r/colbertreport • u/sfsolarboy • Dec 22 '23
Why hasn't Stephen talked about Gaza?
It's kind of depressing, he used to have an edge and tackle the tough stuff, now it's almost all movie stars and when he does have a political figure on it's all soft & gentle, like his kid gloves interview w Liz Cheney.
I know that this murderous orgy of revenge killing and carpet bombing of civilians that is going on in Gaza is difficult to know how to approach for many reasons but just pretending it's not happening so you don't offend your advertisers is, well, cowardly.
Now that John Stewart is retired, Stephen has evolved into a mainstream soft jocular typical late night host and Bill Maher has gone libertarian/MAGA there's nobody out there pushing the edges of progressive political humor anymore.
Anyone out there seeing any fresh, sharp, edgy comedians we should keep an eye on? Because there is a huge vacuum right now, and at a time when we really need someone like the old Stephen and John to step up and take the mantle.
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u/SloppyTopTen Mar 27 '24
The only thing that is important to him is getting angry about Trump. He is too loyal a soldier of the Democratic party to say anything that would hurt Biden, even condemning a genocide. You posted this three months ago and he still hasn't said anything.
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u/BenderBenRodriguez Mar 31 '24
Check out some podcasts. You have to look beyond TV unfortunately but there is stuff out there. I largely abandoned these milquetoast shows after discovering Chapo Trap House. (They’ve been consistently good on this too. They’ve had a lot of Palestinian activists and journalists on over the years and I’ve learned a lot from them.)
But yeah I agree, it’s frustrating. I was a die-hard fan of the Report but I have been so disappointed in him, which is why I found this. The fundraiser for Biden the other day was the last straw for me. In the cold light of day, I can admit he was never as left-wing as I am and there were always some compromises in watching him (dancing with Henry Kissinger was…embarrassing) but he used to be a very funny writer and performer who genuinely spoke truth to power a lot of the time. Now he just cozies up to it.
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u/instaiiii Apr 05 '24
Too busy harassing princesses with cancer and accusing innocent noblewomen of adultery.
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u/BlindSight67 Dec 28 '23
Colbert is a let down. After he got the Late Show job, he showed that he has always been a coward, just touching the subjects he knows would not hurt his ratings. It’s shameful, really. He is a very knowledgeable, well-read and well-articulated person. For him to be silent in important issues is unfortunate.
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u/Art-RJS Jan 10 '24
Did you just call Bill Maher maga?
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u/sfsolarboy Jan 14 '24
Unfortunately, and believe me, I used to really dig Bill, he is slouching towards MAGA. It's sad to see but nothing I can do about it.
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u/BrickBeginning1026 16d ago
Yeah, like Kimmell and many others who have remained eerily quiet, it’s so bitterly disappointing. IMO, complete cowards who should be using their platform and fuck the consequences.
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u/hennell Dec 22 '23
He presents a talk show now. He has for years, it has a different name, set, and it's on CBS. It's a different show to Colbert report, with a different style and expectations.
John Oliver I'd expect to cover Gaza. No advertisers, fewer network rules, the time to research and present a complex in depth analysis of a nuanced topic. But even then you need somewhere to get the jokes in.
Stephen is the top show in late night. He can mention the middle east in a monologue, he can bring it up in interviews a little*, but no one wants quick jokes on Gaza and that's his wheelhouse. He doesn't present a news like show anymore, he doesn't have the freedom of his Colbert character, and a topic where nuances and clarity of meaning are crucial is not something you easily discuss on an entertainment show. Even if he can do it in a long segment clips would be taken out of their context and a boycott would almost certainly start.
Colbert might have taken the talk show more political, but still within generally acceptable ideas and joking about a very hostile complex situation is just not what a talk show is for or very good at.
* I'd imagine most guests would not want it brought up, so outside of politicians it's unfair to get people to take a public stand on a very divided subject.