Emma Judy – Special to the Southern News
Just over two month after Jay Leno’s final night hosting The Tonight Show, late night Television is about to get another major change. David Letterman has announced his retirement. In the episode after his retirement announced, Letterman made a comment that he was doing it for the sake of his family.
Often I get home from work right around the time that David Letterman starts and I would watch it until I was ready to fall asleep. So, when I heard that Letterman was retiring I was sad but hopeful that CBS would find him a good replacement.
About a week ago CBS announced who the replacement would be Stephen Colbert who is better known for his one show on Comedy Central’s, The Colbert Report. He discusses and makes fun of the major political issues.
Unlike David Letterman whose opening monologue makes fun of anything that is going on in the world. Whether it was the missing Malaysian plane or Amanda Bynes’ most recent breakdown. Letterman talks about pretty much everything and anything.
So, when I heard about the fact that Colbert would be the replacement I was worried that the late show would go from a fun mindless pop culture show to a show that would focus only on politics much like Colbert Report.
Unlike Jimmy Fallon who just took over for Jay Leno Stephen Colbert has a lot more pressure on him for take Letterman’s place. This is because the Late Show was a show created by David Letterman, no one else has ever hosted but him.
Stephen Colbert has to think careful before every decision he makes when it comes to the show and what he does. For a very long time to come every bit, joke and opening monologue, basically every move that Colbert makes will be compared to how well Letterman could have, would have done it.
Letterman is known for is Top 10 list. Although the lists are not always realistically ways to do something, like get into all eight Ivy League school. Should Colbert follow in his footsteps and continue this on his new show? Or should he just find a new feature for his show that will go come to someone’s mind when they hear his name.
The biggest questions that Stephen Colbert has to ask himself is whether or not to bring his political satires with him or leave them behind when he moves. It will be hard to decision to back as he made his name with the political satire. But when most people tune into late night television they aren’t looking for something that will make them have to think too hard. They just want something light and fluffy to lull them to sleep.
Although Stephen Colbert and David Letterman are two very different comedians we may find that they more in common than people think. Whether if the show takes a turn to political satire or stays closer to the standup comedian feel that Letterman gives off the show will hopefully find its place on television.
Some may think that David Letterman retiring is the end of an era and some might think that late night television needs the facelift of a new host. No matter what way you see it the change is coming and in 2015 David Letterman will say good night one last time.
