Stephen Colbert noted this was his first Friday show ever after being previously tied to a four-shows-a-week schedule. “Now I have to look for a T.G.I. Thursday’s,” he complained. As expected, he’s loosened up considerably from those first few nights. He raked Hillary Clinton’s candidacy into the dustbin, possibly for good, when he went on about her handlers trying to remake her into someone who cares for the common people. Amy Schumer, Hollywood’s current “it” girl/loose cannon, accomplished the same goal without half-trying when she arrived looking like a real person instead of an over-coiffed, ultra-styled Hollywood mannequin. “Look at that ass,” she said. “That’s a bad ass.” Horror author Stephen King was a delight, vowing to keep writing until he dies, “or maybe after.” The first week’s most intriguing musical moment was its last. Colbert was determined to whistle the bit from “Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard” with Troubled Waters, a “Paul Simon tribute band” staffed by old geezers. “Paul Simon’s a jerk,” muttered Colbert, who found that whistling when you’re nervous is very difficult. Fortunately, they gave him a second chorus, and he did much better.
—Jud Cost
