Stephen Colbert has made his debut as the new presenter of the long running Late Show, taking over from veteran host David Letterman who retired in May after 33 years.
There was a mix of politics, patriotism and Hollywood glamour to his first outing as host with guests including George Clooney and Republican White House contender Jeb Bush.
Colbert, who stood down from his former show The Colbert Report on Comedy Central earlier this year began with a rendition of the Star Spangled banner recorded across the country with a cameo appearance from his former mentor John Stewart.
He also paid tribute to his predecessor, David Letterman, saying “We will try to honor his achievement by making the best show we can, and occasionally making the network very mad at us.”
Colbert also shed the persona of the ultra-patriotic political commentator that he played for nearly a decade on The Colbert Report and as a regular before that on The Daily Show at one stage telling the audience "I used to play a narcissistic conservative pundit. Now, I'm just a narcissist."
During his interview with George Clooney, he presented him with a belated wedding gift for his marriage last year to human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin. The Tiffany paperweight was inscribed with the phrase, "I don't know you."
He also poked fun at Donald Trump in a segment involving Oreo cookies after the Republican candidate said he would never eat them again after the company that makes them said it was opening a new plant in Mexico.
Colbert though faces a big challenge in the late night talk-show wars with the ratings currently dominated by his NBC counterpart Jimmy Fallon at The Tonight Show. Likewise, he will have to work hard to hold his own against Jimmy Kimmel Live.
