The first episode was well done. Colbert has this act down cold. This show probably should be done without an audience, though. The same hooting and jeering at every mention of a Bush administration figure damages The Daily Show, but for The Colbert Report I think it could become deadly.
Timing, and maintaining the seriousness through the silliness are Colbert's strongest attributes. The shows he parodies don't have live audiences so if his producers have a clue, they will shoo away the audience and treat this fake news show more like a real news show and trust that the TV audience will get the funny without prompting from howler monkeys.
XWL: I agree. He's basically doing O'Reilly, and O'Reilly has no audience. He'd be completely different if we heard his audience's reaction. But I think Comedy Central believes its own audience is not sharp enough to see where the jokes are. And they're afraid to change from what has worked for them on "The Daily Show."
Support the Althouse blog by doing your Amazon shopping going in through the Althouse Amazon link.
Amazon
I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Support this blog with PayPal
Make a 1-time donation or set up a monthly donation of any amount you choose:
2 comments:
The first episode was well done. Colbert has this act down cold. This show probably should be done without an audience, though. The same hooting and jeering at every mention of a Bush administration figure damages The Daily Show, but for The Colbert Report I think it could become deadly.
Timing, and maintaining the seriousness through the silliness are Colbert's strongest attributes. The shows he parodies don't have live audiences so if his producers have a clue, they will shoo away the audience and treat this fake news show more like a real news show and trust that the TV audience will get the funny without prompting from howler monkeys.
XWL: I agree. He's basically doing O'Reilly, and O'Reilly has no audience. He'd be completely different if we heard his audience's reaction. But I think Comedy Central believes its own audience is not sharp enough to see where the jokes are. And they're afraid to change from what has worked for them on "The Daily Show."
Post a Comment