Colbert Packs a Launch on Short Week THEY SAID IT STEPHEN COLBERT’S Long-Awaited Debut on CBS’ the Late Show Will Be Tuesday, Sept

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Colbert Packs a Launch on Short Week THEY SAID IT STEPHEN COLBERT’s long-awaited debut on CBS’ The Late Show will be Tuesday, Sept. 8. His first week will be short but action-packed and kicks off a potentially historic late-night ratings battle with the former Comedy Central host facing off against NBC’s Jimmy Fallon and ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel. Colbert has revealed little about the format of his show, which will tape at David Letterman’s longtime Ed Sullivan Theater home. He expects to have more freedom compared with his blowhard right- wing character on Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report. “I feel “We watched them be more freed up,” Colbert said during an appearance at the Television absolutely stalwarts Critics Association’s summer press tour on Aug. 10. “I don’t have to on camera, and bawl hold back at all.” their eyes out after. Colbert’s guest list is both glittery and eclectic. The roster includes: The resilience of the Sept. 8: George Clooney; Republican presidential candidate Jeb team remains visible Bush; musical performance by Jon Batiste and Stay Human, with and amazing.” special guests. —Schurz group VP Marci Burdick on the Sept. 9: Scarlett Johansson; SpaceX and Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk; staff of Schurz-owned WDBJ Roanoke interview with and musical performance by Kendrick Lamar. (Va.), which went through the on-air Sept. 10: Vice President Joe Biden; Uber CEO Travis Kalanick; mu- murders of reporter Alison Parker and sical performance by Toby Keith. cameraman Adam Ward on Aug. 26. Sept. 11: Comedian Amy Schumer; author Stephen King; interview with and musical performance by Troubled Waters. Colbert takes the helm. –Jessika Walsten

“‘Curt’s life mattered, and he is simply irreplaceable,’ writes @davidwkenny on the loss of digital ad pioneer @curthecht.” —The New York Times’ @emilysteel tweeted Sept. 3 STATOFTHEWEEK Hecht following the death of Curt Hecht, chief global revenue officer for the Weather Co. 5,100 Number of feature films available on Hulu, which just acquired Epix movies including The Hunger Games and Transformers, which had been on Netflix. Hulu last week added an ad-free subscription tier for $11.99/month.

TAKING SUMMER STOCK OF CABLE RATINGS RACE Some insights based on Nielsen data analyzed by Ratings Intelligence:

• The Republican presidential debate Aug. 6 was the most-watched and highest-rated cable program of the entire summer, top- ping AMC’s Fear the Walking Dead premiere and the MTV Video Music Awards.

• TBS finished August No. 1 in primetime among adults 18-49, followed by USA Net- work and Adult Swim.

• NFL Network experienced the most signifi- cant month-to-month total viewer improve- ment of any primetime cable network.

4 BROADCASTING & CABLE SEPTEMBER 7, 2015 BROADCASTINGCABLE.COM

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