Breaking news this morning is that Stephen Colbert is leaving Comedy Central to take over CBS’ “Late Show” from David Letterman.
Sigh.
I wish I could get on board with this. After all, America’s funniest comedian is going to get a wider audience, and undoubtedly, boat-loads more cash. So, good for him, I guess.
But I worry that he won’t have the comedic freedom, I wonder whether he’ll remain in character (answered: no, so in and of itself that’s upsetting), and, I guess the biggest elephant in the room is the question of did CBS even consider anyone other than a white man? Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Conan O’Brien, Craig Ferguson, I mean c’mon now. The only woman in late night is Chelsea Handler, and that’s on E! (though not for long). Sure would be nice to see more diversity in late night comedy.
Look, I love Colbert and will follow him wherever he wants to go. Maybe Comedy Central can set an example and fill Colbert’s void with, I dunno, someone who is perhaps not white and/or not male.