the truth About “Stephen Colbert” turning into Stephen Colbert

Stephen Colbert wants you to know that he’s now not “Stephen Colbert” anymore.

It’s been one week for the reason that Colbert made his late-evening debut in David Letterman’s CBS slot of twenty-two years, and in that seven-episode stretch, Colbert has mentioned a handful of instances, in some type or fashion, that he’s now not the conservative, comprehend-nothing political pundit he performed on The Colbert record for 9 years.

“I begin the search for the real Stephen Colbert,” he publicizes throughout episode one’s monologue. “I simply hope I don’t in finding him on Ashley Madison.”

Whichever Colbert showed up to the totally renovated Ed Sullivan Theater in New York city on day one, he drew in 6.fifty five million viewers, dusting his late-night frat brothers, and garnering radiating evaluations: everybody loves Colbert! Colbert can do no mistaken! but is the push of reward just a hangover from an severe love affair with The Colbert record and the fact that Colbert the man simply seems so nice and is obviously very proficient? moreover, can he grow out the virtually decade-long shadow he forged himself on Comedy primary?

The through-line to both questions—and the answers which can be starting to form per week into The Late express—comes back to id.

because it was introduced in April that Colbert would be becoming a member of the ranks of late night’s new wave that’s ushered within the likes of Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, and James Corden, the looming idea among residents of Colbert Nation has been, “Who will Colbert be now?”

as it seems, he’s just about the same person.

try as he may to distance himself from his previous persona—or adopt the persona of eternally trying to shed his previous persona—Colbert remains to be an actor in comedic function enjoying a television host. That’s not to recommend Colbert has made a lateral transfer—slightly the other, in truth. Go one layer deeper at the back of that comedy mask with its trademark arched foreheadand you’ll to find the actual Colbert who is one of the sharpest and most thoughtful satirists, political or in any other case, on tv. It’s this quality that gives Colbert his most promising shot to remake late-evening tv in his image.

Politics no longer As standard

“Longtime viewers of my face recognize that I don’t play a political pundit anymore. but as an actor, i will nonetheless pretend to care concerning the latest developments within the presidential race.” — Stephen Colbert, season one, episode three

The Colbert report “hangover” is absolute best cured by way of the hair of the dog—in this case, the run-as much as the 2016 presidential election. If ever there used to be a time for Colbert to transition out of The Colbert file and into The Late convey, the quadrennial carnival of characters jockeying for the White house provides it.

As faux as Colbert’s political punditry was on his previous show, the person is obviously adept at navigating the political structure and, equally so, at skewering it, which places him in a position smartly above Kimmel and Fallon, who both all through interviews with probably the most biggest names in politics have bounced on the a lot softer aspect of questioning even for late evening.

Take, as an example, Fallon’s interview with GOP frontrunner Donald Trump. Fallon asks Trump what he thinks he’s doing right to remain ahead of the polls and Trump scorching-gasses his way to a non-resolution that even Fallon realizes was once off base—”What query did I ask? I don’t understand what the hell simply happened!”—but does nothing to press Trump for an explanation.

no one is inquiring for a late-night time convey to turn into Meet the press, but it’s hard to think about Colbert letting Trump slide like that given that Colbert has been mechanically whetting his barbs toward Trump night after night time.

yet even when interviewing a candidate like Jeb Bush who’s decidedly much less of a firebrand than Trump, Colbert rides sweetly on the rails dividing jokes and journalism. Bush’s solution to how he differs politically from his brother, former president George W. Bush, will have ended at his P.C. quip of “I’m obviously youthful—significantly better looking!” then again, Colbert brushes all of it aside to get to an answer of substance (skip beforehand to the 38:00 mark of episode one.)

as the presidential race bounds towards 2016, Colbert’s voice will add so much-needed texture to how network late evening covers politics—it is easy to simplest dream that Colbert’s booking division will honor viewers with a tête-à-tête with the Donald himself.

Celebrities don’t need to apply

The format for late-night time television has crystallized into the staid construction of opening monologue, sidekick/home band banter, a smattering of skits and schtick, guest interviews, and a musical visitor to boot. Colbert has rattled the handcuffs of the new set of community principles that bind him—e.g., his hilariously atypical tackle company sponsorship—however he has yet to in fact choose the lock.

He may, however, set a brand new precedent for company.

For stars like George Clooney, Scarlett Johansson, and Emily Blunt, the couch gab is second nature at this level, however Colbert is rounding out his roster of talent with some familiar names who could have unfamiliar faces for most of the people: Uber CEO Travis Kalanick, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, Apple CEO Tim prepare dinner, and Supreme courtroom Justice Stephen Breyer. Eschewing the plain for high-profile people who normally don’t get mainstream, broadcast coverage isn’t assured to be illuminating: Colbert mainly echoed the same interview he had with Musk on The Colbert report again in July 2014 and Kalanick couldn’t shake his salesman pitch.

but cook was once totally different. throughout an appearance on ultimate night’s show, Colbert gently urged conversation to the very non-public matter of why cook dinner decided to come back out as gay. There’s a host of topics Colbert could have raised with prepare dinner concerning Apple’s pending suite of recent merchandise introduced ultimately week’s Apple event, yet the focal point of the interview used to be on prepare dinner’s sexuality and how he’s changing the company to do larger good on the earth.

With a take hold of bag of friends each evening, Colbert’s agility as an interviewer has the possible to extract, internalize, and relate these moments that can, fortunately, every so often slip away from comedy. for example, vice chairman Joe Biden’s extremely emotional comments about his late son Beau.

The interview switched from cracks about work commutes to faith, domestic, and loss in a method that was once reminiscent of Colbert’s legendary predecessor and his interview with musician Warren Zevon, who made his closing appearance on The Late express in 2002 in what many imagine to be one among Letterman’s greatest episodes.

The (White, Male) Elephant in the Writers’ Room

The excessive-vitality vibe of The Late exhibit is almost enough to distract you from discovering out who’s at the back of the curtain making it all occur—and in Colbert’s case, he unfortunately falls proper in step with the issue that late night, and television usually, has failed to resolve: more range within the writers’ room.

Of Colbert’s 18 writers, most effective two are girls, which appears bizarre given Colbert’s August column in Glamour on “why he thinks girls will have to be answerable for everything.”

“[…] I’m right here for you, and that means i will do my highest to create a Late show that not most effective appeals to women but also celebrates their voices. these days television would have you ever consider that being a girl way sensually eating yogurt, looking for easy methods to really feel assured on heavy days, and trying to find houses. however i will make a show that really respects ladies, because i do know that there’s a couple of approach to be one.”

however where’s the practice-thru? Granted, the majority of Colbert’s team at The Late convey are transplants from The Colbert file. then again, having a easy slate—the one he made so clear he wished—on an important platform would have been the a very powerful time to diversify, at the very least, the writing team of workers. it usually is that Colbert simply needed that fast enhance of a body of workers he is aware of and trusts to get The Late convey off the bottom and will make manner for more ladies and minorities later within the season—or, fingers crossed, seasons.

Papa’s obtained A brand-New model

shifting your id that’s grow to be your model—on a public stage with hundreds of thousands of viewers, no much less—is a jump of faith in the hope that people who acquired you where you’re will take that jump with you. Colbert’s first week hasn’t been a runaway hit each night—and why wouldn’t it be? After 9 years in a single pores and skin, shedding it for any other is a piece in growth to find the appropriate fit. however Colbert would be remiss to push aside his alter ego totally. what is going to be the determining factor in his success on community television rests together with his capability to package what he’s honed as a satirist and publish-modern journalist on The Colbert document into the existing late-evening product, growing a place for himself that doesn’t depend on a rotating bevy of celebrities each night or skits made for next-day viral fodder, however as a substitute on wise conversations and commentary that, while nonetheless unique, can tackle colours of gravitas on the drop of a quip.