But I care! I don't understand why he doesn't. Ratings are unchanged. He had an opportunity with another live show post-debate and I didn't see anything noteworthy.

Btw, good job with the Critics forum, keeping things up to date. We disagree on Colbert, but I appreciate your work Chippy.

I mean, I agree on some points you make. Most of his stuff is more suited to a 30 minute show where he can pack a punch into every joke, instead of stretching out and trying to not alienate any audience. I'd love to see more political satire where he just tears into everything, but that's few and far between. But I still enjoy watching him. And I still love his interviews, even though when he interviews generic celebrity it gets very awkward because you can tell he doesn't want to do it.

Any segment with an artist (singer, broadway, writer, scientist, etc) is excellent. The Kimmel/Fallon crap he tries to do isn't good.

But I've been really into the Daily Show lately. Trevor has been killing it.

See, I knew you were capable of elaborating your thoughts! And I pretty much agree with all points you make.

I love Stephen Colbert. And maybe I'm hung up on The Colbert Report. But I would love to see him be as successful as his competition. I'll still keep watching on occasion though, because there are still flashes of brilliance. Maybe all of my previous points of contention would be gone if he'd stop pandering to a broader audience. He's trying to appeal to an audience that either won't watch him or doesn't like him, and in doing so, he alienated some of the audience that does love him.

I've actually gone off Colbert the last month or so. It seems trying to hard, and I just don't find the bits interesting anymore. Instead I've devoted the time to watching Corden whom I've gotten into more and I've discovered Oliver.

Trevor Noah has been very good and I love Seth Meyers as a comedian.

Fallon is the one I've grown most tired off, while Kimmel still goes strong for me too.

I love Samantha Bee, first time one of these political talk shows is a must watch for me though once a week airing obviously helps

Yeah Bee is good. I almost wish Colbert would do his show a little more like Seth Meyers.

Did anyone else catch Letterman on Bill Murray's Mark Twain Award on PBS? Dave really shouldn't make public appearances because it reminds you how much worse Stephen Colbert is as a host of the CBS Late Show.

@ Letterman

Loving Conan in New York. When he cares, he wipes the floor with every other current late night host. Unfortunately, he hasn't consistently tried hard enough since his Late Night days.

Dave Chappelle is hosting on Nov 12. So this shows us the world won't?!?! end on the 8th!

I wonder if he's the type to bring his own writers to help with the show. Obviously he's talented in sketch comedy, but I feel like he's got enough of an ego that he won't come to the show without help.

Also, this is not the SNL thread but I'll let it slide Chippy.

I looked for a good 2 seconds before posting this here.

Also, TECHNICALLY it is. Because SNL is on NBC, late at night.

I am extremely critical of Stephen Colbert's Late Show, but I enjoyed his election special. His closing remarks were from the heart and felt it. I wish there was more of that in late night. None of this singing and dancing and constant need to make everything into a viral hit (yeah, I know what the kids like, but that doesn't make it OK). Craig Ferguson was the best at making a show out of basically nothing as far as a script goes.

Samantha Bee was pretty good too Wednesday night. Just waiting for Bill Maher tonight and John Oliver Sunday.

Agree

It's this kind of week where I really miss Letterman (not that Colbert wasn't great as the show basically turned into him hosting a wake) and Ferguson. Especially Ferguson. He might have done a whole show by himself.

I thought Meyers also had some nice remarks as well. And a couple of nights ago he had an especially great segment with one of his writers. And Fallon, he smartly played it right down the middle. He practically channeled Leno.

I also wonder if Stewart has any regrets over maybe leaving a year and a half too soon. Would Trump have been the kick in the ass he needed to still love doing it?

Not NBC... but Trevor Noah had Tomi Lahren!!! on last night. He crushed her to mulch.

Yeah, that was a good bit.

Colbert beat Fallon twice this week

Here's a great interview with Dave on Vulture.

Fallon's lost to Colbert in total viewers (and only total viewers) for five weeks in a row now thanks to Trump. That's apparently caused enough of a panic where NBC wants Fallon to go after Trump much harder (that interview back in September isn't looking good right now).

I think he might have mentioned Trump once tonight? It's kind of amazing how quickly the show went from feeling culturally hip to completely out of touch. I also think the games are starting to backfire on him. Once, maybe twice a week. But there's a game every fucking night.

Fallon's leading in the demo, but I wonder if his days of leading there are numbered as well.

It would've been interesting to see where Conan would be now if he had been given a proper shot (no Jay / staying in New York). TV is different than it was eight years ago, but I think Conan's numbers were about the same as Fallon's.

Is Colbert up, or is Fallon down? I feel like Tonight Show is losing viewers.

Both.

For the first quarter of this year...

Colbert averaged 3.29 million viewers.
Fallon averaged 3.02 million viewers.

Colbert is up by 17% in total viewers while Fallon is down 17% compared to this time last year.

Also, Fallon has won every week this year with the 18-49 demo, but that lead is shrinking (slightly).

I'm happy that Fallon is dropping, just because I personally feel like his late night dominance is not deserved, and from what I can tell, his format has been unchanged for a few years, so I'm glad complacency is not being rewarded. You can't do the same shtick and expect to live off it for thirty years.

Not to say Fallon is done, I know he's not, but now maybe they'll hire actual writers who don't just say "Okay, what game will we play with Bradley Cooper tonight?"