Stephen Colbert Is the Hero Late Night Fans Deserve

by Lori Chandler

I love comedy. I do standup and sketch, and spend an egregious amount of time watching/reading/listening to funny stuff. So it's troublesome that no late night show has grabbed my attention in a while. It’s time for change. Or at least, a little truthiness in comedy.

There is nothing inherently wrong with celebrities lip syncing, playing silly games, or the interviews in which guests regurgitate pat answers. But Stephen Colbert, who will be making his late night debut on September 8, is the antithesis of that kind of predictable, just-add-water brand of comedy.  

Stephen Colbert is easily one of the most thoughtful and intelligent comedians working today. He has an effervescent personality and a passion for the comedic process could lead a revolution in late night. We of course know him best as the fake conservative character he play for nine years on The Colbert Report, where he elevated the art of satire to brilliant heights. Now, as he prepares to take over David Letterman’s role as host of The Late Show, we have the opportunity to get to know him in a new way. It’s like re-meeting an old friend, as comedy fans anticipate (with varying degrees of patience) the new Late Show. 

In a recent interview with GQ, Colbert showed us not only why he is unique as a comedian, but as a public figure. He didn’t want to give the prefabricated, breadcrumb responses that celebrities often hand journalists. He spoke about acceptance of suffering, being grateful and even joyous in the face of tragedy. He spoke about his mother and the strength she showed in the wake of terrible loss, an example he internalized (and one I can also identify with, personally.) His humanity, his vulnerability, is not only endearing but brave. I, as a comedian and as an audience, believe that courage is the pentacle, the cornerstone, of great comedy. Taking the risk to show your cards and be vulnerable, whether you are at an open mic or hosting The Late Show, often leads to my favorite type of humor. Humor that reveals something, humor that tells a truth. Colbert’s improv teacher Del Close literally wrote the book on that (it’s called Truth in Comedy).

If you were alive in the 1970’s or are just obsessed with them like I am, then you know who Dick Cavett is. You’ve seen his thoughtful and hilarious interviews with everyone from that era, from Janis Joplin to John and Yoko to Katharine Hepburn. It is my hope that Stephen Colbert will bring that element of intelligence, honesty and relevance to The Late Show, along with his trademark hilarity and charm. 

During the near-decade spent on Comedy Central, Colbert offered a way to view politics through the lens of satire, playing to the absurdity of truth. In fact, the pilot episode invented a new word, “truthiness,” which pointed to actual truth— that we don’t value fact but but whether or not something “feels” true— while mocking his character’s disregard for fact. That set a tone, and the show immediately had its voice. The world of network late night shows has been missing that kind of comedy. Come September 8 on CBS, however, the revolution will be televised.

PHOTO CREDIT: Frederick M. Brown / Stringer