Yahoo News Stephen Colbert rips Fox News for going commercial-free during Jan. 6 hearing counterprogramming
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert went live Thursday night, following the first public hearing from the January 6th Committee. And while most of the networks and cable news channels aired the bipartisan hearing, Fox News not only avoided the entire thing but also avoided running commercials during the two hour broadcast.
“Republicans tried to claim that tonight was going to be a nothing burger,” Stephen Colbert said. “They were wrong. It was a juicy double cheeseburger, stuffed with a burger, between two buns made of burger, smothered in a zesty burger sauce.”
The lack of commercials most likely cost the cable network big, considering Tucker Carlson Tonight is a top rated cable news show and Sean Hannity’s show is a long-time ratings juggernaut. But to Colbert, it all completely made sense.
“Do you understand what that means?” he asked the audience. “Fox News is willing to lose money to keep their viewers from flipping over and accidentally learning information…I'm really not surprised -- that's the first rule of any cult: Never leave the compound.”
While Colbert skewered Fox News, the biggest laughs came at the expense of Donald and Ivanka Trump, after the latter was seen testifying that she believed Attorney General Barr’s assertion there was not any voter fraud committed in the 2020 presidential election.
“That must have been a bittersweet moment for the former president,” Colbert said. “She finally screwed him.”
Video transcript
STEPHEN COLBERT: Republicans tried to claim that tonight was going to be a nothing burger. They were wrong. It was a juicy double cheeseburger, stuffed with burger, between two buns made of burger.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
KYLIE MAR: "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" went live Thursday night, following the first public hearing from the January 6 committee. And while most of the networks and cable news channels aired the bipartisan hearing, Fox News not only avoided it, but also avoided running commercials.
STEPHEN COLBERT: Do you understand what that means? Fox News is willing to lose money to keep their viewers from flipping over and accidentally learning information.
KYLIE MAR: The lack of commercials most likely cost the cable network big, considering "Tucker Carlson Tonight" is a top-rated cable news show and Sean Hannity is a longtime ratings juggernaut. But to Colbert, it all completely made sense.
STEPHEN COLBERT: I am really not surprised. That's the first rule of any cult. Never leave the compound. Second rule, present your testicles to the tanning station.
KYLIE MAR: While Colbert skewered Fox News, the biggest laughs came at the expense of Donald and Ivanka Trump after the latter was seen testifying that she believed Attorney General Barr's assertion, there was not any voter fraud committed in the 2020 presidential election.
IVANKA TRUMP: I accepted what he was saying.
STEPHEN COLBERT: That must have been a bittersweet moment for the President. She finally screwed him.
[LAUGHTER]
