SPOILER ALERT: Colbert Sang Everything You Need to Know about New LATE SHOW

For the first time in what seems like forever, there is going to be a legitimate late-night war on network television. It won't be fueled by animosity between hosts (as evidenced by their locker room bromance), but instead by vastly different perspectives on what the job is and what it could be. Those who were worried that Stephen Colbert would just be adding another lilywhite male voice to the seemingly homogenous late-night landscape still have justifiable concerns, but at least this lilywhite male voice will be slightly more thoughtful and inquisitive than the others.

I've got a confession to make: while I thoroughly enjoyed THE COLBERT REPORT every time I watched it, I was never a die-hard member of the Colbert Nation; my tastes leaned more towards Jon Stewart's DAILY SHOW. However, I always appreciated the intelligence and dedication to truth (and truthiness) that Stephen brought to his show. Additionally, Andy Kaufman is one of my all-time favorite performers, so Colbert's commitment to his ludicrous character, while at times tedious, was nonetheless impressive.

That being typed, I was still fairly disappointed that CBS didn't take the opportunity to fill the venerable chair of David Letterman with a talent outside of the proverbially privileged box. This had nothing to do with whether or not I thought Colbert would do an incredible job as host, rather that straight white men (a group to which I belong) has been the host of nearly every late-night network talk show in the history of late-night network talk shows. After selecting James Corden, a.k.a. the British, Tony-winning Jimmy Fallon, to take over THE LATE LATE SHOW, I was hoping that Les Moonves would upset the applecart a bit by tapping someone like Chelsea Handler, Chris Rock, Ellen Degeneres, Aisha Tyler, or even Key and Peele to take over THE LATE SHOW.

Obviously, that was not meant to be. So, while I am slightly disappointed, I am reassured by the fact that Colbert is a completely different type of host than what we've seen recently; perhaps not in demographics, but at least in sensibilities. While incredibly funny, he is an actor at heart, and a serious one at that; based on his past work, I believe that brings him a much different perspective than that of the primarily comedians that have come before him. His inquiring actor's nature, and years of improv training, should allow him to engage in actual conversations on his talk show, not just the predetermined talking points cherry-picked by publicists that other shows fall back on.

Also, no one should consider Colbert a journalist, but he did play one rather well on TV for nearly a decade, and he has shown a determination to comically get answers to difficult questions, both on THE COLBERT REPORT, and before that as a correspondent on THE DAILY SHOW. I think it is a safe bet that Colbert will be bringing some of the skills learned as a faux-newsman to his more (if not entirely) straight-forward persona on THE LATE SHOW. While Colbert can clearly be silly when silly is called for, I get the sense that he will be engaging in far more substantive discussions than games of beer pong.

The first hint that Colbert would be veering from the traditional viral video-chasing path that we've seen on late-night lately was in his very first cold open; which featured Colbert and a number of straight-faced anonymous people singing "The Star-Spangled Banner." The opening was ridiculous and absurd and perfectly Colbert. However, the part of the bit that seemed to me the most telling was not the random places where the national anthem was sung, or Stewart removing his umpire's mask to declare, "Play Ball!," but it was the fact that Colbert sang the song's harmony; perfectly willing to let the everyday people (and two members of his new house band) take the lead. While, I admit that I might be reading too much into this, I think that in the first moments of this new venture, for Colbert to be taking the road less traveled by, and decidedly against the grain, is very telling for how he plans to approach the show.

Throughout the first broadcast, Colbert was able to maintain tiny threads that called back to his REPORT days; addressing the crowd as "Nation," the narcissistic faux-stained glass ceiling, the "STEPHEN"-chanting audience, his instructions to director "Jimmy," and a set that looked like a much more expensive version of that from his Comedy Central show; including a really nice "C" shaped desk made out of "a single piece of desk." However, the most inherently REPORT traits came when Colbert engaged with his guests.

While I enjoyed his interaction with first guest and most debonair man in the world George Clooney, which did seem rather Lettermanesque, the best moments of the night were Colbert's Oreo-fueled Trump bender and the perfectly set up joke/completely serious and legitimate question of how second guest, and presidential hopeful, Jeb Bush differs from his older brother George W.

These bits have drawn the ire of some right-wing and media commentators saying that network late-night is not the place for political commentary, but remember, Colbert made his career, and a lot of money, lampooning conservative politicians and pundits, and while his over-blown persona is (mostly) gone, the humor behind it is not; and neither is Colbert's obviously genuine love for the country.

Also telling was the show's first musical guest Mavis Staples, an artist known as much for her activism as her music. Along with Buddy Guy, Ben Folds, Alabama Shakes' Brittany Howard, Aloe Blacc, and a host of others, Staples and Colbert sang Sly and the Family Stone's "Everyday People;" a song that features lyrics like, "Sometimes I'm right and I can be wrong/My own beliefs are in my song," and "I am no better and neither are you/We are the same, whatever we do."

Again, perhaps Colbert chose to end his first CBS broadcast with a jaunty, up-beat tune with no consideration given to its clearly populist lyrics. Or, perhaps instead, everything that we need to know about Colbert's reign at THE LATE SHOW can be found in his opening and closing songs.

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What did you think of Colbert's first LATE SHOW? Let me know in the comments below, or on Twitter @BWWMatt. If you want to follow along with my "366 in 366" articles, you can check out #BWW366in366 on Twitter. Also, don't forget to follow @BWWTVWorld on Twitter and Like us on Facebook for all of the latest TV news, reviews, and recaps.

Photo Credit: Jeffrey R. Staab | CBS

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