In the memorable words of Ed O’Neill in Wayne’s World 2, “people need to be entertained.” Sadly, it appears that many late-night comedians have strayed from this philosophy, opting instead for a sharp political pivot that often alienates half their audience. Stephen Colbert stands out as a prime example of this trend.
If Colbert had adhered to the classic approach of the legendary Johnny Carson from The Tonight Show, he might have fared better. Carson’s simple yet effective strategy was straightforward: steer clear of overt political commentary.
Carson was a unifying figure; his charm transcended party lines, captivating Republicans, Democrats, and independents alike. His singular aim was to bring laughter to his audience.
A Newsweek article from last year featured an insightful interview where Carson, speaking to Barbara Walters in 1984, noted, “I think one of the dangers if you are a comedian, which basically I am, is that if you start to take yourself too seriously and start to comment on social issues, your sense of humor suffers somewhere.”
He elaborated, “Some critics have said that our show doesn’t have great sociological value, it’s not controversial, it’s not deep. But The Tonight Show basically is designed to amuse people. To make them laugh.”
The article’s title aptly summarized its content: “What Our Current Late-Night Hosts Can Learn From the King.”
“You never knew Johnny’s politics,” Jay Leno remarked of Carson. “Johnny would come out and equally make fun of everybody.”
In stark contrast, today’s late-night comedians seem unable to resist the urge to express their disdain for former President Donald Trump and his supporters, creating an echo chamber of negativity.
For decades, comedians idolized Carson as the gold standard. A stand-up comic who performed on his show and was invited to sit beside him afterward was considered officially endorsed. The opportunities for success were boundless.
Yet, his successors—including Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, and Seth Meyers—often tarnish his legacy with politically charged monologues that resemble state-sponsored propaganda.
Could this overt politicization be a factor in Colbert’s cancellation? The answer seems clear. Alienating half your audience is a surefire recipe for declining ratings.
Liberal politicians and online personalities are quick to claim that Colbert’s dismissal was part of a conspiracy or that it stemmed from Trump’s recent settlement with CBS’ “60 Minutes” regarding an edited interview with Kamala Harris.
However, the reality is quite different.
Colbert sacrificed his potential to uplift and unite the nation through humor. He and his peers traded their comedic integrity for the approval of the highest bidders, parroting whatever sentiments were dictated to them.
What a disservice to their craft.
The condescending rants, emotional tirades, and interviews with Hollywood elites affirming every viewpoint were grating—and more significantly, they weren’t funny!
In an era where the internet can provide an endless array of entertainment options, do these shows even rank in the top 50 or 100 anymore?
Colbert committed the cardinal sin of comedy: delivering radical political sermons when all Americans sought was a few moments of levity.
“The reason I don’t go back or do interviews is because I just let the work speak for itself,” Carson once stated in an Esquire interview back in 2002.
Well, Colbert allowed his work to speak for him as well, and the consequence was his cancellation.
He took a gift that had the potential to bring people together and corrupted it for the sake of fleeting admiration from far-left Democrats and commentators.
Carson was cherished by ordinary Americans—those who welcomed him into their homes as a trusted friend.
Colbert, conversely, will likely serve as a cautionary tale in the annals of comedy. His legacy may well be that he hastened the decline of late-night network television.
In truth, he should have faced the consequences of his choices much earlier, but better late than never.
This article originally appeared on The Western Journal.
