I've noticed many people growing concerned with the announcement of Stephen Colbert as the new host of The Late Show. Some are worried that CBS won't let Stephen be Stephen and others don't want The Colbert Report to be canceled. There are a couple of things you need to know.
Stephen Colbert of The Colbert Report is a character. Stephen refers to that character as a "well-intentioned, poorly informed, high-status idiot." The show has been on for almost ten years and Stephen has played the character since his days on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Ten plus years is a long time for an actor to play one character, and most actors like to freshen up their careers with new projects. (This is also true of others involved in creative endeavours: writers, artists, musicians, etc.) To be an artist of whatever stripe, you must be a shark: stop moving and you die.
Making a daily show of whatever nature is labor intensive, more so when the show focuses on topical humor and requires new material. It would be difficult for Colbert to manage two shows of that nature.
Will CBS not let Colbert bring his best work? They'd be foolish not to. Letterman built his empire pushing against the boundaries of what was believed to be permitted by the corporate structure above him. I'm certain that Stephen gave his producers at CBS an idea on how he would take the show, if not present them with a complete plan and a few proof-of-concept segments. They know what they're getting, though this doesn't mean that a CBS executive won't have an aneurysm over a schtick.
Stephen is of Second City. Some of you know what that means, others not so much. You know the 80s comedies you love so much? The Second City Theater has its fingerprints all over them, in cast, writers, production, and support. Saturday Night Live was founded by Second City alumni. They're known for working well on the fly. Improv theater is their forte.
Stephen Colbert has shown his training and skill four nights a week, most weeks of the year. You know his level of talent and ability. He'll do well.
I do, however, feel sorry for whoever fills Colbert's shoes.
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