I love Amy Poehler. And I love Seth Meyers. And I really love it when they tear sexist jerks a new one.

Recently, a Sports Illustrated analyst said that women’s sports aren’t worth watching. Well, Amy Poehler and Seth Meyers have some pretty strong thoughts about that. Watch them express those ideas below.

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Oh, Colbert. We miss you and your witty banter! We’re really looking forward to his show after watching Colbert’s bit about his Colbeard.

It’s classic Colbert, but real Colbert. If he keeps up with this type of shtick, we’ll all be in for a delightful, absurd ride. We miss you, Colbert, and look forward to your late night return.

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Did Netflix just redefine late night television with acquiring Chelsea Handler’s show?

The internet is abuzz with Netflix’s biggest announcement since launching its original programming with “House of Cards.” What sets the Chelsea Handler show apart from Netflix’s other programming is that it’s a talk show. Not exactly binge-watch material.

Editor-in-Chief of Variety, Andrew Wallenstein wrote: “Well, there’s two different ways to view the Handler hire: as a deviation from a core strategy or the formation of a new strategy. Either way, the move begs explanation.”

I say it doesn’t beg anything, save for its obvious plea: watch me.

The late night talk show scene has been defined for more than half a century as hosted by way too many moderately funny white guys. I’m not saying that’s a sexist decision as much as it’s one of convenience–if not a boring move, even though I’m pretty excited for Stephen Colbert to take over the Late Show from David Letterman next year.

Handler’s name was tossed about as a possible replacement for the Late Show spot, but deep down we all kind of knew that the most coveted late night seat would not be breaking from tradition, at least not yet, anyway. Handler could have taken Craig Ferguson’s spot. But that’s a sleepy time slot time. She knows better.

As an avid fan of “The Daily Show” and “The Colbert Report”, it is extremely rare that I watch the shows at 11/11:30 respectfully. But I do watch them with as much commitment as being a new mommy allows—sometimes that’s a full day or even a week later. Netflix is banking on this approach with the Chelsea Handler show because she already has an audience who will make the time to watch her show. For the people who may tune in but not stick around for a full episode, Netflix knows those viewers are more likely to move around the site, and that’s never bad for an online business that represents a whopping one-third of all Internet bandwidth in the U.S.

And this is my best guess as to why the networks didn’t go with Handler or anyone who wasn’t a moderately funny white guy. It’s not a sexist move, but a strategic one. In light of what the Internet is doing for entertainment, which is already proving to be huge, we can anticipate seeing the “original” networks revert back to even more rigidly classic programming styles to define their place in the entertainment world. While streaming web content is replete with the ‘anything goes’ tagline, networks are becoming stylized iconic brands like Ralph Lauren, Levi’s or Nike—there may have been periods where they were no longer quite in fashion, but once they figured out how to stop chasing trends and just do what it is they’re really good at, consumers embraced them with even more intensity. Network television will soon become the equivalent of a really well made pair of jeans, shoes or a timeless sweater you want to have in your wardrobe. That means conceivably “safer” programming choices for networks. Classics. More men in suits. Better news reporting. Dorkier family humor programming. That’s not Handler’s style and that’s not Netflix’s style, either, but we’re lucky now to have so many options at our fingertips.

Find Jill on Twitter @jillettinger

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Stephen Colbert is set to succeed long-time late night host David Letterman. It’s a big win for America’s future, for one really simple reason.

It’s hard not to love Stephen Colbert. Unless, of course, you happen to be a slightly deranged, bitter, white, conservative (middle-aged) man, one of whom he has hilariously parodied for close to two decades—first on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” and then on the network’s award-winning “The Colbert Report.”

And now, Colbert’s going to take the reigns over at CBS in what’s become a highly controversial position: The Late Night Host. We saw this most recently with Seth Meyers taking over Jimmy Fallon’s spot when he moved into Jay Leno’s spot, who took it back from Conan O’Brien, who took it from Leno, who sort of retired 18 years after he inherited the show from Johnny Carson, and instead of it going to David Letterman, who was in the spot Seth Meyers holds now, CBS jumped on Letterman. ABC added Jimmy Kimmel, bumping its news program “Nightline” to after the show. Conan moved to TBS. And, of course, there’s Scottish-born Craig Ferguson, who also has a late night show that appears after Letterman. Apparently.

Yeah.

So, a bunch of white, not all that funny, middle-aged men have been playing musical desk chairs for decades.

And somewhere during all this, over at Comedy Central, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert rewrote what late night television could be. They often offer the only really honest reporting on major news stories. Comics have always embodied the ability to be painfully honest—allowing us to laugh at things we often dare not speak about. But ever since news media 2.0 took to the airwaves, they’ve called it out, and in Stewart’s case, set the records ridiculously straight on major issues. (It’s probably the reason Stewart wasn’t offered Letterman’s job. No one wants him to stop doing what he does. Colbert is a different story…read on.)

Conservatives blasted CBS’s decision to hire Colbert. Rush Limbaugh said CBS had “declared war on the heartland of America.” Aw.

And others observe that the late night seats lack any type of diversity beyond white male hairstyles and suit choices. Aside from race not being considered, there are no female late night hosts—even Chelsea Handler has announced she’s ending her contract with E! (She may actually replace Craig Ferguson, who follows Letterman.)

But criticisms aside, Colbert’s new job signifies one thing that’s most impressive and telling about where America is at these days: he’ll be dropping the neo-conservative character his fans—of which this writer is one—have loved for so long. But here’s why I’m not sad to see the character go. And I don’t think I’m alone in this assessment.

It’s simple, really. The bumbling ignorant conservative is becoming obsolete. That’s not to say there aren’t millions of gay-bashing, gun-toting, racist, greedy conservative men out there. There are still too many as long as Ted Nugent lives and breathes, if you ask me. But as a country, I think we’re kind of over it. Elon Musk is plotting to colonize Mars, for crying out loud. We have more significant achievements ahead of us than pontificating on about whether Obamacare has destroyed our country. Gay marriage hasn’t caused any cities to implode or demons to emerge from the underworld and subjugate us for our sinful ways. The character Colbert plays serves only to remind us of something we’re desperate to let go of. Whether we realize it yet or not.

America is ready to move on.

We may still never tire of corny white men in frumpy suits telling us mildly humorous jokes at midnight, but what we don’t need any longer is the chorus of haters, the fearmongers and the oppressors who have given Colbert so many years worth of material. Jon Stewart and “The Daily Show” team will continue to call out the nonsense as it happens (and certainly Colbert will as well). But it’s behavior that’s becoming so insignificant to where we’re heading that it makes sense Colbert finally let it go at the peak of his career. So, a Tip of the Hat to you Colbert and Letterman. And a Wag of the Finger to anyone standing in the way of progress.

Find Jill on Twitter @jillettinger

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