A Comment on Comedy
Stephen Colbert, both a real comedian and a fictional persona on the comedy show The Colbert Report, has been providing jokes and laughs at the expense of public figures for nine years. He has sparked controversy, teased prominent individuals in personal interviews and now after almost a decade at the helm of the Report, will be replacing David Letterman as the new host of The Late Show, a practical and intelligent switch.
In the past, late night comedy has seemed to be a small yet constant group of anchors. Jay Leno, David Letterman and the likes have domi- nated and ruled over the nightly comedy business for decades, and the shows have remained to be some of the most popular on TV. However, there will always be a time when the power needs to change hands, and a wave of young comedians has recently taken over late night comedy. Jimmy Fallon took over The Tonight Show from Leno in February, Sat- urday Night Live actor Seth Myers has received his own show on NBC and Colbert just assumed the coveted position of The Late Show host.
Although this transition might seem unexpected, comedy itself is transforming. Now kids and young adults watch videos on Youtube, CollegeHumor or on Netflix. Occasionally we watch re-runs of SNL or other comedy performances on Hulu, but no longer is it the norm to sit down in front of a television and view an hour straight of one show or another.
Don’t get me wrong, late night television is still incredibly popular. To keep up with the cultural shifts of our generation, however, networks need to continually update the content they display for the world to see. Face it, even if Letterman is a hilarious comic, very few people share his clips over Facebook and Twitter. These days, we tend to indulge in the more satirical aspects of comedy, an area in which Colbert, Myers and Fallon are all ideal for hosting their own shows.
Now that a valuable chunk of America’s humorists have left some of their small niche-like productions, many wonder who is going to fill their shoes. Who, for example, can replicate the pure wit and entertain- ing sarcasm of Stephen Colbert?
Well, in fact, many people can. The United States, and the whole world is populated by a myriad of aspiring comedians and performers. Improvisation schools, the Internet and stand-up comedy bars are all the playgrounds for up and comers, and because of the likes of Youtube, it is easier than ever to scout out the new type of humor that will soon be prevalent in our everyday world.
Yes, for some time you will not be able to tune in every night for an hour of The Colbert Report, or enjoy Seth Meyer’s ten minute weekly sketch on Saturday Night Live, but whenever one comedian disappears, another fills his or her spot. What we, as a nation, might be feeling now is what comedy-watchers of the past felt when Letterman and his cohorts “graduated” to late night comedy. Sooner or later, clips and videos from the new Colbert or Fallon will be filling our newsfeeds and profiles, and the progression of comedy will live on.