MovieChat Forums > The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2015) Discussion > New Batiste Thread

New Batiste Thread

posted 9 years ago by DanTannaFan
16 replies | jump to latest

Just starting a new Batiste thread since the prior ones are already so inundated with comments. We all seem to agree that John is a brilliant musician. That said, a lot of folks on this board ~ myself included ~ don't care for his personality (i.e. inability to understand humor, converse with Colbert, say anything but "Yeah", etc.). Wonder if he is aware of how so many Colbert fans feel, or even if he cares for that matter? Most annoying of all is when Stephen is in the middle of a monologue or other 'bit' and you can hear Batiste in the background saying "yeah .... yeah ..... yeah" ~~ so freaking ANNOYING !!! My guess is that he isn't going to get any better with time. I also think that he doesn't get Colbert's humor. Anyone else think that? In fact, I'd be willing to bet that John Batiste has never even watched a single episode of either "The Daily Show (Jon Stewart version)" or "The Colbert Report" ... and that he doesn't have a clue as to whom either Stephen or Jon Stewart are .... let alone what type of fan base they have.

[–] sinsemilla420071 9 years ago

I could stand it at the beginning when it was just awkward conversation between the two, but the increase of the "yeah, yeah, yeah's" during the monologue is grating.

I do enjoy their off site bits together though, as well as his learning how to play piano bit.

As to whether or not he Batiste gets the humor, I don't know. Sometimes it seems that way, and sometimes it seems like a form of really dry humor that doesn't always work (if that makes sense...it made sense in my head lol).

[–] steiner444 9 years ago

Batiste is very familiar with Colbert. He was on his old show twice and also on his final Colbert Report among the singing celebrities.

[–] DanTannaFan 9 years ago

Yes, but that doesn't mean that he was a regular viewer nor does it mean that he understood Stephen's sarcasm and parody.

[–] The_Frennis 9 years ago

Couldn't disagree more... well I could, but I won't. I'll just disagree the right amount, however much that might be.

[–] Flame_Wielder 9 years ago

I'm reminded of Paul Shaffer often chuckling awkwardly during Dave's monologue, and not always being very coherent when conversing, either. I guess it's a Late Show bandleader thing.

[–] dvd123 9 years ago

There's a huge difference between having a vocal affectation and not being able to communicate. Paul Shaffer may have had a similar 'jazz-y' 'yeah' persona, but he had clearly proven his ability to communicate on air on SNL- long before his time on the Late Show. Paul Shaffer had/has absolutely no problem stringing words together coherently. Comparing the two is apples and oranges.

[–] Flame_Wielder 9 years ago

I just meant what we saw of him on the Late Show. I have no doubt he is an articulate individual, as Batiste himself might also be outside of the show.

[–] steiner444 9 years ago

I've made that comparison in the past too. Paul always made weird noises and confusing comments in the middle of Dave's monologue, it became another thing the audience laughed at.

[–] ipsofatso 9 years ago

I'm reminded of Paul Shaffer often chuckling awkwardly during Dave's monologue, and not always being very coherent when conversing, either. I guess it's a Late Show bandleader thing.

Paul Shaffer was the best "sidekick" ever--always "chuckled" at the right moments, frequently contributed witty asides as funny or sometimes funnier than Dave's--just a great soundboard for Dave.

[–] vcgeno 9 years ago

I think they are slower finding his sweet spot. There have not been a lot of the awkward "conversations" lately and the pre-taped thing he as done have been OK. Not only did Paul Shafer talk in the middle of the monologue but Doc Servenson and Ed McMahn did as well during the old Jonny Carson days so I'm thinking this might not be a fair criticism.

[–] dvd123 9 years ago

They're not 'finding his sweet spot.' Stephen's just no longer asking him anything that requires more than a one word answer. They're removing his vocal presence from the show. Other than the few meaningless 'yeahs' in the background, Stephen is basically sidekick-less. That's not a sweet spot. That's coming to terms with the fact that he can't do what they hired him to do.

When Batiste is no longer trying to converse, and all he's providing is hype man color, then, yes, he is becoming a bit more Shaffer-ish and McMahon-ish. His interjections are more misplaced than any late show talent I've ever seen, but poorly timed interjections are far far less annoying than attempting to trudge through the verbal molasses that is his weekend.

[–] ColinInLa 9 years ago

Much ado about nothing. He wasn't hired to be a second banana.

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Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.

[–] BilboTheDefiler 9 years ago

yes he was and he's acting like it, just a very bad and boring banana ("yeah" "yeah" "yeah")

[–] DanTannaFan 9 years ago

He also wasn't hired to annoy the viewers.

[–] mlsssmth 9 years ago

They need to cut his mic when the monologue starts.

[–] DanTannaFan 9 years ago

Great idea, friend! Also, they need to keep the camera off him as much as possible, with the exception of going out to or coming in from commercial breaks.