Ep 26. David Goldhill

David Goldhill, the CEO of the cable channel GSN, joins Stephen Colbert on The Colbert Report in season 9 episode 26 for a lively conversation about the business of television. Goldhill, who also wrote the acclaimed book "Catastrophic Care: Why Everything We Think We Know about Health Care Is Wrong," shares his insights into the challenges facing the television industry and his own experiences navigating them.

The episode opens with Colbert welcoming Goldhill to the show with his trademark wit and humor. The two men share a few jokes, and then Colbert asks Goldhill about his background and how he became the CEO of GSN. Goldhill explains that he worked in finance for many years before transitioning to the media industry, and he describes some of the challenges he faced along the way.

Colbert and Goldhill then turn to the current state of the television industry. Goldhill notes that the industry is going through a period of tremendous change, with streaming services like Netflix and Amazon challenging traditional cable networks for viewership and ad revenue. Goldhill offers his perspective on the future of cable TV, arguing that there is still a place for live events and sports programming that can't be replicated by streaming services.

The conversation then turns to the role of advertising in the television industry. Goldhill acknowledges that advertising is a necessary part of the business, but he also laments the fact that many ads are intrusive and annoying to viewers. He shares some of the ways that GSN is experimenting with new advertising models that are less intrusive and more effective.

Next, Colbert and Goldhill discuss the differences between scripted and unscripted programming, and Goldhill talks about the challenges of finding compelling unscripted content that can grab viewers' attention. He describes some of the ways that GSN is trying to innovate in the unscripted space, including developing interactive games that viewers can play along with at home.

The conversation then turns to Goldhill's book, "Catastrophic Care," which explores the flaws in the American healthcare system. Colbert asks Goldhill to explain some of the key arguments from the book, and Goldhill offers a concise summary of his views on the subject. He argues that the current system is too focused on paying for procedures rather than outcomes, and he suggests that a more patient-centered approach could improve the quality of care and reduce costs.

The episode concludes with Colbert and Goldhill discussing the importance of risk-taking in business and in life. Goldhill shares some insights from his own experiences, and he encourages viewers to embrace risk and be willing to fail in pursuit of their goals.

Overall, season 9 episode 26 of The Colbert Report offers a fascinating insight into the world of television and media, as well as a thought-provoking discussion of healthcare and risk-taking. Colbert and Goldhill make for an engaging and entertaining pair, and viewers are sure to come away from the episode with a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the television industry today.