Tag Archives: Stephen Colbert

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Pop Culture Odds and Ends – Back from Vacation Edition

I have returned from my quick little getaway and reality was absolutely waiting for me when I did. I was only out of the office for three days, but that was apparently enough time for people to save up all their crazy until I got back. I had a pounding headache within two hours of being back in the office. At least this makes me appreciate my vacation all the more – I had five basically uninterrupted days of minimal responsibility. I really should take days off more often.

Because I just got back, this week’s pop culture roundup might not be as comprehensive as other weeks. I’m still catching up on things, so there may be some things that I missed. I think I hit all the high notes, though, so you shouldn’t feel too deprived. You’re still getting your money’s worth 🙂

Television

Movies

Trailers

  • The Glass Castle:

 

  • Spider-Man: Homecoming:

 

  • The House:

 

  • The Mummy:

 

  • How To Talk To Girls At Parties:

 

  • Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets:

 

  • Casual, season 3:

 

  • The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance:

 

  • Tour De Pharmacy:

 

  • Friends From College:

 

  • Logan Noir:

 

  • F Is For Family, season 2:

 

  • Can’t Stop Won’t Stop:

 

  • Orphan Black, final season:

 

  • Good Time:

 

  • The Emoji Movie:

 

  • Austin Found:

 

  • Despicable Me 3:

 

  • Okja:

 

  • The Wedding Party:

 

  • Flaked, season 2:

 

  • The Alienist:

 

Music

Books

Theater

Stand-up

Odds and Ends

Mashups and Supercuts

  • If “All Star” was a TED talk:

 

  • Earth, Wind & Ozzys:

 

  • Deadpool trailer remixed:

 

Orange is the New Black Mirror:

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Pop Culture Odds and Ends – Spring Break Edition

My Facebook feed this week has been filled with vacation photos from all my friends who are enjoying spring break and I have to admit that I’m a little jealous. I’m about a month away from my vacation and I’ve been so busy lately that I could use a few days of R&R. Of course most of my friends are vacationing with their children who are on break, so I’m not sure how relaxing their vacations actually are. Family trips are always an adventure – whether you want them to be or not.

So while I long for a few days off, get yourself caught up on all the pop culture that you might have missed with this week’s roundup. A perfect way to kill a morning if you are taking a staycation.

Television

Movies

Trailers

  • Detroit:

 

  • The Little House:

 

  • The Bad Batch:

 

  • American Assassin:

 

  • Bloodline, final season:

 

  • Drone:

 

  • Netflix’s Dear White People:

 

  • 6 Days:

 

  • Orphan Black, season 5:

 

  • The Hero:

 

  • Beatriz at Dinner:

 

  • Outlander, season 3:

 

  • Gotham:

 

  • The Hitman’s Bodyguard:

 

  • Wakefield:

 

  • Krypton:

 

  • Lost in London:

 

  • Star Wars: The Last Jedi:

 

  • Wizard of Lies:

Music

Theater

Stand-up

Books

Odds and Ends

The first time Jasmine's favorite character, Pikachu came to visit her months ago she was only crawling. For Easter Sunday @laurenhashianofficial and I thought, Pikachu should make a special visit once again. Well, Pikachu didn't account for the fact that now Jazzy RUNS and for 2hrs straight she wants to play her new favorite game, "I run away and you chase me Pikachu. And you're not allowed to take a break until I go night night". At the end of the vid you can hear her yell, "Peekyu" because she can't say, Pikachu. I'm tired, today's my only day off, it's 118 degrees in this costume and Hobbs keep trying to p*ss on my leg. And I luv every minute of it. Bring it on. It's what daddy's do. Happy Easter to you guys and enjoy your families. #Rockachu #DaddyPuttinInWork #TheGameThatNeverEnds #PikachuLooksBloated

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Mashups and Supercuts

  • Riz Ahmed and James Corden had a rap battle:

 

  • A Rick and Morty mod for Grand Theft Auto V:

 

  • A heavy metal cover of “Dancing Queen”:

 

  • Mystery Science Theater 3000 takes on Stranger Things:

 

  • The Force Awakens mashed up with The Last Jedi:

 

  • Jimmy Kimmel and Matt Damon take their feud to the not so friendly skies:

 

  • Classic love and heartbreak songs as Stephen King novels:

 

  • La La Land mashed up with lots of songs:

 

  • Doug Funnie sings “Throw Some D’s”:

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The Return of Stephen Colbert

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It seems like forever since Stephen Colbert was a regular fixture on my television; The Colbert Report aired its final episode way back in December of 2014, which seems like a lifetime ago. I’ve missed him as a part of my daily viewing and while he’s been around in various forms on social media outlets, it hasn’t been quite the same. So I’m excited about the fact that his tenure on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert begins tonight; I’m ready to once again have my daily dose of Colbert.

Of course, most of the world primarily knows Stephen Colbert as “Stephen Colbert,” the character that he created who was a right-wing pundit that looked up to Bill O’Reilly. After doing that character for nearly a decade, he’ll be hosting The Late Show as himself. That might be a change for some people, but I think that they will be delighted with who he really is. I’ve had limited exposure to Colbert out of character, but he’s proven himself to be a charming, funny and delightful man and I think audiences will agree.

Ironically, when I saw Colbert “out of character” he was interviewing the man that he’ll once again be in direct competition with – a man by the name of Jimmy Fallon. Colbert is involved with the Montpellier Film Festival and for the last four years has participated in their main fundraiser, where he sits down and talks one on one with a famous person (Jon Stewart was his guest the first year, Steve Carrell did it last year and this year’s guest is J.J. Abrams). Even though going to Newark is never high on anyone’s list, I made the drive to see Colbert and Fallon and had a fabulous time. It was the first glimpse that I had of Colbert when he wasn’t being “Stephen Colbert” and he seemed to be warm and genuine and just a hell of a nice guy. I always liked the persona that he created for The Colbert Report, but seeing him just do his thing using his own identity was just as entertaining. When Colbert came out to speak with the audience before the taping of The Colbert Report that I attended, he only reinforced my good impression of him. So when it was announced that he’d be taking over for Letterman, I wasn’t wringing my hands like some observers about America adjusting to him as himself. If America doesn’t like Stephen Colbert when he isn’t being “Stephen Colbert,” then I weep for America. Because Stephen Colbert has proven to be nothing but awesome when I’ve seen him.

My concern, if you can even call it that, is that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is entering an already pretty saturated late night talk show field. Letterman has his own loyal audience that had been with him for years, but those people have had all summer to find other viewing options. The Tonight Show has become something of a ratings juggernaut, so I don’t envy anyone having to go head to head with that. I think Colbert already understands that he’s going to have to play the social media game to stay competitive; I don’t know how many people actually watch The Tonight Show every night, but people share the YouTube videos of the show’s funniest moments. The Tonight Show has totally figured out how to use social media to court younger viewers and keep people engaged with the show even if they don’t stay up to watch it (or DVR it every night like I do). The Late Show with Stephen Colbert would be smart to take a similar approach. The fact that Colbert did a web series over the summer is a good indication that they have already embraced this strategy. Despite the apparent friendship between Fallon and Colbert – both appeared on each other’s shows many times – The Tonight Show isn’t pulling any punches the first week that Fallon and Colbert go head to head; The Tonight Show has booked Jimmy’s BFF Justin Timberlake and everyone’s “favorite” presidential candidate Donald Trump, both of whom are guaranteed to get a lot of attention. I just hope that people don’t write off The Late Show if it doesn’t do amazingly in the ratings from the very beginning.

Even though I’ve been a vocal supporter (that’s probably an understatement) of Fallon and his various late night shows, I’m still planning to also DVR Colbert and The Late Show every night. I’m not sure how long I’ll be able to do this, especially with The Daily Show returning at the end of the month, but I’m more than ready to give Colbert a fair shake. Best case scenario – The Late Show is fabulous and pushed The Tonight Show to be even better. That’s a win/win for everyone, expect maybe Jimmy Kimmel. I’ve already snatched up my tickets to see The Late Show in October; hopefully I don’t injure myself on the way to this taping. I’m pretty underwhelmed with the new crop of fall TV shows this year, so there may be more room on the DVR for multiple late night shows in my regular rotation. I love The Tonight Show, but if The Late Show dazzles me, I would consider switching my allegiance to team Late Show.

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We’ll have to see how this all plays out. I’m sure The Tonight Show is quaking in its boots over this.

Best of luck to Stephen Colbert and the rest of The Late Show crew tonight. I look forward to seeing what they have in store for us.

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert airs weeknights at 11:35 pm on CBS.