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Boston Globe
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Stephen Colbert has been a civic-minded voice of reason in troubled times
He declared, memorably, that: 'You cannot laugh and be afraid at the same time.' He told them to remember that there's more to life than politics — an important message for younger viewers. That innate grasp of the big picture is part of what has set Colbert apart from other late-night TV hosts. And that is what we will miss, now that Colbert is rivaled only by his good friend Jon Stewart in perfecting a blend of comedy-as-commentary. For years, Colbert and Stewart functioned, essentially, as running mates in an opposition party. Both knew that nothing takes the air out of a demagogue's balloon better than mockery. Advertisement For all of the many, many times he made us laugh, Colbert often serves as a civic-minded voice of reason. Especially in an era when our political system sometimes appears to be coming apart at the seams, Colbert offers a nightly bit of catharsis and, in a weird way, comfort, without being smarmy or self-congratulatory about it in the least. Advertisement The president who was so often Colbert's target wasted no time opining on the news, posting Friday morning on Truth Social: 'I absolutely love that Colbert got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings.' Trump added: 'I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next. Has even less talent than Colbert!' That predicable broadside is not likely to throw Colbert. Think of his In his crisp blue suit, with his carefully parted hair, there is an old-timey air about Colbert. For all of his anarchic stunts — there is almost no place he will not go, comedically speaking — it was always clear how much he valued tradition. He was a proud, practicing Catholic. There was a bumpy period when Colbert transitioned from his persona on Comedy Central's 'The Colbert Report,' where he played as a Bill O'Reilly-inspired right-wing blowhard, to his perch on CBS, where he could be his full, very liberal self. But Colbert figured it out, along with his crack team of writers, who are the most creative and original on late-night TV. Any random five minutes of a Colbert monologue are often funnier than an entire month of 'Saturday Night Live.' Over the years he has unabashedly described himself as a company man. It clearly mattered to him that his surname was arranged in large letters vertically along the Ed Sullivan Theatre. When he told his audience Thursday about the cancellation, he affectionately referred to CBS as 'the Tiffany Network,' an archaic nickname that no doubt sent many of his younger audience members hurrying to Wikipedia. Advertisement Off the air, he is widely known for his personal decency in an industry that is not exactly overflowing with the milk of human kindness. Indeed, just last month, in a commencement address at Northwestern University, his former fellow 'Daily Show' correspondent Steve Carell described Colbert as 'a famous, powerful person who is also kind,' adding: 'Stephen is a brilliant, wonderful person. Talented, generous, better than I am in almost every way. If he were here today, he'd probably be giving a better speech. An innovator, an icon, a family man, and friend.' But Colbert was also capable of pure fury, and that is what he unleashed when a pro-Trump mob rampaged through the US Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, as part of an effort to overturn the presidential election results. Using his bully pulpit in a manner that would have seemed inconceivable to an earlier generation of late-night hosts such as Johnny Carson, Colbert called Trump 'a violence-inciting fascist'' and denounced the 'coordinated and planned attempt to terrorize, if not kill, our nation's elected leaders.' For a long time afterwards, Colbert refused to say Trump's name on the air. Even in chyron text, it was rendered only as 'T****.' Now that name is inescapable again, 24 hours a day. Colbert has another 10 months on the air, and he has work to do. Don Aucoin can be reached at
New York Post
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Jimmy Kimmel blasts CBS over ‘The Late Show' cancellation as he supports pal Stephen Colbert: ‘F–k you'
Jimmy Kimmel blasted CBS for axing 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' after 10 seasons while throwing his support behind his friend and fellow late-night host. 'Love you Stephen. F–k you and all your Sheldons CBS,' Kimmel wrote on his personal Instagram story Thursday, appearing to reference CBS's hit 'The Big Bang Theory' spinoff, 'Young Sheldon.' The 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' host's outburst comes as the network announced its plan to cancel 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert' in May 2026, citing 'purely a financial decision.' 7 Jimmy Kimmel called out CBS for announcing that they are ending his friend, Stephen Colbert's, show on Thursday. Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images The network said it considered the 61-year-old late-night host 'irreplaceable' and that 'the broadcast will be remembered in the pantheon of greats that graced late-night television.' The decision marks the end of CBS's historic late-night programming, which began when David Letterman left NBC in 1993 to host 'The Late Show with David Letterman.' Letterman left his iconic show in 2015, and Colbert stepped in as host after gaining popularity on 'The Daily Show' and 'The Colbert Report.' Colbert — who said he was made aware of the news Wednesday evening — addressed the cancellation during the taping of Thursday's show at the Ed Sullivan Theatre in New York. 'Before we start the show, I want to let you know something I found out just last night. Next year will be our last season. The network will be ending the 'Late Show' in May,' he told the audience, who booed profusely over the news. 7 Colbert addressed the cancellation during the taping of Thursday's show at the Ed Sullivan Theatre in New York. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert 'I share your feelings,' Colbert replied. Colbert assured the audience he was not 'being replaced,' but that the network was ending the 'Late Show' franchise entirely. 'I do want to say that the folks at CBS have been great partners. I'm so grateful to the Tiffany Network for giving me this chair and this beautiful theater to call home,' he said. Colbert then reflected on his time as host and told the audience how 'grateful' he was for the fans who 'joined us every night in here, out there, all around the world, Mr and Mrs. America and all the ships at sea.' 7 Colbert assured the audience he was not 'being replaced,' but that the network was ending the 'Late Show' franchise entirely. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert 'I'm grateful to share the stage with this band every night. I am extraordinarily deeply grateful to the 200 people who work here,' he said. 'We get to do this show for each other — every day, all day. And I've had the pleasure and responsibility of sharing what we do every day with you in front of this camera for the last 10 years.' Colbert said he wishes 'somebody else' were taking over instead of seeing the show end for good. He then concluded his statement by saying he's 'looking forward' to putting on the show with the 'usual gang of idiots for another 10 months.' 7 CBS said that it is retiring ''The Late Show' franchise' for good in May 2026. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert 'It's going to be fun,' he assured. Kimmel and Colbert aren't just late-night TV peers, but good friends who share the same agent, James 'Babydoll' Dixon, Kimmel revealed while appearing as a guest on Colbert's show in 2015. The hosts also revealed that viewers and critics expected them to be enemies. Kimmel said he believes it stems from the historic feud with their predecessors, Letterman and Jay Leno. 'People want us to fight and everything like that,' Kimmel said while appearing as a guest on Colbert's show in 2015. 'It's weird.' 7 Kimmel on 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' on Oct. 16, 2015. CBS via Getty Images 'People thought it would just continue like the crusade,' Kimmel said. 'I like you, though. I might even love you.' 'Really?' Colbert responded. 'If you died, I'd cry like a baby,' Kimmel shared. 'God forbid.' 'Wow. If I didn't have a show, I'd come to your funeral,' Colbert quipped. They have appeared on each other's shows multiple times over the years and even collaborated as presenters at the 2019 Emmy Awards. 7 Colbert and Kimmel speak onstage during the 71st Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sept. 22, 2019, in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images 7 Kimmel and Colbert also share the same agent, James 'Babydoll' Dixon. FOX In 2023, they were also co-hosts of the limited-series Spotify podcast 'Strike Force Five' with fellow late-night hosts Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, and John Oliver. Seven-time Grammy winner Jon Batiste, who served as the 'Late Show' bandleader from 2015 to 2022, joined Kimmel as those who were upset over Colbert's cancellation. Batiste posted an emoji of a goat and a broken heart on his Instagram story, symbolizing the host as the 'greatest of all time.' Colbert has hosted nearly 1,700 episodes throughout almost 10 seasons and is ending despite frequently being ranked the top show in late-night television, according to Nielsen data. The most recent ratings from Nielsen show Colbert as winning his timeslot, with about 2.417 million viewers across 41 new episodes.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Paul McCartney announces 2nd surprise NYC show, immediately sells out
NEW YORK — Paul McCartney announced a second surprise show at the Bowery Ballroom slated for Wednesday night, but tickets were quickly snapped up. The East Village venue was completely sold out by 11 a.m. McCartney, 82, shocked New Yorkers on Tuesday afternoon when he announced plans to play the theater that night, making tickets only available in person at the box office. That show almost immediately sold out as well. By Wednesday morning, people were more prepared, with lines outside the venue all morning in anticipation of a possible announcement, according to the music blog Brooklyn Vegan. The concert was set to begin at 6:30 p.m. McCartney is expected to be in town all week, as he is scheduled to be part of a 50th anniversary celebration on 'Saturday Night Live' this weekend. Tuesday night's show in the tiny Bowery Ballroom, with hardly more than 550 people in attendance, included a full 22-song setlist from McCartney, along with plenty of chatter. 'So, here we are,' McCartney said at the beginning with a grin. 'Some little gig. New York. Why not?' McCartney is famously no stranger to a surprise performance. In addition to the famous Beatles rooftop concert, he appeared on top of Ed Sullivan Theatre marquee in 2009 and set up a performance at Grand Central Terminal in 2018. When he announced the Tuesday concert, New Yorkers within a reasonable distance of the Bowery Ballroom flocked to snag tickets. 'I thought: I can do this,' Amy Jaffe, who lives about 30 blocks north, told The Associated Press. 'I put on jeans, grabbed a coat, called a Lyft.' Jaffe, 69, was one of the lucky few in attendance Tuesday. McCartney played a full show, ranging from Beatles classics like 'Hey Jude' to solo efforts such as 'Maybe I'm Amazed.'
