Mastodawn

#StephenColbert’s top-rated late-night TV program goes off the air for the final time Thursday, effectively silencing a high-profile #Trump critic.

“The legacy of this show needs to be that we remember it as the show that was canceled because a presidential administration wanted it off the air,” says Heather Hendershot, a professor of #communication studies & #journalism at Northwestern University.

#law #democracy #FreeSpeech #FreePress #media #authoritarianism
https://apnews.com/article/colbert-final-show-late-night-cbs-13d6bbf9fe8ed40d72aed0c02d158377

Stephen Colbert's long goodbye from 'Late Show' comes to an end

Stephen Colbert's run on “The Late Show” ends Thursday, marking the conclusion of his on-air feud with President Donald Trump. Colbert began hosting in 2015 and often criticized Trump and his policies. CBS announced last summer that the show would end in May, citing economic reasons. However, Colbert and others suspect political pressure played a role. The decision follows Paramount's settlement of Trump's lawsuit and its pending sale to Skydance Media. Colbert's departure leaves a void in late-night TV, with fans missing his unique perspective and humor. Other hosts like Jimmy Kimmel have shown support.

AP News

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Nonilex 2d ago

“We haven’t connected every single dot on that, but it’s very clear that this was a political decision,” Hendershot continued. “And I think 20, 30, 40 years later, that is going to be strongly remembered about this show — that this was a moment of #authoritarian triumph.”

#StephenColbert #law #democracy #Constitution #FirstAmendment #FreeSpeech #FreePress #media #Trump #authoritarianism #dictatorship #fascism #tyranny

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Nonilex

…#Trump rejoiced over #StephenColbert’s cancellation posting, “I absolutely love” that the host “got fired.” He followed it with: “I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next.” Just 2 months later, ABC…temporarily suspended Kimmel….

#TV experts said there are not many other examples of a hit show being shuttered due to #political pressure. In 1969, CBS abruptly canceled “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour,” which had aired comedy bits in opposition of the Vietnam War & in support of civil rights.

#law #media

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Nonilex 2d ago

…Through Democratic & Republican admins, #StephenColbert & other late-night comedians have offered their take on the day’s events that offered something different from traditional #news #media.

“In given moments, like when something big happened, you really do want that perspective that says, ‘Here’s another way to look at it,’” says Dustin Kidd, a professor of #sociology at Temple University.

#law #democracy #Constitution #FreeSpeech #FreePress #Trump #authoritarianism #fascism #tyranny

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Nonilex 2d ago

Kidd continued, “Or when it feels really overwhelming, you want that reminder that there’s still some way to laugh at it. And so the more you lose those ways to laugh at it, the more we all decline.”

#StephenColbert #law #democracy #Constitution #FirstAmendment #FreeSpeech #FreePress #media #Trump #authoritarianism #dictatorship #fascism #tyranny

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🔥Cassandra🔥2d ago

@Nonilex Good article. I hope Stephen Colbert ends up on the internet somewhere, just as popular and even less restrained.

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2xfo 2d ago

@Cassandra @Nonilex
Was he doing something that's not on the Internet? Ok, JK, but i really only watched his CBS show on YouTube

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su_liam 2d ago

@RnDanger @Cassandra @Nonilex At least we aren’t giving CBS/Paramount market share when we pay attention to Colbert anymore. That’s a win.

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su_liam 2d ago

@Nonilex If nothing else, if you’re pretending to live in a free country, it helps to see people free to express opinions that differ from those mandated by the authorities. That pretense is a great safety valve against revolution.

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