The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Colbert's Late Show is a major disappointment. The review written by DVD says it all for me. He's a grinning, prancing shell now. Was he bought out of his hilarious, cutting-edge, truth-seeking "Report?" Is he paid now to deliver vapid lines that don't expose political lies and hypocrisy? I miss you, too, bold,relevant Stephen. I counted on you to shine a light on important truths. I couldn't wait to laugh so hard I cried when you exposed fools with self-serving policies. How often I thanked God, and yes, I am a Christian, that you and Jon Stewart were delivering important news with humor that connected with our brains. I can no longer watch the "real" you, sitting beneath your massive ego dome, proud and smiling. About what?

Even here in Australia we loved our Late Show from the USA but really??? Don't you have anything else to entertain us apart from your Trump hate speeches. I now only occasionally turn your show on to see if there are any changes to the format but alas, nothing has changed. Just to lay my cards on the table, I'm not a Trump fan either, but if I want constant political views, I'll watch an appropriate channel.

I've never had a poster of anyone on my wall. I went to a couple concerts in high school, like U2 and the Ramones, and had a shirt or two, but never wore them. I've always viewed that kind of celebrity worship as being kind of infantile. So when I do fall head over heels in love with a celebrity, it's kind of a big deal. And there's no celebrity, past or present, that I cherished as much as I cherished you.

There's a guy on a late night talk show that looks like you, sounds like you and even has your name, but this doppelganger doesn't have your soul. This grinning, unconfrontational Stepford Wife is a hollow shell of you. You were punk rock, this guy's Disneyland. You changed the world. He sells some hummus.

It's unbelievably difficult to imagine a life without you. I know that nothing lasts forever, so our time together was always going to come to an end, but it was a day I never wanted to see- and a day that came far too soon.

I love you, I miss you.

I watch the 5-10 mins of monologues that get posted to YouTube regularly and love many of them. Always looking forward to the next one. Stephen is brill. I don't engage with the rest of the show - the music and interviews. Good stuff

I would not give him a 10, if he wasn't getting a 7,9 so far. But his last couple of shows where really good. He started of a little flat - but I think he is becoming better and better since the last couple of shows.

I see that most reviews that rate the show as lost potential (whatever the show will become... NO ONE can deny: Colbert is talented and smart as s**t!) are very early looks upon the show. I will just put these in the category of frustrated fans, and give him some time - but after the last couple of shows the reviews are just unfair - the dates show that some reviewers gave this guy 3-4 days before they judged.

He is in a new role - although it seems similar - he is human and made a show that was the perfect fit for 9 years! He will have to find activity bits that suit him, a rhythm in his approach to his guests as his "new" self, find a balance between sarcasm, sincereness, smart talks and maybe find that certain thing that will complete the experience.

I would say in general Colbert has gotten better and better in whatever he made. That also is a fact (also people of that generation are often late bloomers ;-). So I can just repeat myself: If CBS is not full of total retards and they let themselves be influenced by Colberts' genius, I think that the show has the potential to become THE best tonight show that you have ever seen. The last couple of shows had glimpses and hints in that direction: Joe Biden Interview, Pope Francis Show, Elizabeth Warren Interview.

Admitted a lot of bits still seem awkward and constructed (e.g. Stephen Curry Shootout), but if he gains backbone and comfort with time and influences the writing and ideas of the show with the right people I think he can get somewhere with this. Maybe even something great.

Due too what I owe this guy in joyful and interesting moments, he gets' a 10/10 from me until I am sure I am wrong and to counter the bad reviews he got so far. I hope I am not - although I am not the easy to convince type of guy and the place Mr. Colbert has in my heart is not written in stone. Well, I am after all German ;-)

PS.: John Batiste also still seems a bit awkward and not that comfortable and fit for his position. His answers are not that quick-witted and he seems a bit unprofessional at times (e.g. Duett with Stephen at the pope special) - plus his band seems a bit clowny sometimes - but it seems they have growing potential, too - although I am not sure in Colberts' category.