neil deGrasse Tyson. Even looking forward to Charlie Rose and Stephen together.  Hope they all have plenty of time (well Hillary doesn't matter, esp if "Stephen" doesn't show up for it.)

Edited October 23, 2015 by Padma

[bluepiano]

I turned it off about 20 minutes in. Two announced guests promoting their new movie/TV show, and then a surprise third guest coming on to plug yet another movie. No thanks. There was a lot of discussion on this forum when Colbert's move to the Late Show was announced about how he was too smart and savvy to host just another inane, pop culture plug fest. Well, guess what?
 

And in the current affairs department, after a week away in which all kinds of momentous things were happening on the national and world scene, we get an extended piece making fun of Jim Webb and Lincoln Chafee. Wow, way to be out there on the satirical cutting  edge! Sadly, Colbert is now like every other late comic, making the obvious jokes about the easy targets, and not risking offending, say, the good folks out there who agree with Ben Carson that the Devil is real and that Obamacare is the same thing as slavery. (Oh wait. Today it's abortion that's the equivalent of slavery).

 

And oh yeah, his joke just before vacation about Raoul Castro being less of a socialist than Bernie Sanders? I could've heard that line from any host in Fox. I also remember people on this website saying that Stephen could be a contemporary Dick Cavett. Well, no way that Cavett would've used a line like that, because he used humor to challenge people to think, not pander to their ignorance and fears.

 

I didn't expect The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to be a continuation of The Colbert Report. But I also didn't expect Stephen to become just another bought and paid for corporate shill.

 

I think I'm done.

 

Edited October 27, 2015 by bluepiano

[peeayebee]

I never expected Stephen's Late Show to be the new Colbert Report. I certainly miss TCR and his character, but I'm enjoying the show because I enjoy Stephen. That's not to say I don't have complaints. Sometimes he doesn't seem to listen to the guests, or is on autopilot, like in last night's show when the new Supergirl said she had the same powers as Superman, then 10 seconds later Stephen asked if she had the same powers. So I wish he were a better interviewer and/or conversationalist on air.

 

I don't have any complaints about the lack of biting, incisive political commentary. That's simply not what The Late Show is about.

 

But I like Stephen. I really like his Hungry for Power Games segment. I grin thru the whole thing. 

[MrWhyt]

But I like Stephen. I really like his Hungry for Power Games segment. I grin thru the whole thing. 

Yes, why wouldn't you make fun of people who think they have the support to run for President of the United States of America and yet poll at 1% or less.

[Saylii]

I thought the show last night was fine. Stephen touched on Benghazi and Biden not running. He had his running gag with the Hungry for Power Games. The skits and his monologue/desk segment are starting to tighten up a lot. That's probably the strongest part of his show.

I'm not sure Jon Bautiste is gelling like he should. I'm not sure if the dynamic is supposed to be that he doesn't like Colbert, but that's the vibe he's throwing. I think it's supposed to be an "I'm too cool for this" vibe, but it's not coming across as that. They really shouldn't let him talk.

[trow125]

Anyone who's got enough ego to put themselves forward as a major candidate for president (i.e. big enough to be invited to the nationally televised debates) has to have a thick skin, so I don't think Stephen is being too mean. Personally, my first thought now when someone drops out is "Oh boy, Hungry for Power Games is coming back!" It's my favorite running segment. Having Stanley Tucci show up was kind of amusing even if it did turn into a plug -- loved seeing Stephen in the Effie Trinket wig.

 

I just fast forward through most of the actor guests, though I did have to watch the part where Stephen made Sienna Miller eat his weird mayo/mustard concoction (TCR viewers may recall that he made that same delicacy for Martha Stewart once).

 

I agree with everything Saylii said about Jon B. He may be a fine bandleader but he is probably never going to be a quick-witted Paul Shaffer-style sidekick.

[catrox14]

I just love the Presidential Candidate Tribute bit so much. It's so perfectly snarky and hilarious.

[Grace284]

But I like Stephen. I really like his Hungry for Power Games segment. I grin thru the whole thing. 

 

I cackled when Stanley Tucci showed up. He should invade the studio more often, he gels well with Stephen. I liked the little riff on 'Broad Way'.

 

I see Stephen's mother had the same attitude as my grandmother when it came to her kids feeding themselves. It's why my dad enjoys a nice bowl of ham, trifle and ice cream at Christmas.

Edited October 27, 2015 by Grace284

[peeayebee]

The whole thing with the hot dogs and SmugVegetarian was hilarious! Officer Tofu. Hee.

 

I liked Hillary's interview. 

 

I've never watched any of Anthony Bourdain's shows, though I've heard they're really good. However, I've seen clips, and here on LSSC he looked so odd smiling and laughing so much.

 

I love Carrie Brownstein on Portlandia. I've never seen her interviewed, and I was impressed with how intelligent and well spoken she is. I mean, I never thought she was stupid or vacuous, but I didn't expect to want to just listen to her talk.

[catrox14]

Okay that  #SmugVegetarian rant was CLASSIC COLBERT.  I will watch that till the end of time.  I laughed til I cried.

 

I feel like Stephen is really finding his legs now with a good balance of his grand snark and interviews. I'm loving it.

[roseha]

Okay that  #SmugVegetarian rant was CLASSIC COLBERT.  I will watch that till the end of time.  I laughed til I cried.

 

I feel like Stephen is really finding his legs now with a good balance of his grand snark and interviews. I'm loving it.

 

I agree, that was an absolutely hilarious segment, right down to the bacon in the pipe smoking finale.  And I say that as a person who's scared off bacon by the WHO announcement!

 

I've been away and not caught up on all the shows yet, but have to add to the reaction to the Jack Black/Nick Woodman/Tap Dance show.  What a great show!  I had no interest in seeing either Black or Woodman, but both interviews went really well, and the tap segments were wonderful. 

[LADreamr]

But I like Stephen. I really like his Hungry for Power Games segment. I grin thru the whole thing.

Me too. Every time someone drops out, I look forward to this segment. Thank goodness there are so many more to come.

As a lifetime vegetarian, I don't get the smug thing. In my experience it's been the carnivores who were smug. You can acknowledge there are problems with meat production without attacking us.

[Milburn Stone]

Every time someone drops out, I look forward to this segment. Thank goodness there are so many more to come.

 

I can never get over how simply putting on a blue wig makes him completely different.

 

(I know...it's called acting. So what I'm really saying is how blown away I am by his acting.)

Edited October 28, 2015 by Milburn Stone

[trow125]

As a lifetime vegetarian, I don't get the smug thing. In my experience it's been the carnivores who were smug. You can acknowledge there are problems with meat production without attacking us.

There's nothing uncooler than being a vegetarian -- I've been one for most of my life and especially in this bacon-is-everything era, it's a huge bummer, to be honest. And I live in the San Francisco area! (Yes, bacon is big here, too.) So the segment kind of made me sad. I know, I'm a humorless vegetarian. (My bacon-loving husband liked it...)

 

I wasn't sure what to expect, but I found Hillary delightful. The Halloween costumes were hilarious.

[Grommet]

I thought the interview with Hilary was great. She seemed relaxed and Stephen didn't try to grab the wheel too much. Good job by both.

That whole guest lineup was good, come to think of it. The best yet.

[LJonEarth]

The way that Jonathan Franzen talked about his prison pen pal (and "what had happened to him," not what he did) was disturbing; and I'm somewhat upset that Stephen didn't call him on it.

[zxy556575]

Does Stephen always wear a tie clip? The light was glaring off it tonight for some reason.

 

Nice ep overall. The "scent of me washing kale" in the morning. The singer had a beautiful voice, but what kind of fakakta outfit was she wearing?

Edited October 29, 2015 by lordonia

[brgjoe]

Gee, Stephen, thanks for spoiling the new Star Wars movie for us, you meanie!  :P  ;)

 

And while the takedown of Trump was amusing, I still wish the media would stop paying so much attention to the guy.  I know this is one viewer who is very Trumped out by all the Trumpster coverage to date.

[Padma]

I'm finding I like the show better with (non tv/movie star/rapper) guests I'm unfamiliar with, where my expectations are low.  Tuesday night was an example. While I agree that Hillary was charming, yes, even delightful--a much better guest than her husband--I was disappointed, because it meant she was getting to "perform" on The Late Show just like she would with Fallon or Kimmel. Stephen said nothing challenging or insightful to her (guess I shouldn't expect it), just provided a lovely PR opportunity. So, yes, message received: this isn't TCR.  (And re: Jon Batiste, why can't they just script a bit of dialogue for the two of them? The guy's strength clearly is not "band leader exchanges witticisms with host". It can be painful to watch him try).

 

But Tuesday was a particular surprise and disappointment because it was Hillary and Bourdain with Stephen. I thought Bourdain did fine as a mild-mannered, smiling, eager guest (quite different from his usual persona) with a story or two to pimp his graphic novel and CNN show. But I was kind of amazed that Colbert, an admitted foodie and hobbyist home cook, truly seemed to have zero idea who he was.  Maybe because I've been -so- familiar with him for so many years--not just a "host of a travel show" but as the sole -writer- of a variety of world travel shows oriented toward culture and food (now, with CNN, also focusing more than usual on politics), not to mention so many books--this really surprised me. And he's based in New York!  

 

Stephen's questions were fine--for someone you knew nothing about and therefore didn't followup answers, didn't ask anything "fresh", (I blame Bourdain/CNN for dumbing it down with the clip about the tattoo, but SC had no followup--clearly had never seen the show.) I'm a Bourdain fan, but not of his disses of vegetarians, health food, etc. and kind of hoped with the hot dog thing (he loves global "meat in tubes") that might have come up, making the conversation a little more thought-provoking (including a bit of hypocrisy on his part for being so great and respectful of vegetarians world-wide....except for those in the United States). But...no such luck.

 

Anyway, I don't expect interviews to "be for me" but where you already know a bit about the guests, they do seem kind of a waste of time. I enjoyed the technology people much more because, like Stephen, I had no prior knowledge. And I turn off most of the "pimp the CBS stars" interviews right away. That seems to be a requirement of these late shows--a big purpose for them--alas.)

 

His openings are still funny, though. It's just too bad that both TCR and TDS are gone in an election year and while I'm sure "The Late Show" is good for what it is, those are the late night programs I used to stay up for and there's nothing to replace them.

Edited October 29, 2015 by Padma

[peeayebee]

The way that Jonathan Franzen talked about his prison pen pal (and "what had happened to him," not what he did) was disturbing; and I'm somewhat upset that Stephen didn't call him on it.

Yeah, when he said the guy was in jail for consensual sex with an underage boy (or maybe he said man), I immediately thought, "I don't believe someone underage can be really give his/her consent." I'm assuming Franzen doesn't believe that it's rape if both parties say it's consensual. Anyway, I couldn't really concentrate on what he was saying about the guy after his consensual sex remark.

 

I thought it was a really awkward interview, so I was pleasantly surprised by the storybook reading bit at the end. I get the feeling that Franzen likes Colbert, but this was just a bad interview.

 

I was also disappointed in the interview with Julianna Marguiles. Obviously Stephen doesn't watch The Good Wife since he admitted he just heard of bond court that day, and the show has been about it since the new season started, and I wish he would have just admitted that he doesn't watch it, or has watched only some of it. As Julianna was talking about some specific things from the show, both Stephen and the audience didn't seem to get it, like Alicia being the character she plays and the hooker remark referring to Alicia's husband, not to Bill Clinton, which I think might have been confusing to non-watchers.

 

Anyway, once more I was bugged by Stephen's changing subjects rather than continuing the conversation in the direction the guest is going.

 

I liked the joking about Trump and his remark about $1 million being a small loan. I didn't like Stephen's jokes about Ben Carson's stabbing story. I didn't quite get why Stephen went on about 14-yr olds having a stabbing club at school or whatever. I got the feeling that the joke came from Carson saying that a few people know the story about his stabbing someone when he was 14-yr olds. He was referring to that story being in the book he wrote a few years back, I believe. Anyway, that whole comedy bit fell flat for me.

Edited October 29, 2015 by peeayebee

[FoundTime]

I haven't read Franzen but was curious to see his interview -- also, I am still kind of gobsmacked that SC is doing author interviews on a late-night network show; I'm not sure that's been done since Johnny Carson's days -- but I thought he came across as kind of a jerk.

[Padma]

Yeah, when he said the guy was in jail for consensual sex with an underage boy (or maybe he said man), I immediately thought, "I don't believe someone underage can be really give his/her consent." I'm assuming Franzen doesn't believe that it's rape if both parties say it's consensual. Anyway, I couldn't really concentrate on what he was saying about the guy after his consensual sex remark.

With Jerry Sandusky back in the news today, it's also a reminder that most pedophiles would tell you that they were having consensual sex with a minor. I hate it when people let that ridiculous fantasy pass unchallenged. Stephen's so quick sometimes, and at other times he seems to be thinking of his next question and not really listening to whatever his guests are saying. Hopefully he'll get better at listening and interviewing in time.

 

Having writers on IS pretty refreshing--I see John Irving is next week. Also nice to see scientists--this week Neil deGrasse Tyson and next week Brian Greene. 

 

I 'm not giving up on SC-past-the-intro yet.

Edited October 29, 2015 by Padma

[bmoore4026]

Anyone else so sick of Seth MacFarlane, you just wanna blow up the Earth.

 

That's how I feel, which is why I'm skipping tonight's episode.