News / TV

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’s writing packet submission process for 2016

Cannot remember ever seeing a late-night TV writing job actually posted in the wild like a regular job opening — and definitely don’t recall ever seeing an industry site grabbing and posting the entire submission packet instructions before.

But that’s what happened this past week.

The official CBS job posting for “Comedy Writer” appeared earlier this month — with at least one Late Show source promoting the job opening via Twitter, and another source (not affiliated with the network) trying to convince me to apply for it (for reals?).

Here’s what the official job opening post said:

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is seeking a skilled comedy writer with an interest in current events to come up with pitches for segments, and write scripts for the show. This role will be based in New York, NY.

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Professional comedy writing experience, preferably in late night television.
  • Must be comfortable with tight turnaround and completing assignments on deadline.
  • Interest in politics a plus.

Writing Sample

  • After this initial application, in order to be considered, candidates will be asked to write a sample packet of comedy material. Physical written documents or digital links of final product will be accepted. Details about the content of the sample packet will be provided at a later date.

But then earlier this week, just as the deadline approached to apply, Deadline posted all of those details! According to the submission packet obtained and displayed by Deadline, the deadline to apply for The Late Show’s current job opening was this Tuesday (June 28).

If you’re curious to know what late-night TV shows expect from you on spec — even before they hire you — then dig in and get ready for the next job opening.

Then again: The job posting is still up at CBS, though.

Sean L. McCarthy

Editor and publisher since 2007, when he was named New York's Funniest Reporter. Former newspaper reporter at the New York Daily News, Boston Herald and smaller dailies and community papers across America. Loves comedy so much he founded this site.

View all posts by Sean L. McCarthy →

5 thoughts on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’s writing packet submission process for 2016

  1. I have something to submit without any recognition of my name (just Harvey would be OK)just let me know if it’s being used so I can be certain to tune in. It’s a Trump thing.I don’t think the creep would like it. Should be presented in rap format.

    “I’M DONALD THE GROPER AND BE ADVISED
    MY HAND IS UP YOUR DRESS, JUST WATCH MY EYES
    I DO ROTTEN THINGS WITHOUT FEAR OF FAILURE
    LIKE STICKING MY FINGERS IN A WOMAN’S GENITALIA
    THAT’S MY MODUS OPERANDI AND IF I’M ELECTED
    GET YOURSELF STEEL UNDERWEAR
    AND BE PROTECTED.”
    bop de bop de bop de bop……

  2. Hillary Clinton is thanking her constituents in a hastily prepared post election speech ala Rodney Dangerfield

    ” What a crowd What a crowd.. thank you thank you.. so we lost the election.. that sucked.. and to who? my gosh there’s not enough self tanner in the world to make his.. official portrait look presentable.. now what?.. no more sifting off the foundation..I’ll have to get an actual job again..and choices there are all those high paying opportunities created over the past 8 years.. no respect.. I get no respect at all.. do you know who gets respect.? I’ll tell you who gets respect.. the deplorable’s.. are there any deplorable’s out there in the audience ok ok.. shut the @# &%# up.. I don’t need any more trouble from you..(rim shot..) satire..if you like it.. keep it… use it..

  3. JOKE
    THE ^ HEADLINE of the DAY
    THE ROSS PARK MALL SANTA CLAUS IS ARRESTED,
    For soliciting PROSTITUTION !!!

    (Pittsburgh, PA) It appears that the Mall Santa was arrested last night for soliciting sexual favors from a prostitute in the alleyway of the Ross Park Mall. An under cover police woman was at one end of the alley, when she heard SANTA yell out HO ! HO ! HO !, at the other end of the alley. Santa didn’t know that the Police were running a Prostitution Sting Operation. Santa told the back-up policemen that he was just laughing at a joke his elf companion told him a minute ago.

    The police arrested Santa, read him his rights, cuffed him, then threw him in the back of a squad car. Off to Jail he goes !! Once at the Jail, the officers took mug shots, did his fingerprints, and made him put on an orange jumpsuit.

    While in the hall going to the judge’s courtroom, Santa noticed that his elves, and reindeer, came down to the jail to support him. The judge also saw Santa’s Support Crew, then heard initial testimony about this case, and then denied Santa BAIL. Santa’s attorney asked why the judge denied him Bail.

    The Judge replied, “I believe that Mr. Claus is too big of a flight risk.”

  4. Eric sends out a resume , in anticipation of losing his job. He sends it to a bakery with one word. Inbred….

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