Late Show with Stephen Colbert

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Season 1
  • Network: CBS
  • Series Premiere Date: Sep 8, 2015
Season #: 10, 9, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 4, 3, 2, 1
Metascore
72

Generally favorable reviews - based on 27 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 27
  3. Negative: 0 out of 27

Critic Reviews

  1. Newark Star-Ledger
    Reviewed by: Vicki Hyman
    Sep 9, 2015
    60
    The marquee interviews, taken as a whole, were Colbert's weak point--the Bush interview went longer in reality and felt rushed when edited. And Colbert's talk with George Clooney just fell flat.... What did work was the overall vibe--enthusiastic, encompassing, high-energy and with healthy dose of quirk.
  2. Sioux City Journal
    Reviewed by: Bruce Miller
    Sep 9, 2015
    60
    Eager to please, Colbert did a few comic bits at the outset (two product placement pieces fell flat) and got plenty of mileage out of Donald Trump. But his best moments were planned ones.... Too often, though, Colbert seemed like a dad trying to be hip with his kids’ friends.
  3. St. Louis Post-Dispatch
    Reviewed by: Gail Pennington
    Sep 9, 2015
    60
    Not everything in the first show worked. A too-long segment involving a magic amulet that segued into a commercial for hummus (apparently actual, paid product placement) felt odd, but not unlike many "Colbert Report" bits. An appearance by George Clooney, with nothing to promote, also fell a bit flat. The Bush interview was more successful, although Colbert seemed over-caffeinated or perhaps just over-excited to finally be on the air.
  5. USA Today
    Reviewed by: Robert Bianco
    Sep 9, 2015
    60
    He'll need to relax a bit: As you might expect, given the stakes and the hype, he seemed a bit over-caffeinated. But calm will almost certainly come with time.... Colbert's chat with Clooney felt oddly stilted, with uncertain transitions from serious topics to prearranged comedy. He actually seemed more at ease with his second guest, Governor Bush.
  6. Hitfix
    Reviewed by: Alan Sepinwall
    Sep 9, 2015
    50
    The monologue had some fairly tired jokes about being at CBS (even the bit where Les Moonves kept switching the telecast over to "Mentalist" scenes evoked Conan O'Brien's old "Walker Texas Ranger" Lever gag), both Colbert and George Clooney struggled to feign interest in their interview, and even the livelier conversation with Jeb Bush suffered from being so heavily edited.... His take on the format wasn't boring--the opening credits, which made Manhattan look like the world's largest dollhouse, and the music of Jon Batiste and Stay Human, were both marvelous--but nor was it exciting enough to make me set a season pass for the kind of show I long since lost interest in.

Awards & Rankings

85
#85 Best TV Season of 2015
40
#40 Most Discussed TV Season of 2015
99
#99 Most Shared TV Season of 2015

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
5.8

Mixed or average reviews- based on 93 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 52 out of 93
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 93
  3. Negative: 32 out of 93
  1. Bgrod
    Sep 9, 2015
    3
    I saw nothing original or fresh that Fallon and Kimmel or even Letterman haven't already tried and more successfully. It was a struggle toI saw nothing original or fresh that Fallon and Kimmel or even Letterman haven't already tried and more successfully. It was a struggle to crack a smile for the majority of the debut show. The largess of the production, staging and the frenetic, over-caffeinated host might want to remind himself this is late night television that is often consumed in bed. Perhaps monologues are not a particular strength of Mr. Colbert so maybe that device should be ditched altogether. The Clooney interview was amazingly dull as was the ensuing painfully unfunny sketch involving Clooney. I would have enjoyed more banter and sarcasm with Jeb Bush. I''ll tune in a few more times since it is unfair to judge anything just based on one episode but this loyal Colbert Report viewer was not at all impressed at this over hyped premiere. The talk show host as shameless advertising shill is commonplace in late night with Kimmel and his sidekick, Guillermo typically eliciting the most laughs. Colbert's attempt was "meh"… Full Review »
  2. spencertjprice
    Sep 10, 2015
    10
    Every late night show stumbles out of the gate, but the running gags are spot on, and the bait and switch Stephen did to Jeb Bush about hisEvery late night show stumbles out of the gate, but the running gags are spot on, and the bait and switch Stephen did to Jeb Bush about his brother was outstanding.… Full Review »
  3. donnelbr
    Sep 23, 2015
    8
    I'm a huge Colbert fan, so this should be considered when reading this review. I would add that this is a review of only the first episode. II'm a huge Colbert fan, so this should be considered when reading this review. I would add that this is a review of only the first episode. I found the writing to be uninspired. Perhaps Colbert should recruit some of the writers from Comedy Central to join his team (perhaps he has?). I will keep watching, as I'm certain his huge talent will make this show great, but I was a little disappointed with the first episode.

    *** Follow-up - raising my review from a 6 to an 8. This is the best late night show on television, and I'm not a fan of the format. I laugh out loud each episode. This show makes the grade, and will be around as long as Stephen wants to do it. ***    … Full Review »
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