Stephen Colbert Explains How to be A Great Talk-Show Host

For Variety UnCovered, Stephen Colbert talks about what he learned by doing the show during the pandemic, and he offers some pointers on how to host 'The Late Show.'
Read the full Variety cover story here: wp.me/pc8uak-1lA283
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[@TahtahmesDiary]

I would love a series of this with all the late night show hosts.

[@jeanetteschock4744]

He helped me so much thru 2020

[@Mr.Blockbuster]

What’s great about Colbert is that he isn’t over the top or seems like he’s faking it like Fallon and Kimmel.

[@48waffles36]

No just no. He’s one of the unfunniest people ever. I can tell that the dude thinks Biden is greatest president ever. I’m surprised he hasn’t done a full episode of him praising him for an entire hour

[@FreakieFan]

@@48waffles36 LMAO, keep crying those salty tears.

[@48waffles36]

@@FreakieFan Ok

[@FreakieFan]

@@48waffles36 #Trump2024 Keep believing it, kid.

[@baylinkdashyt]

@@FreakieFan They're tasty, ain't they? :-)

[@CANDACEofEthiopia]

The great one could do it all ❤

[@dc_latername9064]

I have an amazing story. One day I was driving home, when all of a sudden the Lord came to me in spirit. I felt very close to Him. I knew if I asked him to play any song on the radio he would, I guess to bless my faith. So I said "ok, Lord play "Come as you are by Nirvana". I turned on the radio and the song started playing right there on the spot, perfectly… I started getting flooded with chills like a waterfall, crying, and trembling. He stayed with me for 10 minutes in my driveway. until I got outta the car. A couple months after that I started getting amazing prayers answered way more often, because it helped me quit doubting when I pray and I was lined up with biblical instructions. It's 6 years later and I still get answered prayers in Jesus name.

[@tinay9491]

Stephen is the best

[@KAREEMGRIO]

You should make one with Conan O'Brien

[@FreakieFan]

Conan is a better comedian, Colbert is a better Talk show host.

[@KAREEMGRIO]

@@FreakieFan talk show hosts went to two different ways , some went for challenges and games and the others went to say politics jokes , and Conan chose silly comedy like letterman before him , he can deal with awkward situations greatly , and he isn't shy to do anything , for me Colbert is my 2nd fav.

[@greenerdayz]

Working together whether subscribing or signing up works for each other to provide success

[@jerryrichardson2799]

As much as I like Stephen Colbert, I wish some talk shows focused more on conversation. When Carson was in New York and had a longer show, it was better. Thanks for the interview.

[@helena8999]

I agree, it almost always feels too short to get a good conversation going. Though I really loved that Conan started a podcast, it scratched that itch for longer, more meaningful conversations

[@Evehawk87]

Gotta say Stephen Colbert is “The Great One” of my generation. Thank you for always being honest with us.

[@robhatesyoutube]

i wanna go on tv and say "hi"

[@happyjohn1656]

Can actually take this guy. Loves SW too! 😀 5:18 PM 7/21/2021

[@nancyberg6260]

The great ones could do it all. That mean Jesus,the best Host,Buddy Bob.

[@THEREALZACHELMORE]

It sounds like he took some notes from Dave and Conan

[@TahtahmesDiary]

My favorite moment of his in 2020 was when he smashed a champagne bottle 🍾 😂 Took me by surprise! His politics are a bit too Centrist for my far Left self but his show was fun for a while there (unlike Fallon who looked like he was dying hosting from home). Colbert show has been hard to watch since his audience came back tho....I need it to chill back down.

[@wayfaringstranger8430]

Stephen Colbert, a centrist?

[@WalStreet]

@@wayfaringstranger8430 America is a authoritarian right system. So what's far left for boot licking freedom lovers. it's actually centrist on a global scale. Bernie Sanders, The most far left politician in America. Is a Libertarian centrist in Europe, Australia and Asia.

[@wayfaringstranger8430]

@@WalStreet Why do you feel the need to explain the political compass? Boot licking freedom lovers? What are you on about, foreigner?

[@sainttrai]

Wasn't this uploaded like 5 hours ago??

[@markdeegan4113]

Yeah, comments weren't exactly supportive of Stephen. I'm sure it was a glitch though..

[@basketanand]

I genuinely love Colbert as a performer, but the only way this title can make sense is if the answer is “Ask Conan”

[@pelloo3627]

Yup, Conan has always been miles ahead of being a talk show host compared to all the others on right now.

[@ryanbradshaw3813]

the only correct answer

[@juliovilla2405]

Im in trouble with you lol

[@dennisv8934]

Yeah he's a great late night talk show host in an era where no one knows what humor is anymore and late night talk is dead now that Conan is done.

[@Enid2Sacramento]

And then, the Women's US Olympic Team will tell you how to crush Sweden...

[@maxstirner242]

When you become one you let us know

[@dr.m.hfuhruhurr84]

“Oh that’s too good!” is a gross under estimated over generalization at this point

[@DanielEstill]

We see Jimmy Kimmel take over for David Letterman but the other Kimmel is Roman Catholic like S. Colbert but wanted to be an astronaught.

[@prabhjotbains4431]

yeah...kinda shocked Colbert is giving these lessons. Maybe bring back Carson from the dead?

[@petes.6609]

The only late night comedy host that is still great is Conan O'Brien he stays out of politics when he can and keeps it comedy which why he's there.

[@mizuko6132]

So I’m guessing Conan passed on this.

[@richsackett3423]

Why?

[@FreakieFan]

Obviously not, hahah

[@firsttimeisawjupiter1031]

The bad part is that he got too political and that turned off some viewers. That's why Conan was my favorite, he spoke when he needed about politics but he knew that it wasn't his job as an entertainer

[@rachelauguste]

Given that he comes from political satire before the Late Show, I find that is more his shtick when given a plethora of content to use such as the past few years. I kinda liked I knowing Conan and Colbert was going to give me different types of comedy depending on who I watched

[@vincentknight27]

He didn’t “get” too political… he never did anything else, or did he? Have you heard about the Daily Show?

[@FreakieFan]

Do you have any clue what his job was before his talk show? Oh right, The Daily Show and the Colbert Report.... Both political shows.

[@TahtahmesDiary]

??? I SWEAR this is just code for "I started disagreeing with his politics". He was always political.

[@ajmerz276]

Don't you have to be a great host before you can explain how to be one?

[@NS-rk9sm]

First step make youe guest uncomfortable

[@48waffles36]

Colbert, Kimmel, Fallon and Myers are the reason why Late Night shows aren’t good anymore.

[@FreakieFan]

Colbert is so much better than the other three you mentioned...

[@1000dollarHotdog]

Do the exact opposite of what he’s doing

[@Merkeuroney]

how to do propaganda with a smile

[@caroldanvers8046]

Sorry but Conan was the last real late night host. All of the others including Stephen are just bad hypocritical copycats

[@petes.6609]

Sorry to hurt your feelings Steven but you're not a great late night comedy host Johnny Jay Leno are great late night comedy hosts.

[@ryanbradshaw3813]

i mean, he was good on Comedy Central, his show now is fucking awful.

[@petes.6609]

He's a terrible late night comedy host there could have been so many more talented comedians to be in his place.He's a fictional character.

[@markdeegan4113]

Pander to the left seems to be the way to go

[@playerjoe]

Would you prefer he panders to the right? I mean if his comedy isn’t for you, it isn’t for you. Watch Jeff Foxxworth

[@markdeegan4113]

@@playerjoe Thanks for the recommendation, I'll check him out.

[@ryanbradshaw3813]

@@playerjoe lmao

[@Semper_Iratus]

playerjoe I would just prefer funny. But that offends leftist peoples feelings these days.

[@playerjoe]

@@Semper_Iratus You don’t find Jon Stewart or Dave Chappelle funny? They are leftist. Who do you find funny? Dennis Miller loooool

[@ltaaa2]

You mean be a complete tool and stooge for the Democratic Party? Yeah, real good host you have become. The old Stephen Colbert (from Comedy Central) would have made fun of the new Stephen Colbert so much and he would have been right!

[@movingforwardLDTH]

Thank you for showing the world you entirely missed the point of his Comedy Central character. Because it was a *caricature*. Every utterance pointed out the ridiculousness of right wing nut jobs. (True, sometimes Centrists & Lefties got pilloried as well. That was the brilliance of the writing staff.).

[@ltaaa2]

@@movingforwardLDTH I never said he wasn't playing a character. I love how you people who comment on shit put words in peoples sentences that were never there. He's a tool bought off by the Democratic party just like Bill Maher. All he cn do is make fun of Trump Trump Trump. A paid act.

[@movingforwardLDTH]

@@ltaaa2 , criticizing & deriding the Orange Wannabe Dictator is the only appropriate response.

[@stifler12333]

Making Trump jokes doesn´t make you a great Talkshowhost, and Colbert is still doing the same stuff 6 months after he left the White House, its kinda SAD !

[@48waffles36]

💯 unfunny Late Night Liberal Hosts need to talk about trump in order to get ratings and views.

[@1Chris_007]

Lol Colbert is terrible. Why is he giving tips

[@greenerdayz]

Working together whether subscribing or signing up works for each other to provide success