Some TV writers are finding it tough to get back into a regular groove now that the strike is finally resolved, even with weeks or months until their shows air again. So just imagine how the teams behind The Daily Show and The Colbert Report must have felt on Tuesday night, when they realized they’d have to hit the ground running and whip up a new episode in less than 24 hours! Last night, we got to see the first fruits of their labors. How’d they fare?
The writers’ return was a real godsend for Jon Stewart, who’d been visibly flailing for a while now without anyone to keep him supplied with fresh schtick. Last night, he pulled off his funniest show in many weeks — even better than I remember him being in the dull fall months before the strike, to be honest. His pun-filled opening tribute to his scribes was both cute and clever. (No awkward space-filling pauses in sight!) But the Show really hit its stride with a smart, tightly scripted hatchet job on Sen. Arlen Specter — classic Daily material, and the kind of thing Stewart couldn’t possibly have come up with off the top of his head:
So it went for the rest of the show. Yet a funny thing happened at11:30. Stephen Colbert has been steadily outshining Stewart all throughthe strike, relying on his natural improv charms to keep the funnyflowing. Last night, Stephen opened the Report with a typically genius contextual gag, welcoming each of his writers in person — some grinning dudes, Tiki Barber, Kevin Bacon, Judith Miller, a dozen more scruffy folks, and, uh, Mr. Met:
Silly suits him, all right. But then the whole show went to hell!For some inexplicable reason, Colbert filled the rest of the half hourwith a trio of excruciatingly long, boring interview/on-site segmentsinvolving (no kidding) a guy who eats insects and an extended visit tothe National Air & Space Museum. Nothing scripted? What, no"Word"?! Were these some sort of emergency bottom-of-the-barrel bitshe’d stockpiled during the strike?
For now, I’ll chalk this up to first-night jitters over at the Report.But I can’t help feel weird, realizing that I’m in the unusual positionof hoping my guy Colbert starts measuring up to the standard set byStewart tonight. How about you?
Comments (1-16) of 16 Add your comment
The top story on THE Daily Show last night was about a beagle winning the Westminster Dog Show. “It was more evidence of the war on terriors.” I will be glad win The Colbert Report writers get into the groove. It’s been months since there has been a new “Word”.
I think Stewart was great without his writers.
I have to disagree with the Report thing. His trip to the Air and Space Museum was absolutely hilarious.
Mikhail Barishnakov was also in the with the writers. I love Colbert and give him a pass on the first night back. I also thought the trip to the museum was great.
Colbert teaching the kids at the Air and Space Museum was hilarious.
Missed the Daily Show so no comment on that. However, I totally agree with the rest of the article. Colbert was much funnier without his writers. Like you, I hope it was ‘opening night jitters’. I did like the opening sequence with the writers. I thought the author of “The Race Card” seemed ill at ease compared to the usual guests who give as much as they get.
Actually, Colbert was at the Hayden Planetarium of the Museum of Natural History in NYC.
Conan was WAAAAAAAAAAAAAY funnier without his writers. I loved it without the bits. it was great.
From the sound of it it seems like Colbert & his writers were making fun of themselves by purposefully making this show look bad. I bet the next show will be much better.
According to the Wikipedia link, Tiki Barber really is a writer for The Colbert Report. Is this true? Is there a spate of ex-football players writing for fake news shows that I’ve been missing? How cool is that?
I enjoyed Stephen’s visit to the museum. And Neil DeGrasse Tyson appearances are always fun on his show.
This blog really provides great updates on entertainment and entertainers!
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