In the event you thought Jon Stewart was going to put into Paramount over its choice to cancel the Late Present with Stephen Colbert, you had been proper — however even community executives couldn’t have ready for the blistering 10-minute takedown Stewart delivered on their very own airwaves throughout Monday’s episode of The Every day Present.
“Clearly, I’m actually not probably the most goal to touch upon this matter,” Stewart started, acknowledging his lengthy historical past with Colbert, which dates again to his days as a correspondent on The Every day Present. Colbert then hosted The Colbert Report on Comedy Central (which Stewart produced) earlier than taking up for David Letterman on Late Present.
“Watching Stephen exceed all expectations within the function and turn out to be the No. 1 late-night present on community tv has turn out to be an simple nice pleasure for me as a viewer and as his pal,” Stewart continued.
Associated Video
“And now Stephen has been canceled for purely monetary causes,” Stewart mentioned, wanting straight into the digicam and letting out an incredulous “ehhh?” He continued, “And by the way in which, not simply Stephen’s present — CBS has canceled the whole thing of Late Present franchise.”
“I acknowledge the late-night TV is a struggling monetary mannequin,” Stewart famous, acknowledging stories that Colbert’s present was dropping between $40-$50 million yearly. “We’re all mainly working a Blockbuster kiosk inside a Tower Information. However if you’re business is confronted with modifications, you don’t simply name it a day. When CDs stopped promoting, they didn’t simply go, “Oh effectively, music, it’s been run! The truth that CBS didn’t attempt to save their primary rated late-night community franchise that’s been on the air for over three a long time is an element of what’s making everybody ponder whether that is purely monetary or quite the trail of least resistance to your eight billion greenback merger.”
“I imagine CBS misplaced the advantage of the doubt two weeks prior once they offered out its flagship information program [60 Minutes] to pay an extortion program to mentioned president.”
Stewart repeatedly harkened on this theme on off capitulation all through his monologue — particularly because it associated CBS mum or dad firm Paramount’s pending merge with Skydance— and potential political stress from the Trump administration to silence Trump critics on the community (akin to Colbert and people on 60 Minutes).
“However perceive this, actually,” Stewart continued. “The reveals you now search to cancel, censor, and management… a not insignificant portion of that $8 billion worth got here from these fucking reveals. That’s what made you that cash. Reveals that say one thing, reveals that take a stand, reveals which might be unafraid… In the event you imagine, as companies or as networks, you may make your self so innocuous which you can serve a growl so flavorless you’ll by no means once more be on the boy king’s radar, A.) why would by no means watch you, and B.) you might be fucking incorrect. You wish to know the way inconceivable it’s to remain on Lord Farquaad’s good aspect? Donald Trump is suing Fox Information.”
“So right here’s the purpose: for those who’re making an attempt to determine why Stephen’s present is ending… I believe the reply is within the worry and pre-compliance that’s gripping all of America’s establishments at this very feelings, establishments which have chosen to not struggle the vengeance and vindictive actions of our pubic hair-doodling commander and chief. This isn’t the second to present in. I’m not giving in, I’m not going anyplace… I believe.”
For its half, CBS mentioned Colbert’s cancelation “is only a monetary choice in opposition to a difficult backdrop in late evening. It’s not associated in any option to the present’s efficiency, content material or different issues taking place at Paramount.”