Summary Judgement - Chew's View on Colbert's First Week

September 11, 2015 |

Not since the night Jay Leno took over for the legendary Johnny Carson has there been such an anticipated passing of the baton. Such was the case earlier this week when Stephen Colbert took over David Letterman's position on CBS' The Late Show.

Our regular film reviewer Gary Chew offered these musings on Colbert's first week.

Observations on Colbert After Watching Three Shows

By Gary Chew

Colbert is a better show-opening dancer than Conan.

The opening theme for the show is very SNL-ish but,

fortunately, has a less squawky saxophone. I always

turn down the audio on the standard opening of SNL

due to sax noise.

Band members on his show are stretching for appeal

for viewers with wearing culturally different apparel;

that's cool.

Stephen is now wearing Justin Timberlake type suits.

His hair style on the first show was too “Timberlakish”

too. Go back to your Comedy Central coiffure, Stephen.

The Scarlett Johansson interview was sort of goofy.

Cobert handled his interview with Biden superbly.

Colbert is substituting common buddy-buddyness on

late night TV with an announcer for being “palsish

with his athletic bandleader who should be a big draw

for the ladies. Colbert does his own announcing. That

is a curious move.

Colbert seems pretty much like he was on his former

show. I never wondered much that he'd be different.

Colbert may be the smartest, quickest guy on TV talk

since Dick Cavett … and that's not to diminish Jack

Paar, Steve Allen, Johnny Carson and one of Stephen's

new executive producers of THE LATE SHOW. His

name is Jon Stewart.

Tonight might be the real hammer for Colbert's first

week. Amy Schumer will invade the Mr. Sullivan's

Theater.