What does the cancellation of Stephen Colbert’s ‘Late Show’ mean for the late-night format?
CBS is canceling ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’ next May, shuttering a decades-old TV institution in a changing media landscape and removing from air one of President Donald Trump’s most prominent and persistent late-night critics. CBS said “Late Show” was canceled for financial reasons, not for content. But the timing — three days after Colbert criticized the settlement between Trump and Paramount Global, parent company of CBS, over a “60 Minutes” story — led two U.S. senators to publicly question the motives. Colbert told his audience at New York’s Ed Sullivan Theater that he had learned Wednesday night that, after a decade on air, “next year will be our last season. ... It’s the end of ‘The Late Show’ on CBS. I’m not being replaced. This is all just going away.” The audience responded with boos and groans. Three top Paramount and CBS executives praised Colbert’s show as “a staple of the nation’s zeitgeist” in a statement that said the cancellation “is purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night. It is not related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount.” Today on AirTalk, we discuss the future of the late night talk show with tv critic and media analyst for NPR, Eric Deggans.
With files from the Associated Press
What’s the best decade in living memory?
The last century has seen so much change on a decade-to-decade basis, from differences in social behavior to popular art. For older listeners, you might reminisce about a decade that you look back at fondly. For listeners who’ve only lived for a couple of decades, you might either be fond of your limited time frame or yearn for a time you didn’t even live through. But with all that in mind, is there a best decade in your opinion? Give us your picks of the best decade in living memory by calling 866-893-5722 or emailing atcomments@laist.com.
LA cities ask donors to assist immigrants pay rent amid ICE Raids
Many immigrant families in LA are facing an economic fallout as paying rent is even more challenging for undocumented L.A. tenants—two-thirds of whom are already paying rent that is considered unaffordable by federal government standards. Now, local governments such as the city of L.A., Long Beach and L.A. County are asking philanthropists to fund cash assistance programs. The goal is to use private dollars to help families affected by the raids pay for rent and other expenses. While local governments cobble together assistance funds, many tenants are left wondering how they’ll pay their August rent. This week, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors voted to establish a cash assistance fund within 30 days for households economically hurt by the raids. We talk with LAist Housing Reporter, David Wagner about the LA County Board’s efforts and how they plan to help families in need.
With files from LAist
SCOTUS’ increased use of emergency dockets
The Supreme Court has been increasingly ruling on emergency dockets, or shadow dockets, cases that have expedited rulings and typically forgo oral arguments and judges’ explanations for the decisions. Many of the emergency dockets employed this year relate to the Trump administration's executive orders. Although emergency dockets are allowed, some legal scholars argue that the frequency and quantity of their use in recent months goes beyond normal practice. Emergency dockets do not require the majority judges to provide an explanation for their decision, however, there is concern that the lack of explanation for these important rulings are causing confusion when it comes to enforcement. Today on AirTalk, we talk about the complexities of these rulings and potential issues. We’re joined by Jeffrey L. Fisher, law professor and Co-Director of the Supreme Court Litigation Clinic at Stanford University, and Ilya Shapiro, senior fellow and director of constitutional studies at the Manhattan Institute.
SoCal History: The Mayan will close this fall. We look back at its history.
Last Monday, the company that runs the Mayan in downtown LA announced that it will close at the end of September after hosting 35 years of performances. The theater’s history goes back nearly 100 years. The Mayan opened on Aug. 15, 1927 and was designed by Morgan, Walls & Clements, the architecture firm that also designed the El Capitan and Wiltern theaters in Los Angeles. The theater opened on the tail end of downtown L.A.’s theater boom, which saw the opening of ornate, lit-up show palaces like The Palace (1911), and The Million Dollar Theater (1918). Joining us for the conversation is Danny Jensen, programs chair of the Los Angeles City Historical Society. He’s also author of the recent book LA Scavenger: The Ultimate Search for Los Angeles's Hidden Treasures. Also with us is Kim Cooper, cultural historian with Esotouric Tours, an LA-based historical tour company. Have you been to The Mayan? What is the best concert or show you saw there? Call us at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
With files from LAist.
‘Roman on the Radio:’ A new podcast highlighting those in public media
A new podcast by former LAist host Nick Roman puts him back in the host chair, this time highlighting the voices of folks who help keep public media what it is today. Speaking to current reporters, like LAist’s own Yusra Farzan, or former National Public Radio employees like Alisa Barba, the podcast offers a greater perspective on why people decide to join publications that aren’t looking to make a profit.
