Stephen Colbert ‘stays in comfort zone’ as host of ‘Late Show’

He spent his first night on CBS hitting soft balls — like moving target Donald Trump.

Stephen Colbert stayed in his comfort zone Tuesday night as the new host of “The Late Show” — getting his best hits when talking politics.

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Colbert made no less than eight references to the bloviating billionaire. He scarfed down an entire pack of Oreos because Trump said in a campaign speech he would never eat one again after Nabisco closed a factory in the U.S. and opened one in Mexico.

“I'm not surprised Trump is willing to stand up to Big Cookie,” Colbert said.

“He's the only candidate brave enough to deport the Keebler elves: `Hey, tree freaks! Get your filthy fudgy fingers off our jobs!’”

And he said: “Trump's anti-Oreo stance puts other Republicans in a tough spot. He's forcing them to decide between alienating Latino voters and eating a Hydrox.”

Colbert has made no secret of his urge to blast Trump’s run for the White House, telling TV critics in July that sitting on the sidelines waiting for his show to start taping was akin to “dry-Trumping.”

Aside from the fusillade against The Donald, there was a cute cross-over moment with his “Tonight Show” rival Jimmy Fallon. After the end credits rolled, they were together in a late-night-host locker room. Colbert kissed a Jon Stewart photo in his locker then said goodnight to Fallon — who had a picture of Colbert in his locker.

Stewart had a cameo in the show’s opening moments (and also turned up in the credits as an executive producer).

 

But Colbert was at his best when hitting below the Beltway.

He opened an awkward chat with George Clooney asking about the movie-star’s favorite cause, the human tragedy in Darfur, and quizzing him about his wife, Amal — the world’s most famous human rights lawyer.

Colbert also told his next guest, Jeb Bush, that he had no plans to vote for him. Jeb got a laugh when he said his slogan “Jeb!” “connotes excitement.”

The weirdest moment of the show was a product placement for a brand of hummus. The host even protested: “No! not the first night! It's too soon!”

It was.

What viewers didn’t know Tuesday night was how the hour-long telecast had been edited out of a 2 -1/2 hour taping that had started around 5 p.m.

Yet audience members said that they enjoyed the marathon taping.

"I can't wait to see how he continues. He'll be a good Fallon competitor, but he'll find his niche, especially since both are in New York," said Adam Douglas, 29, of Houston.

"It was funny. It ran long but it was good. He'll break in. He was good," said Carston Hanson, 56, of New Jersey.

"The show was awesome. The band was awesome. It was extremely funny. I got more than what I came for," Delisa McGregor, 21, of Queens.