Latest news with #talkshow
Fox News
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Ellen DeGeneres 'would love' to host another talk show years after toxic workplace allegations
Ellen DeGeneres is not ruling out the possibility of another talk show in her future. During a live conversation with broadcaster Richard Bacon on Sunday, the 67-year-old former talk show host shared that she misses so many things about hosting her own show, but doesn't think that format would work in today's world. "I mean, I wish it did, because I would do the same thing here," she told Bacon, per the BBC. "I would love to do that again, but I just feel like people are watching on their phones, or people aren't really paying attention as much to televisions, because we're so inundated with information and entertainment." Since moving to England in November 2024, DeGeneres has taken her time in deciding on her next career move, admitting she is making that move "very carefully." While she doesn't know what is next for her, she says "I want to have fun, I want to do something. I do like my chickens but I'm a little bit bored." The comedian hosted "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" for 19 seasons from 2003 to 2022. The show came to an end two years after allegations of a toxic work environment came to light in July 2020. DeGeneres addressed the allegations during the opening monologue on the first episode of her 18th season. In the monologue, the comedian issued an on-air apology, in which she called herself "a work in progress" before adding she is "especially working on the impatience thing." "No matter what, any article that came up, it was like, 'She's mean,' and it's like, how do I deal with this without sounding like a victim or 'poor me' or complaining? But I wanted to address it," she said in her conversation with Bacon. "It's as simple as, I'm a direct person, and I'm very blunt, and I guess sometimes that means that… I'm mean?" She went on to say that she finds it "hurtful" that she probably can't "say anything that's ever going to get rid of…or dispel" the rumors that she is mean, and that she "hate[s] that people think that." Looking back, she added that it was "certainly an unpleasant way to end" her talk show. When asked about her recent move to the English countryside, she confirmed it was influenced by President Donald Trump winning the election. She told Bacon she and her wife, actress Portia de Rossi, originally planned to split their time between England and the United States, but changed their minds following the election. "We got here the day before the election and woke up to lots of texts from our friends with crying emojis, and I was like, 'He got in,'" she said. "And we're like, 'We're staying here.'" Since moving to England, the comedian and de Rossi have noticed "everything here is just better," highlighting the beauty of the city, "the way animals are treated" and the overall "simpler way of life." "We moved here in November, which was not the ideal time, but I saw snow for the first time in my life," she explained. "We love it here. Portia flew her horses here, and I have chickens, and we had sheep for about two weeks."
Daily Mail
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Stephen Colbert declares himself a 'martyr' and warns the 'gloves are off' in searing response to Trump
Stephen Colbert jokingly referred to himself as a 'martyr' before delivering a crude, star-studded response to his cancellation and Donald Trump taking glee in his talk show's end. The comedian's decade-long run as the host of The Late Show will end next May, with many speculating that the top-rated show was canceled because it was losing tens of millions of dollars. Others - including long-time comedy partner Jon Stewart on his Daily Show Monday - suggested Paramount - who owns both CBS and Comedy Central - were doing it to appease Trump, who is often on the end of Colbert's quips. Colbert, who briefly addressed the move Friday, devoted much of his show to the controversy, eventually bringing on almost every other late-night talk show host, Adam Sandler and even Lin-Manuel Miranda. The 61-year-old comic opened by saying ' cancel culture has gone too far' and then joked that now that the show is ending, he can say whatever he feels. Colbert said sarcastically of Paramount: 'They made one mistake, they left me alive! For the next ten months, the gloves are off!' The Late Show host referenced Trump's post to Truth Social over the weekend, when the president wrote he 'absolutely love[s] that Colbert' got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings.' The comic immediately then turned to an 'Eloquence Cam' and said: 'Go f*** yourself.' The comic turned to an 'Eloquence Cam' and said 'Go f*** yourself' to Trump in response to the president's glee in his cancellation He then referenced Trump stating in the same post: 'I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next.' Colbert replied: 'Nope, no, no. Absolutely not. Kimmel, I am the martyr. There's only room for one on this cross. And the view is fantastic from up here. I can see your house!' He also said that cancellation he could finally admit what he felt about the president. In contrast to his often hysterical anti-Trump monologues, he dryly, quietly said: 'I don't care for him. Doesn't seem to have the skill set to be president. Just not a good fit, that's all.' He addressed his bosses at CBS - who he said 'have always been great partners' - before talking about Paramount's decision to cancel the show which he took over from David Letterman in 2015. 'How could it be a purely financial decision if The Late Show's is number onein ratings? A lot of folks are asking that question, mainly my staff's parents and spouses.' Colbert's axing came just days after he sniped at CBS bosses for settling with Trump, branding the deal a 'big fat bribe.' He referenced a story from The New York Post saying the show lost $40-$50million last year, though some have suggested its as high as $100million. 'I could see us losing $24 million but where would Paramount have possibly spent the other $16 million, oh...' he quipped, referencing the amount the company settled with Trump for over his 60 Minutes lawsuit. He went back to bashing Trump and the recent news accusing him of writing a letter to Jeffrey Epstein for his birthday. 'I'll have more to say about all this after the commercial break. The only other story is a small one... the president is buddies with a pedophile.' In the show's second segment, Colbert pulled out every name from his celebrity address book. He brought out Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and long-time parody songwriter 'Weird Al' Yankovic. The show then parodied the recent Coldplay kiss cam scandal as the pair performed a take on the band's hit 'Viva la Vida' with Yankovic's trademark accordion in tow. He then cut to various famous people in pairs on the 'kiss cam,' including CNN anchor Anderson Cooper and Bravo stalwart Andy Cohen, who pretended to make out. Adam Sandler and Happy Gilmore co-star Christopher McDonald, Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers and John Oliver and Jon Stewart also appeared. Puck journalist Matthew Belloni revealed Colbert's astonishing lack of profitability Friday, hours after CNN first broke the news that the show was canceled because it was in the red. Belloni outlined how The Late Show - whose cancelation was announced Thursday - costs $100m a year to produce, with Colbert, 61, getting paid between $15 million and $20 million a year to host. Colbert beats ABC and NBC rivals Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon in the ratings, but that still wasn't enough to save him. Late night shows have slumped in profitability in recent years as viewers shun the format in favor of streaming services or watching content on their phones. Advertiser revenue has slumped sharply even in the last three years, Puck reported, making it harder to pull Colbert's show out of the red. Colbert was reported to be 'not angry, actually' about his cancelation and was chatting with his staff in a 'matter-of-fact' way before Thursday's show, Puck reported. Colbert, who will broadcast his final show in May 2026, was first informed his show was on the chopping block around July 4, it is claimed. Paramount Co-CEO George Cheeks made the decision, Puck reported. He the went on vacation, giving bosses at CBS time to plot behind his back, CNN reported. Colbert had news of his cancelation confirmed Thursday. He moved to share it as quickly as possible so that his staff would not learn of their impending unemployment via leaks to the press. All three major late night hosts - Colbert, Kimmel and Fallon - have become notorious for their regular rants about President Trump, which many viewers have complained are boring and off-putting. But Belloni said he didn't believe the famously anti-MAGA Colbert was axed to appease Donald Trump, who recently won a $15 million payout from CBS after suing them over a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris he said was deceptively edited. The axing of Colbert has delighted Trump, who posted about it on his TruthSocial network earlier today. Colbert's ouster could also make it easier for CBS parent company Paramount's efforts to merge with media company Skydance in a deal that must be approved by Trump's Federal Communications Commission. The Late Show launched in 1993 under David Letterman to compete with longtime late night juggernaut The Tonight Show. Colbert took over from Letterman in 2015 after his retirement. More than three decades later, CBS's entry into the late night sphere sits at the top, with second-best Jimmy Kimmel Live! raking in an average of 1.772 million viewers. Colbert, by comparison, collects an average of 2.417 million. Colbert - who once played a conservative character on Comedy Central's satirical late night program The Colbert Report - often aired jokes at the conservative's expense. Trump celebrated the news of the show's cancellation as a result. 'I absolutely love that Colbert' got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings,' he wrote in a Friday Truth Social post. 'I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next. Has even less talent than Colbert,' he added, before talking up right-wing Fox New star Greg Gutfeld. '[He's] better than all of them combined, including the Moron on NBC who ruined the once great Tonight Show,' Trump added, referring to Jimmy Fallon.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ellen DeGeneres talks about reviving her career because she's 'a bit bored'
Ellen DeGeneres is hoping to revive her career because she's "a bit bored" but she won't go back to hosting a talk show because "people aren't really paying attention as much to televisions".
Fox News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Adam Friedland on why comedians should focus on being funny, not becoming 'modern-day philosophers'
Comedian and talk show host Adam Friedland has been turning heads online with his unique version of talk television on "The Adam Friedland Show." There, he turns the heat up on his guests in hilarious fashion, never shying away from the sometimes uncomfortable questions on everyone's minds. Friedland sat down with Fox News Digital and broke down why he believes comedians shouldn't be looked at as "modern-day philosophers" as they sometimes are, and why taking yourself too seriously as a comedian may not be the right move if your focus in life is to make people laugh. The 38-year-old comedian hosts a weekly talk show where he interviews a wide range of guests — from politicians like California Rep. Ro Khanna and disgraced former Congressman Anthony Weiner, to former NBA star Blake Griffin and the Nelk Boys' Aaron Steinberg. Regardless of who you are or what you do, one thing you can count on when you go on Friedland's show is that he will test your wit and ask you uncomfortable questions. For example, when interviewing Anthony Weiner, the comedian did not shy away from addressing the elephant in the room. "You haven't seen the documentary, right? About your run for, I mean, I imagine that would be like f-----g stressful as f--- for you to watch it," he asked, referencing the 2016 documentary "Weiner" that depicted the former congressman's disastrous 2013 bid for New York City mayor. Like his stint in Congress, his run was blown up by a sexting scandal that made him a national punchline. "I'll say this, as a person that just watched it, it's incredible," he told Weiner. Friedland's never-ending bits typically fly over the heads of the unsuspecting celebrities or politicians on the show, making for hilariously awkward interactions. Fox News Digital asked Friedland whether he believes guests like Weiner are aware that they are submitting to be put in uncomfortable positions like this before coming on his show. "Probably. Anthony Weiner is running for city council now so he's trying to relaunch a campaign. I think sometimes a lot of guests don't really know what to make of me, which is fun," he replied. "It makes a fun show." Since Friedland's interview with Fox, Weiner lost his city council bid. It is becoming more commonplace to see prominent politicians like President Donald Trump and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., making appearances on comedians' podcasts. The line between political media and comedy podcasts can sometimes seem blurry. While Friedland admits that he's always been interested in politics and occasionally hosts politicians on his show, he's upfront with the fact that his main objective is to "just do what's funny," and not take himself too seriously. "I guess comedy is having a good moment right now. I don't think it should be one or the other though. I think we should have the media. I do jokes on stage about Tinder and stuff. I don't think that makes me into Wolf Blitzer," he joked. The comedian noted that nowadays, comedians are sometimes "looked to as authorities in a way" in which they are not. "I try to kind of be mindful of that, I guess, when I'm doing my talk show." He joked, "Because I am kind of, effectively, I am an idiot." One of Friedland's favorite comics growing up, Norm Macdonald, had similar feelings about comedians being looked at as sage-like figures. "You know, Norm Macdonald had a quote once that said that people say comedians are like modern-day philosophers, and that's really insulting to modern-day philosophers. And I think I would probably agree with that," he concurred. Growing up, Friedland's favorite comedians were the type of people whose main objective was simply humor, and never aspired to be looked at as "modern-day philosophers." They also include comedy icons like Louis C.K., Kat Williams and Conan O'Brien, whom Friedland credits with inspiring the loose and "silly" atmosphere on his show.
The Guardian
4 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
The end of Stephen Colbert's Late Show is a concerning nail in the coffin for comedy
The idea that the political career of Donald Trump would be a goldmine for comedy died a long time ago, with the coffin accepting stray nails for the past five years. The latest and possibly last such nail is the cancellation of The Late Show, the CBS late-night talkshow hosted by Stephen Colbert since the fall of 2015, and originated by David Letterman when the network poached him from NBC in 1993. At this point, Trump hasn't just made topical late-night comedy look outdated, hackneyed and an insufficient response to his reign of terror; he's also made a chunk of it flat-out go away. There will be time to eulogize Colbert's particular talkshow style later; the Late Show isn't leaving the air for another 10 months, when his contract is up. Surely that leaves plenty more time to savage the president – and Colbert has been in this slot since right around the time Trump became a real contender in the presidential race, so why has this only now come to a head? Seemingly because the axing of the Late Show franchise follows the $16m settlement of a frivolous Trump lawsuit against CBS and their newsmagazine show 60 Minutes over the show's editing of a 2024 interview with presidential candidate Kamala Harris. Colbert made great fun of his bosses' payout as a cowardly 'bribe' designed to appease the Trump administration, who are in the position to approve or deny the sale of Paramount, the corporate owners of CBS, to the company Skydance. In other words, the pre-merger nixing a comedian who regularly goofs on Trump on network TV seems like a convenient bit of timing – maybe even an unspoken bonus to go along with those millions of dollars. The network, of course, has characterized the decision as 'purely financial' amid a period where most traditional late-night shows have struggled. As excuses go, it's not entirely unconvincing. After all, Colbert isn't being replaced with another host; The Late Show is simply going the same route as its short-lived companion series After Midnight (and The Late Late Show before it). CBS is surrendering the late-night block entirely. This represents a major retreat after the Letterman deal made the network a genuine player for the first time in ages. Presumably it's back to reruns and old movies going forward. In that sense, this decision does transcend politics. CBS has ripped off a bandage that the big three networks have been applying to similar wounds for years. Late-night programming simply doesn't mean as much as it used to, with smaller network lead-ins from primetime lineups and more audience choices for comedy, talk, music or even the dopey celeb games that Jimmy Fallon throws together. Saturday Night Live has retained some cultural cachet, thanks to a combination of lower commitment (20 episodes a year, on a night where many people don't have work the next day, versus eight times as many, all airing on weeknights), legacy branding (it's still known as a star showcase and political comedy go-to, no matter how wan those cold-open sketches get), and sketch comedy that travels well online. These days, it's routinely one of the highest-rated network shows of the week when it airs a new episode, offering an encouraging sign that old time-slot rules about viewership no longer apply. It's also extremely expensive to produce and difficult to replicate, which nonetheless looks more viable than the tired talkshow format. Broadly, this could be a good thing for comic minds including Colbert or Conan O'Brien. Some comedians seem unable to resist the siren call of late-night talkshows, chasing the Tonight Show dream even when that actual job remained out of reach. O'Brien is a singularly brilliant comedy writer and performer; as great as his late-night shows could be, in retrospect should he have spent three decades primarily in that waning medium? Colbert, meanwhile, did his strongest political satire playing a parody of a conservative commentator on The Daily Show and its later spinoff The Colbert Report. His warmth and sometimes-sharp humor made him a good 'real' talkshow host – and by most standards, a successful one. In recent matchups, his Late Show has been the most-watched such program across the major networks. That he can face cancellation anyway should (alongside O'Brien losing his Tonight Show gig years ago) signal to newcomers that the rarified air of the national late-night talkshow host is also getting pretty thin, maybe unbreathable. Yet Trump has sucked up some of that oxygen, too. Even with the 'challenges' cited by CBS, it's difficult to believe that vanquishing a longtime issuer of Trump mockery wasn't at least considered a side benefit of canceling The Late Show. Even if the decision was, as claimed, a financial one, it accompanies another financial decision: that Paramount could afford to pay Trump $16m rather than proceed with litigation that many seemed to think they could win. That's precisely the kind of expense that could diminish how, say, your late-night talkshow attracts more eyeballs than The Tonight Show. Beyond Trump personally smudging up the balance sheets, he's helped to hasten the demise of late-night comedy simply by being himself, seeming to provide the perfect target: a venal, dimwitted perma-celebrity with an army of devoted sycophants. But after two non-consecutive administrations have flooded the zone with grotesqueries, performing a lightly zinging monologue or sketches as a warmup act for good-natured interviews seems unlikely to entice either those craving anti-Trump catharsis, or those desperate to believe in his strongman powers. That Colbert took a somewhat less cutesy approach than his competitor Fallon seemed to be all that was necessary to mark him as a troublemaker. The thing is, Trump might have ultimately consumed him either way. By providing a ready-made caricature of himself, intentionally or not, the president has beaten the system again. It may not be worth mourning the hacky, presidential-themed jokes we might miss in a future with fewer talkshows than ever. But it does feel like the enforcement of one of Trump's more minor cruelties: the ability to see himself as the only real star in the world.
