Late Show UK

Stephen Colbert - host of The Colbert Report - has won the Person Of The Year award at this year’s Webby Awards. The official Webby Awards website says “Stephen Colbert will be honored for the innovative way he has used the Internet to interact with fans of The Colbert Report”. The Webby Awards ceremony is being held in New York from the 8th to 10th June. The Colbert Report had its first airing on FX UK last night, and appears on FX UK every weeknight at 11pm.

Webby Awards - “12th Annual Webby Special Achievement Award Winners”

The Colbert Report’s first airing on FX UK will go out on Tuesday 6th May at 11pm. The Colbert Report will air at a regular 11pm 30-minute timeslot on the channel Monday-Friday, and there’s a chance to catchup on all the week’s episodes on a Sunday night when FX UK air all four shows from that week back-to-back at around midnight (on Sunday 11th May the reruns start at 11.50pm and run through to 1.20am - that’s a lot of Colbert!). FX UK is available on Virgin Media channel 179, Tiscali TV channel 10 and Sky channel 165.

The Colbert Report will air on a one-day delay from America (like More 4 with The Daily Show), and - as The Colbert Report only airs shows on Comedy Central in the US Monday-Thursday (like The Daily Show) - the Monday evening 11pm show on FX UK will be a compilation show with highlights from the previous week. FX UK have launched a new Colbert minisite at www.fxuk.com/series/the-colbert-report - check it out!

Late Show UK - Where To Watch page
Digital Spy - “FXUK picks up ‘The Colbert Report’”

The Colbert Report has been broadcasting shows from Philadelphia this week and the Multichannel News website says “from April 14 through April 17, The Colbert Report averaged 1.5 million viewers from 11:30 p.m. to noon, according to Nielsen Media Research data”. The appearances of Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John Edwards probably helped the ratings along slightly. When Hillary Clinton appeared on the show, she said to Stephen “I just love solving problems”. Barack Obama appeared via satellite. Also, don’t forget The Colbert Report should be coming to FX UK in May. An unofficial Colbert fansite has posted some further details, including the claim More 4 had the chance to buy the rights for the show, but they didn’t want it.

Multichannel News - “Colbert Takes Philly”
The Caucus - “Clinton on Colbert Report (And Edwards and Obama, Too)”
No Fact Zone - “More on the UK version of ‘The Colbert Report’ coming soon”

Demi Moore, Kate Bosworth and Brian Williams will be appearing on the Late Show on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday respectively. Brit pop star (of X Factor fame) Leona Lewis will be on The Tonight Show this Monday (24th March). The Leona Lewis episode will be going out on CNBC on the 27th March at 10pm and on the 29th March at 8pm. Conan O’Brien will be on The Tonight Show this Thursday (27th March). Late Night With Conan O’Brien, The Daily Show With Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report are on reruns next week. Donald Sutherland, Trevor Eve, Natasha Kaplinsky and The Kooks will be on Friday Night With Jonathan Ross this Friday. Don’t forget to check out the Upcoming Shows box in the sidebar for the next shows to air on UK TV.

Colbert will be on tour with his Comedy Central show, The Colbert Report, next month. The FoxInsider post on FXUK.com says he will be going “specifically to Philadelphia to report on, mock and generally abuse the shenanigans that will be the Democrat party’s Pennsylvanian primary”. The post on FoxInsider also says The Colbert Report will be coming to FX UK in May - so we now have a (sort of) fixed date for The Colbert Report on UK television.

FoxInsider (FXUK.com) - “Colbert On Tour”

The Colbert Report looks set to be coming to FX for UK TV audiences very soon if a pending deal goes through. The official FX UK website reports “It looks as though FX UK are about to close the deal with MTV to bring Comedy Central’s Stephen Colbert and The Colbert Report to the UK for the summer”. The post on the official FX site just says “launch date to follow”. We have been running a petition to get Colbert on a UK TV channel for a while now, so this really is excellent news. Watch this space. There might be a bit of irony if/when he comes to FX - the majority of his act is making fun of Fox News, etc. If you can’t wait, head on over to the new look official website for The Colbert Report for show clips and more - click here.

FX UK - FoxInsider - “Colbert For Fox”
The Colbert Report Official Website (New Look)

The Associated Press is reporting the ratings for all the late night chat shows stayed very much the same throughout the writers strike. The AP says people “made little difference in their viewing habits” despite all the shows (except Letterman and Craig Ferguson) not having their writing teams onboard. The Associated Press report The Daily Show With Jon Stewart kept steady ratings as “the 1.6 million viewers he averaged during January was the same as he had last year”, and The Colbert Report’s “1.2 million last month was actually up 6 percent from the 2007 average”. Jay Leno “averaged 5.17 million viewers since his return” and Letterman “increased from 3.8 million pre-strike to 4.05 million after he went back on the air after the new year”. Conan O’Brien’s ratings remained largely unchanged averaging “just over 2 million people nightly” last month. The ratings data came from Nielsen Media Research. The strike ended yesterday, and all writers are now back at work, and “A Daily Show With Jon Stewart” changed it’s name back to “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” to signify the return of the writing staff.

The Associated Press - “Strike Barely Hits Late-Night Ratings”

After 14 weeks, the Writers Guild of America strike is now over. WGA members voted for a deal with the AMPTP and it’s reported the deal was approved by 92.5% of those members. Writers have been on strike in the US since early November 2007, following a dispute over the amount of money they get for online and DVD sales of their work. The new deal addresses those issues, and all writers return to work this week. The US TV industry has been cripplied by the strike, meaning such networks as Fox needing to bring in American Idol and other reality shows & unscripted programming to fill the gaps left behind by scripted comedy and drama that couldn’t be produced. The movie industry hasn’t been affected as much as TV, as films are made over a much longer timespan than TV series.

The BBC News website reports “the strike is said to have cost Los Angeles’ film and TV industry around $733m (£374m), with the wider economy losing around $1.3bn (£663m)” and that we can expect new programmes in “about two months”. The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, Late Night With Conan O’Brien, The Daily Show With Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report all have their writing teams back and new shows are already being made. The Late Show With David Letterman and the Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson have had their writing team since January, when David Letterman’s production company Worldwide Pants Inc agreed an interim deal.

The Oscars (which are being hosted by The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart this year) can now go ahead as planned, with writers for the ceremony needing to produce immense numbers of scripts in a short timespan before the show airs on the 24th February. Speaking to the BBC, the boss of CBS Les Moonves said “At the end of the day, everybody won”. Media website Digital Spy report “The result - with nearly 3,500 for and 283 against the agreement - was announced yesterday evening Pacific Time, during the early hours of today GMT”.

BBC News - “Hollywood writers to end strike”
Digital Spy - “US writers’ strike officially ends”
BBC News - “Writers prepare to return to work”

The US writers strike appears to be coming to an end. The Writers Guild of America says they have reached a “tentative deal” and Reuters report “members will meet in New York and Los Angeles later on Saturday to discuss specific terms, the ratification process and ending the strike, the union added”. Media news website Digital Spy add “America’s television production industry could be back in business as early as Monday” and that “WGA East members will gather at 2pm Eastern time today in New York to discuss the agreement; the WGA West meeting is scheduled for 7pm Pacific in Los Angeles”.

This deal will end the strike, meaning all shows will get their writing team back. The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, Late Night With Conan O’Brien, The Daily Show With Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report have all been making shows without their original writers when they returned to the air in January. David Letterman’s production company Worldwide Pants Inc reached an interim deal previously, meaning the Late Show With David Letterman and the Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson have both had its writing team back since the show returned in January. The deal that’s been reached will now mean the Oscars awards ceremony can now go ahead as planned. Update: You can read the WGA statement here - which also gives full details of the terms & conditions of this new deal.

Reuters - “Striking writers reach tentative deal with studios”
Digital Spy - “WGA: “We have a tentative deal”"
Telegraph - “Oscars saved as Hollywood writers’ strike ends”
The Movie Blog - “The WGA Strike is Over”

To sign the petition to get The Colbert Report on UK television, please click here.

This is a petition to show UK audiences want to see The Colbert Report on TV over here. The Colbert Report follows The Daily Show in the US. More 4 currently air The Daily Show on their channel, so The Colbert Report would make an ideal follow-on programme, as The Daily Show is always referencing The Colbert Report in their programme and at the end of the show (although this is sometimes edited out). Please sign this petition to show there’s a fanbase for the show in the UK.

Please also go to our Petitions page to find the link for our other petitions.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report came back to the air with the first new show in about two months last night. On last night’s first Daily Show back, Jon Stewart said “From now on, until the end of the strike, we’ll be doing A Daily Show with Jon Stewart. But not The Daily Show”. Both shows returned without their writers.

The Associated Press reports “Though both Comedy Cental late-night series have always largely been scripted, that would now violate strike rules of the Writers Guild of America. Even Stewart and Colbert, as guild members, are apparently barred from writing anything”. You can see last night’s new episode of The Daily Show With Jon Stewart on More 4 in the UK tonight at 8.30pm. The Colbert Report doesn’t currently air on UK TV.

^ Videos are from TheDailyShow.com

The Associated Press - “Viewers Await Return of Stewart, Colbert”

Programming reminder - Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert will return with new episodes of their respective programmes tonight on Comedy Central in the US (The Daily Show With Jon Stewart’s US episode from tonight will air on More 4 in the UK on Tuesday at 8.30pm). As the writers strike continues, Stewart and Colbert (like the other chat show hosts - except Letterman) will be without their usual writing team. The Canadian Press reports “WGA members Stewart and Colbert are barred from writing anything”.

Both The Daily Show and The Colbert Report have been airing reruns since the strike began about eight weeks ago (the last new show aired at the beginning of November). A Comedy Central spokesman told The Canadian Press “Stephen and Jon are still figuring out what they’re going to do on Monday night’s show”. It will be interesting to see how both shows cope without the writers - most of The Daily Show and The Colbert Report rely heavily on scripted segments and news pieces. It is thought they will try to use more time with guest interviews instead, although The Canadian Press does say “performers who do not belong to the guild will be free to write material for themselves”.

The Canadian Press - “Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert resume Comedy Central talk shows Monday”

More 4 listings at Channel4.com

Last updated 16:05

The first new episode in about 2 months last night in the US - the Late Show is back. Reports of the show (I have not seen it yet) reveal Letterman came out onto the stage “through a chorus line of dancers holding signs that read, “Writers Guild of America on Strike”, and sporting a full beard he grew during his eight-week break”. Dave looks very different with a beard - as far as I can tell, Dave (and Conan too) has grown a beard as a sign of unity for the WGA strike.

See a picture of Dave with the beard here (KansasCity.com)
A video of Conan sporting his new beard is available at Late Night Underground

Letterman joked about being glad to get out of rehab and “show or no show I really enjoy drinking in the morning”. Dave told everyone he’s the only show to be back with union-backed writers. Before the show titles, Hillary Clinton popped up to welcome us back to the Late Show. Donald Trump wasn’t on the first show back, as was previously thought - Robin Williams was instead. Watch Dave’s monologue here, check out the Top Ten list and see Bill Scheft’s message to the Late Show audience.

BBC News have a report on the return of the chat shows, including some clips from Letterman, Leno and Craig Ferguson. Head on over to the BBC News article to read more and the news report video is available here.

Jay Leno returned with new episodes of The Tonight Show last night - but without his writers. The Kansas City website (TV Barn) said “Leno’s monologue was remarkably ordinary” and that Leno “was trying to pretend like it was business as usual”. Late Night With Conan O’Brien was back - but without his writers. Conan - sporting a new beard - returned last night. The Kansas City website says “O’Brien is better positioned than Leno to stick out a long strike, thanks to stronger interviewing skills”. Craig Ferguson was also back with new episodes of the Late Late Show. Craig had his writing staff with him - as this was covered in the Letterman deal - and started off the first show back with “As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted”. The Daily Show With Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report remain off air, will be returning with new shows starting from the 7th January.

Late Show UK - “Return of the Late Night shows” (By James)
ABC News - “Bearded Letterman back after two months”
KansasCity.com (TV Barn) - “Who won late night? It’s a close shave”
Late Night Underground - “An Important Message From Conan O’Brien”
Late Show UK - Guest Listings
BBC News - “US TV’s talk show titans return”

As per the other major late night US chat shows, Letterman will also be returning to the air in January with brand new shows, it has been confirmed. David Letterman has reached a deal with the WGA to allow the Late Show to return, with his normal writing staff. The US writers strike continues - Letterman’s deal is separate. Reuters report “The Writers Guild of America called its pact with Letterman’s production company, WorldWide Pants Inc, a sign of union readiness to negotiate a deal with major film and TV studios to settle Hollywood’s worst labor crisis in 20 years” and they also say “Letterman reached a deal on Friday”. Craig Ferguson’s chat show - the Late Late Show - will also return with their original writing staff intact. Both the Late Show and the Late Late Show are produced by Letterman’s own production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated, who reached the deal with the WGA last week. There is expected to be new episodes of the Late Show and the Late Late Show on CBS starting this coming Wednesday (2nd January).

NBC chat shows The Tonight Show and Late Night will also return to the air with new shows on the 2nd January. Comedy Central will air new episodes of The Daily Show and The Colbert Report from the 7th January. The Tonight Show, Late Night, The Daily Show and The Colbert Report will all return without the writing staff - it is only the Late Show that will return with the full writing team intact, due to the individual deal Letterman has reached with the WGA. Reuters also reveal “among the celebrity guests slated to appear on Letterman’s first show back next week is real estate tycoon turned reality TV star Donald Trump, according to producer Rob Burnett”.

On the Late Show this week;

Monday 31st December - Jim Carrey, Alanis Morissette (Rerun)
Tuesday 1st January - George Clooney, the Decemberists (Rerun)
Wednesday 2nd January - Robin Williams, Lupe Fiasco, a special appearance by Hillary Clinton
Thursday 3rd January - Bill Maher, Ellen Page, the cast of Broadway’s “Young Frankenstein”
Friday 4th January - Donald Trump, Shooter Jennings

On The Tonight Show this week;

Monday 31st December - Justin Timberlake, Masi Oka, Matisyahu (Rerun)
Tuesday 1st January - Will Ferrell, Vince Young, Flipsyde (Rerun)
Wednesday 2nd January - Gov. Mike Huckabee, Chingy
Thursday 3rd January - TBA
Friday 4th January - TBA

On Late Night this week;

Monday 31st December - Pre-empted
Tuesday 1st January - Will Arnett, Terri Crews, Patti Scialfa (Rerun)
Wednesday 2nd January - Bob Saget, Dwayne Perkins, Robert Gordon & Chris Spedding
Thursday 3rd January - TBA
Friday 4th January - TBA

On the Late Late Show this week;

Monday 31st December - Dr. Drew Pinsky, Bob Spitz (Rerun)
Tuesday 1st January - Famke Janssen, Jami Gertz, Chris Botti & Paula Cole (Rerun)
Wednesday 2nd January - No guests on tonight’s show
Thursday 3rd January - Dominic Monaghan, Jason Randal
Friday 4th January - Leonard Nimoy, Lyle Lovett, Dean Edwards

On that positive news, Late Show UK would like to wish you all a very happy new year, and we hope you had a great Christmas.

Reuters - “Letterman to return in deal with striking writers”
BBC News - “Letterman to return with writers”

Post last updated 3rd January 2008.

It has been confirmed The Daily Show With Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report will be both be returning to the air with new shows on Comedy Central from the 7th January. The Los Angeles Times says “After a previously scheduled two-week hiatus, “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” and “The Colbert Report” will resume production Jan. 7, Comedy Central said in a statement released late Thursday afternoon” but “Stewart and Colbert said they wished they could return to work with their writers”. I also noticed yesterday that More 4 in the UK have started airing The Daily Show again - last night’s rerun on there featured the Barack Obama interview.

The article on the Los Angeles Times website also states Letterman’s production company (Worldwide Pants Inc) will be “meeting with Writers Guild of America officials today in an effort to make an interim deal that would allow the shows to go back on the air with their writing staffs”. The Associated Press says “Jay Leno, Conan O’Brien and Jimmy Kimmel have all said they would resume their programs on Jan. 2 without their writing staffs” and “Letterman is also aiming for a Jan. 2 return”. If the deal with Worldwide Pants goes through, this would also mean the return of the Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson.

Los Angeles Times - “Stewart, Colbert to return to air in January”
The Associated Press - “Letterman’s Company to Meet With Writers”