Late Show with Stephen Colbert canceled...Possible Political Reasons

mace1229

tempo_n_groove said:

mace1229 said:

tempo_n_groove said:

So.  What will happen to SNL?

I was wondering that the other day. And I think they’re safe for a while.

Google still says it’s profitable for one, with more viewership and more higher ads.
But also I think they could easily cut the budget.  When you think of iconic SNL cast members, they typically were only on SNL 5-6 years. The formula worked for a long time, recycle cast members more frequently. My guess is one big reason is salaries weren’t what they are now to the long standing members. In 2001 Will Ferrel set the record in salary at $17,500 an episode. It doesn’t seem to be openly shared, but some current members, like Keenan, make $2-3 million a season, which translates to over $100k an episode. Lorne makes between $30-40 million a season.
Looking at the cast from 2001, pretty much every single one of them was or is an icon in comedy. Most were only on 5-6 seasons, I think Tina fey was the longest and lasted 9 seasons.
Compared to this year’s cast, several members are 10-20+ years as cast members. They are spending a lot more on salaries because they are keeping many of them longer and paying much higher salaries.
I think before they cut SNL, they reduce salaries and go back to the shorter tenure they had before. seems like people liked SNL more when they did that anyway.

Lorne HATED having to come up with new cast members every few years so he made the cast bigger so the quest for talent wasn't that critical.

I think most use this as a stepping stone for bigger things?  Keenan befuddles me.  He had a career before this and decided to stay for so many years.

It for sure was a stepping stone, not a career, until recently.
You’re capped at 400k a season then someone offers you 5 million for your first lead role in a movie, you’re going to take it. Even if it means leaving the cast.
Im sure it’s a gamble and a pain always looking for new members. But everyone loves the 90s and 2000s SNL over now, and it was a lot cheaper, so it worked.

Tim Simmons

lots of great hungry comedians and improvisers out there. 

brianlux

tempo_n_groove said:

So.  What will happen to SNL?

Hopefully it will die a quiet, peaceful death.  That show used to be so good, but it really lost its way some years ago. 

igotid88

brianlux said:

tempo_n_groove said:

So.  What will happen to SNL?

Hopefully it will die a quiet, peaceful death.  That show used to be so good, but it really lost its way some years ago. 

No. People say this every year. 

tbergs

igotid88 said:

brianlux said:

tempo_n_groove said:

So.  What will happen to SNL?

Hopefully it will die a quiet, peaceful death.  That show used to be so good, but it really lost its way some years ago. 

No. People say this every year. 

It has its ups and downs just like every year. I think a lot of people are forgetting how bad some of the sketches/episodes and cast members were back in the 90's and early 2000's. Every week usually had at least one good skit and that still stands today. There are also some horrendously bad skits.

brianlux

igotid88 said:

brianlux said:

tempo_n_groove said:

So.  What will happen to SNL?

Hopefully it will die a quiet, peaceful death.  That show used to be so good, but it really lost its way some years ago. 

No. People say this every year. 

Perhaps.  But do you still enjoy SNL?  Most people I knew in the 80 loved it.  I literally do not have a single friend that watches that show any more.  

igotid88

brianlux said:

igotid88 said:

brianlux said:

tempo_n_groove said:

So.  What will happen to SNL?

Hopefully it will die a quiet, peaceful death.  That show used to be so good, but it really lost its way some years ago. 

No. People say this every year. 

Perhaps.  But do you still enjoy SNL?  Most people I knew in the 80 loved it.  I literally do not have a single friend that watches that show any more.  

Yes. It's still funny. Not everything is going to hit. Not every musical guest is going to be great. But it's still good for what it does. 

tbergs

I think Weekend Update is as good as it's ever been and I've thought numerous times over the last 30 years that when each person/people left that duty that it would never be the same, but I still think it's the most consistently funny segment year after year.

mace1229

tbergs said:

igotid88 said:

brianlux said:

tempo_n_groove said:

So.  What will happen to SNL?

Hopefully it will die a quiet, peaceful death.  That show used to be so good, but it really lost its way some years ago. 

No. People say this every year. 

It has its ups and downs just like every year. I think a lot of people are forgetting how bad some of the sketches/episodes and cast members were back in the 90's and early 2000's. Every week usually had at least one good skit and that still stands today. There are also some horrendously bad skits.

I heard someone say a while ago SNL was best when you were in high school and college.
Doesn’t matter when that was, but that’s when it was best for you.
might be some truth in that.

brianlux

igotid88 said:

brianlux said:

igotid88 said:

brianlux said:

tempo_n_groove said:

So.  What will happen to SNL?

Hopefully it will die a quiet, peaceful death.  That show used to be so good, but it really lost its way some years ago. 

No. People say this every year. 

Perhaps.  But do you still enjoy SNL?  Most people I knew in the 80 loved it.  I literally do not have a single friend that watches that show any more.  

Yes. It's still funny. Not everything is going to hit. Not every musical guest is going to be great. But it's still good for what it does. 

I'm glad you still enjoy the show. 

Tim Simmons

tbergs said:

igotid88 said:

brianlux said:

tempo_n_groove said:

So.  What will happen to SNL?

Hopefully it will die a quiet, peaceful death.  That show used to be so good, but it really lost its way some years ago. 

No. People say this every year. 

It has its ups and downs just like every year. I think a lot of people are forgetting how bad some of the sketches/episodes and cast members were back in the 90's and early 2000's. Every week usually had at least one good skit and that still stands today. There are also some horrendously bad skits.

This has always been SNL. Even in the 70s and 80s. People see new cast members and see a few bunk skits and decide its not "my SNL" and "the 'xx era' was better" so they tune out. But what they really only remember is the great sketches. Chevy, Murray, Eddie, Carvey, Hartman, Sandler, Farley, Ferrell, all those eras had bunk sketches and lackluster episodes. 

Tim Simmons

tbergs said:

I think Weekend Update is as good as it's ever been and I've thought numerous times over the last 30 years that when each person/people left that duty that it would never be the same, but I still think it's the most consistently funny segment year after year.

Agreed.

Tim Simmons

Also humor changes every couple generations. 

the 70s humor is different than the late 80s humor which was different from the character based stuff of the 90s which was different from the irreverent stuff of the aughts. It changes and a change makes stuff not for everyone and thats fine but theres plenty of ways to get into it.  

Tim Simmons

Anyway, I don't think SNL will get canned. 

Gern Blansten

I do wonder if it will die once Lorne Michaels steps away....Stern was poking at Seth Meyer to take over, he thinks Michaels will insist on handing him the reins. 

Tim Simmons

We’re kinda going away from the politics of this, but my money is on Colin Jost taking over. He has 20 years on staff, was head writer and was on the cast. Plus he’s young enough to have the legs. Seth has his own show and unless it gets cancelled, I can’t see him stepping away from that. Tina has her own shows and production company and I didn’t think she would want to step back into that. 

Lerxst1992

Hysterical that SNL took over the topic. For those convinced The Colbert cancellation is part of a big conspiracy think about it this way.

They're about to enter into a mega multi-billion Dollar Deal to sell the company. Lets say....They fire Colbert and lie publicly about its profitability.

 someone else takes the show, could be a streamer, and they make tens of millions of dollars profit on it.

If you did that you're going to get your ass sued for lying about profits and losses right before a sale. They have a legal responsibility to be honest about the assets they are selling. The buyer is going to want to clawback  those profits from you.[" You lied because you own a percent of some other company and you wanted those profits for yourself"] Just asking the  left here to think clearly about things before they think they have it all figured out

Gern Blansten

Lerxst1992 said:

Hysterical that SNL took over the topic. For those convinced The Colbert cancellation is part of a big conspiracy think about it this way.

They're about to enter into a mega multi-billion Dollar Deal to sell the company. Lets say....They fire Colbert and lie publicly about its profitability.

 someone else takes the show, could be a streamer, and they make tens of millions of dollars profit on it.

If you did that you're going to get your ass sued for lying about profits and losses right before a sale. They have a legal responsibility to be honest about the assets they are selling. The buyer is going to want to clawback  those profits from you.[" You lied because you own a percent of some other company and you wanted those profits for yourself"] Just asking the  left here to think clearly about things before they think they have it all figured out

uh....that's a long way to go to try and insult someone

Tim Simmons

interesting

tbergs

Tim Simmons said:

interesting

I wish the left would quit making up these conspiracies about freedom of speech being impeded by the current Admin.

Honestly though, why hasn't Harris, or whoever, sued Fox News for their edit of Trump's interview? Fight fire with fire.