In a twist of comedic irony, a group of gray-haired liberal boomers recently gathered outside Stephen Colbert’s Late Show studio in New York. Yes, that’s right—a protest to save a “failing” late-night show after it got axed! These loyal fans, clinging onto their signs and slogans, seemed to believe that their comedic hero’s departure was a national tragedy. “Colbert stays, Trump must go,” they cried. But let’s unravel the real story here, which, as it turns out, is as financially comic as it gets.
The long-running show was running on fumes. It turns out employing a small army of crew members didn’t do wonders for the bank account. Meanwhile, online comedians and podcasters, with budgets that could hardly buy late-night coffee, were pulling in viewers with pennies. Seems like the money might have just vanished down the comedy drain. One has to wonder, was it even worth keeping this “unfunny” circus alive for ten seasons?
Clearly, even Colbert’s witty repertoire couldn’t stop the axe from falling. Listeners were greeted with jokes that left more of a finger wag than a belly laugh, like a poorly aimed traffic cone. As one can imagine, the not-so-creative team could only muster a “go blank yourself” as a retort to political jabs from former President Trump. Classy, right? But, hey, that’s showbiz—or is it?
The uproar signaled a much larger, perhaps more troubling trend in modern day comedy. With old legends like Johnny Carson who once advised against mixing politics and comedy, modern hosts have seemingly forgotten the art of balance. Carson famously warned against using comedy platforms for political soapboxing, foreseeing the risk of turning audiences away. Turns out, sticking to laughs instead of lectures was part of the recipe for his success.
Today, we find the ecosystem of entertainment shifting dramatically, as fresh voices and platforms rise to fill the void of genuine, non-partisan comedy. With viewers increasingly seeking alternatives, the lineup of late-night shows like Colbert’s appears to be, in the words of today’s youth, “cancelled.” As the dynamics of comedy evolve, there’s a clear message: entertain us, don’t preach to us. And maybe, just maybe, we can all share a laugh again.
