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Amid praise for Stephen Colbert, some ask: What about diversity in late night?
Christian Science Monitor ^ | 4-11-14 | Mark Guarino

Posted on 04/13/2014 7:28:49 AM PDT by dynachrome

The choice of comedian Stephen Colbert as the replacement for David Letterman ignited a battle of words online Thursday: While little doubt exists that Mr. Colbert is as funny, clever, charming, and goofy as Mr. Letterman, some media voices loudly complained that the decision by CBS now means that network late-night television will largely remain the domain of white male hosts.

When Letterman announced last week that he will step down from the “Late Show” in 2015, television critics immediately started pooling names of possible replacements: comedians W. Kamau Bell, Ellen DeGeneres, Tina Fey, Chelsea Handler, Tig Notaro, Amy Poehler, Retta, Chris Rock, Amy Schumer, Wanda Sykes, and Aisha Tyler, among others – all of whom are either female or black or both.

“Looking at the hilarious women across the rest of the TV dial – in sitcoms, Comedy Central shows, and Saturday Night Live – the idea that there are no women funny and likable enough to helm a TV show past 11:30 p.m. is increasingly absurd,” Esther Breger wrote

(Excerpt) Read more at csmonitor.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: colbert; comedy; diversity; fakediversity; hollywood; latenight; liberalmedia; stalinism
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To: Sooth2222

I agree. These goobers are not worth losing any sleep over; they’re totally predictable. They might as well have laugh tracks so people will know there was a joke.


21 posted on 04/13/2014 7:45:33 AM PDT by elhombrelibre (Against Obama. Against Putin. Pro-freedom. Pro-US Constitution.)
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To: dynachrome

There are a lot of people that don’t know Stephen Colbert was playing a character. Jon Stewart is the funny, engaging liberal, and Colbert was playing the part of a racist, homophobic, war-mongering conservative so that clueless college students can clearly see that their left-wing professors are telling the truth.

Because of Colbert’s work for the left, he was able to emerge from the recent racial controversy involving Suey Park unscathed, and even get a promotion.

It is funny how when the left needs someone, they have no problem pushing diversity to the side, and picking who they want. It just proves that even they know diversity is nonsense. It’s just a hammer they use to bash conservatives with.


22 posted on 04/13/2014 7:46:05 AM PDT by TheGipperWasRight
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To: Hillarys Gate Cult
IIRC Whoopi had a late night talk show that lasted on episode.

Heh, heh. The hell you say.

Okay. Katie Couric then.

23 posted on 04/13/2014 7:49:26 AM PDT by Texas Eagle (If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all -- Texas Eagle)
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To: dynachrome

There’s only one thing to do: Boycott Late Night (after all, what’s good for Libs, is good everywhere !!)


24 posted on 04/13/2014 7:50:02 AM PDT by Salgak (http://catalogoftehburningstoopid.blogspot.com 100% all-natural snark !)
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To: dynachrome
While little doubt exists that Mr. Colbert is as funny, clever, charming, and goofy as Mr. Letterman...

Is that damning with faint praise, sarcasm, or straight writing?

25 posted on 04/13/2014 7:50:51 AM PDT by Rummyfan (Iraq: it's not about Iraq anymore, it's about the USA!)
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To: dynachrome

Saw the headline ands thought “diversity” late night would be about having hosts who weren’t all pinkos.

But...nope.


26 posted on 04/13/2014 7:50:57 AM PDT by BenLurkin (This is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire; or both.)
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To: bray

How about Victoria Jackson!?

That would be a hoot.


27 posted on 04/13/2014 7:55:58 AM PDT by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open (<o> ---)
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To: dynachrome
While little doubt exists that Mr. Colbert is as funny, clever, charming, and goofy as Mr. Letterman,

Which is a choice between death by hanging or death by the electric chair. CBS already had a replacement named Craig Ferguson who is twice as funny as Colbert and Letterman combined.

28 posted on 04/13/2014 7:58:00 AM PDT by Colonel_Flagg ("Compromise" means you've already decided you lost.)
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To: dynachrome
And now TV networks must practice AA in selecting a talk-show host? Wanda Sykes? Are they Effing kidding? Not only is she NOT funny, she's got more hate bottled up than Rosie O'Donnell. Aisha Tyler on the other hand.....


29 posted on 04/13/2014 7:58:56 AM PDT by Rummyfan (Iraq: it's not about Iraq anymore, it's about the USA!)
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To: dynachrome

They already tried it: Arsenio stunk. Plus, Richards Simmons is too old now.


30 posted on 04/13/2014 8:01:44 AM PDT by catnipman (Cat Nipman: Vote Republican in 2012 and only be called racist one more time!)
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To: dynachrome

There are plenty of talented comics that should have been obvious choices for this gig. I would have loved to have seen Aziz Ansari have his own show. He definitely has the persona that would be entertaining, and he could actually hold an interview that wont be boring. He also is more likable in a way that wont become annoying.

Instead they drag this walking shtick over in hopes that he will bring his deranged army of hipster fans that these days sees every hack “ironic” stunt done by people like him and Fallon as genius.

It will become nothing but a war to see whose made for YouTube skit can be passed around the most.

And in between you will get tons of leftist advocacy.


31 posted on 04/13/2014 8:05:35 AM PDT by VanDeKoik
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To: dynachrome

Late night isn’t for diversity.
It’s to kick around conservatives


32 posted on 04/13/2014 8:11:05 AM PDT by Joe Boucher ((FUBO) obammy lied and lied and lied)
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To: catnipman
Arsenio has had a talk show again since Sept. Looks like it's syndicated and mostly on local stations and independents.
33 posted on 04/13/2014 8:14:30 AM PDT by Hillarys Gate Cult (Liberals make unrealistic demands on reality and reality doesn't oblige them.)
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To: Salgak
There’s only one thing to do: Boycott Late Night

Way ahead of you. Haven't watched late night talk shows in years.

34 posted on 04/13/2014 8:24:16 AM PDT by Texas Eagle (If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all -- Texas Eagle)
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To: dynachrome

Hmmm... Should have pick Dennis Miller if they wanted ratings.


35 posted on 04/13/2014 8:34:56 AM PDT by BushCountry (If you're wondering, "I got my screenname before GW was elected the first time.")
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The inconvenient truths: Women are not as funny as men. The numbers tend to prove it.

Not many people want to watch a black guy except other black guys.

Comedic actresses are funny...Tina Fey, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus and a few others, but the vast majority of female stand-up comics (the type of comic best suited to the late night talk format) are just annoying, not funny...Wanda Sykes, Sarah Silverman, Joan Rivers, the Asian woman (can't even remember her name), etc.

Network executives care about one thing: ratings. Ratings drive revenues. If Les Moonves thought a black or a woman would draw the biggest ratings he would have hired one.

And then there's the audience: Predominately young white males.

So there ya have it. The explanation to the phony "lack of diversity" among late night talk show hosts.

36 posted on 04/13/2014 8:35:31 AM PDT by clintonh8r (Don't give up! The liberals are buggering and aborting themselves into extinction.)
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To: dynachrome

What about diversity on the basketball court??? We need more 5’6” Latinos! Latinos dream about coming here to play basketball and make millions and millions... It’s not FAIRRRRR!


37 posted on 04/13/2014 8:38:19 AM PDT by Aria ( 2008 & 2012 weren't elections - they were coup d'etats.)
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To: dynachrome
The return of Magic Johnson! What could go wrong? /sarc.


38 posted on 04/13/2014 8:46:23 AM PDT by ConservativeStatement ("World Peace 1.20.09.")
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To: dynachrome
"Y'all done forgot about me?"


39 posted on 04/13/2014 8:51:47 AM PDT by FReepaholic (Stupidity is not a crime, so you're free to go.)
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To: clintonh8r
I came across a standup comic on a channel the other night. I saw one routine and I found it a bit funny. I generally avoid all TV entertainment talk shows but this was the comedy channel I believe. What amused me was that I was once in the position of a former GF who asked me about one of those dopey Cosmo quizzes. The comedian said he was asked by his GF "Name a person alive or dead who you would love to have dinner with." He said he wasn't sure what to say so he just mentioned "Caligula" to get a reaction. After she yelled and excoriated him for not choosing her -- again, decades ago I was in a similar predicament and my mind wandered to great people of the past and even some that were current, the comedian concluded his routine with "Oh, of course honey it would be you...you. No one but you. I would want to dine with you...(then he paused) and you would be dead." I laughed.
40 posted on 04/13/2014 8:53:45 AM PDT by ConservativeStatement ("World Peace 1.20.09.")
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