[SES1066]

The 'sine qua non' of the Late Show was Johnny Carson. Everybody knew he was a liberal but he went to pains to be even-handed in his political barbs. He poked all with gentle good humor and all were willing to sit on his couch. David Letterman could not follow suit while Jay Leno did reasonably well.

It is unreasonable to expect Mr Colbert to be even-handed but that DOES NOT give him a bye. I expect him to be reflexive liberal-stupid and so he is! I have no interest in watching him and I am happy that he is losing audience. GET A CLUE CBS!

[VanDeKoik]

“Everybody knew he was a liberal but he went to pains to be even-handed in his political barbs. “

That’s the thing that shows the class of the old guys. Both he and Bob Hope never gave an indication of whom they supported. It wasn’t even a thing to think about. Good satire leaves you never knowing and not even wanting to know.

It’s not like people on the right hate being poked at. We just want to see that it’s good-natured and even-handed.

[Olog-hai]

Carson’s show was the Tonight Show. CBS invented the competing Late Show for Letterman back in 1993 when he moved from Late Night on NBC and Leno took over Carson’s chair the year before.