Stephen Colbert’s career rise and fall can be understood by looking back at his roots as a fake Republican. He gained fame through Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” in the early 2000s, earning his own news parody show, “The Colbert Report,” in 2005. For nearly two decades, he portrayed a conservative character that was later seen as a pre-Donald Trump era Republican, gaining fond memories from the left.
Colbert’s creation of the character was a satirical anchor persona, similar to Ron Burgundy, representing a high-status, poorly informed individual. As the years passed, his character evolved into an archetypal “Republican” – greedy and maybe stupid but not a threat to democracy.
After taking over “The Late Show” in 2015, Colbert’s character became associated with the “Never Trump” movement. His criticisms of Trump took on more weight due to the performance, which mirrored those of Never Trump pundits. However, his character has become stale, and he now toggles between serious monologues and ridiculous musical numbers.
Colbert’s cancellation is seen as a result of his character disintegrating under pressure. The very premise of his career was based on portraying a specific Republican persona that no longer exists. The demise of the “Late Show” and “Never Trump” phenomenon signals the passing of an era, particularly one influenced by Donald J. Trump.
The cancellation is often attributed to the network’s willingness to appease Paramount’s parent company. However, it’s essential to recognize that Colbert’s character has become irrelevant due to his failure to evolve beyond its satirical roots. As a result, he lost his unique value in entertainment, leaving behind a joke that isn’t funny anymore.
Source: https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/david-marcus-stephen-colberts-character-latest-never-trump-republican-fall