Late Night Goodbyes: Saturn at 29° Scorpio

It Happens in Threes…
This past week, Saturn’s lingering presence at the final unforgiving degree of  intense Scorpio was marked by three notable, poignant and very emotional television finales:

After nine years on Comedy Central, Stephen Colbert signed off with perhaps one of the most historically meaningful exits in television history. Virtually everyone who was ANYONE during the past 50 years in pop and media culture took part in a rousing rendition of “We’ll Meet Again”. Colbert will reemerge next May not as his popular pompous right-wing blow hard creation but as himself when he takes over for David Letterman on CBS.

Colbert’s talent cannot and should not ever be underestimated. A true renaissance man to the core, few are aware that he did a turn in the 2011 production of COMPANY (the 1970 Stephen Sondheim Broadway classic) with the NY Philharmonic.

I’m betting on Colbert to insert the kind of class in the 11:30 slot that we haven’t seen since Johnny Carson left the Tonight Show, albeit with a 21st Century twist.

Then Craig Ferguson’s finale on Friday closed out nearly ten years of his zany and off-kilter persona as host of the CBS Late Late Show. I adored Ferguson (his madness turns me on) and am very sad to see him go. Will he be back soon as a game show host and if so, will that aspect of him be as satisfying? Reportedly he was miffed when the Letterman Show went to Colbert, and not to him as was (sort of) promised. His talent thrived on the freedom that the 12:35 AM slot afforded him so I wonder if he will be inspired in a more restricted setting.

Both Ferguson and Colbert have the sun in Taurus. (Colbert was born on May 13, 1964 and Ferguson, on May 17 1962). Taurus as Sun-sign for  late night talk show hosts has a good track record- Jay Leno is Taurus as was Jack Paar.

And finally, Darlene Love sang “Christmas Baby” for the last time on David Letterman. Ending a 28 year tradition, Darlene, Paul Shaffer, and a team of magnificent musicians and back-up singers that included the world renowned Ula Hedwig brought down the house.

It was a powerful last degree sendoff for Saturn in Scorpio. What can top this as an encore next summer when Saturn returns to that degree?

I’ll start vocalizing now.