Colbert’s Claims and His Show’s Challenges

Stephen Colbert, who is nearing 86 years of age, claims he acts as a neutral referee and isn’t partisan at all.

In a statement, Colbert asserted he dismisses partisan views, mentioning that “when I say partisan, I mean I never joke about Democrats,” although he acknowledges that may not be entirely accurate. He suggests that the political landscape is equally fertile for both sides.

However, it’s important to recognize that figures like Colbert may intentionally mislead to provoke certain reactions.

There’s a notion that such misleading statements serve to irritate the audience with audacious claims. It’s clear that Colbert has taken the platform initiated by David Letterman and, rather overtly, aligned it with the Democratic Party. He overlooks President Biden’s evident shortcomings and consistently features Democratic guests on his show, while neglecting to critique figures like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar. Colbert’s handling of the COVID-19 narrative has also drawn scrutiny.

This isn’t a secret. Colbert is aware we see through this.

He’s not attempting to change our minds but seems to be navigating feelings of anger and humiliation due to recent cancellations, resorting to exaggerated claims as a defense.

Colbert likely feels the sting of cancellation deeply. While the media spins narratives around this issue, the reality is that his show is underperforming, reportedly losing over $50 million annually for CBS.

As the finale approaches in just three weeks, there’s a certain satisfaction in knowing that, despite my desire for him to occupy the role of a politically martyrs, Jimmy Kimmel is garnering more attention over on ABC.

Colbert aspires to be viewed like the Smothers Brothers of today’s time—a show cut short by CBS for being overly political. Yet, there’s a stark difference: while the Smothers Brothers enjoyed decent ratings during their run, Colbert’s show is struggling to leave a lasting mark. Comparatively, the Smothers Brothers had their moments, ranking #27 when canceled in 1969, while Colbert’s ratings tell a different, less favorable story. The footprints of Carson and Letterman remain, but Colbert’s presence seems to be fading.

Should Colbert’s legacy be remembered, it may be as the one who steered the Late Show franchise towards such self-righteousness that it ultimately lost its way.