Reasons Why The Final Lineup of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Suggests It Is Cultural Instead of Regular TV Program
As bits of information begin to surface about the final lineup for The Late Show, it appears that there has been a change in attitude on the internet about how they perceive this event, from simply satisfying their curiosity to being a reflection of a culture that will soon come to an end.
The presence of notable artists like the musician Paul McCartney only adds to this, especially given the emotional atmosphere that was felt during shooting as opposed to any regular TV program.
With everything considered, it does not appear that this particular episode will simply be a routine finale but rather one of cultural significance.
An Audience at the Studio Experiencing More Than Just Entertainment
The people who witnessed the recent recordings of the end-of-the-show episodes have expressed how they seemed to feel some extra energy in the studio setting.
Instead of the usual laughing and applauding together with the music, an emotional side has been added to the reactions of the people at the audience.
The inclusion of well-respected figures such as Sir Paul McCartney also helped to enhance the atmosphere because of the importance he carries for various generations of his fans.
It was more like witnessing a tribute to something rather than just being in the middle of a recording process of a show.
The Finale Becomes the Cultural Event
Although TV series do generate their finales which deserve attention, the magnitude of this particular finale reflects the significance of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in today’s modern media environment.
Throughout the evolution, this particular program has changed its character by becoming not only entertaining but also satirical and culturally relevant.
It was among other reasons which led to the current way of evaluating the ending episodes of the show.
Contrary to a typical perception of a TV show finale, here the end of the show may be evaluated against the background of:
- move from appointment TV
- fragmentation of shared TV watching experience
- and emergence of digital media to replace daily TV programming.
Involvement of Paul McCartney Adds a Historical Dimension to the Plot
It should be noted that the involvement of Paul McCartney has certainly received due attention in terms of his contributions towards entertainment history.
It must be noted that Paul McCartney’s career can be regarded as spanning across various eras of mass communication history. From the heights of television broadcasts right up to today, Paul McCartney has certainly managed to establish a connection that not many could have done when considering a concluding performance on a late night talk show.
It cannot be said that Paul McCartney appearing on the show is another performer. It must be emphasized that the significance lies in the historical dimension he brings.
How Endings Of Shows Are Now Experienced On Late-Night Television
Historically, the ending of the tenure of late night television show hosts would be accompanied by modest celebrations, which would include only the news media and some fleeting interest among members of the general public.
The modern-day media has totally changed all of that.
Any modern-day media event of any significance is:
- divided up
- spread out
- discussed
- and debated
From the media perspective, what used to be only one show in the evening has turned into a never-ending media event.
Courtesy of darioferrini (Flickr CC0)This aspect of change is experienced emotionally too, because fans are no longer just saying goodbye to their shows but an era that is now gone.
Role of Stephen Colbert in Evolution of Late-Night Television
Throughout its entire existence on television, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will come to represent a shift in the direction of political discourse in the realm of late-night programming.
Unlike previous iterations of the host which centered much of their work around entertainment, Colbert shifted his attention towards culture-based discussion and discourse.
Such an approach turned out to be critical to the sustainability of the show during a period when many television viewers were rejecting traditional television-watching practices.
As such, the role of the show in culture has made its end significant for some people as it represents the demise of the common ground for cultural discourse in the realm of late-night television.
Audience Reaction Suggests the Dawn of a New Age for the Media
The emotional reactions coming from some members of the audience, particularly those people who have been “moved” by this show during the course of its filming, may just reflect a bigger pattern of things to come.
As we move on to an era when mass viewership experiences are becoming less and less common – unless, of course, the event in question is a major sports match or awards ceremony – the finale is taking on new significance in many ways.
Non-viewers are still aware of the cultural significance of the program.
The Good-bye that Has Come to Represent Much More Than the Good-bye of the Show
As the anticipation mounts for the show that is to serve as its farewell, the story that accompanies the final shows has come to represent much more than the ending of a TV show.
With the addition of guest appearances like that of Paul McCartney and the internal reactions to the good-bye to Stephen Colbert, the final shows have gone beyond a simple good-bye to becoming a good-bye to an era in television.
The good-bye to a television show has taken on so much more significance as a good-bye to not only the interaction of media consumers but also to their memories of certain celebrities and even the changes that television has undergone over the years.
And with the final show rapidly approaching, the accompanying sentiment suggests that the good-bye will be to something far beyond a single television show.
It will become a good-bye to an entire television viewing experience.
By David Loran Jr
A successful Editor-in-Chief, journalist for over 6 years, writing about important topics that are going on within the U.S. and beyond.
Sources:
RollingStone: Seth Meyers Describes ‘The Late Show’ Ending as a ‘Very Sad Week for Television in America’
The New York Times: Outside Colbert’s Final Show, Fans From Near and Far Line Up for a Farewell
Featured Image Courtesy of Peabody Awards‘ Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of darioferrini‘s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
