Those are great. I don't hate the interactions, but I just think Batiste tries too hard, or maybe someone preps him beforehand to be funnier. Sometimes it's cute, most times it's eh, never is it worth the time.

I guess I just like how he seems completely oblivious to everything.

Oh, that's his gimmick, and maybe it works for others, but I like Stephen's bits with Meredith lately. It borders on feeling forced ("Hey look everybody, it's Meredith my producer for no reason at all!") but it's fun. Maybe brevity is the key.

Current Dave Letterman

Never retire, imo.

Back to Colbert... I've seen some really cool interviews with Jon Batiste, and it seems like he does put on this character of being overly laid back. He's a REALLY smart, quick guy.

Colbert ratings are really distressing. I don't know if CBS will end up pulling him at some point, but he's giving Jimmy Kimmel a shot at 2nd place, and it's not a well-fought battle.

Peter Dinklage was a fun host last night on SNL. The writing is so many miles behind the talent of the cast. Too bad. This is one of the most bizarre presidential election years ever, and their political sketches feel very lazy.

I also think it was really unwise to take Trump away from Taran Killam in favor of Darrell Hammond.

I like Russell Crowe's dry sense of humor, but the writers sure failed him on SNL last night. Every single skit sucked.

I liked Russell's opening bit and the Henry VIII bit. I then fell asleep but I dvd'd it. I thought the opening with Kate was outrageously funny though. Sarandon driving off another cliff was gold.

I'm feeling more and more fatigued with Colbert. I don't know if this is right anymore. It's monumentally difficult to transition from playing a character four nights a week for a decade to being yourself in a very straight-forward, no frills late night show. There are flashes of brilliance, often from him, but I don't know if it's enough anymore. They've tinkered, but it's so minimal. The only part I like is the Report-esque bit at the desk. And I really don't find anything amusing about Cartoon Donald Trump. Trump is already a cartoon. The joke isn't that funny.

It's frustrating, because I love Stephen Colbert. But his Late Show is bland at best. He's not doing anything to compete with viral stars Fallon or Kimmel. Unfortunately, I don't know what the alternative is. James Corden is not proven enough to move up to 11:35. But I don't see any major efforts being made to boost ratings, and right now, ratings kind of suck. Constantly 3rd place is not good for a heavily-promoted show.

You don't have to watch.

Colbert is worse than the Chevy Chase show. Quite possibly the biggest late night disaster of all time. Might as well just play NCIS reruns at this point. Then You might at least tie Fallon.

lolok

Of course I don't, and I'm sadly getting to the point where I probably won't anymore.

I don't like being critical. But I can't deny that my disappointment was there all along, small at first and gradually growing with each week. I just wish he would realize his potential. But at the same time, I think he's happy with it? It seems to me like he's content with the show and content with the direction. That's great. But this isn't going to win any late night war.

I sure am glad The Daily Show was the same from episode 100 on. Ditto every other late night show. Once you hit 100, that's it.

I'm not what point you're trying to make there.

In better news, Craig Ferguson won his second Daytime Emmy for hosting Celebrity Name Game. It started as minimally entertaining but Craigy Ferg is really shining on it lately and more of his TLLS persona is coming out. Between that and Join or Die, it's not the same, but it's a nice replacement.

I think there's room for someone to go for the late night for old people audience, instead of trying to be a viral Fallon/Kimmel/Corden type. Just don't know if it's Colbert

That's another problem. I don't know who his target audience is. A lot of his material is so safe that it has to be to appease an older crowd, but older audiences were not his audience on Report.

Honestly, it feels like Conan all over again. He toned the show down for The Tonight Show and it hurt him badly. He played to a new audience that didn't like his style and abandoned those who did. Obviously Colbert couldn't continue playing a character, but it feels like Howard Stern suddenly hosting a kids show. It's that stark of a contrast for me personally.

I'm not sure what happened, but in the past... week? when Colbert started doing the skits/cold opens, the show seems to have really improved. We'll see if it lasts.

I think so too. It's still not the show I want, but it's better. I just really hope the ratings are good enough for CBS.

A week always is enough.

Let's go lists:

Graham Norton
Jimmy Fallon
Conan
Charlie Ross
Ellen (fuck it they film the same time)
James corden
Jonathan Ross
Chelsea handler
Jimmy kimmel
That guy on Bravo
Steve Colbert
Seth Meyers
Arsenio (he rocks but never gets anyone anymore)

To be fair the worst I would go is a C+

This isn't a late night show, but then again this thread is not about Late Night NBC shows anyway. But did anyone watch week 1 or 2 of Maya and Marty, the new variety show starring Maya Rudolph and Martin Short? It's one of the most bizarre television pairings on one of the most old-fashioned shows I've seen in a long time. And it's not good. I've never seen so much talent squandered so horribly in one hour. The variety show in this format is dead. Leave it dead. It's from another era and won't ever be revived. Variety is Amy Schumer, Key & Peele, Portlandia. That's the new variety. This is embarrassing for everyone.

Older folks will say that TV isn't what it used to be. Maya & Marty is the reason why.

Does Martin Short do any Jiminy Glick?

In both episodes, yes. And that's been the only highlight. Which in itself is bizarre too. It's hard to complain about a bit that works, but it seems like a stretch to pull out a character that's 15 years old for a new show. Is Ed Grimley next?

He did one with Larry David that was hilarious. I think it's probably the best variety show since they died out. But despite their chemistry it won't last. The sketches are below them. I just want more glick! Though there are some true funny moments

Sorry Chippy.

This week, I started giving up on Colbert. Stephen Colbert is a wonderfully talented man, and I know he's capable of hosting late night TV without playing a character, but The Late Show is a waste of him.

Perhaps the saddest part is I can't tell who is behind it. Honestly, he seems like this may be the exact show he wants to host. It's just not the show I want to watch.

I'll keep tuning in occasionally, especially when he has a good guest or two, but I haven't felt compelled to watch since his first few months.