22 Years After "Cabe... What Kind Of Name Is That"

September 8, 2015 10:25 AM

As we enter the final hours waiting for the long-awaited debut of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, let's look at a previous debut: Colbert's first ever television appearance. In 1993 (two years before his first 'various characters' gig on Comedy Central's "Exit 57"), he had a brief role near the end of an episode of "Missing Persons" (first 45 seconds of the clip, credit at 1:50), a short-lived police procedural starring Daniel J. "Hill Street Blues" Travanti and co-produced by another Legendary TV Stephen (J. Cannell).

Via a mentalfloss.com feature on "Early TV Appearances of Late-Night Talk Show Hosts", which includes a surprising number of other interesting clips, including the successor to Colbert's Comedy Central timeslot, Larry Wilmore, also from 1993, appearing as a friendly policeman on "The Facts of Life" (also the first 45 seconds, framing mostly cuts off his head, but it IS him).

posted by oneswellfoop (11 comments total)

Wow, Colbert is baby in that Missing Persons clip.
Also, The Facts of Life one is 1983.
posted by chococat at 10:33 AM on September 8, 2015

A few years earlier than that, even: Colbert is interviewed (briefly, and anonymously) during this 1990 "Dumb Question" segment of Chicago PBS affiliate WTTW's "Wild Chicago" program. (It's about at the 46 second mark.)
posted by orthicon halo at 11:20 AM on September 8, 2015 [5 favorites]

Colbert is interviewed

And that's Paul Dinello (his Exit 57 and Strangers with Candy co-star) crouching next to him.
posted by Iridic at 11:33 AM on September 8, 2015

I first recall seeing him in a Mr. Goodwrench commercial and not quite getting his humor.

I got better.
posted by tommasz at 2:08 PM on September 8, 2015

On the TVs at my gym this afternoon they were showing Colbert's episode of Law and Order: Criminal Intent. Vincent D'Onofrio, we love the way you tilt your head.
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 4:08 PM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]

NYTimes: Stephen Colbert, the Late Night Hope

Hosting Advice for Stephen Colbert, From Jimmy Kimmel, Conan O’Brien & More

(While I'm sure a lot is due to deliberate lighting choices, it's kind of shocking how much "elder statesman of late night" Conan is looking the part in that second link.)
posted by Rhaomi at 6:03 PM on September 8, 2015 [1 favorite]

Man, 45 minutes in and it's indistinguishable from a longer Colbert Report with two interview slots. "Nation!", the Stephen chant, Jimmy, the frequent visual aids. That bit with him shouting down the Keebler elves felt identical to his conservative blowhard character.

Don't get me wrong, I adored the Report. But I was excited to see him do something different in tone and be more "himself."
posted by Rhaomi at 9:19 PM on September 8, 2015

Not feeling it.
posted by flippant at 4:18 AM on September 9, 2015

I felt it. Still feeling joyous after that closing musical number.
posted by Ber at 9:42 AM on September 9, 2015

Don't get me wrong, I adored the Report. But I was excited to see him do something different in tone and be more "himself."

I think the Report character was more and more Stephen as his natural comedic persona as time went on (I mean, can you imagine early "Stephen Colbert," conservative blowhard, gleefully interviewing Smaug?). They've been preparing for this shift for a while, and so I wasn't necessarily expecting a very dramatic break on the new show.
posted by AndrewInDC at 11:34 AM on September 9, 2015 [2 favorites]

I gave up on the hourlong talk show a long time ago. The format is far too bloated; it's basically a half-hour show with more commercial breaks. I'll stick to whatever clips the post to YouTube.

Now, can we talk about George Clooney for a minute? When did he go from "Sexiest Man Alive" to "Sundried John Ratzenberger"? Is that what marriage does? Or just goatees?
posted by Sys Rq at 7:37 PM on September 10, 2015