As David Letterman’s successor, new The Late Show host Stephen Colbert is bringing style and content from his previous late-night gig, minus the right-wing alter-ego. According to a recent article in Bloomberg Businessweek, part of CBS’ strategy to attract and keep younger viewers is to invite CEOs and business moguls and to engage the guests in conversation rather than rely on the sketches and celebrity banter so common to late night shows.
The article’s author asked Jeffrey P. Jones, director of UGA’s Peabody Awards, about the art of the modern late night model.
“They’ve learned how to create entertaining little bits, and they’ve learned how to play with the guest, but I don’t think they’ve learned how to have great conversations with guests,” said Jones, the Lambdin Kay Professor in the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication.
According to the article, CBS and Colbert plan to stick to the basics and hope it leads to serious conversation and top ratings.
