Stephen Colbert's Exit: Late Night Comedy or Political Commentary?
The Rise and Fall of Late-Night Comedy: How Woke Politics Hijacked the Laughter
In a shocking turn of events, Stephen Colbert's Late Show has finally come to an end, leaving fans wondering if the curtains were drawn due to corporate pressure or Colbert's own missteps. The debate is on – was he a fearless truth-teller crushed by the system, or a comedian who lost his way in a sea of politics?
The writing was on the wall for CBS, which cited declining ad revenue as the reason for Colbert's exit after 10 seasons. But critics argue that the host's increasing reliance on preaching over punchlines may have contributed to the ratings slump. Fans, however, believe Colbert was a pawn in the network's game of appeasement with President Donald Trump.
The Tradition of Laughter: A Lost Art?
Johnny Carson's legacy of keeping late-night comedy an equal-opportunity laugh zone is often cited as the gold standard. Jay Leno, his successor, carried on this tradition until he too fell victim to the politics of the game. Recently, Leno weighed in on Colbert's exit, asking why shoot for half an audience when you can try to get the whole? It seems that with the increasing polarization of society, late-night comedy has become a battleground for ideological wars.
The Case Against Colbert
Colbert's left-leaning politics have been well-documented since his days at The Daily Show. When he took over David Letterman's coveted 11:30 spot in 2015, fans expected more of the same – clever satire and biting humor. But as Trump's candidacy picked up steam, Colbert's show became increasingly politicized. He devoted significant airtime to Trump-bashing, often at the expense of his comedic chops.
But it wasn't just his monologues that raised eyebrows. Colbert's booking decisions also came under scrutiny, with frequent appearances by left-wing media personalities like Anderson Cooper (21 times!), Joy Reid, Rachel Maddow, Jake Tapper, and George Stephanopoulos. It seemed as though Colbert was more interested in preaching to the choir than entertaining a broad audience.
The Vaccine Controversy: A Turning Point?
When President Joe Biden introduced vaccine mandates for federal employees, Colbert took it upon himself to become an activist on air. He quipped, "Good! Good, I say! Finally, the federal government has reached the high standard of audience for a comedy show." But his most egregious moment came during The Vax-Scene sketch in June 2021, where he attempted to persuade viewers to get vaccinated with a Schoolhouse Rock-style approach. It was a cringeworthy attempt at humor that left many scratching their heads.
Kimmel's Evolution: From Brash to Bashed
Jimmy Kimmel rose to fame on The Man Show with its blackface skits and misogynistic humor. But as Trump took center stage, Kimmel rebranded himself as a teary-eyed social crusader. His monologues became increasingly emotional and preachy, marking a far cry from his earlier work.
Kimmel's tearful reaction to Trump's election victory in 2024 was particularly telling. "It was a terrible night for women, for children, for the hundreds of thousands of hardworking immigrants who make this country go...for health care, for our climate, for science, for journalism, for justice, for free speech." But what really stuck out was his parting shot at Trump supporters: "You just don't realize it yet."
Fallon's Softball Interview: A Missed Opportunity?
Jimmy Fallon has generally avoided politics in his hosting tenure, but when Trump appeared on The Tonight Show in 2016, he failed to land any real punches. In fact, the whole interview was a soft-touch affair that some saw as a missed opportunity.
When Trump took office in May 2017, Fallon walked back his actions in an interview with The New York Times. "If I let anyone down, it hurt my feelings...I didn't do it to humanize him. I almost did it to minimize him." But in hindsight, Fallon's attempt at humor seemed like a weak apology.
Seth Meyers' Brutal Swipe: A Culture War
Seth Meyers has long been known for his biting wit and sharp commentary on politics. In March 2023, he took aim at Republicans for their endless search for "some new culture war issue" – this time, washing machines. He quipped that the only real kitchen crisis was that "dishwashers are too quiet now."
Meyers accused Republicans of having no discernible policy agenda aside from whining about wokeness, a term they can't even define. His takedown of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' "oppressive woke-ocracy" left Trump supporters reeling.
The Trigger: Obama's 2011 White House Correspondents' Dinner
While Trump's flirtation with the presidency dates back decades, many attribute his attendance at the 2011 White House Correspondents' Dinner as the real trigger to him entering politics. Then-President Barack Obama took aim at Trump, ridiculing his birther claims and mocking his work on The Celebrity Apprentice.
Obama skewered Trump's presidential ambitions, saying, "All kidding aside, obviously we all know about your credentials and breadth of experience...For example, no seriously, just recently, in an episode of Celebrity Apprentice, at the steakhouse, the men's cooking team did not impress the judges from Omaha Steaks."
Seth Meyers also provided some grist for Trump's mill with a sharp crack that left Trump reeling in the crowd: "Donald Trump has been saying that he will run for president as a Republican – which is surprising, since I just assumed that he was running as a joke."
