Gutfeld Wrecks Colbert’s “Safe” Comedy Legacy While Mocking His Exit from Late Night [WATCH]

Greg Gutfeld criticized Stephen Colbert’s late-night legacy ahead of Colbert’s final episode, arguing that the outgoing host avoided political risks while targeting approved subjects during his run, as reported by PJ Media.

Colbert’s final episode is set to air Thursday night. Byron Allen is expected to take over Colbert’s late-night time slot with “Comics Unleashed,” a long-running syndicated program featuring Allen and four comedians drawing from their stand-up material.

Gutfeld addressed the transition after playing a CNN clip in which Allen explained his plan for the show during an interview with Michael Smerconish.

“What I’m doing with Comics Unleashed, we don’t talk about politics. We don’t talk about anything that’s topical. We don’t talk about anything. We don’t do anything that’s racist or sexist or anti-Semitic or homophobic. Just be funny and don’t offend. I don’t care who you vote for. I don’t care. I’m here to make people laugh. You’re going to vote who you’re going to vote for no matter what I say. It doesn’t matter. It’s not my business. Do what you do. So I’m here to make you laugh,” Allen said.

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Gutfeld responded by saying Allen’s approach sounded difficult to reconcile with comedy.

“That sounds like someone saying take up boxing, but don’t try to hit anyone,” Gutfeld said. “Or a hooker saying she just wants to hold hands.”

The change in direction comes as Colbert exits a late-night slot that had long been associated with a major television franchise.

Critics of Colbert have argued that he moved the program heavily into partisan politics and alienated viewers who wanted comedy rather than political messaging.

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Gutfeld said he understood the business logic behind trying to move away from politics but challenged Allen’s stated goal of avoiding offense. He argued that comedy naturally carries risk and that jokes often land because someone or something is being targeted.

“See, every joke is going to offend someone. If there’s no risk, why bother?” Gutfeld asked.

Gutfeld also criticized the idea of celebrating Colbert as a daring late-night figure, saying Colbert’s comedy was safe because it focused on targets favored by his own side.

He said Colbert and other left-leaning late-night hosts avoided material involving former President Joe Biden and his family.

Gutfeld described the Bidens as “an embarrassment of riches” for comedy, but said they were treated as off-limits by Colbert and similar hosts.

“He did nothing but safe comedy, ridiculing the approved targets his team hated, and then stuck his tongue firmly up the asses of politicians he supported,” Gutfeld said.

Gutfeld argued that Colbert’s defenders have portrayed him as a bold political comedian even as his show reportedly lost millions of dollars each year.

“How was he able to last this long and lose millions every year?” Gutfeld asked. “Because he did what he was told, which makes the idea that he’s leaving the job as some sort of risk-taking comic the biggest joke of all.”

Allen’s “Comics Unleashed” is expected to move into the time slot with a format that avoids politics and current events. Allen said he does not care how viewers vote and wants the program focused on making people laugh.

Gutfeld’s response framed the late-night shift as a test of whether a comedy program can avoid politics and still remain sharp. His criticism of Colbert focused on what he described as years of predictable political targets and a lack of willingness to mock powerful Democrats.

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