In the series finale of "The Colbert Report," the host accidentally vanquishes the devil, earning him immortality and a joyous rendition of "We'll Meet Again," performed by everyone from economist Paul Krugman to Cookie Monster.
The moment made for great television, but in retrospect, Colbert may hope that fans regard it less as a celebration than a funeral.
That's because the biggest competition he faces in Tuesday's launch of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" isn't Jimmy Fallon or Jimmy Kimmel. It's Colbert himself, or more precisely, the chest-pumping, fire-breathing, unflappable character with star-spangled underwear as whom he masqueraded for nearly a decade.
Conventional wisdom strongly suggests that while a pretend pundit can thrive on a niche channel like Comedy Central, he'd quickly wear out his welcome on a mainstream network like CBS, where most viewers want to go to bed with a confidant, not a cartoon.
Early reports indicate that Colbert is keenly aware of his need for an extreme makeover. According to a recent Time magazine cover story, he's toying with a recurring segment entitled "Who Am Me?" that will help viewers adjust to his new, more personal persona.
Skeptics should note that Colbert's largely unknown but solid background bodes well for a successful transformation. Here are four reasons why he should do well:
1. He knows the neighborhood
David Letterman, the previous tenant at the Ed Sullivan Theater, often nodded to his venue's storied history, but gave only passing regards to Broadway. Expect Colbert to take advantage of musical Manhattan, starting next week with a number from the Tony Award-winning show "An American in Paris." Heck, he may even step into the chorus line.
