Late-night TV, political comedy, and a Ponzi scheme

Why late-night TV is declining

Here’s another reason for the decline in late-night viewership [“Late night TV’s rocky road ahead,” fanfare, Aug. 17]. At least two of the late-show hosts have likely lost half their audience due to constant bashing of President Donald Trump and the Republican Party. It is almost all one-sided.

I watched Johnny Carson for 30 years. His monologues included jokes about politicians, but he always kidded both Republicans and Democrats. He had a cordial relationship with former President Ronald Reagan, yet made light of him as he did with Democratic Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton.

Jimmy Kimmel, a funny comedian, is now unwatchable. He and Stephen Colbert seem interested only in attacking Trump. Kimmel teared up on his show the day after the election.

— Sheldon Ehrenreich, West Hempstead

There is little humor in the rise of totalitarian fascism that we see in the person of Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff, having Donald Trump’s ear [“The slow-death of late-night humor,” Opinion, Aug. 20].

Late-night comedians are the “canaries in the coal mine.” We should value them.

— Eric Cashdan, Port Washington

I couldn’t help but notice that readers who decried the politicization and apparent mocking of the president and politicians on late-night TV seem to forget that comedians have been making fun of presidents for years “Varied reactions to cancellation,” Letters, July 23].

I don’t remember, though, anyone before Donald Trump who ran for president denigrating and insulting people publicly on practically a daily basis. I don’t remember any president publicly calling people who opposed him “stupid,” “having a low IQ,” “traitors,” “lunatic,” “pigs,” etc.

People are watching their constitutional rights evaporate. We have a current regime saying, “Freedom of speech for me, but not for thee.”

When the leader of a country seeks to control the media, whether it be by a threat of reprisal, lawsuits or government retribution, it does not bode well for the people.

— Lorraine Huzar, Jericho

If CBS doesn’t want Stephen Colbert’s show to continue hemorrhaging money, it would be smart to cancel it now.

After being canceled, Colbert started his next show with “Now I can say what I really think of Donald Trump,” followed by a vulgar comment because Trump called him “untalented” [“Colbert has pointed message for Trump,” Flash!, July 23].

The country is tired of the left’s whining in the name of comedy. Hopefully, NBC and ABC will follow suit and cancel Seth Meyers’ and Jimmy Kimmel’s shows next.

— Debra Lukaszewicz, Massapequa

People new to watching Stephen Colbert’s show need to know he also mocked President Joe Biden. That is what Colbert does: He’s an equal-opportunity mocker. He also makes fun of Sen. Bernie Sanders and other Democrats.

William Shakespeare understood the role of the court jester. In “King Lear,” the Fool speaks “truth to power” and tells Lear the truths others are afraid to say, or get punished for saying. We need political satire, especially now.

— Ellen Solow Holzman, Mattituck

Staunch Donald Trump supporters find Stephen Colbert’s and Jimmy Kimmel’s monologues annoying, humorless, disrespectful and “unfunny.” What I and my Democratic friends find annoying and humorless is Trump’s petty retribution against those who do not support his beliefs, and his smirking and mocking of others. I find the monologues hilarious yet am sad that there is so much to mock.

— Wendy Schack, East Williston

A reader said Stephen Colbert and CBS were being disrespectful to the office of the president. It makes me wonder if she thinks the person occupying that position now respects the office of the president.

— David Miller, Smithtown

Six months for $12M Ponzi scheme is awful

It is inconceivable that Robert Diamond got off with a light slap on the wrist for his nefarious Ponzi scheme [“6-month sentence in $12M fraud for LI Ponzi schemer,” News, Aug. 18].

He destroyed the lives of so many people while he and his family lived a life of luxury. His response to his criminal actions is to complain about the people who trusted him with their life savings.

Six months in likely a cushy prison camp is not acceptable. How could the Nassau County district attorney’s office accept this negligible “punishment”?

— Michael Howard, Woodbury

It seems that almost every week we read about a fallen Ponzi schemer. All I can think about are the victims and their losses. It’s not that hard to educate yourself about financial matters even if you did not get sufficient financial courses in high school, if any.

At the very least, people should not trust anyone who promises you a high amount of interest for your investment. Is the crystal ball they use any better than yours?

As a former financial adviser, I suggest that if a person knows absolutely nothing about investing and wants to invest their money, they simply should read about dollar-cost averaging and low-fee S&P 500 index funds administered by a major brokerage. Although no one can predict the future, since 1957, this benchmark index has delivered an average annual return of over 10%.

— Christian Borg, Huntington