Comments on: Steven Colbert hits his stride

Steven Colbert hits his stride

spock — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 07:44:31 -0800

Steven Colbert gets serious (sort of) in this Onion AV Club interview. His set is modeled after DaVinci's "Last Supper". His jabs make the local news. He fixed Canada. He coined the Word of the Year¹: "Truthiness". Did not. Did too! And the word becomes main stream². (It explains the "craptastic state of politics"³) Some say Colbert's just hitting his stride.

By: spock

spock — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 07:45:10 -0800

¹ "Word of the Year" discussed previously: http://www.metafilter.com/mefi/48107 ²: The Tennesee Guerilla Women site is apparently just one site that has reproduced the original NY Times piece: http://select.nytimes.com/2006/01/22/opinion/22rich.html. Since the original article is behind the wall of select membership, I linked to the alternate text. ³ Quote from: http://www.ratcliffeblog.com/archives/2006/01/truthiness_101.html

By: empath

empath — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 07:53:24 -0800

I love this post.

By: rxrfrx

rxrfrx — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 07:56:11 -0800

Colbert gets pretty serious in this NPR interview

By: Mr_Zero

Mr_Zero — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 07:56:57 -0800

I think the show is grippy.

By: Rothko

Rothko — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 08:08:48 -0800

Instead, he took aim at the so-called "score police," and said America would do better to replace the three R's -- reading, writing and arithmetic -- with three new educational R's: religion, recruitment and rage. ("You don't need a lot of knowledge if you put a lot of anger behind those few things you do know.") Awesome.

By: benATthelocust

benATthelocust — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 08:09:22 -0800

Onion AV Club link is bad, mmmkay.

By: COBRA!

COBRA! — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 08:14:47 -0800

Why, Mr. Catchphrase?

By: wakko

wakko — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 08:19:01 -0800

anyone who has ever been forced to suffer through the o'reilly factor should love this show.

By: y6y6y6

y6y6y6 — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 08:19:25 -0800

I've watched every single one of his shows. I thought the first few were disappointing. But lately he's really found a groove that works. My worry is that he's fallen into sort of a rut. Being a parody of Bill O'Riely is only funny for so long.

By: deafmute

deafmute — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 08:22:17 -0800

The Colbert Report has gotten absolutely brilliant. It's pitch-perfect satire at its best, there's nothing like it on TV today. I mean, Steven Colbert's Hiphopketball: A Jazzebration? Hilarious.

By: Pollomacho

Pollomacho — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 08:23:24 -0800

I want my children to be just like Lily. Outgrowing the days of Nickelodeon, NBC shows "My Name is Earl" and "The Office," Home & Garden Television and Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report" rank high on [11 year old] Lily's list of things to watch. "I love the show," Lily said. "One night, I was watching the show, and I thought it was extremely funny, so I took a piece of paper and pencil that was near me, and I drew the picture while I watched.

By: Smedleyman

Smedleyman — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 08:24:16 -0800

Thanks for posting this (I probably wouldn't have seen it otherwise) Whether there is truth to whether Del Close met L. Ron Hubbard or not, I've always thought of Del as the counterweight to that....thing. The whole sort of thing scientology, but further - the sham, "the con" stood for (one of which is truthiness). It's pretty clear that Colbert - whatever the many gifts he has such as his obvious innate intellect and insight, etc. - is a Close* descendant. Which is utterly grounded in the real as humor as opposed to this maudlin or 'winky-wink' crap that passes as humor among the powerful (or high status) and is so much more visible today. (poor word choices perhaps on my part but hopefully the meaning is clear). *noted before I even read the second page, not due to any astute observation on my part - it's just that clear. And he's a gamer.** How cool is that. **for you kids - a gamer is what we call RPG players before the computer companies co-opted the term to make pressing buttons in front of a screen sound more 'interactive'. If I didn't have a mortgage on my back (and I could support my family), I'd split from the program and do improv the rest of my life. I couldn't care less if anyone knew who I was, it's that much fun. Can ya envy and admire a guy at the same time? It seems contrapositive.

By: empath

empath — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 08:25:48 -0800

I worry that he won't be able to maintain it either, but he's been on fire for last few months. Better than the Daily Show about half the time. I think "The Word" has been a little so-so recently, though, and his interviews could use some work. How long can they keep the "Better Know a District" thing going? Eventually, congresspeople are going to start saying no :)

By: Smedleyman

Smedleyman — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 08:26:14 -0800

(not to slight Charna btw)

By: prostyle

prostyle — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 08:27:37 -0800

Colbert is so good I don't even bother catching TDS anymore. Actually, I'd say it's the only thing worth watching on TV. At first I wasn't sure where they were going with the show, but all the recurring bits have come together surprisingly well. However, it doesn't stop there... Colbert Nation is chock full of more goodness you should be sure not to miss! AVC: You were into Dungeons & Dragons as a kid, were you not? SC: Yeah, I really was. I started playing in seventh grade, 1977. And I played incessantly, 'til probably 1981—four years. "Minion of evil!" shouted Stephen. "You have heard of Gandalf the Gray, and Saruman the White, though you may fear them not! Now, tremble in your ethereal shoes, for I am Colbert the Pinstriped! Look upon me and despair!"

By: spock

spock — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 08:29:50 -0800

Oh, that is hilarious prostyle. Thanks for the link!

By: kosem

kosem — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 08:35:51 -0800

Our problem is, there's no level of hyperbole that can be associated with me that hasn't at least been approached by the real thing. So on point. For me, the Daily show and the Report (although moreso the Report lately) have a bunker of sanity, samizdat quality. I like having a nightly reminder that the major sources of information provided to the American public are intractably, dangerously stupid. I really like the fact that millions of other people feel similarly, even if we are swimming against the tide.

By: spicynuts

spicynuts — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 08:46:17 -0800

. It used to be, everyone was entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts. But that's not the case anymore. Facts matter not at all. I love Stephen Colbert and his show, but I am freakin tired of this idea that there was a time in American history, or ANY human history, when truth was valued and there was some kind of ideal press or media that treasured and represented absolute truth. It's bullshit and it needs to stop. Freakin THOMAS JEFFERSON paid journalists to make up crap about John Adams. Alexander Hamilton basically made up things about Adams as well. Yellow journalism has always run rampant. I would like to see examples of when truth was honored by the American people. I still love Colbert though. Rock on.

By: cacophony

cacophony — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 08:49:30 -0800

BTW, one of the other fanfics on the Colbert Nation site is pretty hysterical too -- Bill O'Reilly/Colbert slash fic. Really.

By: Busithoth

Busithoth — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 08:54:07 -0800

I think the Word is the best contribution to late night TV in a long long time. Glad the show's holding up nicely.

By: BobFrapples

BobFrapples — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 09:09:51 -0800

His "Formidable Opponent" segment is always incredible... it leaves me on the floor every time. I wish Comedy Central would air "Exit 57" again, at some point... they showed those back in the mid 90's, and that show was friggin' hilarious!

By: Smedleyman

Smedleyman — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 09:14:47 -0800

"I would like to see examples of when truth was honored by the American people." Truth has always been honored by the American people. It has never been practiced by the American government.

By: Smedleyman

Smedleyman — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 09:18:12 -0800

Shoulda added to that last (never honored by the government) bit - Upton Sinclair was very nearly elected Governor of California.

By: linux

linux — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 09:26:01 -0800

Bears. Heh.

By: callmejay

callmejay — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 09:38:50 -0800

spicynuts, The sentence right before the one you quoted was, "I don't know whether it's a new thing, but it's certainly a current thing, in that it doesn't seem to matter what facts are."

By: delmoi

delmoi — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 09:50:33 -0800

OMG. "Hi, Tracy." I declared warmly. "It's me. Tek Jansen.". Yes!

By: delmoi

delmoi — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 09:54:21 -0800

When Valentine said "jump," the Squad Force asked, "in which jump boots?" Her take-no-prisoners attitude and tough-as-nails exterior was only softened by her incredibly sexy voice and body. hahahahaha. Did colbert really write this himself?

By: iamck

iamck — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 09:54:32 -0800

My friend told me he studied under Del Close, and that he was big...who knew?

By: five fresh fish

five fresh fish — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 10:06:32 -0800

I swear to god, Stephan used to hang out on Usenet back in the late 80s/early 90s. I wish he would get involved with MeFi, and let us help him dream up and write stuff. As a community, we could really kick ass in that department.

By: sammich

sammich — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 10:36:56 -0800

The Colbert Report is Colbert's fourth Comedy Central show, and his third collaboration with Amy Sedaris and Paul Dinello When have they ever been on the show? Do they write for him?

By: iron chef morimoto

iron chef morimoto — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 10:44:26 -0800

I swear to god, Stephan used to hang out on Usenet back in the late 80s/early 90s. This is true. Not that I was using a computer then (I was aroung ten at the time), but I heard him mention that once in an interview.

By: iron chef morimoto

iron chef morimoto — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 10:52:14 -0800

Damn it. You know what's irritating about "aroung?" The d and g keys aren't even that close together.

By: spicynuts

spicynuts — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 11:43:54 -0800

Truth has always been honored by the American people. It has never been practiced by the American government. Oh yeah? Who is buying all those newspapers, Martians?

By: mcstayinskool

mcstayinskool — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 11:45:25 -0800

The thing that I find most annoying about Colbert Report is that now I have a whole hour of TV to watch every weeknight (well, 44 minutes Tivo-style) instead of just The Daily Show. Colbert Report is like crack to me.

By: raaka

raaka — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 11:56:33 -0800

Last night, Olbermann and Dowd had a very frank and honest discussion about "truthiness" as his top story last night. It was fucking weird.

By: obfusciatrist

obfusciatrist — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 12:13:02 -0800

I'm enjoying the show more than I did the first couple of weeks but most of the time I still change the channel when it gets to the interview. Almost none of the interviews I've seen have been funny.

By: soyjoy

soyjoy — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 12:14:27 -0800

Good stuff. Thanks, spock. I've never seen the show, but if I were to start watching TV again, that would be tops on my list.

By: davejay

davejay — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 12:19:05 -0800

(not to slight Charna btw) She's gonna sic her dog on you, Smedley. I probably shouldn't have said that; it's been a long time since I've seen her, and I would imagine the dog has passed away by now. This is a random thread to throw a Del Close story into, by the way, but a friend of mine was taking a class with him at The Improvolympic and told me a story: one day in class he was going on about brevity, and chastizing the students for being much too wordy. Later on that session, while onstage giving notes, he turned around and walked -- crotch-first -- into a chair on the stage. Hard. He immediately doubled over, without a sound. Seconds passed, and then, with a long, drawn-out, painful moan: "Balls." Who doesn't miss him?

By: OhPuhLeez

OhPuhLeez — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 12:21:56 -0800

I love him so much, I can't stand it. He was my first college crush and to see him reaching this level of success, well, it's well-deserved. A super nice guy, to boot. Oh - and if you ever get a chance, catch Amy Sedaris and Paul Dinello in "Wheels of Fury," one of the funniest shorts I've seen in a long, long time.

By: Effigy2000

Effigy2000 — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 12:30:46 -0800

"I wish he would get involved with MeFi, and let us help him dream up and write stuff. As a community, we could really kick ass in that department." posted by five fresh fish at 4:06 AM AEST on January 28 I've been reading and thoroughly enjoying Metafilter for years now, and over that time, if there is one thing I've learned about this place and its inhabitants its that when we put our collective heads together, great things can be achieved. One of my favourite examples of this is an AskMe thread where an ebay scammer was ripped a new one by the ingenuity, resourcefulness and downright intelligence of this community at large. My point is, I think Metafilter could get Stephen to come here and get involved, even if it is under an alias of sorts. At the very least, we could make him aware of the existence of this site and/or thread, if he isn't already. Make it happen, Metafilter!

By: davejay

davejay — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 13:26:21 -0800

My point is, I think Metafilter could get Stephen to come here and get involved, even if it is under an alias of sorts. He's already here. As Dios. Honestly, I could have chosen any pseudonym for this joke; it ended up a tossup between Dios, Fait Of Butt and If I Had An Anus. I flipped a three-sided coin -- IN MY MIND.

By: illovich

illovich — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 13:41:58 -0800

I wish he would get involved with MeFi, and let us help him dream up and write stuff. As a community, we could really kick ass in that department. Unfortunately, I can not offer a concrete example but I can think of a number of times watching the Daily Show and thinking "hey! I read that on boing boing/metafilter/die puny humans/whatever other blog I read it on just today!" I would bet someone in the organization reads mefi, and probably posts. For all we know, Mayor Curley could be Rob Corddry in disguise. Apologies in advance to both Mr. Curley and Corddry where appropriate.

By: well_balanced

well_balanced — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 13:52:26 -0800

As much as I loved TDS, The Report is really walking away from it now. For some reason his interview tactic of "congressman, you've been implicated in (x) scandal." "Who is saying that?" "I am...I just implicated you." never fails to crack me up.

By: smackfu

smackfu — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 13:52:56 -0800

The thing that I find most annoying about Colbert Report is that now I have a whole hour of TV to watch every weeknight (well, 44 minutes Tivo-style) instead of just The Daily Show. That's why I now skip 90% of the interviews.

By: artlung

artlung — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 14:09:08 -0800

cacophony, the Colbert/O'Reilly slashfic link you posted... words fail me.

By: iron chef morimoto

iron chef morimoto — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 14:20:42 -0800

For all we know, Mayor Curley could be Rob Corddry in disguise. Rob Cordry couldn't be that unfunny if he tried.

By: elpapacito

elpapacito — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 14:59:11 -0800

Colbert Report : If you can't beat them, join them

By: Smedleyman

Smedleyman — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 15:36:28 -0800

"I would bet someone in the organization reads mefi, and probably posts" They could be WATCHING US RIGHT NOW!! *squints paranoidly* Ok, who's the rat? Huh? *looks for pods in the basement* *reappears* Hey, who wants some delicious coffee? *Steve Forbes stare* Good Americans drink coffee.

By: five fresh fish

five fresh fish — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 17:58:38 -0800

I hope TDS is reading: I skip 90% of the interviews. Jon has turned into a fawning weenie. He no longer holds guests accountable for the decisions they have made when in a position of power or prestige. The absolute best bits of Colbert are the ones where he has a quick-witted, intelligent guest who can match him at improv discussion escalation. Colbert's been nailed a coupla times, and he's nailed a couple of guests pretty good. It's a battle of wits that is a joy to watch. Not sure I've decided which Colbert replacement I'm liking best. They've all had their on- and off- skits.

By: pruner

pruner — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 18:08:17 -0800

I thought this week's interview with David Gregory (NBC White House correspondent) was very funny.

By: Gnatcho

Gnatcho — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 18:20:57 -0800

Some Colbert Usenet posts

By: user92371

user92371 — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 19:52:24 -0800

Some more Usenet posts.

By: smackfu

smackfu — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 23:08:00 -0800

Why you should never post to usenet.

By: Ayn Marx

Ayn Marx — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 23:15:12 -0800

and his third collaboration with Amy Sedaris and Paul Dinello Amy Sedaris? I hope her only role is to gve him a handjob now and then. She's terminally unfunny.

By: jaronson

jaronson — Sat, 28 Jan 2006 08:16:31 -0800

Ayn Marx: What an incredibly rude thing to say. We are all entitled to our opinion, of course, but that one of yours about Amy Sedaris is just wrong. I will try not to judge you and your future comments by that one comment.

By: Sinner

Sinner — Sun, 29 Jan 2006 01:46:13 -0800

I'm loving those USENET posts. It's like reading supermarket tabloids without the dirty feeling. By the way, was "havingness" the forebear to "truthiness?"

By: Sinner

Sinner — Sun, 29 Jan 2006 02:00:40 -0800

This is actually pretty great, too: First the (September 28, 1994) acknowledgement of involvement in EXIT 57, followed by the (Dec. 13, 1994) fake-innocent self-promoting, compliment-fishing, no-holds-barred request for information about EXIT 57. Not to mention the whole ecstasy thing. And by the way, I love Colbert.