TELEVISION-STEPHEN COLBERT Stephen Colbert brings Hollywood glamor, presidential politics to 'Late Show' debut

Record ID: 134728

  • Title: TELEVISION-STEPHEN COLBERT Stephen Colbert brings Hollywood glamor, presidential politics to 'Late Show' debut
  • Date: 9th September 2015
  • Summary: CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, UNITED STATES (FILE) (REUTERS) STEPHEN COLBERT SPEAKING ON STAGE LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (FILE) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS) COLBERT ON RED CARPET AT GRAMMY AWARDS
  • Embargoed: 24th September 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA1WZ3SJC3CR5EEKIN998PRFMU4
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Stephen Colbert makes his "Late Show" debut on Tuesday (September 8) with a mix of Hollywood glamour and presidential campaign politics with guests George Clooney and Republican White House contender Jeb Bush.
    Nine months after his satirical "The Colbert Report" ended its run on Comedy Central last December, the 51-year-old actor and comedian takes on CBS's flagship late night talk show with no one quite sure what to expect.
    Colbert has promised to drop the pompous conservative alter ego that helped make him a star.
    But whether he will take "The Late Show" into the variety show territory developed by rival Jimmy Fallon on NBC's "The Tonight Show" or the pranks of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" on ABC remains to be seen.
    Colbert has revealed little about what he has in store.
    Outside the Ed Sullivan Theater, the former home of 'The Late Show with David Letterman', fans waited to be let in to the taping of the first "Late Show with Stephen Colbert'.
    "I'm a big fan of Stephen. I've been watching him for years. He's a funny guy, very witty, very intelligent. And I went to his previous show 'The Colbert Report'. So it's a real pleasure to be at his opening," said Paul.
    "I think he's really intelligent. He's got a great humor that kind of hits on some important issues but with a laugh," added Jamie.
    Jeb Bush was seen waving to crowds as he walked into the theater.
    Bush and Colbert have already been making waves on social media over competing raffles for a seat at Tuesday's inaugural show taping in New York.
    Guests for the remainder of Colbert's first week give a glimpse of the flavor of what is to come. They include actress Scarlett Johansson, Tesla Motors chief Elon Musk and Vice President Joe Biden.
    Fallon, whose "Tonight Show" is the most watched of the U.S. late night talk shows, has gone for a more lighthearted guest list as he faces off against Colbert for the first time.
    On Tuesday, Fallon will sit down with actor Richard Gere, country star Keith Urban and singer Jessica Simpson. His guests later this week include singers Justin Timberlake and Carrie Underwood and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres.
    On Friday, Fallon will talk with Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump. Colbert's guests on that night's show include comedian Amy Schumer and author Stephen King.
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