Stephen Colbert puts his stamp on Late Show
New late-night TV show replacement for David Letterman mixes political humour, entertainment
Stephen Colbert marked his debut last night as host of the Late Show, taking the reins from the retired David Letterman, and even in his new venue, it was the same old Colbert.
Colbert's first night at Manhattan's Ed Sullivan Theater featured Oreo munching, cursed amulets and lots of Donald Trump jokes.
But also Tuesday night, there was some classic Colbert, whose previous gig was Comedy Central's satirical news show The Colbert Report.
Late Show, on CBS, opened with a skit featuring Colbert travelling America — from the baseball diamond, to the Washington Monument — singing The Star Spangled Banner, with a (perhaps not so surprising) surprise visit from Jon Stewart.
YAAAAAAAAAS IT'S JON IT'S JON OF COURSE IT'S JON BECAUSE REASONS AND IT HAS TO BE AND I MISS YOU JON. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StephenColbert?src=hash">#StephenColbert</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LateShow?src=hash">#LateShow</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/jonstewart?src=hash">#jonstewart</a>
—@wonkpoeticDuring his interviews — one with Hollywood superstar George Clooney, the other with Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush — Colbert cast aside his bombastic conservative alter-ego, but hung on to the razor wit that has made him a household name.
"I used to play a narcissistic conservative pundit," he told Bush. "Now I'm just a narcissist."
The show closed with a performance of Sly and the Family Stone's Everyday People by the new house band, Jon Batiste and Stay Human, with an ensemble featuring soul legend Mavis Staples, Aloe Blacc, Ben Folds, Buddy Guy, Derek Trucks and others.
Online, many thought the show was a success.
Donald Trump and Oreos? <a href="https://twitter.com/StephenAtHome">@StephenAtHome</a> is killing it already! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LateShow?src=hash">#LateShow</a>
—@taylorbrown0428Colbert's first interview is a deconstruction of the late night format. Holy Christmas this is the best. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LateShow?src=hash">#LateShow</a>
—@kimtishTHAT WAS AMAZING AND I'M SO EXCITED TO SEE WHAT YOU'LL DO WITH THE SHOW FOR YEARS TO COME CONGRATS BUDDY <a href="https://twitter.com/StephenAtHome">@StephenAtHome</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LateShow?src=hash">#LateShow</a>
—@snl5sosThe <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LateShow?src=hash">#LateShow</a> was amazing tonight. It's only going to get better.
—@rant_divaBut there was some criticism, too. Some thought the lighting was a bit, well, orange.
The lighting on Stephen Colbert's show is crazy! I feel like I'm watching Willy Wonka. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LateShow?src=hash">#LateShow</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StephenColbert?src=hash">#StephenColbert</a>
—@kevinlockettGeorge Clooney is the New Black <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CauseHesOrange?src=hash">#CauseHesOrange</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LateShow?src=hash">#LateShow</a>
—@stupidbitch2593Some didn't like the show at all.
Little difference between <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Colbert?src=hash">#Colbert</a> Report and the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LateShow?src=hash">#LateShow</a>. Very disappointing, and disrespectful to Letterman's legacy. <a href="https://twitter.com/colbertlateshow">@colbertlateshow</a>
—@juniorminingproApparently <a href="https://twitter.com/FallonTonight">@FallonTonight</a> had such an amazing guest list that <a href="https://twitter.com/colbertlateshow">@colbertlateshow</a> had no one left to choose <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/8minutecommercial?src=hash">#8minutecommercial</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/lateshow?src=hash">#lateshow</a>
—@Coastal_AVEAnd for others, it'll probably just take a little getting used to.
Where the hell is Dave? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LateShow?src=hash">#LateShow</a>
—@GerardMulligan1So here's to the first one down, and many more to go.
The guest list for Colbert's first week of shows includes U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden, the CEOs of Tesla Motors and Uber, comic Amy Schumer, actress Scarlett Johansson and author Stephen King.
With files from The Associated Press