The Colbert Report 2005 Talkback

[Temple Fugate]

The day has finally come. Stephen Colbert's The Colbert Report is airing its first four shows this week at 11:30pm after The Daily Show. If you missed tonight's, or any future airings, Comedy Central's got you covered. Reruns follow each new episode at 1:30am, 10:30am, 2:30pm and 8:30pm. (All times EDT) At least, that's what my TiVo's telling me.

We all love the guy, but I admit there was doubt in my mind whether he could pull off anchoring his own show. That doubt was aleviated last night as Colbert launced his new career as an anchor with humorous "gravitas." The way they had the show pander to his "over-inflated" ego was a good idea. What better way to premiere a show that pokes fun at current events than to poke fun at its own ridiculous self right out of the gate? Colbert also displays interview skills comparable to Jon Stewart.

I think he's gonna do just fine, as long as he's still free to voice Birdman characters. What do you think?

[Aquadementia]

I thought the first night he was a little too forced. Though once he settles in the show should be great.
They have some good bits that parody cable shout-casts and I think he may turn out to be pretty good at live interviews.
The only thing missing is the back and forth banter he had with Jon. Maybe they'll get some regular guest pundits for him to cut to shreds and give him someone to play off of so he isn't always out there by himself.

My favorite segment so far was the little duel of announcing headlines.

And then there's that feud with James Brady.

[Fone Bone]

The Daily Show's Stephen Colbert has been given his own show which is basically an O'Reilly Factor parody. It's pretty funny but I have to admit that I'm resisting it a little. I love Colbert but I'm not sure an entire series can be fashioned around his blowhard feux persona. It worked for Jiminy Glick but I don't know how easy it will be to stomach this kind of thing four nights a week. The Daily Show is so great because despite the silliness Jon Stewart always comes off as very sincere and it is funny seeing him react to the correspondents who are stand-ins for the actual media. Having one of the correspondants host an entire show in persona is an interesting idea, but I'm not sure of how successful the show can be in the long run.

Either way, I'm pulling for Colbert and hope the show improves. It's already funny, but something tells me that may not be enough.

Thoughts?

[Duke]

So far, The WØrd is hilarious, and I did like Colbert's 3rd segment last night. The word play with Stone Philips rocked though.

However, both interview segments were lackluster. And the music is way to damn similar to the Daily Show.

[Fone Bone]

It's okay. I'm not sure how viable the show will be long-term since Colbert is in "persona" mode for the entire half hour. I have a feeling that may get old fast and it might not have been the best idea to have a correspondent have his own show while still in "pompous ass" mode. The Daily Show works because Jon Stewart is a lone reasonable voice in a sea of lunacy. I'm not sure how well a "lunatic's" voice will resonate long-term.

[Pretentious]

Not all that funny. Colbert's good on The Daily Show and he's good on Harvey Birdman since that's how he seems to work best: in small doses. However, having him shoved down your throat for half an hour is painful. A lot of the jokes in these two episodes have just plain fallen flat and aren't all that funny. I'll give it two weeks but I see it going the way of nearly every other show that Comedy Central's debuted in the last year and a half (cancelled within four or five months).

[Djm912]

I loved it. I love Stephen Colbert's character on the Daily Show, and this show is EXACTLY what I was hoping it'd be. The first night I found to be hilarious, and the 2nd was good, and well subdued well enough from the first.

I get a little tired of Jon Stewart's spending more time telling us how fake his show is than actually doing the show. Stephen Colbert is a great refresher in the "fake news" market.

[Strollymonster]

I'm reserving judgment until I've seen more shows, but I'll say that it's harder for Colbert to do his show because he has to keep acting his part, whereas Stewart really just is himself looking at all these crazy things around him.

Just please don't have Bill O'Reilly come on the show...that would be perhaps the worst mistake possible.

[Fone Bone]

I'm reserving judgment until I've seen more shows, but I'll say that it's harder for Colbert to do his show because he has to keep acting his part, whereas Stewart really just is himself looking at all these crazy things around him. This is my feeling as well. It's funny but I just don't see how it could be that successful in the long run.


Just please don't have Bill O'Reilly come on the show...that would be perhaps the worst mistake possible.Oh, please God NO!:ack:

[The Penguin]

The Daily Show's Stephen Colbert has been given his own show which is basically an O'Reilly Factor parody. It's pretty funny but I have to admit that I'm resisting it a little. I love Colbert but I'm not sure an entire series can be fashioned around his blowhard feux persona. It worked for Jiminy Glick but I don't know how easy it will be to stomach this kind of thing four nights a week. The Daily Show is so great because despite the silliness Jon Stewart always comes off as very sincere and it is funny seeing him react to the correspondents who are stand-ins for the actual media. Having one of the correspondants host an entire show in persona is an interesting idea, but I'm not sure of how successful the show can be in the long run.

Either way, I'm pulling for Colbert and hope the show improves. It's already funny, but something tells me that may not be enough.

Thoughts?Thread merged with existing one.

[TheMecca]

I would pay Stephen Colbert per hour to come to my house and do the news.
Every hour on the hour.

[Stuckey]

The Colbert Report is my new favorite show.

[Delthayre]

Tonight's episode was great. The, "My Word," segment had me in stitches and I liked the interview too. I like Zakaria a lot, he's very intelligent, knows his field, but he's witty and clever enough to be funny on his own and complement the interviewer. I hope he comes back.

A mail segment! I was wondering if they'd do that. It wasn't much this time, but I could see it blossoming.

[silvanoir]

He's good for a segment, but I can't take a whole nightly show of him.

[DisneyBoy]

I haven't seen it yet, but going by what Tim's said, I think I'd have to agree.

[Fone Bone]

I actually thought the Zakari interview highlighted the inherent problems with the format. Zakari seemed to be trying to start a serious conversation on some level and it seemed like he was getting frustrated with Colbert not having an off switch.

The rest of the show was hilarious however. I loved the study on teen "abstinance" and the mail bag at the end.

[EightOh]

It's not superb, as of yet, but it's not bad. I cannot tolerate talking head "news" shows, but a satirical one with an already established "character" as the host is an interesting concept, and one they're doing fairly well so far. I expect it to get better, though I'll greatly miss his presence on the Daily Show.

I'm so very glad they went there with the caramel apple vs. candy apple thing. Candy apples are the devil.

If only they could bring back Crossballs and pump out more episodes of that... yes, three's a crowd, but it would go so well as a lead-out to the Colbert Report.


Tonight's episode was great. The, "My Word," segment had me in stitches and I liked the interview too. I like Zakaria a lot, he's very intelligent, knows his field, but he's witty and clever enough to be funny on his own and complement the interviewer. I hope he comes back.Fareed Zakaria is awesome.


I actually thought the Zakari interview highlighted the inherent problems with the format. Zakari seemed to be trying to start a serious conversation on some level and it seemed like he was getting frustrated with Colbert not having an off switch.I do think there may have been some degree of that, even though Zakaria obviously went in knowing he'd be the "straight man" to Colbert's buffoonery.

[The Penguin]

"Obesity, it's as American as five helpings of apple pie."

:p Can't... stop... laughing...

[William C. Maune]

I actually thought the Zakari interview highlighted the inherent problems with the format. Zakari seemed to be trying to start a serious conversation on some level and it seemed like he was getting frustrated with Colbert not having an off switch.

I gotta agree with Fone Bone. With the show being on 4 nights a week, Colbert's character can only carry the show so far before it'll get old. They need to find a balance between what they are doing now and making it topical enough so that there is actually a reason to have guests on the show. They just have to be careful about making it too much like The Daily Show (it's all a hard balancing act).

The best part of the show is the giant eagle that attacks the screen at the end of the intro.

[Stewie]

I gotta agree with Fone Bone. With the show being on 4 nights a week, Colbert's character can only carry the show so far before it'll get old. They need to find a balance between what they are doing now and making it topical enough so that there is actually a reason to have guests on the show. They just have to be careful about making it too much like The Daily Show (it's all a hard balancing act).Yeah. As much as I like Colbert, and want him to succeed, I can't shake the feeling that this would have worked better as a regular 4 minute segment on The Daily Show.
Still, it's funny so far. Not great. But more than worth the effort it takes to watch it.

[Fone Bone]

Yay! I'm agreeable!

Last night was better, probably because the guest acted so crazy. If he can keep getting guests like that the show will be all right.

I loved the Lisa Loeb cameo and thought it was hilarious. I also thought it was great that they got David Cross to played that hippie talk show host. I really hope the show can deliver more episodes like this one.

[sdp]

i don't know, there is something about it, i think i would have enjoyed a lot mroe a one hour daily show with more Colbert segments, it just doesn't work as another show.

[Andy Mancini]

This show brings me back to the days when The Daily Show was an actual parody of the news. Yes, there are a few things that are rather... "off," but I think that it'll be fine once Colbert gets used to reading from a teleprompter. The biggest problem right now are the guests. Guys like Jim Cramer are fine, as they give Colbert enough material to play off of. Leave Zakari and his ilk to Jon Stewart, or even better, the actual news.

[Temple Fugate]

I loved the Lisa Loeb cameo and thought it was hilarious.That was the highlight of the episode. I was already laughing at that reporter's sad attempt to sing the song. Newscasters are supposed to tell the news, not sing songs. I'm embarrassed for the guy sitting next to her.

The interview went pretty well, though I was a bit surprised that Colbert's personality didn't totally mesh with Cramer's. Maybe Colbert came on a bit too fast. But that question on what he thought of Bush was unneccesary.

[Fone Bone]

For the first time last night's Colbert Report was better than The Daily Show. Maybe because Colbert is in wacky persona mode all the time his audience doesn't seem to take the "conservative" things he say personally unlike Jon's audience so it will probably be fun when he has a conservative guest on. I think the show will do all right as long as Stephen is smart enough to get guests who will be willing to play along. If he runs out of a pool of pundits who are good sports the show will be in serious trouble.

[randomguy]

I'm still pretty convinced that this show would have worked better as a weekly thing, keeping Colbert's persona from growing tiresome, allowing him the opportunity to appear at least sporadically on The Daily Show, and lessening the frequency of repeats.

That said, the show has grown on me in the small amount of time that it's been on. It's a reasonably dead-on parody of The O'Reilly Factor and its ilk, right down to the irritating graphics and continual ego-stroking. Colbert manages to play a conceited ignoramus while still remaining likeable, which is surely a feat.

The writing seems to have gotten tighter since the first episode, and the various segments introduced thus far are pretty solid, in my opinion. I particularly like the foreign press "we'll help you understand it" one.

There's a lot of promise here, so I'll keep tuning in for the time being. Unfortunately, journalism these days, and broadcast journalism in specific, provides Comedy Central with plenty of material for both The Daily Show and The Colbert Report. Would that Stewart and Colbert had to work harder to find the absurdity.

Andy's right about Zakaria, though. He's too valuable a voice to be used on something like this, no offense intended to The Colbert Report.

[Fone Bone]

I love you randomguy!:anime:

I think the show would have worked better as a weekly thing too but yes, the show is improving as it goes on. We'll just have to wait and see how long it will take for all of us to get tired of it.:p

[PeterFries]

I liked the show a lot immediately, but I had to grudgingly agree with a lot of points that a local reviewer made about Colbert's "character" being all over the place. If he settled on parodying O'Reilly and Scarborough and those types (which themselves are bascially parodies already) rather than also mocking the news at time and breaking out of character, the show would seem smoother. The gravitas battle in the first ep was AWESOME. The interviews are... weird. At times, Colbert almost seems to be trying to be sympathetic and insightful, which seems wrong for the show.

[HumanoidTyphoon]

I've considered this show ok so far but this one was actually good. The anti-bacterial soap thing was great. If they can keep this up I'll keep watching.


Anyone else notice that he stumbles over words an awful lot like 2 or 3 times a segment? It's a bit distracting.

[Stewie]

What's with Colbert's flubs? He can't seem to go five minutes without stumbling on his words. It's happened in every episode so far.

Normally, I wouldn't give it much notice. But it's sticking out to me.

EDIT:
Anyone else notice that he stumbles over words an awful lot like 2 or 3 times a segment? It's a bit distracting.When I read your post 20 seconds ago, you hadn't written this. I swear it's true.

[Fone Bone]

The Rosa Parks segment was REALLY uncomfortable. I think the point of it was that they thought a bunch of conservative pundits would downplay her contribution to society. They should have waited to see if that actually happened before taking a shot at it. As it stands it was a satire of a situation that we weren't even sure existed.

Does anybody know if any of the conservative pundits took a shot at Parks yesterday? I wouldn't be surprised either way but this was a situation that was WAAAAY too delicate to pull the "Republicans are all racists" card without warning.

[sdp]

today show (wel actually yesterdays) was actually interesting for me, i still think it should be a one hour daily show with more segments for him.

[Fone Bone]

Last night's episode was pretty good. I got the feeling again that the intelligent design guy MAY have wanted a more serious conversation again. I have a feeling I may get tired of this show soon though.

[Temple Fugate]

The guest on Tuesday seemed exasperated that Stephen was talking all over his words and the staged phone guests. I would do my homework if I was to go on TDS or Colbert Report, and certainly not pack an agenda of my own to discuss, because it definitely isn't happening. The guy last night seemed more keen to the point of the interview, which was to really have no point. I liked it when Stephen went off on him, paused to ask if he had an Ivy League degree, and then added it to his rant.

I would prefer not seeing Jon conferencing with Stephen at the end of every TDS. It's a good idea to bridge the shows, but most fans already know they're going to stay for Colbert, unless they've decided it's not as good and won't watch it. Maybe once in a while, but not every day. Last night's was very funny, with Stephen asking to steal TDS's skits.

The war deaths segment was my favorite of the night.

[The Penguin]

The guest on Tuesday seemed exasperated that Stephen was talking all over his words and the staged phone guests. I would do my homework if I was to go on TDS or Colbert Report, and certainly not pack an agenda of my own to discuss, because it definitely isn't happening.After a little bit it was pretty clear to me that part of the interview was staged. Once we got the girl with the gay boyfriend who moved in with a gay lawyer I knew that they were just doing it to fit the tone of the show and the Colbert "character" and Greg Behrendt was in on it.

[Stewie]

Just saw the one with the relationship book author guy.
Note to The Colbert Report: don't put guests in a chair that moves. No rocking, no swiveling, no nothing.

If necessary, strap them down.

[Fone Bone]

I couldn't stop laughing for a half hour. Stephen's interivew with Barney Framk was great (I LOVE Him) and gave me a fit of the giggles. The Jeff Daniels interview was great because he kept looking at Colbert like he was from another planet. More episodes like this, please.

[EightOh]

Just saw the one with the relationship book author guy.
Note to The Colbert Report: don't put guests in a chair that moves. No rocking, no swiveling, no nothing.

If necessary, strap them down.Someone should have run up and stabbed him with a sedative. Good God.

I loved the interview with DeGrasse-Tyson, and yes, the Barney Frank interview was golden. "Getting to Know the Congressional Districts" has become a highlight of the show, so far.

Also, an excerpt (http://www.colbertnation.com/colbertnation/novel.jhtml) from Stephen Colbert’s Alpha Squad 7: Lady Nocturne: A Tek Jansen Adventure is now up on colbertnation.com. :D

[Temple Fugate]

I would buy that book in an instant. And I'd probably finish it a lot faster than America: The Book.

It's too bad all of the congressional districts don't have such fun representatives to interview. That is a great recurring segment.

...They DID take Pluto off the list of planets?! Ah well, it's not like it was doing anything for us anyway.

[Djm912]

To Fone Bone: Gotten tired of the show yet? Just kidding.


Personally, I loved the interview with Jeff Daniels, especially since he's a Michigander like myself. And I loved the fact that Stephen left him absolutely dumbfounded through most of the interview.

Nothing about this show hasn't been funny.

[The Penguin]

It's too bad all of the congressional districts don't have such fun representatives to interview. That is a great recurring segment.Yeah I love the segment too. My feeling is the bigger the district the less interesting it will be. My home state of South Dakota has one representative. I don't like her, but since she had to have state-wide appeal, she couldn't appeal to the crazys in one area. When S.D. comes up you can all see how fake and smarmy she is.

[tigerrunner]

Anyone else notice that he stumbles over words an awful lot like 2 or 3 times a segment? It's a bit distracting.
Yeah, I just think he's not used to carrying a 30 minute show yet. He was just fine in his taped segments where he wasn't reading off a teleprompter, and he can go for a simple "report" on TDS, but he needs some more practice. I think he'll be fine in a few weeks.

They are a bit of a distraction, though, but they're the only complaint I have with the show so far.

[Stewie]

Why was the Jeff Daniels interview done in a nightclub?

Good show. If they could keep up the Congressional District thing, it would be the greatest segment in the history of cable. But people will catch on sooner or later.

[Fone Bone]

Why was the Jeff Daniels interview done in a nightclub?

Good show. If they could keep up the Congressional District thing, it would be the greatest segment in the history of cable. But people will catch on sooner or later.The impression I got from Barney Frank was that he knew it was a gag interview. He said a couple of things that made me think he had been expecting some ridiculous questions.

I still wonder why in the world people still talk to the people from The Daily Show. If that's any indication Colbert has nothing to worry about.

[Stewie]

The impression I got from Barney Frank was that he knew it was a gag interview. He said a couple of things that made me think he had been expecting some ridiculous questions.

I still wonder why in the world people still talk to the people from The Daily Show. If that's any indication Colbert has nothing to worry about.If anyone in Congress is going to play along (and do it well), it's Barney Frank.

The difference between the usual Daily Show bits and this segment is that Daily Show subjects are plentiful. There are tens probably hundreds of thousands of people that want to be on TV without having to work at it. And that's assuming they even know what's going to happen.

Representatives, some of them anyway, feel the need to look good. It is the House after all, so there are probably a good 200-250 members that 1) Don't have the smarts to know any better, or 2) Don't care if they are tools for Stephen Colbert's Works of Funny. Then there's the 150 that think being on The Report will help their campaign. Huh, so maybe that'll only leave 100 or so Representatives that smart (not fun) enough to not do a sitdown.

[Fone Bone]

If anyone in Congress is going to play along (and do it well), it's Barney Frank. I love Barney Frank. The only guy I ever heard of who weathered a gay sex scandal MUCH to the surprise of the Boston media.


The difference between the usual Daily Show bits and this segment is that Daily Show subjects are plentiful. There are tens probably hundreds of thousands of people that want to be on TV without having to work at it. And that's assuming they even know what's going to happen.

Representatives, some of them anyway, feel the need to look good. It is the House after all, so there are probably a good 200-250 members that 1) Don't have the smarts to know any better, or 2) Don't care if they are tools for Stephen Colbert's Works of Funny. Then there's the 150 that think being on The Report will help their campaign. Huh, so maybe that'll only leave 100 or so Representatives that smart (not fun) enough to not do a sitdown.I admit he might have trouble getting SOME of the reps. But he should still have plenty of reps and material for years to come (assuming the show lasts that long).

[Temple Fugate]

The Bradley Whitford interview was an unexpected delight. I love how he was set up with shades, a soda and an Emmy in his lap. West Wing mentioned The Daily Show in its season premiere, so I guess somebody was bound to show up on TDS/CR sooner or later. Colbert even threw in a Commander in Chief reference. Though that diss about Alan Alda was unneccessary. I feel bad about chuclking about that. :o

The interview with Congresswoman Tubbs Jones was pretty good. Colbert had a very smooth voice during the first half. If the entire interview was just the two of them talking about cooking it would have been gold, but then it went political--as we all know it must. The astronaut question was my favorite. "What is it about your state that makes people want to flee the Earth?" Even better was when they came back for the "Judge Tubbs" sketch.

Is it 24?

[EightOh]

Tuesday's show was easily the strongest the show has produced so far. The Word was spotty but good at times, but from that point forward, it was a tour de force. The emergency drill, the Ken Burns interview, the Ken Burns interview documentary (a film by Stephen Colbert; narration by Ken Burns), and Formidable Opponent... wow. This is the first Report to earn Save Until I Delete status on my TiVo.

Formidable Opponent appeared to have been one take in front of a green screen that was shot from two different angles (or one "angle" was simply flipped), which would mean he was delivering all of that in monologue style to the live audience. That must have been amazing to watch.

"It's that PBS wit..."

[Duke]

My only problem with Formindable Opponet was that Steve didn't sell the fact that we was talking on tape delay. The pauses were really easy to pick out.

[Temple Fugate]

Formidable Opponent appeared to have been one take in front of a green screen that was shot from two different angles (or one "angle" was simply flipped), which would mean he was delivering all of that in monologue style to the live audience. That must have been amazing to watch.Not quite...the two Colberts wore different ties, and the background was different. A live switch would definitely have been interesting, though.

More and more of that sci-fi novel is showing up on ColbertNation.com. And the more I read it...the less I want to read more but can't stop myself. :sweat: Hopefully it won't really be published, or we're all doomed.

[shoujoaifan]

Did anyone see the interview on last night's Colbert Report? I won't spoil it, but its something I know you'll all love :D

The first couple episodes were shaky, and I didn't have much hope Colbet could actually hold the show if it was all jokes with him going on how great he is, but the show as a whole (and not just this episode) has proven to be just as funny as the Daily Show. Colbert/or writers/ or both know how to keep from going too far with the mock boasting, and his behavior when interviewing guests and discussing politics and patriotism as a parody of well-meaning peole with euthasiam that forget to think things out.....awesome.

And of course, how can we forget:

"Number #1 Threat: Bears..."

[Temple Fugate]

Did anyone see the interview on last night's Colbert Report? I won't spoil it, but its something I know you'll all love :D I had a feeling they took over the old TDS studio. The move happened around the time the first CR ads were airing. Plus I think I recognized a few of the scuff marks on the floor. ;)

The call from "Wilford Brimley" was hysterical. "Damnation, I burned my waffle!"

[Karl Olson]

And of course, how can we forget:

"Number #1 Threat: Bears..."

Not only was that the best Bears threat yet, it also provided with a whole new view of Scooter Libby. He definitely is guilty of creeping me, and likely the rest of America, out.

[peacebyanymeans]

"President Bush, Great or Greatest president?"
"Neither, I think he's the worse president we ever had."
"Well, the only choices are Great or Greatest, so I'll put you down for great, seeing how you don't think he's the greatest."

I cracked up at that!

Another part I really enjoyed was Formintal (sp) Opponent. Which I believe was live and at different angles (or flipped as was said earlier) because when he said "Stay tune after the commercial", both Stephens pointed and said it at the exact same time (when they showed both angles).

[The Penguin]

Another part I really enjoyed was Formintal (sp) Opponent. Which I believe was live and at different angles (or flipped as was said earlier) because when he said "Stay tune after the commercial", both Stephens pointed and said it at the exact same time (when they showed both angles).The Stephen's were wearing different ties. I think it's just as likely they had it timed correctly with the tape.

[Delthayre]

Also, the spelling is <formidable>.

F-O-R-M-I-D-A-B-L-E

[PakiroVah]

I have 2 questions about Better Know A District,
1. Can I get a pic of a good US district map?
2. What are the districts done so far?

[Temple Fugate]

I have 2 questions about Better Know A District,
1. Can I get a pic of a good US district map?
2. What are the districts done so far?http://www.census.gov/geo/www/maps/cd108_maps/cd108_wall_map_fullsize_gif.htm
Georgia's 1st district. (Savannah represent!)
Massachusetts' 4th district.
Ohio's 11th district.
Florida's 3rd district. (I think.)

[PakiroVah]

http://www.census.gov/geo/www/maps/cd108_maps/cd108_wall_map_fullsize_gif.htm
Georgia's 1st district. (Savannah represent!)
Massachusetts' 4th district.
Ohio's 11th district.
Florida's 3rd district. (I think.)Thanks!

[EightOh]

The call from "Wilford Brimley" was hysterical. "Damnation, I burned my waffle!""I shouldn't be eating this, anyways. I've got the diabet-iss."

Wilford Brimley + Stephen Colbert = :D:D:D:D:D


The Stephen's were wearing different ties. I think it's just as likely they had it timed correctly with the tape.Both ties had the green screen "shimmer" around them, as did both Colberts. Additionally, his pointy ear is on the inside in both shots when it goes to the split screen. It was one shot, mirrored.

[shoujoaifan]

Colbert (paraphrased): The walls are bleeding Jon, was there something that happened when you guys used the studio last-
JON STEWART-as-a-GHOST: Oh yeah, we built it on an ancient Indian burial ground. We removed the gravestones, but not the bodies,
Colbert: That'll do it.

:p

[Scirel]

Tuesday's show was easily the strongest the show has produced so far. The Word was spotty but good at times, but from that point forward, it was a tour de force. The emergency drill, the Ken Burns interview, the Ken Burns interview documentary (a film by Stephen Colbert; narration by Ken Burns), and Formidable Opponent... wow. This is the first Report to earn Save Until I Delete status on my TiVo.

Formidable Opponent appeared to have been one take in front of a green screen that was shot from two different angles (or one "angle" was simply flipped), which would mean he was delivering all of that in monologue style to the live audience. That must have been amazing to watch.

"It's that PBS wit..."
That episode was freaking GENIUS.

The Ken Burns Documentary + "Formidable Opponent" = DOUBLE FLAWLESS VICTORY.

[Duke]

The Word and the "DaColbert Code" were awesome last night.

[DisneyBoy]

Okay. When The Colbert Report premiered this week after The Daily Show, I watched two episodes...

...and I have to say, I didn't love it. One key reason why the Daily Show works as well as it does is because we get some variety in terms of the speakers. That, and John Stewart isn't coming off as a pompous ass most of the time. Colbert isn't that bad, but his character is too strong to allow for the more natural humor than Stewart brings to his interviews and headlines. When a Colbert joke doesn't work, he can't change character or cover his tracks. That's where John manages to save himself.

So yah...it's been renewed for two seasons, hasn't it? Good luck...but I probably won't keep watching.

[Karl Olson]

The Word and the "DaColbert Code" were awesome last night.

I found the Word a bit weak at points, but when the DaColbert Code got into that loop with Rove, that was awesome. Also, I've got to say that Cokie Roberts is probably one of their better interviews yet, in a much as she gave as good as she got. The bit with chicken funeral was comedy gold.

[Aquadementia]

Super fantastic show last night. catch the rerun if you can.

First his campaign against humbuggery.
If a tradition is not celebrated in it's original way then it's wrong.

If you missed it:


The Christmas tree: so deeply Christen it predates Christ.

Santa: Sinterklaas clause, for those who don't speak dutch that's Santa Claus.
If you are bad Little Black Peter will put you in a sack and take you away to god knows where, probably Spain. And heaven help you, he's one twisted freak. Teaches kids a valuable lesson, expect nothing and be grateful you weren't kidnaped.

No fake mistletoe, it should be harvested by White robed druids wielding a golden sickle who then sacrifice two snow white bulls, otherwise why kiss under it? It's pointless unless the mistletoe berries are made a symbolic representation of the bulls genitalia so they can impart fertility and sexual prowess upon the household. You know, CHRISTMAS."


Remember what it's really all about "Family, love, and the hope that for just one night a year the world can sleep in heavenly peace and wake up to flaming Christmas tree, bull testicles, shoe fruit, and a terrifying black elf. Just as Jesus intended."



And later his Christmas photo stamp is just hilarious.



Unamerican news had a few great jokes too.

Gilmore Girls on arab TV: "Disturbing series about a sexually active single mom and her daughter the loving relationship they share has been destroying American families for five seasons. Now the pentagon is using it to destroy the families of our enemies instead. It's just common sense. The future of war is attractive white women who talk about their feelings. See you in hell terrorist."

[The Penguin]

Super fantastic show last night. catch the rerun if you can."Forgive me father for I have truthed."

Great episode. Excellent "Word". You last chance is just underway. ;)

[Duke]

Last night's sports-themed show was one of the funniest things I have ever seen.