Along with Stephen Colbert, the post show was cancelled as CBS executives desperately liked that we believed in “pure financial decisions.” Quite transparently, it is a sacrifice for satirical rituals on the altar of political solace and corporate merger.
Yes, late night ratings have dropped. Yes, advertising revenue is tighter than skinny jeans for interns at Soho House parties. But don’t pretend Colbert is dead wood. He is the highest rated late night show. Emmy Awards. Received severely praise. Society is crucial. And still very concerned – I know, because I look at it religiously. Not sure I missed an episode over a year. Hell, I went to record in New York last time.
- I even went to New York to watch the recording last time
In the year, the U.S. network spent billions of dollars on a reboot, no one asked for it, and IP Cash-Ins was so lazy that it made Love Island look like Shakespeare, we should believe the network couldn’t find the budget for one of the most popular talk shows in the U.S. television show?
No, this is not the job. This is not the way.
what happened?
Paramount, the parent company of CBS, attempted to finalize the merger with Skydance Media. However, the Federal Communications Commission, chaired by a Trump-appointed person, is reviewing the agreement. The fake Trump lawsuit against CBS is pending, like farts in weightlifting. So they paid. President and coincidentally, $16 million was from the Presidential Library and Golf Supermarket. The lawsuit is ridiculous – claims to have conducted a 60-minute interview with Kamala Harris, which has been maliciously edited. Spoiler: No. But CBS paid.
That’s not a metaphor. That’s the smell of disguised as a prudent compromise of the company. Trump wants money. The FCC, hosted by Trump’s man Brendan Carr, is postponing Paramount’s merger with Skydance Media. Then, as if a deal was made through magic, the FCC smiled, and Colbert (that cheeky, durable thorn in the Trump era) was told he would be out of the air in May.
What a clever coincidence.
Donald never had a person who lets subtle people get in the way of complacent.
“I absolutely love that Colbert was fired. He’s even less talented than he has.”
“I heard Jimmy Kimmel is next. Less talent than Colbert!”
He didn’t finish it.
“Greg Gutfeld is better than everyone combined, including the idiot on NBC, who ruined the once great tonight show,” Jimmy Fallon refers to him who now has to count down his ad breaks nervously.
The U.S. president is publicly celebrating his removal of his political critic from online television. There is no nuance, no shame. Just a direct banana republic act. CBS is making it happen.
Colbert himself saw it coming. Three days before CBS put down his axe, he followed the $16 million settlement live. “As someone who has always been the proud employee of the network, I was offended,” he said. “I don’t know if there is anything — anything — that can fix my trust in this company. But just stabbing it, I’ll say $16 million will help.”
The crowd laughed. CBS Board Members do not.
Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders were not laughing either. “CBS canceled Colbert’s performance in a $16 million settlement between Colbert and Trump, a deal that looked like a bribe,” Warren released. “Sanders was blunt: “I think it’s a coincidence? No.”
Don’t forget that irony is always uncomfortable – it’s the original one. But in the UK, we understand discomfort is part of a healthy democracy.
Is Margaret Thatcher, who once called the BBC and asked Ben Elton to evacuate the ruthless “Tirade” on Friday night live broadcast? No, she rolled her eyes and continued to move forward.
Did John Major ask for spitting images with grey panties melting his dead-eyed puppet? No. He may have shrunk a little, but learned that being sarcastic is part of the work. If you can’t bring latex sarcasm to your chin, then your way of working is wrong.
But what about Trump? Trump has no irony. He didn’t even sarcastically. His skin is thinner than the Ryanair seat cushion and is twice as easy to tear. So instead of rolling on his fist, he threw his elbows on the web, on comedians, on newspapers, on anyone who doesn’t like his ego.
Who is the next step out of the air with Colbert?
It’s not just the end of the show. This is the end of an era. Not only did Colbert fill the chairs behind the table, but he also held a mirror, hypocrisy, disguise, thriving politics and empty suits that manipulated them. He accepted the ridiculous things and made it art. He makes you laugh while thinking, a world dominated by a fragile self that businesses are increasingly dangerous.
Colbert just started to sarcastically – not the fluffy late night joke with Fallon falling asleep, but the hard thing: Colbert’s report, who created a right-wing expert who is more believable than the real one. He gave us “real” before we knew how hard we needed. He didn’t sterilize himself when he moved to the late show – he sharpened the blade.
Yes, this is personal. It was not just 200 employees who took office soon. Not only audiences like me, they adjust for comfort, clarity and cleverness. But for anyone who still believes in journalism (in any form), it should be slammed rather than shut up.
What’s next? Under the guise of economic restructuring, will more Trump’s wish list be realized? Will Jon Stewart be the next one on the guillotine? (“Shameful,” he said of the solution.) Will NPR be turned off because Trump doesn’t like vowels?
And now, as the stage lights dimmed and the applause disappeared, the ironic future felt uncertain.
Or is it like this?
Because while the suits on the radio board pretend it’s about the balance sheet, on YouTube (the only approval required is the “like” button, the audience is pouring in. In fact, others have made a leap: Piers Morgan’s perennial Morgan’s Marmite quietly – as Morgan developed, it’s a quiet thing – to transfer his uncensored show from linear TV to YouTube, where it’s less disturbing without the use of a cold foot regulator or advertiser.
Ironically, isn’t it? Trump is the guy who gritted his teeth on reality TV, turning CNN into Maga’s faithful hatred – which could accelerate the future of TV. By bullying broadcasters’ silence, he makes online freedom more attractive and necessary.
Late Night Sarcasm may die from CBS, but thrives elsewhere. Jon Stewart. Hasan Minhaj. Sarah Cooper. Even the amateur YouTuber with a microphone and normal feel is picking up the mantle. The audience did not disappear – it was migrated.
So maybe the late performance is about to end. But the idea of the post-show – honest, hit political comedy show – may be developing.
As for Colbert? Don’t bet on him. The man once played a right-wing expert in his role for nine years without once. He is not afraid of fighting. He just lost the stage. at present.
So here’s my advice, Mr. Colbert: Light up the YouTube channel and smash all the technology from the Covid era. Call it a later performance. Stream directly from your living room. No examiner. No FCC. There is no overlord with shareholders. It’s just you, your writer, your desk – and your audience, who are still here, still very much watched. Plus, if Morgan is considered you can even make more!
This time, the important cancellation is one that your subscriber can control.
Richard Alvin
Richard Alvin is a serial entrepreneur who is a former consultant to the UK government and an honorary teaching fellow at small businesses and Lancaster University. London Chamber of Commerce of the Year Chamber of Commerce and the winner of the City of London Liberty, who serves businesses and charities. Richard is also the general manager of Trend Research at Capital Business Media and SME Business Research, and is considered one of the leading experts in the UK’s SME sector and an active angel investor and advisor to the newly launched company. Richard is also the host of Save our business, a U.S.-based business consulting TV show.
