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The Old Stephen Colbert Is Back, and America Is Great Again!

By Dustin Rowles | Late Night TV | July 19, 2016 |

By Dustin Rowles | Late Night TV | July 19, 2016 |


Nearly a year after taking over The Late Show, and after flagging ratings, a loss in relevancy and no Emmy nomination for the first time since 2006, Stephen Colbert has been on the rebound in the last couple of months. He’s shedding his “real” persona and returning unofficially to his Colbert Report persona. He’s taking the gloves off; he’s mixing it up; he’s attacking politicians.

Last night, he brought in Jon Stewart for an amusing gag about trying to make sense of the Trump candidacy, but the big moment of the evening was Colbert’s decision to bring back “The Word” from The Colbert Report. The subject: Trumpiness.

Some, maybe, will see this as a sign of desperation. I see it as Stephen Colbert returning to his true form. He’s a brilliant, cutting satirist, and this allows Stephen Colbert some flexibility to jump back and forth between Colbert and “Colbert” and use the persona most effective for the subject material.

I think it’s smart. Also, I really missed that guy.